TAMPA - The head of the Deeper Life Christian Church responded in a fiery Sunday sermon to questions about his credentials, church finances and other matters detailed last week in a three-month investigation by The Tampa Tribune in a partnership with WFLA, News Channel 8.
At the same time, the church met a first deadline imposed on it by the city to repair electrical problems in a half-dozen of its most dilapidated houses in the neighborhood surrounding the church. Had the deadline not been met, the city vowed to shut down the houses and perhaps arrest church leaders.

Church leader Melvin B. Jefferson blamed ``a dark spirit'' for the controversy that swirls around his ministry and spoke of a revelation that has inspired a new plan to help church members - the poor, homeless, drug and alcohol addicted, and ex-convicts - find them jobs and move them into suburban and upscale neighborhoods with Tampa's ``favored people.''

``Now, Deeper Life is about to get houses in your area. I'm going to put people in every part of Tampa,'' Jefferson said, mentioning Davis Islands and Town 'N Country as places God told him to send members. ``I had them all contained in one place, but now I've had a brainstorm.''

He then reminded his members to bring their money back to the church.

Jefferson, who said he founded Deeper Life to help street people no one else wants, said those who lived in the church-owned houses recently cited for code violations were moved to motels and hotels.

Reporters saw one property being vacated Saturday night.

The Tribune and WFLA detailed the poor conditions under which many Deeper Life members live in church- owned housing. Homes had exposed wiring, lacked heat or air conditioning, sometimes lacked working toilets or hot water, and frequently were rat- and cockroach-infested.

The Tribune also described how the ministry generates money from offerings and donations, detailed Jefferson's lavish lifestyle, and described deaths and crimes that have touched the church.

``If I'm doing something wrong, then help me,'' Jefferson said Sunday. ``Don't kill me.''

Jefferson compared the scrutiny of him and Deeper Life to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, Jefferson said, he is being persecuted, but by a ``dark spirit'' driving an unaware media.

`` `Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,' '' Jefferson said, quoting Jesus during an hourlong sermon.

``We can't stop doing our ministry,'' he said. ``I'd rather be dead.''

Deeper Life has butted heads with the city over code violations for about 10 years, said William Doherty, Tampa's deputy director of code enforcement.

The Tribune's and WFLA's reports prompted city code enforcers to move against the six residences cited last week, he said.

The church is expected to get permits today to repair plumbing and other problems, Doherty said.

``I think this has been a real plus-positive situation. A lot of media pressure was exerted, and we've got people moving out of living in bad conditions,'' he said.

``They assured us they're going to comply, and we'll see,'' Doherty said.

Calvin Jefferson, Melvin's stepson, said the church has hired a property manager to run its housing program.

For the first Sunday service since the Tribune and WFLA investigation finished, it was business as usual inside the red-brick church at 3300 N. Nebraska Ave.

People flowed into the 10 a.m. service, greeting each other with smiles, handshakes and hugs.

Several Mormons - members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - filed into the service and settled into pews among Deeper Life members.

Money fluttered into brass buckets and small, green velvet bags, the offerings sandwiched between choruses of gospel music.

Melvin Jefferson began preaching about 10:45 a.m.

He told his followers God commands that they obey the law, ``even if the law is wrong.''

Jefferson said he never told people he was perfect. He said Deeper Life members are his credentials for being a bishop and he talked about continuing to take in the downtrodden.

Smiling, Jefferson said he is getting more air time and newspaper coverage than President Bush. He said Deeper Life gained several new supporters, with donations increasing 90 percent.

``They really helped us,'' Jefferson said.

WFLA reporter Peter Bernard contributed to this story. Reporter Will Rodgers can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

http://tampatrib.com/nationworldnews/MGAXKC216LD.html