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What Can Christians Learn from TV?
By Craig Pinley
SAN ANTONIO, TX (March 11, 2005) - What can we as Christians learn from
controversial television shows that are flying off the rating charts?
One Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) congregation is asking that very
question as it coordinates its preview services this winter. Connection
Covenant Church (known locally as The Connection) hosted its third
preview worship service March 6 with 80 individuals in attendance as
church planting pastor Ikki Soma preached on "Life Lessons from
Desperate Housewives."
On February 13, the church held its second preview service with Soma
preaching a sermon entitled, "Life Lessons from Alias." There were 80
participants worshiping at the Comfort Inn on San Antonio's northwest
side as the congregation enjoyed a STEP team
(see accompanying photo) that ministered through dance during the
service. Of that aggregate, worshippers were about evenly divided among
Anglo, Hispanic, African-American and Asian-American.
"I don't think we'll be known as 'The Movie and TV Church,' but I think
the themes have worked very well for us," said Soma, who preached on
"Life Lessons from Lost" when the church hosted its initial preview
service January 23. "The Generation X group is heavily into audio-visual
and media and that's our target group. At our first service, we
discussed how we're lost (spiritually) because of the missteps of the
pilots of humanity (Adam and Eve) and we had seven people trust Christ
as their savior."
Soma grew up in Sunnyvale, California, near San Jose, in a
Shinto/Buddhist background. He came to faith in Christ as a high school
junior and eventually graduated from California Polytechnic University
(Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo after competing in the track and field
program and participating in club rugby. He became convinced that a
multicultural church experience better exemplifies what heaven will be
like than the congregations he has seen and attended.
"If a church is truly making disciples of all nations (as it says in
Matthew 28:20), then it should look like a church of all nations," he
observes.
After graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary, Soma was passionate
about starting a new relevant multicultural church. His mentor and
pastor, Dr. Tony Evans, made him aware of an opportunity to start a new
multicultural church in San Antonio. In October of
2003, while teaching at a national church development conference, Soma
was made aware of the ECC. After being approved as a church planter for
the Covenant, Soma and his family began a series of internships at
relevant, multicultural churches around the United States last summer.
Along with his work with the church plant, Soma has spoken to an area
Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle and made connections at two
college campuses, the University of Texas-San Antonio and Trinity
University. He is also speaking to a large medical and dental conference.
Ikki's wife, Tara – a former All-America track and field athlete at the
University of Texas-Arlington - has been asked to be the chaplain of the
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) San Antonio Silver Stars.
And the church's lay leadership has brought a variety of other gifts to
complement that of the Somas.
"I'm really blessed by our core team – it's like God sent them out of
the sky," says Soma. "And I'm encouraged by their diversity and talents.
We have a house band called 'The Con Artists' and the leader is an
All-American defensive back. Our children's ministry team (Konnection
Kids) leader, Nancy Dieckow, is a nurse who graduated from Swedish
Covenant Hospital (Chicago) in 1960 and is the director of camps for the
Midsouth Conference. And we've got people with musical skills, media
skills and a gourmet caterer who cooks the food for our big events."
On March 27, Connection Covenant Church will celebrate Easter with its
final preview worship service as Soma preaches about "Life Lessons from
C.S.I." During the five Sundays in April, Soma will focus on "Life
Lessons from The Apprentice." The church hopes to host its Grand Opening
service this fall.
To learn more about Connection Covenant Church, visit the congregation's
website at www.the-connection.org or call Soma at 210-833-0076.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
