Here’s the gist of what’s happening with a prayer…

It’s time to Netflix and Thrill with the unveiling of Netflix House, a physical location to interact with your favorite shows. Slated to open in major U.S. cities by 2025, these aren't your run-of-the-mill merchandise shops but experiential wonderlands where you can waltz like a Bridgerton or feast like a Gilmore. It's not just about emptying your wallets; it's a temple of brand engagement where you can go from streaming to screaming, "I love this place!" So, forget Disneyland; the "Most Bingeworthy Place on Earth" is coming to a city near you.

Dear Lord, as Netflix House aims to build communities around the shared love for storytelling, let us remember the original community-builders that actually matter—the churches and spiritual gatherings that nourish not just our imaginations but our souls. Help us to find the balance between digital wonders and the irreplaceable joy of face-to-face connection. May we never forget that our deepest fulfillment comes from You, a source more enduring than any show or season finale. Amen.

Netflix and Thrill:
Streaming Giant to Open Interactive Stores in 2025

If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be one of the "Bridgertons" waltzing at a regency ball or dreamed of completing a "Squid Game" obstacle course without the life-or-death stakes, Netflix is ready to make those fantasies a reality. No, they haven't invented time travel or a risk-free parallel universe (yet), but they are opening interactive retail spaces where fans can immerse themselves in their favorite shows. Welcome to the era of "Netflix House."

Life Beyond The Screen
Netflix Inc. announced plans to create their first permanent retail sites, aptly named "Netflix House," aiming to open their inaugural locations in the U.S. by 2025. But these won’t just be glorified merchandise shops. These hubs will offer a smorgasbord of retail, dining, and live experiences, making each visit an adventure. If Disneyland is the "Happiest Place on Earth," then Netflix House may be the "Most Bingeworthy Place on Earth."

From Virtual Reality to, well, Reality
Netflix has been warming up to this concept for a while, having experimented with pop-up fan experiences globally. Remember 'The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience'? That captivating night of drinks and dancing that appeared in several cities like a wandering minstrel? Those were mere rehearsals for the grand spectacle that is Netflix House. The ambition is to build solid, permanent community spaces around the diverse and captivating worlds that Netflix offers.

More Than Just a Marketing Ploy
For a company once chided for its lackluster marketing efforts, Netflix House signifies a turning tide. While the idea seems like a cash cow waiting to be milked, Netflix is viewing these spaces more as temples of brand engagement rather than temples of doom for your wallet. Josh Simon, Netflix's VP of Consumer Products, says that they’ve been contemplating how to "take fandom to the next level." This is the Disney model for Star Wars and other movies. Physical immersion into the world pulls in super fans, but also engages with tourists and onlookers, possibly bringing in new fans as well.

What’s on the Menu?
Rotating installations based on popular series are on the agenda, along with ticketed shows and eateries that serve dishes straight out of their unscripted cooking shows. As for the menu, it will have everything from fast-casual burgers to high-end dining and spirits—so you can feast like a Gilmore and drink like a Shelby.

Details, Details, Details!
While final decisions are still in the making, we know that these experiences will likely surface in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. Netflix has already tasted food-and-beverage glory with a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles featuring dishes crafted by chefs from their cooking shows.

Reflection
As marvelous as the virtual realm is, nothing replaces the innate human need for face-to-face connection. The global pandemic has shown us that digital interfaces, no matter how advanced, are no match for real, tangible experiences. That is why Disney has poured in billions more into their physical locations.

Speaking of connection, what Netflix House aims to achieve—building a community around shared interests—churches and spiritual communities have been doing for millennia. The sense of belonging and shared purpose is hardwired into our spiritual DNA. As Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"

Churches aren't just places of worship; they are hubs of community, learning, and growth. While Netflix House promises a world of escapism and entertainment, places of worship offer something deeper—a connection not just to our favorite characters but to our own souls and to the divine. Netflix is translating its digital content into physical interaction, showing that there can be synergy between digital and physical engagement. The church is beginning to transition into that as well, only its translating its physical experience into digital content. We here at Pray.com believe that there’s a beautiful synergy that can be fostered between the church and digital media - providing people a place for deep connection on Sundays, and continual encouragement right were they are Monday-Saturday.

As fun as these themed spaces and parks are, our deepest fulfillment comes from a much older source—a sense of community, purpose, and spiritual connection that no amount of binge-watching can replace.

Thank you for joining us today on PRAY NEWS. It is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you will proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a force for good.