Christian entertainers

The stage from Rock the Desert's 2008 Christian music festival is disassembled. The headliners have moved on to their next gig, and the swarm of screaming fans, once massed together in rockin‘ celebration, has dissipated.

But that doesn't mean Christian fun and entertainment ends for the Basin. In fact, several spiritually minded performers will be doing their thing in Odessa-Midland next month.

Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce is scheduled to be at First Baptist Church in Midland on Sept. 6, sister rock band BarlowGirl is planned for the Midland Center on Sept. 16 and Lisa Whelchel, once the face of Blair Warner on NBC's "The Facts of Life," is set to speak at CrossRoads Fellowship on Sept. 20.

Whether it's concert, comedy or conference, many of today's Christian churches play host to a variety of amusements and family-friendly events - all in the name of Jesus.

Ronnie Hampton, CrossRoads women's pastor and conference organizer, said the church presents a clear-cut Gospel message while using entertainment to appeal to the non-churched.

"What we're trying to do is present things that people who aren't connected to a church would be connected to or intrigued with - we're finding a lot of young people weren't raised in church at all," she said. "What we say is, ‘The message has not changed, but the method has to change.' "

Hampton said they selected Whelchel as the event's speaker because she's recognized in the secular world from her Hollywood career, but she also has very strong convictions and has written several Christian books.

Part of Whelchel's inspirational message in Odessa will be directed to moms and their tween/teen daughters in a special session on purity, Hampton said.

Girl rockers BarlowGirl also pack a bold message of purity and hope toaccentuate their powerful sound.

Drummer Lauren Barlow, 23, said they've resisted the suggestion to "shut up and rock" in order to sell more - choosing instead to speak out and help raise $1 million through their upcoming tour for Mercy Ministry and a home for abused or pregnant teen girls.
"People kind of know us as the girls who speak - we're not silent about what God has done in our lives," she said. "We're pretty outspoken about what we believe. We're never condemning, but what we speak is an overflow out of our hearts - the things we're trying to help people with.

"We're not just here to make people jump up and down and be excited," she said.

On the lighter side of life, platinum video-selling comedienne Chonda Pierce tours the country with a pocket full of laughs and some comic relief. Pierce said though critics may label Christian entertainers as "selling Jesus," she walks a fine line with her own career and truly doesn't know what God thinks about it all.

"I've been in the church for 48 years, and I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of what we are - we're a pile of humanity trying to find alternatives to entertainment and clever ways to package a message of faith in intangible things," she said. "I hope I keep us from taking ourselves too seriously, and at the same time I'm not an evangelist, but I hope I put a fun face on faith.

"It seems like we work so hard to get our DVDs made and gold records on a wall and tickets sold with our names on it, and then we say, ‘Oh, and by the way, this is not about me,' " she said jokingly.

Janna Boyd, associate minister of music at First Baptist Church of Midland, said the church utilizes both ticketed events like the one with Pierce and community outreach happenings that are free to the public.

"Our church is careful that there's never a Sunday event that you would pay money to," she said.

Because Pierce and other entertainers talk about being a Christian, Boyd said those clean amusements can help strengthen someone's spiritual walk - plus it doesn't hurt to laugh.

"It gives our people something extra and hopefully they're bringing their friends," she said. "If one person finds a connection and gets closer to God, then it's worth it."

IF YOU GO
>> Christian comedienne Chonda Pierce and special guests Leland Klassen and Zan bring the "Circle of Laughs Comedy Tour" to Midland at
6 p.m. Sept. 6 at First Baptist Church, 2104 W. Louisiana Ave.
Tickets are $24 in advance or $20 for groups of 15 or more, available at FBC Midland, Mardel Christian Bookstore, Family Christian Store, online at www.itickets.com or by calling 800-965-9324 or 683-0600.

>> Sister rock trio BarlowGirl brings the "Million Voices Fall Tour" with Jimmy Needham and Brooke Barrettsmith to Midland at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Midland Center & Centennial Plaza, 105 N. Main St.
Tickets are $25 for VIP or $15 for general admission,
Call 699-5914 or 522-1212.

>> Lisa Whelchel, a former TV star turned acclaimed author and speaker, will speak in "A Conference for Women" on Sept. 20 at CrossRoads Fellowship, 6901 E. Highway 191.
The general event is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a special session for moms and their tween /teen daughters will be at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for tweens and teens, available at CrossRoads, Mardel Christian Books or online at www.crossroadsodessa .com. Call 368-2500.