What Can Christians Learn from TV?

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.

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