Nearly 77 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christian, and 45 percent say they attend church at least once a week, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. About 60 million are evangelical Christians, who emphasize biblically oriented faith, personal conversion and evangelism.
BASKETBALL AND SNACKS
On a recent Sunday night, 40 teenagers packed into the SonRise cafe and adjoining courtyard to listen to a Christian band, race through a scavenger hunt, play pick-up basketball, eat -- and take in a 10-minute sermon against sexual immorality and dishonesty by their youth pastor, Chad Ricker.
Ricker, a former Marine, barks at the youth to pay attention as he preaches the church's conservative Bible-based theology, but his is a fond ferocity.
"Maybe you've already messed up. God will forgive you," he tells the youth, preaching barefoot and in cargo shorts before his equally casual audience.
Ricker, 31, said the absence of a traditional church building hasn't hindered the church's mission at all.
"If students will come, I don't care where we are," he said. "This doesn't look anything like a church. Kids come here and it's nonthreatening. Some don't want to go to a church -- there's a stigma."
The kids are equally enthusiastic. While some helped found the church with their parents in 1998, others have latched onto the cafe's Protestant social scene only recently.
"I actually go to St. Anthony's (Catholic Church) on Sunday mornings with my family," said Adele Bruggeman, 16. But a friend invited her along to the youth service at the coffee shop, and Bruggeman hasn't looked back.
"I just started coming and I love the people. It's a great way to end the weekend and have fun," she said.
At Inspirational Baptist, where churchgoers overflow into the lobby during Sunday services to hear three hours of gospel music and passionate preaching by Bishop Couzens, members look forward to the outreach opportunities that will come when their new roller-skating rink and sportsplex is built.
"When you're in a community, you're trying to gather people whichever way you can, and sometimes you can disguise your message with extracurricular activities," said Tamela Booker, 34, an insurance worker and lifelong church member.
"We want to reach out to the community with God's message with things people can relate to, so they feel loved."
