Evangelical churches are discovering an inspirational beat with rock music

FRESNO, Calif. — Move over Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend.

Worship music at some evangelical churches is cranking up — driven by electric guitars.

Many churches have long provided services that appeal to their congregants' musical interests: traditional, contemporary or blended. Now, some of them also have expanded into rock-style worship.

It's not so loud that you need earplugs, but we're talking the sounds of alternative pop rock, straight rock, pop punk and indie rock.

Near the pulpits, guitars glow under stage lights and their images flash onto large screens. It's like something you'd see on worship cable channels.

Marty Blackwell, creative arts coordinator at Celebration Christian Fellowship in Clovis, Calif., says worship bands — with two lead guitarists, bass guitarist, keyboard/piano player, drummer and vocalists — work because it's a style that worshippers enjoy.

"It's, in a sense, breaking out of the old mode of thinking that in church there has to be an organ and look a certain way," he says. "We try to put out there what the everyday person would hear on the radio."

The churches expanding into rock-style worship aren't all the same. Some say they don't want to present just one genre. Rather, they want to present what the worship song calls for — their artistry.

For example, the worship team at NorthPointe Community Church in northwest Fresno, Calif., opened a recent service with Christian musical artist Lincoln Brewster's hit song, "Today is the Day." Brewster is considered one of the industry's most talented guitarists.

As the NorthPointe worship team performed the song, worship pastor Todd Anderson sang the lyrics, "I will stand up on your truth." Then, he asked the congregation to repeat them. They did. And lead guitarist Steve Partain hit just the right notes so his guitar sounded as if it were "talking."

"I try to hit the same octaves they're singing," Partain says. "We're just praising God. I've had a blessed life. I feel it's one way to give back."

After the worship team performed a couple of songs, they took a short break for the church's announcements. Soon, Brewster's image flashed onto the sanctuary's large screens — kicking up his heels while wailing on guitar.

Anderson says there's strong interest in rock worship. About two dozen churches nearby in the San Joaquin Valley present this kind of service. And even more churches have contacted Anderson to help them make the transition.