On a mission

Beds, tables, mirrors and garden furniture for sale form the apparent mainstay of this unusual business on U.S. 27 just past Main Street in Avon Park.

But the heart of "Angels" is actually grounded in a different mission: To bring God to people from this storefront store and ministry.

It's not uncommon for Christian-oriented businesses to sell merchandise and preach to people on the side, explained Pastor Christian Woltman, an easygoing 36-year-old with a sense of humor and piercing blue eyes.

But here at the Heartland Vineyard Church's furniture and mattress store, making money is a side thing.

"This is our way to reach out to the community for Christ," Woltman added.

Customers who walk into the store may never notice the makeshift worship area and warehouse at the back.

It's wired with a sound system, a lectern, chairs and a big wooden cross draped with a velvet cloth, just in case. Friday, Justin Machotka, a longtime church member, was stripping off wood polish from a night stand there.

Someday soon, Woltman hopes to have a healing service and Christian-oriented comedy nights and bands performing in his backroom worship area.

Before that happens, Woltman ministers from the front. Like recently, when a woman came in to buy a dresser, minutes after getting a life-changing phone call.

She had just learned that she had cancer, and she shared it with him. The two prayed, right there, in one corner of the store.

"God is bigger than a medical report," Woltman told her. He prayed for her good health and encouragement. He hasn't heard back from her but hopes she's doing OK.

The Vineyard Movement, to which the church belongs, was founded by John Wimber, the keyboard player and producer for the band The Righteous Brothers.

Not surprisingly, contemporary Christian music is big with the Vineyard church. At one point, Heartland Vineyard Church services were a robust affair with one trumpet, drums, bassists, two lead guitars and a keyboard.

The congregation at that time was much bigger at 70.

Perhaps, due to fewer church members, the music has been pared down to two guitarists who also double as the worship leaders. Machotka is one of them.

The Vineyard Church also believes in the inerrancy of the Bible or the literal interpretation of the Holy Book, so healing is big with the church, although Woltman quickly points out they are not the ones playing God.

"It's God who is doing the healing...The pressure is off us," he added with a grin.

Woltman's father, Gerry, founded the church in Key West, bringing it to Highlands County about eight years ago.

For many years, Christian Woltman didn't exactly follow daddy's footsteps.

Not that he was not intrigued by religion. In fact, he said he has read everything from the Koran to Hinduism's Baghwad Gita. But he resisted the Bible.

"I wanted to find an answer in any book except this one," he said, laying his hands on a Bible that lay on a dining set for sale.

It looked like things were going to go that way. He sold bubble gum and vending machine routes for a living, went to the University North Carolina, jumped out of warplanes as an Army paratrooper and did everything he was not supposed to.

One day he and his dad got talking about starting a business together. It had nothing to do with religion. Christian Woltman moved to Sebring, and ended up getting saved.

"I finally starting living up to my name," is how he put it with a laugh. The change didn't surprise anyone, including his friends.

Machotka was drawn to the church because he felt God's presence guiding it, he said.

"This is a spirit-filled church," he said. He likes his congregation members and the pastor's family and the outreach efforts the church has tried to embark on.

Whenever they can, the church has tried to help folks with temporary housing, electric bills, food and even donated vehicles.

Paying the rent for the store is a big factor for them to consider.

"In the midst of paying rent, we are still managing to do all that," Woltman added.

A few weeks ago, the business moved to the bigger and more visible location on U.S. 27 after two years on Main Street.

Woltman hopes that pays off.

"From two customers, we now have 20 to 30 walk through the doors," he added.