ApologetiX bandmates say they didn't set out to be "that Christian parody band." But it seems to be working for them.

Members' tastes and talents, and God-given direction, have led to the production of music that crosses spiritual boundaries and teaches Christians more about their faith. The band describes itself as "kind of like 'Weird Al' Yankovic meets Billy Graham." The band -- comprised lead singer and lyricist J. Jackson, lead guitarist and producer Karl Messner, bassist Keith Haynie, drummer Jimmy Tanner and keyboardist Bill Hubauer -- has built an extraordinary fan base, performing concerts in all 50 U.S. states and Canada.

ApologetiX will be in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in downtown Orangeburg. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased through the church office at 803-534-1071 or from any St. Paul's youth member.

The groups' name, ApologetiX, is a variation of the old word "apologetics," which originally meant "the defense of the Christian faith" with words, according to the band's Web site, www.apologetix.com. The band's self-proclaimed mission is "to reach the lost and teach the rest."

Some of the band's parodies include "The Voice of Sodom," a parody "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley; "HC's Mom," a parody of "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne; "Welcome to the Judges," a parody of "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns '

n Roses; "The Devil Sent Down to Jordan," a parody of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band; "Jail God Rocked," a parody of "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley; "Talk About the Lord," a parody of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets, and many, many more. No rock hit is safe, as anything from Elvis to Eminem is game for ApologetiX to mold into a parody.

Organizers say the ApologetiX show will be the first rock concert ever presented at St. Paul's.

ApologetiX has been named American Christian Music's Alternative Artist of the Year and recognized for Alternative Song of the Year. It has been named Favorite Indie Artist in CCM Magazine's Readers' Choir Awards and won the Best Album award in Christianity Today's Readers' Choice Christian Music Awards. ApologetiX, which is based in Pittsburgh, Penn., can be heard on thousands of radio stations worldwide and has appeared on many national television programs and been the subject for several articles in Christian and secular media. Its online fan club boasts tens of thousands of members of all ages.

Proceeds from the Jan. 19 concert will go to Nothing But Nets, an organization heavily supported by the United Methodist Church. Nothing But Nets fights malaria by supplying bed nets, which act as a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, to families in third-world countries, those hardest hit by malaria. Malaria infects more than 500 million people a year, killing more than 1 million annually.

According to www.nothingbutnets.net, "a family of four can sleep under an insectide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for up to four years." The nets cost $10 each.

A love offering will be collected at the concert, and shirts will be for sale, with proceeds benefitting Nothing But Nets.

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