A Sunday Woodbridge broadcast attracts children’s attention

By Cheryl Chumley

Published: August 16, 2008

For children's evangelist-slash-Uncle Sam-slash-Dr. Terry Horn, wearing a patriotic costume during Sunday service is as spiritually inspired as the name of the mechanism by which he broadcasts his biblical message, Studio 7.

"Seven being God's perfect number," Horn said. "I started it several years ago … the first Studio 7 I did was at Gainesville."

Studio 7 is a production place at Christ Worship Center, located at Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge, where Horn first podcast and now broadcasts several services each month with the children's ministry at the church. The sermons are hardly typical; Horn for 34 years has been an evangelist to the youngest and he draws crowds by combining the word of God with his love of country. In short, he's an ordained minister who dresses as Uncle Sam and puts on biblically based puppet shows.

"Years ago in the early '70s, when Nixon was being investigated and the Vietnam War was winding down, there was a real sour taste about America," Horn said of his habit of dressing as Uncle Sam. "I just really felt the Lord was leading me to wear this" and carry forth this dual message—love of God, love of country.

Just a few weeks ago, he upped his ability to influence with the creation of Terry TV, a Web site at terrytv.us, where even the title conveys a spiritually backed point: Terry stands for "teaching, educating, righteous, radical, youth," Horn said.

"We're looking for Daniels," he said, referring to the Book of Daniel and the prophet whose faith allowed him to survive a den of lions. "Terry TV is the actual site where the program is shown."

Watchers of the weekly have come from far and wide. Within 16 hours of the program's first broadcast, "we had at least 100 hits and heard from two different countries," Horn said. "The goal is to get Terry TV as recognizable as YouTube."

And why not?

"It's a good-hearted program that's keeping kids on a moral track and on a patriotic track," Horn said. "[From parents and kids], it's been very, very positive all the way around."

On his MySpace.com page, meanwhile, where he's listed as founder and president of Children's Ministry International, Horn is described as preaching "with [a] fire that comes from a God-given burden for the lost. He's a true revivalist for today's children. He challenges kids to raise their standards … as he ministers on salvation, healing and being filled with the Holy Spirit by use of object lessons, illustrated sermons, puppet skits … and ventriloquism," the site states.

At Christ Worship Center, Horn draws between 15 and 25 child participants for his Sunday broadcasts, which occur three times a month. This month's focus is on "having the right attitude," as personified by various Bible characters, he said.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.