2009年12月6日 - 羅恩·範德維爾牧師（Ron Vanderwell）傳佈了關於拯救的福音，邁克爾·傑克遜（Michael Jackson）曾經唱過它。
前個週末，薩克拉曼多（加州首府）的牧師把工作的重心轉向這位去世的流行歌星，他曾經唱過“我們一定要把拯救帶回來”（We must bring salvation back），來幫助他傳遞這周日的福音。
范德維爾在上周90分鐘的禮拜聚會上以傑克遜的語言，音樂和錄影帶作為主題。
“我們將展示他的歌曲是如何傳達聖經中的希望的，”牧師表示。
範德維爾相信這次叫做“邁克爾·傑克遜的福音”的活動是一個特別的與觀眾們溝通的方式。
於上午十點開始的活動在那湯瑪斯市場華麗的電影院的教堂向公眾開放。
範德維爾喜歡各式各樣的音樂，包括傑克遜的。
“他是我喜歡的音樂之一，”他說，在6月25日這位天王意外離世之後，他非常難過。
“他唱的是關於愛，正義和人情，這些全都和人們息息相關，”牧師說。
範德維爾和其他的教堂成員之後計畫了一個為期四周的關於流行音樂的講道，其中包括傑克遜。
第一個就是上周舉行的“披頭士的福音”，當時在臺上有一個黃色的潛艇道具。繼傑克遜主題之後的將是12月6日舉行的U2和12月13日的重金屬樂隊。教堂在五年前舉辦過第一次關於中重金屬樂隊的主題。“每個人都喜愛它，”範德維爾說。
牧師說這樣不傳統的禮拜活動方式也許不會吸引每一個人，但是他說大多數人們還是非常欣賞教會為此做出的努力。
“我們的許多成員在教會裏都沒有非常好的體驗，他們都希望開闢新的方式去尋找上帝。”範德維爾表示。
有時候這意味著需要去探尋藝術家們的作品，教會的領袖們挑選了一些在全世界具有號召力和影響力的歌曲。
他們選了傑克遜的一些歌曲：《Billie Jean》、《Beat It》、《Man In The Mirror》和《I'll Be There》，它有著這樣的歌詞：
“You and I must make a pact，We must bring salvation back，Where there is love, I'll be there." （你我必須在一起，我們要把拯救帶回來。愛在何處，我就在何處）
“他的語言表達出了我們每個人對更好的事情的渴望，”範德維爾說。他把自己講義的標題取為“就是這樣嗎”（Is This It?），這是根據傑克遜的音樂電影《就是這樣》（This Is It）而來的。他想要展示傑克遜是一個有天賦和才華但是被麻煩纏身的藝術家。
牧師說他不會被傑克遜生活的負面消息所迷惑。
“他的一生和太多的惡人搏鬥，”范德維爾說。“我認為資訊的重點是，除了一隻閃閃發光的手套之外，還有更多的東西。”
Dominican Republic church where Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley ...
Sacramento church service turns to Michael Jackson's music
Buzz up!By Jennifer Garza
jgarza@sacbee.com
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009
The Rev. Ron Vanderwell preaches about salvation. Michael Jackson sang about it.
This weekend, the Sacramento pastor will turn to the work of the late pop star, who once sang "we must bring salvation back," to help him deliver his Sunday message.
Vanderwell will feature Jackson 's words, music and videos during the 90-minute worship service at his church, The Gathering.
"We'll show how his songs have the hope the Bible offers," the pastor said.
Vanderwell believes the service, which he is calling "The Gospel According to Michael Jackson," is a unique way to reach his congregation.
The 10 a .m. service – the church meets at the Regal Cinemas in the Natomas Marketplace in Sacramento – is open to the public.
Vanderwell enjoys all kinds of music, including Jackson 's. "One of many styles I liked," he said. And he was moved by the outpouring of affection for Jackson after he died June 25.
"He sang about love and justice and relationships, and this connected with people," the pastor said.
Vanderwell and other church officials later planned a four-week series of sermons based on pop music and wanted to include Jackson .
The first in the series, "The Gospel According to the Beatles" last week, featured a prop of a yellow submarine on stage. Following the Jackson-themed services will be U2 on Dec. 6 and Metallica on Dec. 13. The church held its first Metallica series about five years ago. "And everyone loved it," Vanderwell said.
The pastor said that this nontraditional approach to worship may not appeal to everyone. But he said that many of the 100 or so regular attendees appreciate the church's efforts.
"Many of our members have not had a good church experience in established churches and are open to new ways to looking for God," Vanderwell said.
Sometimes that means looking in the work of artists, he said. The pastor said church leaders picked certain songs because they had universal themes.
Some of the Jackson songs they selected are: "Billie Jean," "Beat It" "Man in the Mirror" and "I'll Be There," which includes these lyrics:
"You and I must make a pact
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love, I'll be there."
"His words reflect the ache every one of us has for something better," Vanderwell said. He has titled his sermon "Is This It?" a reference to "This Is It," Jackson's concert film. He wants to show that Jackson was a gifted but troubled artist.
The pastor said he will not gloss over the negative aspects of Jackson 's life.
"He wrestled with a lot of demons," Vanderwell said. "I think the point of the message is that there is more to being whole than having a sequined glove."
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