The strip features Crossroads Market bookstore and cafe, gift and flower shops and a Cafe Brazil that opened last year, among other businesses. Before a recent Wednesday night service, Harris dined next door at Hunky's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers, where she invited other customers to join them at church. The service on Wednesdays begins with co-pastor Lonnie Parks, who's also in the Turtle Creek Chorale, singing accompanied by tambourine and piano. The mood was casual. During the service, Parks greeted some people who walked in during the song and invited anyone to join him on stage.
Pastors hope the church's style helps draw more worshipers.
Harris said she was asked to leave other churches in her youth because she is gay, and she wants to reach out to others who have had similar experiences. Harris said she started the fledgling church with Parks after she was asked to leave as a pastor at Grace Fellowship. Grace Fellowship Pastor Don Lewis said he would not comment on her departure. He said that part of the church's mission was to have its pastors go on to create new churches. The Sanctuary of Love is not affiliated with Lewis' church.