by Patricia Dworzak
Daily Lobo
Counterculture is a church without sermons.
Paul and Mandy Herzog, two leaders of the Christian church, said Counterculture is a place for people who have been left cold by other churches or have never been to church before.
Paul said the group originally met in his home, then moved to El Rey Theatre and now meets at the Monte Vista Church on Grand Street.
He said Counterculture is a nonprofit organization, but many of its members give donations, and the Monte Vista Church offers use of its space for free.
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"People involved often contribute," Herzog said. "People out of state send money. We only accept things if there are no strings attached."
He said Counterculture does not try to recruit members. If people come, it is because they want to be there.
Herzog said its message speaks more to a younger crowd.
Student Lauren Guilmette said she found Counterculture's advertising unclear.
"I don't know what it is," said Guilmette, a UNM sophomore. "It sort of looks dark."
Herzog said the church is easily misunderstood.
"A lot of people lump us in with what they see as church," he said. "We're trying to articulate the difference."
Herzog said Counterculture makes a lot of sense to college students when a lot of churches don't.
"The church is more about an attitude than an age," he said. "It's about a walk with Christ and the individual."
Karin Schultz, a member of Counterculture and a senior at UNM, said less than half of its members are college students.
"As the church has grown, less of the members are students," she said.
Counterculture is more about a life than a church - whatever it takes to fuel a soul, Herzog said.
"It's unique and untraditional," said Rowena Slusser, a member of Counterculture. "The people here genuinely care about you. This is where God led us."
Herzog said Counterculture is not affiliated with any other churches and many of its members come from different backgrounds.
He said spirituality is messy, and Counterculture is about a powerful and loving God, mercy and compassion and completing the great work each person is supposed to do.
Herzog described some of its meetings as heavy in discussion and interactive. He said other times the meetings are focused on music. It varies from week to week, he said.
Herzog said it helps get thoughts across by using modern music and videos, and re-enforcement comes from the Scriptures.
"We don't tend to hoard," Mandy Herzog said. "We don't want people to be with us every day of the week. If you're not out being effective as the waitress or scientist or whatever you're doing, then we're not being effective as a church."
Paul Herzog said Counterculture can't resonate with everyone, but for a lot of people it makes sense.
"We are far from perfect, but we allow others to be, too," he said. "We see people be evil, mean under the name of God. But there was once a beautiful thing in the center, and that's what we're trying to find."
