And he said people needn't be afraid that the church is cultish. Although its doctrine embraces speaking in tongues as a prayer language, "you're not going to hear people speaking in tongues (at services). It's not going to weird you out."

Malmin and his wife, Rebecca grew up in Portland, and as newlyweds moved to Richmond, Va., where he took a took a position as a youth pastor. They celebrated their first three wedding anniversaries in Baltimore and grew to like the city so much that they eventually moved here.

"We felt the mid-Atlantic was a better cultural fit for us," Malmin said, adding, "I'm a sucker for a city on the water."

He also believes in "church planting" and that God called the couple to come here and start a church. For now, they are content "taking time to meet people and learn the city and its issues," Malmin said.

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He wants to know, "How can we help?"

And he stressed, "We're here for people who don't have a church."

Initially, City Bible Church met at the Malmins' house, but he got the feeling that some minority members "didn't feel comfortable in our neighborhood."

He reached out to Ira Miller, co-operator of the Rotunda Cinemas, and reached a lease agreement to use the church for 90-minute services on Sunday mornings. Beginning this Sunday, the service will start at 10 a.m..

"Most people in this neighborhood aren't awake at 9.," Malmin said. "Let's be real."

The audience at the most recent service was wide awake and laughing as Britany Marsh, 23, a downtown Baltimore resident, shared a story about having to train her puppy constantly because it keeps making the same mistakes.

"God keeps coming back to us, no matter how many times we fail," she said.

Or as Malmin put it, "Even when we make a mess on the floor, you forgive us."