Story Archive

Hope To See You on Sunday

There is a new tattoo parlor in Flint Township, Mich. That’s not normally news, of course, but Serenity Tattoo, a fully licensed parlor, has opened inside a church, right near the Rev. Steve Bentley’s office. Bentley says it’s all part of bringing new people to the church — he calls it “The Bridge” — which caters to people who have given up on traditional churches. “The tattoo is a really prominent art form in our culture today,” the minister explains. He has two tats, including one he got at church. He says tattoos are “morally neutral” and no different from, say, ear piercings. “You can get a tattoo in a clean environment,” he promises. Other non-traditional activities in the church include cage fighting, wrestling, and auto repair. “We don’t want a million-dollar building that’s only used a few times a week,” Bentley says. “That’s such a waste of what God has given us.” (RC/Flint Journal) ...OK, but auto repair is the devil’s playground.