Messy Church is a church experience for families who have not found other forms of church engaging and who don’t yet belong to a church. It explores a biblical theme through includes hands-on creative experiences, a celebration and a meal. It is usually held once per month at a time other than Sunday morning. It does not prioritize either the needs of children or adults but intentionally welcomes and provides for all ages.

The usual Messy Church experience includes relaxed welcome zone where people gather from their busy lives and reconnect with each other. Then activities for all-ages playing and working together begin to explore the theme of the bible story. A short interactive celebration time of story, song and prayer follows the activity time. Finally, the worship experience culminates in a meal together.

Rev. Greg Ross from Australia describes Messy Church in this way: 1) it introduces people to the risen Christ  2) by offering the unconditional hospitality of God  3) in a way that has all ages sharing together in all parts of Messy Church  4) and in ways that strive to engage people with creative opportunities and responses, and  5) it celebrates the gift of the whole of life.