CHANGING A WELL-KNOWN BRAND

One of the main things that Lakeland has been known for over the past couple of decades is Carpenter's Home Church, build in 1985 as the centerpiece of Rev. Karl Strader's various ministries as pastor of what was once First Assembly of God Church of Lakeland. Most people know it as a popular venue for hosting concerts by some of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music because of it's 9,000 seat sanctuary built with multimedia presentations in mind.

But a series of setbacks and controversies during the past decade have seen Carpenter's Home membership and attendance shink.

Friday will mark the closing of a nearly $15 million deal which will transfer ownership of the church building to the Tampa-based Without Walls International Church, which is led by televangalists Randy and Paula White. The facility will become a satellite of WWIC, although Carpenter's Home will be allowed to continue holding services on the campus temporarily.

WWIC is listed as the fastest growing Protestant church in America, and the second largest according to the firm Church Growth Today. The average attendance of 23,900 includes approximately 3,000 currently worshiping at it's satellite church in Auburndale, the former Gathering Place, which WWIC purchased after a previous failed attempt to buy the Carpenter's Home facility.