New church for a new generation: ?I'm trying to cut through the bull,' pastor says

Nov 14, 2008 (The Reporter - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- SBUX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Life Pointe Church opened its doors for the first time in Plantation Key on Sunday, and Pastor Travis Johnson admits his approach to Christian service might not appeal to everyone -- at least at first.

The services start at 6 p.m. and begin with Starbucks coffee and bagels. A video message and announcement plays while the congregation snacks and chats.

Then, the lights go down and a live band rocks out with a few U2- or Coldplay-inspired songs of worship. It's loud and energetic, Johnson says.

After the set, a different video leads into the particular message of the service. On Sunday, Johnson focused on the book of Jonah and its message that God can give second chances.

During the sermon, members of the audience interact with Johnson by sending questions via text messages, which appear on the video screen.

By 7:15 p.m., the service is over and members retire to the "cafe" to watch Sunday Night Football.

After the service, Johnson and other church leaders post photos and blogs at websites like Myspace, Flikr, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, which allows members to chat and share their thoughts on that week's message and events.

It's a new church for a new generation, Johnson says, and he hopes it catches on.

"I've not had really good luck with [attracting] folks from other churches because what we do is fairly out of the box," Johnson said. "I think if you've been burnt out with church, had a bad experience with church or church people, I think there's a pretty good chance you might like this."

Johnson, 35, formed Life Pointe Church in Homestead in 2002 and soon noticed members that were driving north from the Keys to attend.

This year, Life Pointe Church took over the building oncee occupied by Plantation Key Church of God at 161 Pearl Ave., bayside. It can be contacted at (305) 247-0889 or visit www.life-pointe.com.

It was a great, friendly atmosphere," said Key Largo resident Joel Cossio, who attended the first Keys service on Sunday.

"Travis takes the scriptures and he can relate them to modern times, and I think that is something that's important for this generation," he said. "With the music, the worship has a kind of emotional connection to the Holy Spirit."

Upper Keys musician Tom Simpson played with the band on Sunday and said he will likely be back many times for service.

"Anybody coming in, I can't imagine how they would not feel comfortable no matter what the denomination," he said. "But it's a little contemporary. If you want the old hymns and the old traditions, it might not be the place for you."

Johnson said he formed the church out of his own frustrations at what he saw in many Christian churches that he had attended.

"I always loved the message, but I really struggled with the fact that I didn't fit in and some of what I saw didn't reconcile with the message Jesus taught," said Johnson, whose father was a pastor at a church in his hometown of Homestead.

Johnson said he chose the name Life Pointe Church to describe what the church could mean for its members

"I think we all face these critical life stages," he said. "A point being a specific place or a point on a map or a point that juts out into water, almost like a crossroad would be in life.

"Every place we are has a critical point, where God has something unique for us to do. We want to be that intersection or point on the map for our members."

Johnson said he wants his church to be enjoyable, challenging and to "shake things up" for members who have found that other churches have become complacent with their message and offerings.

"I just see the politics, the things people get in fights over like what color the carpet was in church. It's focused on just the wrong stuff," he said. "I'm trying to cut through the bull."

The live music creates an emotional connection to the sermon, he said, and the media and technology are used to compliment or amplify the message, not convolute them.

"The arts or technology, that's got to compliment the message, that is, Jesus Christ laid his life down for dysfunctional, really jacked-up people like myself. That's core to what we do," he said.

Johnson said he had more than 100 people at his first service on Sunday, which he said is a good sign for his long-term goal.

"I'd totally like to dominate all of South Florida with the gospel of Jesus," he said. "I want to make it hard for people to go to Hell from this place."

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