The Joe Biden of the Wisconsin Sect, about Rock and Roll worship:
Skorzewski said. "It's like God just said, 'I think it would be really cool if you went this way.' "
Other Change and Changers in the same story:
I.
"You have to get the difference between the way the evangelicals and Lutherans look at theology," said James Tiefel, dean of chapel and a professor of worship and homiletics at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. "The evangelicals will say that a human being has to make a decision to become a Christian. And so the way you get him to make that decision becomes very important. You have to find a way to raise his emotions or convince his intellect. Lutherans will say the Holy Spirit works through the word (Scripture) to create a Christian."
There has been some experimentation with full-blown praise bands in WELS churches for at least 10 years, but it is not widespread, Tiefel said. [Young Tiefel worked for VP Patterson, at WELS expense.]
II.
One of the noteworthy WELS examples nationally is St. Mark Lutheran Church in De Pere. About 80% of the music that its praise band plays comes from top-selling contemporary Christian music. The church, which has a $150,000 audio-visual system with two big video screens, has nearly 2,000 members and needs to expand beyond the new facility it built a few years ago, said Phil Boileau, its minister of music and family.
A growing number of WELS churches nationally are making at least some use of contemporary music and instruments beyond the organ, according to Tiefel and the Rev. Bryan Gerlach, administrator for the WELS Commission on Worship. At least 150 have gotten instruction at Gerlach's School of Worship Enrichment.
III.
Wayne Mueller, first vice president of synod mission and ministry for WELS, estimates that 25% of the denomination's 1,263 congregations offer some type of regular alternative worship.
IV.
From 15 people at the first Sunday night services, attendance now averages about 150, with many more for special services, said the Rev. Jim Skorzewski, who conducts the alternative services and assists Senior Pastor Mark Jeske in shepherding the diverse, growing congregation. Many are 18 to 35. Sunday's service drew about 300 worshippers.
St. Marcus has grown from about 500 members four years ago to about 800, Davidson said. The home of Jeske's "Time of Grace" television and radio ministry, the church has a 280-pupil school with a waiting list, a gospel choir, bible study groups for men and women, a bible-based Wandani Youth Outreach program and other groups for various age ranges.
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Skorzewski, Rev James R St Peter - Appleton WI 08/11/2008
To start daughter congregation, Solid Rock Ministries
