Church Inks a Committment

To each his own, I guess:

Apparently holding services in a punk rock nightclub every weekend wasn't quite cool enough for City Church.

So, to mark its first birthday, the budding Anaheim congregation Sunday proposed following its regular rock-n-roll revival with a "radical commitment" – tattoos of various versions of the church logo.

"City Church has really done a lot for our family, so I thought it would be a nice way to pay them back," said Holly Morales, one of about a dozen members who agreed to get inked – but only if the church could double its normal attendance. [...]

Eventually, a 200th person did arrive, right when a band started jamming and just before a climactic burst of confetti and a shout of "Happy Birthday!"

Afterward, as attendees enjoyed a picnic of pulled pork and coleslaw, Bonenberger extended his arm, alternating between smiles and grimaces as an artist stained his skin with red ink.

Several onlookers, including Irvine resident Scot Parker, were prepared to follow suit. "I'm strongly behind the vision of the church," Parker said, explaining that he was "getting my tattoo to display my commitment to that."

Fullerton resident Pourio Lee said two previous tattoos required years of reflection, but that the City Church ink was a no-brainer. "I said, you know what, you're my pastor, got to show my support," Lee said.

Bonenberger led by example, emerging with a red heart and crescent-shaped lines on his forearm, cheering the turnout. "We hit the number," Bonenberger said. "I love the tattoo. I love these people. I'm stoked. They're in my heart."

If I had a tattoo for every church I've attended I'd be able to qualify for Affirmative Action.