SACRAMENTO -
You'd expect to hear Michael Jackson's hits, "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" at a night club...but not at a church.
One local pastor is using Jackson's music to get an important messge across to spread the faith.
The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson wrote songs about peace, salvation, and hope...all themes from an International star that one local pastor believes we can all learn from.
"He had a power that people hadn't seen before."
Pastor Ron Vanderwell from "The Gathering" Christian Church is teaching "The Gospel According to Michael Jackson".
To get the crowd at the Natomas Marketplace Theatre going, Pastor Ron showed off some of the Late Pop Star's signature moves, but all jokes aside, there was a serious message he wanted to get across using Jackson's tunes.
He says the hit song, "Beat It" teaches racial reconciliation.
"The combination of peace and defiance is a neat way to see combined together."
And songs like, "I'll be there" teach inspirational lessons of love and commitment
"A desire to pour yourself out for someone else and the way he's able to do that. It shows a lasting connection with someone that won't flake out on you."
Churchgoers say "Amen" to the messages taught here today.
"I can finally relate. It's not just some old dude talking. I can't relate to that, but I can relate to Michael Jackson's music," Stuart Canton says.
Churchgoer, Dorothy Wollan says, "We have so many pop artists. I'm sure they have a lot to offer the public and there's always a deeper layer and we need to look for that."
Getting people to think about the deeper meanings through Pop music is exactly what Rev. Ron is aiming for.
He says, "The sense of redemption, the sense of love and peace are all things that Michael Jackson helped us hope for."
Next Sunday will be "The Gospel According to U2" and then the follwing week, The Gathering will offer lessons from Heavy Metal Band Metallica's jams.
One local pastor is using Jackson's music to get an important messge across to spread the faith.
The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson wrote songs about peace, salvation, and hope...all themes from an International star that one local pastor believes we can all learn from.
"He had a power that people hadn't seen before."
Pastor Ron Vanderwell from "The Gathering" Christian Church is teaching "The Gospel According to Michael Jackson".
To get the crowd at the Natomas Marketplace Theatre going, Pastor Ron showed off some of the Late Pop Star's signature moves, but all jokes aside, there was a serious message he wanted to get across using Jackson's tunes.
He says the hit song, "Beat It" teaches racial reconciliation.
"The combination of peace and defiance is a neat way to see combined together."
And songs like, "I'll be there" teach inspirational lessons of love and commitment
"A desire to pour yourself out for someone else and the way he's able to do that. It shows a lasting connection with someone that won't flake out on you."
Churchgoers say "Amen" to the messages taught here today.
"I can finally relate. It's not just some old dude talking. I can't relate to that, but I can relate to Michael Jackson's music," Stuart Canton says.
Churchgoer, Dorothy Wollan says, "We have so many pop artists. I'm sure they have a lot to offer the public and there's always a deeper layer and we need to look for that."
Getting people to think about the deeper meanings through Pop music is exactly what Rev. Ron is aiming for.
He says, "The sense of redemption, the sense of love and peace are all things that Michael Jackson helped us hope for."
Next Sunday will be "The Gospel According to U2" and then the follwing week, The Gathering will offer lessons from Heavy Metal Band Metallica's jams.
