Friday, June 18, 2004
Got Jesus?
...At Without Walls, children worship in their own sanctuary, called the "Faith Fortress." Ministers dress in costume as members of the "Bible Squad" to deliver the messages.
In the adult sanctuary, prerecorded announcements are broadcast on big screens like the evening news. Charisse Strawberry (wife of former baseball star Darryl) acts as the anchorwoman, articulating the week's upcoming events. An outline of White's sermon appears on a PowerPoint display as he speaks. Studies show that people typically have a four-minute attention span before they need a "commercial" or a new idea, so he tailors his messages to hit points quickly and move on.
He suggests that every pastor go to a secular concert to get tips on lighting and format.
"I don't think the church competes with what the world is doing. I just think (some ministers) say, "It's ministry, so if they come, they come.' And that's why a lot of churches are empty."
The goal is to grow, to have an impact on the Tampa Bay area, he said. "The city is our church."
So is this ministry or marketing?
"I believe everyone needs to believe in their product," White said. "Well, what is my product? My product is Jesus."...