Church fuses worship, fun

Dust off your Bible and shine those patent leather shoes. Sunday is Easter.

Forty percent of Americans attend church weekly, but about 63 percent plan to attend religious services on Easter, says a 2008 Gallup report. So Pastor Michael Pippin figures this Sunday is ideal for kicking off his new house of worship in East Tampa.

Pippin, a full-time graphic designer and former youth minister, hopes his nondenominational Fusion Church will attract a racially diverse, tech-savvy congregation.

"More than an age bracket, we target a mindset. It's a youthful, media-based mentality," said Pippin, 32, of Plant City.

Services are held in a conference room of Crowne Plaza Hotel, with plans to move to a permanent building in Plant City when attendance reaches about 500. Although the official launch is this weekend, Fusion has held three preview services to help Pippin and his team of volunteers work out any kinks. Each week's 20 or so attendees have ranged from college students to folks in their 60s.

Like a growing number of contemporary churches, Fusion makes worship approachable with casual dress (Pippin preaches in jeans), short services (90 minutes, tops) and contemporary music (one Sunday, guitarist Pippin played with a drummer). Pippin, a married father of two, invites people to services via his son's Little League games as well as the church's Facebook page, and he illustrates Scripture with multimedia. For a message titled "Take a Look Inside," Pippin used a clip of Shrek discussing how people have layers like onions. His Easter sermon will include a scene from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

It will also include Pippin's account of how his daughter was resurrected after nearly drowning in a swimming pool last year. Hailey, now 3, made a full recovery.

"I remember in that moment going, 'God, you can't do this to me,'" Pippin said. "When your child is dying, you feel like you're dying."

It's this candor that appeals to Debra Flowers, who has attended all three preview services and plans to make Fusion her regular church.

"Michael has a really great way of talking to people. He's very real. ... You can relate," said Flowers, 38, of Plant City.

Pippin hopes Fusion's down-to-earth atmosphere will show people that God has a place in their everyday lives, not just on Easter.

"It's Resurrection Sunday," Pippin said. "I'm real big on purpose. ... I believe that God's going to resurrect some visions and dreams and purpose for people who've let them go."