When the Church Becomes Your Party - Deborah Smith Pollard

When the Church Becomes Your Party is Pollard's behind-the-scenes look at contemporary gospel music, the first book (to my knowledge) to focus its lens exclusively on the multi-faceted gospel scene of today. According to the press release, "Although the flashy clothing, informal language, and elaborate stage presentation found in some of the newest gospel music may surprise some worshippers, author Deborah Smith Pollard argues that this new aesthetic rests on the same Christian principles as more traditional forms and successfuly extends gospel's message to a wider and younger audience."