DAYTON - From 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Friday, praise and worship can be heard in the food court at Salem Mall. The group, headed by recording artist/musician Lee Behnken, has been performing since March. With one amp, bass, acoustic guitar and music stand, the group belts out the musical messages and words of God.
The response has been very positive so far. Only one business in the mall had complained, and it is no longer there. "Most people stop and listen for a while. Most people are glad we're here, because it's very different to see people singing in a mall, especially Christian music. We've even had a couple of Goth or alternative [people] stop and listen," Behnken said.
The mall wants to bring back positive press. It had developed a reputation for being in the "bad" part of town and having a high crime rate. According to a study published by the Dayton Daily News, however, the Salem Mall actually is the safest mall in Dayton.
Behnken and his partner, Bill Hoer, prayed at the mall, asking that they would be able to help bring customers back and eliminate the dark cloud that hovered over Salem. Some people are still leery of the name itself. "Salem Mall puts a picture in people's minds and, for many, it's a bad one," Behnken said. "We want people to know they can come during the day or night and feel safe walking to or from their cars or in the mall itself."
Behnken is a world-traveled musician, having played in China, Japan and the Philippines. He was inspired to sing at the mall while in the Philippines on the island of Mindanao. "It's a miracle that we're here," he said of the mall. "We're the first religious group that's been allowed to be here."
The audience has expanded from passers-by to people who attend every Friday night. Behnken's group has been instrumental in teaching others about Christ.