Rick Ferguson, pastor of Denver's Riverside Baptist Church, heads to the local United Artist Theatres every Sunday morning. There he mingles with new church members in the theater's lobby before heading to an auditorium to preach the 9 a.m. service.

Ferguson's experience might be unusual, but it's not unique. Movie theaters, mostly vacant on Sunday mornings, have become practical solutions for churches in need of a worship facility.

When the congregation at Riverside's main campus, located downtown, decided to extend their reach to the suburbs, renting the theater made sense.

"It's located right in the epicenter of where we want to be," Ferguson said.

Theaters are good bargains for new or growing churches, said Corey Livingston, marketing director for Regal CineMeetings & Events (RCE). Based in Englewood, Colo., RCE recently began marketing its facilities to church leaders.

RCE books all events and meetings at more than 560 theaters -- including United Artist Theatres, Edwards Theatres and Regal Cinemas - across the country. Twelve churches are using STN's venues so far.

For as little as $350 a week, churches can rent an RCE venue complete with stadium seating, digital sound and a spacious lobby for coffee and fellowship, Livingston said. RCE's rental prices top out at $800 a week for four or more auditoriums in its highest-priced market, New York City. Riverside pays $500 a week, and receives a discount for signing a 12-month contract.

Churches that are members of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) can receive an additional discount, Livingston said. NAMB is promoting the theater rentals to its members.

Additional auditoriums can be rented at minimal cost, Livingston said, providing room for youth services or other needs. Churches can use the lobby areas free of charge, with many choosing to bring in donuts and coffee for the early-morning crowd. And as long as everyone is out by 11 a.m. in time for the movie crowd, church-goers are encouraged to stick around and fellowship.

Churches or religious organizations can also rent the theaters for one-time use, such as a special celebration or youth event, Livingston said.

"Theatres are easy options because they give you a culturally neutral site that's very visible in the community," she said.

Riverside Baptist first rented the theater in late March, when 225 of its more than 4,000 downtown members left to start the satellite location.

"We're one church in two sites," Ferguson said. "We're committed to serving our current members, many of whom live in the suburbs already, and their neighbors, who may not be plugged in anywhere at this point."

Weekly attendance at the theater site is now up to 350 in the 400-seat auditorium. Attendance is growing steadily, Ferguson said.

Ferguson said they'll soon rent an extra auditorium in the same theatre, adding another live worship team and providing a video link for the sermon. The church already rents extra theater space for its youth services, which is included in its $500 weekly rent.

Ferguson attributes much of the growth to big-screen advertising. The church pays extra to advertise its Sunday morning service prior to movie previews shown in each of the theaters.

"I met someone just last week who said they saw the ads and decided to check us out," he said.

"It's great guerrilla grassroots advertising," Livingston said. "I think some churches are finding that people who might not come to an actual church building just might show up if it's in a culturally neutral place like a movie theater."