Deals: Religious, Retail and Raw

Praise the Lord! You can be fishers of men and enjoy all manners of fish in Tustin. You can also satisfy your longings for worldly goods. In fact, the city suits those activities to a T--as in Trinity Broadcasting Network, Tustin Market Place and Tommy’s Sushi.

11 A.M. : 1

The national headquarters of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which operates hundreds of television stations worldwide, is located in a complex of four buildings in Tustin; the “Praise the Lord” cable show, a.k.a. “PTL,” is taped in one of them.

The network has been in the news of late--this summer over fund-raising for its legal battle with the FCC, which ruled in 1995 that TBN set up a sham minority corporation to take advantage of licensing preferences, and earlier this year when it yanked Pat Boone’s weekly “Gospel America” show after the singer, outfitted in heavy-metal garb, appeared on national television.

Tours of the facilities begin in the Main Lobby Building. First stop is a small prayer chapel with biblical scenes painted on the walls and ceilings. The production department lobby uses replicas of regal French furniture, mirrored walls and a burgundy-and-gold color scheme typical of the complex’s public spaces.

Photos in a hallway show president and founder Paul Crouch at TBN stations in Israel, Russia and the Middle East; his wife, Jan, appears in some shots wearing makeup approaching that of erstwhile televangelist Tammy Baker.

On the grounds en route to Studio C are two satellite dishes and angel statues. (The theme may be heavenly bodies.) Inside, the “PTL” set ceiling has scores of studio lights.

“It’s like the sun when these are turned on,” said Angie McZeal, who led a recent tour. Just as McDonald’s tracks the billions of burgers it has sold, a counter tallies the souls PTL has saved (8,071,429 as of last week). The stage has a faux marble table and grand staircase.

To be a member of the PTL audience, phone Monday at 3 p.m. for the week’s schedule; taping typically begins at 7 p.m. weeknights.

The C.M. Ward Library focuses on Christian literature but also has Civil War books and is open to the public 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. TBN’s Trinity Christian Center worships in a small chapel with cathedral-like elements.

TBN, by the way, plans to open an entertainment complex in Costa Mesa in the fall, featuring three “virtual reality” theaters (showing films about Jesus and Paul) as well as a bistro and a bookstore. No word yet as to whether movies will be screening in Igod, the biggest format of all. (“Better than Omnimax--it’s Omniscient!”)

NOON: 2

We live in the material world, and scores of stores at vast Tustin Market Place can help you in that department; the center also offers eateries and cinemas.

Mulling over matters of faith? Maybe check out “A History of God,” “Pagans and Christians” or “Fundamentalism Observed” at Barnes & Noble or Bookstar.

Those hoping to be fishers of fish be warned: Chick’s Sporting Goods carries no such equipment.

1 P.M.: 3

Not far away are Tony’s Sea Landing and a local favorite, Tommy’s Sushi, so unobtrusively tucked away behind Tony’s that it’s practically impossible to find. Persevere: Tommy’s offers great sushi and tremendous values at lunch. (Seatings for lunch stop at 1:45 p.m., however, so marathon shoppers should consider the 3 p.m. TBN tour and dinner at Tommy’s.)

All lunches come with soup and a small salad and a choice of brown or white rice. Lady’s Choice ($5.50) includes a glass of wine, shrimp and salmon sushi, a California roll and a winning salad of orange, avocado, turnip and broccoli that comes with a little U.S. flag and Japanese umbrella.

Business People Special ($5.95) includes shrimp and vegetable tempura, yakitori barbecue, Gyoza dumpling, egg custard, sesame chicken, California roll, broccoli and fruit.

The sushi lunch ($6.95) offers seven kinds of sushi and a hand roll cut into five servings.

Recent specials listed behind the sushi bar included “Chuck Norris” and “Clam Pizza.”

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1) Trinity Broadcasting Network

Main Lobby Building, 14131 Chambers Road, (714) 832-2950.

Tours at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.

2) Tustin Marketplace

2777 El Camino Real, (714) 730-4124.

Most stores and restaurants open daily 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Call for individual hours.

3) Tommy’s Sushi

1051 E. Main St., (714) 669-2969.

Open for lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Open for dinner 5-10 p.m. daily.

Parking: There is ample free parking in lots at each location.

Buses: OCTA Bus Nos. 65, 67 and (on Saturdays) 71 stop at Tustin Marketplace and at the corner of Newport and Bryan avenues.