Editor's note: This is the web version of the "7 Questions..." interview. The print version is available for premium subscribers on our current issue (Winter 2009).

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By Marcel Schwantes 

Jeff Cinquemani is the Associate Pastor for Florida Hospital Church --a vibrant and progressive Adventist church community in Orlando with close to 1,000 members. Tami Cinquemani, his wife, currently serves as Worship Director of the Florida Hospital Church.

Their church is known for dynamic and creative outreach to their community. But Jeff and Tami had no idea "outreach" would reach global proportions, thanks to a video on YouTube that made headlines, literally, on CNN's "Headline News" and put Florida Hospital Church on the map.

The video? Well, three pastors' wives at Florida Hospital Church often end up being the topic of conversation in their husbands' sermon illustrations. So they returned serve. Vicki McDonald (married to senior pastor Andy), Amy Achata (married to youth pastor David) and Tami collaborated on making a parody music video to poke fun at their husbands. They revamped Carrie Underwood's popular "Before He Cheats" with their own rendition of "Before He Speaks." It was only intended to be shown at their annual church retreat. Then it was posted on YouTube....

160,000 hits later and counting, the CNN segment, the buzz in the blogosphere, and the church's media team had a new problem on their hands - how to outdo themselves. They did just that, producing another hilarious satire called "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Pastors." Pastor Jeff provided lyrics. Excerpts:

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be pastors
Don't let them tape sermons
And buy them ole books
Keep them from pulpits, and potlucks and Rook

1. How did the idea get started and who wrote, directed and lent the wonderful voice to the songs?

Tami: The "Pastor's Wives" video was a "wild hair" idea I had in the shower one day listening to the original Carrie Underwood song.  I ran the idea by the other pastor's wives, and we produced it as a surprise for our husbands at our annual Church Retreat program.  When it became such a hit, we knew we had to make another!

Jeff and I had written the lyrics for "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Pastors" years ago. Jeff sang it on the video with church member Caitlin Marcellino, an amazingly versatile talent and also the soloist on both videos.  Stanley Pomianowski, our talented Media Director did the shooting, editing, and recorded Jeff and Caitlin singing.

2.  “Before He Speaks” has garnered national attention. What has the feedback been like?

Jeff: We actually were quite surprised at how that video took off.  To be honest, I was blown away when I saw it for the first time.  Most of the responses have been positive and as a collateral blessing we were glad that so many resonated with the theme of the video, even though it was not really written because of some preexisting pastoral confidentiality problem (which we have been asked by some).   As you can see, they have no problem with exposure to the public, I’M KIDDING!

Tami: We continue to receive ­ great response. Some did take it a bit more seriously, and there were a couple of comments offering sympathies for the pastor’s family who may not be happy about their foibles laid before the congregation.

3.  In what ways has the attention received from your videos impacted the Florida Hospital Church?

Jeff: I guess the best impact has been how our younger members have literally jumped on board to become a part of what they believe to be a ministry where they can truly contribute.  It is the expression, the creativity, and the connecting that I think has them excited about finally being a part of something that is not a token contribution but rather a relevant medium to their friends in and out of their church.  I believe the potential of where the Lord could bring this is beyond all of our imaginations. 

Tami: I think the great thing that happened was that it branched out and “scratched an itch” with a variety of churches and denominations.  The Florida Hospital Church feels very strongly about the benefits of networking with and supporting Christians of all denominations.

4. In the "Mamas..." video, I'm curious about your choice to risk offending by using use edgy sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek humor rather than keeping it safe. Some have said the video is "badmouthing pastors."

Jeff: Well, if you go back to the original lyrics, it actually is a song that romanticizes cowboys.  I wrote those lyrics because I am a pastor and, though at times I do romanticize it myself and would never change my calling, there is still a fair amount of pain and joy that goes along with this profession - for me as well as my family.  So, though it was satirical, I do feel strongly that if a pastor “runs” his career at the cost of always sacrificing his own family, he runs down a disastrous path.  Some have alluded that we have hidden agendas with this video to promote certain issues.  I would just like to invite them to one of our brainstorming sessions.  These videos are much more about involvement and inclusion than about hidden agendas.  However, I believe that when we have instigated provocative conversations between differing generations, and believers and non believers, we have succeeded.  I believe that, through our learning and - yes -our mistakes, a generation of pastors will arise who will connect and learn to become even more relevant to their world than we have been . . . which may not be saying a lot (and that is not sarcasm).

5. Do you get requests from other churches to produce parody videos? What can we expect next from the Florida Hospital Church?

Tami: We are fortunate that other churches have shown an interest. We definitely plan on continuing to make them and have several ideas already on the drawing board. However, where we really want to expend our energies is in producing video worship products of excellence and quality. 

6. Changing topics a bit, Tami, you've done some paid modeling work over the years in Orlando.  For Adventist women in the modeling environment, is it a difficult balance to stay true to your principles?

Tami:  There are definitely a number of jobs that I won’t even consider, but my agents know I’m a Christian, and they’ve always been very understanding of my choices.  The important thing for anyone considering this path is to be very up-front about where you draw your lines from the very beginning of your relationship with your agents. 

7. Florida Hospital Church is known for its ability to play together—to have a good time. How important is the social aspect of a church family?

Jeff: If we are able to laugh at ourselves, I believe it is a pretty good barometer of how authentic and real our congregation is.   Yes, there are always going to be those hard times that church families have to go through, and we are no exception.  However, if we as a body of believers can find those times where we sit back and say, “you know it’s not about us,” I truly think we would grow and find that our smiles just might become contagious. 

Tami: We are very fortunate to have a wonderful church family filled with individuals of many ages, ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds that do enjoy playing together. 

You can view all of Florida Hospital Church's videos here.