From the Heart A different approach to churchgoing. by MEREDITH PIERCE teve Stone jumps up on a wooden stage amid six musicians and their instruments. He introduces the topic for the morning, “One on one with Jesus,” and says, “Let’s sing.” This is Heartsong in Cordova, a United Methodist Church located in the gymnasium of St. Benedict Catholic School. Steve Stone (left, with two church members) says Heartsong is “a come-as-you-are worship service.” It may seem strange that a Protestant church would be located in a Catholic school, a gymnasium no less, but “the concept of what they’re doing seemed to be appropriate,” says Sharon Masterson, director of institutional advancement and public relations at St. Benedict’s School. “They are very good Christian people and take good care of the facilities.” Perhaps the gymnasium even adds to the casual attitude of the service. Stone, the pastor of the church, describes Heartsong as “a church for those who don’t feel comfortable in church. … It’s a come-as-you-are worship service.” The dress of the mostly twentyish to thirtyish congregation and their children ranges from ties to tennis shoes. Pews are replaced by folding chairs lined up on a plastic tarp. The pulpit is a wooden stage. Instead of hymnals, song lyrics are projected on a wide screen behind the “choir,” a six-man rock band. The majority of the musicians rotate because of their outside projects. Music director Drew Hays stands out in front, taking lead vocals and sometimes stepping in to fill holes in the lineup. Kathi Thomas, the only female of the group, belts out backup vocals and sometimes takes the lead. Al Gamble and Freddie Kirksey cover the keyboards. Greg Lundy beats the drums. Bobby Manuel is the lead guitarist. Dave Smith is the bassist. The band plays on, and the two young men beside me wearing T-shirts with the letters WWJD (What would Jesus do?) sway, clap their hands to a Jamaican beat, and sing, “Jesus is the winner man, the winner man, I love to see Satan lose ... I am on the winning side.” The scripture of the day concerns the Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at the well. To illustrate one point from the story, the lights dim and a large screen behind the band displays a clip from Dumbo. It’s the heart-wrenching scene where a sewing circle of female elephants excludes Dumbo because he is different. The eventual message behind all this: Jesus doesn’t exclude anyone. Stone begins his sermon by reading the text, John 4: 4-30, 39-42. Behind him the screen shows a slide of a well in the middle of the desert. When he speaks of thirst, a yellow sun shines on the screen. He promises the congregation, “For Jesus there are no barriers. … God loves us hopelessly.” A slide of Jesus hits the screen, and it’s a stunning image: sallow face, piercing eyes, razor-sharp cheekbones. Jesus keeps staring at us while Stone reads the seven steps for “getting to know Jesus”: “Go to where he is. Listen to what he says. Believe what he is saying. Get honest with him. Accept his offer. Invite him to be your guide. Enjoy.” The band begins again. After the service I approach Stone, who remembers my name from the few times we’ve talked over the phone. His congregation has 70 regular members, but they average 140 people a Sunday. As people pass by him, he says their names with a smile. The two aforementioned boys, James and Corey Bruno, hop around him and discuss the announcement of the morning. Rock 103 radio station is going to be one of the sponsors for Heartsong’s Back to School Blues Party on September 13th. Their conversation quickly returns to Christian rock. These kids are serious about God. The congregation filters out to their cars with a reggae beat in their fingertips and a picture of Jesus in their head. You can’t help it. Heartsong works to focus all the senses toward the service. They even provide doughnut holes to keep stomachs from demanding attention. Pretty smart. But it should come as no surprise. Stone has a doctorate of ministry with a concentration in evangelism from Southern Methodist University, and he admits, “We’re working on what it’s going to take to get people in church for the next century.” Like I said, pretty smart.