As American Evangelical ministries grow in assets and income, some are now using their resources to develop a new and unique American Christian architecture.

Some of the ministries, particularly the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), have amassed buildings and assets valued into the hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and perhaps more.

Televangelist, Jerry Falwell, popularized the "early Falwell" style of church architecture, in the 1960's and 70's. It features large solid cinderblock walls, a stage/chancel, and padded theater bucket seats, typical of the American "auditorium" look.

Many pastors in the LCMS who promote the "Church Growth Movement" are the most recent to adopt this severe, artless, empty, functional style for their own churches now being financed by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

However, those evangelicals who now have more financial options, such as TBN, are in the forefront of developing this new emerging 21st century American Christian architecture.

My first introduction to this new Christian art was at TBN's opulent location in Orange County, California. A series of photographs of this location and others will be published in the March 27th issue Christian News. (Call 573-237-3110)

My rough guess of TBN's property value in Orange County is about $50,000,000.00.

The building is at least three large stories high and half the size of a city block. It is a combination of many styles in white marble and limestone including Washington D.C. Federal, French Neoclassic, Baroque, with lights and glass reminiscent of Las Vegas Casinos. My guide, who is not a member of their organization, said, "If you remove the religious artifacts, it would remind you of a Nevada brothel."

The grounds are covered with acres of marble fountains, colonnades, copulas, walkways, ornamental stone carvings, cornices, dancing statues, and lions spewing water.

We walked into the glass and white marble fifty or sixty foot atrium with a double marble grand staircase and massive fluted white columns rising to the ceiling. At the second level there is a 14-foot state of Michael chaining the devil.

The ceiling and the underside of the majestic gilt twin spiral staircases were covered in gold with baroque style angels, flowers, clouds, cherubs, and ribbons twisting in the air. There were gilt surfaces, mirrors, sparkling chandeliers, plus curtains, and red velvet brocade everywhere amidst the glistening marble floors. Rows of lights decorated the twin gold and glass elevators and frames of every window.

I haven't seen so much marble since visiting the Borromeo Palace on Lake Maggiore, Italy. Three levels of gilt railed balconies, on the order of Bourbon Street, New Orleans, surround the entire atrium.

The rest of the building was of the same design.

There is a television studio on the second floor, seating perhaps 200 in plush, upholstered theater seats. On the set were red, gold, and white upholstered chairs resembling thrones. On the wall was a counter with foot high numbers reading 10,050,000, the number of souls saved by this ministry, at least up to that time. Actually, I forgot the last three digits. On the third floor, there were luxurious mahogany covered walls leading to the private offices and quarters for the staff and owners, Presidents, Paul and Jan Couch.

I purchased a post card of the Couches and their cast. Jan, in the middle, is pictured in a billowing white knee length fur coat; gold high heels, with a half-foot high bleached blond do. Most of the men pictured, also have permanents.

One wonders if LCMS Church Growth devotees will soon be following TBN's lead and be adopting the "Nevada Brothel" look when their constituents clamor for more change.

Later, I learned that TBN has at least another 20 such locations around the world. They recently purchased country singer; Conway Twitty's mansion and grounds near Nashville, TN and placed a T V studio in it as well.

The TBN 2000 Calendar has the following statement on the inside front cover:

"In the past 26 years of TBN's existence, we have experienced the explosive growth of Christian television. From one small TV station in 1973, TBN has become a great network of more than 1000 stations worldwide. Amazing advancements in the field of telecommunications have now made it possible for us to cover virtually the entire earth with the Gospel through satellite and computer technology. All this seems to point to one thing: God's timetable for planet earth is accelerating and Jesus is coming back soon! Praise the Lord!" (TBN's web site: www.tbn.org )

They published the following prayer on the inside cover of the 2000 Calendar:

"Dear Jesus, I believe in YOU. I believe you are the Son of God, that you died for my sins, and that you were buried and rose again as it is written in the Bible. I'm sorry for the things that I've done that hurt you. Forgive me for all my sins. Come into my heart, take charge of my life and make me the way you want me to be. With your ever-present help, I renounce all my sinful practices of the past. Cleanse my heart with Your precious blood. Write my name in Your Book of Life. I confess you now as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Jesus! Amen."

TBN has stations in San Salvador, Dallas, Palm Springs, Kenya East Africa, Oklahoma City, Madrid, Spain, Rome, Italy, Canton, OH, Poughkeepsie, NY, Uganda, Phoenix, AZ, Miami, FL, Southern California, Seattle, WA, Richmond, IN, Mongolia, Atlanta, Georgia, St. Petersburg, Russia, Bloomington, IN, Ciskei, South Africa, Managua, Nicaragua, Denver, CO, Nevis, St. Kitts, Chicago IL, and Nashville, TN.

They have affiliate stations in Beaumont, TX, Harlingen, TX, Honolulu, Houston, TX, Channel 7 Europe, and Asia.

They appear to be operating off of seven satellites, three of which are their own called, Angel I, II, and III.

Programs are translated into numerous foreign languages at TBN's state-of-the-art facilities at the International Production Center in Irving, Texas.

Their web site states:

"TBN reaches millions throughout the world. In addition to thousands of local cable stations and over 536 broadcasting stations through system affiliates in the US, TBN owns or is affiliated with TV stations throughout the world. Central and South America will soon be covered with "TBN Latino," a new satellite network delivering top quality, Christian programming exclusively in the Spanish language. Likewise, Brazil will also soon be covered by the "Good News" network serving that entire country in Portuguese. TBN broadcasts programming both by satellite and by broadcast stations in Europe, Africa and the former Soviet Union and in many other parts of the world."

Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

March 17, 2000

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