Kairos celebrated its first anniversary in Los Angeles in September. Like many others in the "emerging church" movement, which is rethinking evangelical Christianity for the postmodern era, it has drawn a younger generation looking for services that speak a language they understand. Starting with 35 members, it now counts more than 150. Why do they come here?

"It's got a great vibe," says 26-year-old graphic designer Mike Hardy. "Other churches make you feel like a drone. 'Stand up. Sit down. Sing.' At Kairos I never feel like a puppet. It's not so old school. It's fun. I look forward to coming each week."

"It's a nonconventional church for the unchurched," says 25-year-old Kevin Liu, a law student at UCLA who discovered Kairos through the Internet.

"Kairos is really fresh and new and not restricted by tradition," says Stephen Gordon, a 19-year-old USC freshman with choppy blond hair. "It's been great to meet other people who are also on fire for God."

Like a number of members, 25-year-old USC graduate Rob Schickler grew up in a conservative church with traditional hymnals. "Kairos is completely different. The evening service has a kind of coffee shop, open-mike-night vibe that's great. It's contemporary worship without sacrificing scripture."

Eric Blumber, a 26-year-old singer in the band that performs regularly at the church, lists Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and worship bands such as Chris Tomlin as influences. "We're bringing people closer to God with music . . . . If people are feeling dead, we want to bring them back to life."

Street Address:

4903 Fountain Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

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