Inland Empire Edition Vol. 22, No. 10
October 2011
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Archeology
Community
Branding faith: Sharing your story in a media-driven culture
230 tons of dirt, debris removed from ancient Canaanite water system
Christian radio icon Rich Buhler retires from hosting radio show
page 4
page 11
page 14
FREE
Phil Cooke
Cell’n out for God Inmate turns life around, heads up Protestant ministry in San Quentin By Lori Arnold
A group of teenagers listens to Jeff Slack, author of Adopt: The Option, as he outlines adoption as an alternative to abortion.
The Adoption Option: A curriculum educates high school students about abortion alternative By Patti Townley-Covert CHINO — It’s a familiar story: a high school girl finds out she’s pregnant. “I’m not having this child,” one declared. Her parents and boyfriend supported her decision. Her friends agreed that abortion was the answer. But, after receiving Adopt: The Option training, one boy talked with her about a different possibility. He gave his pregnant friend a card provided by Adopt: The Option. On the cover it said, “Because you are loved ... your friend gave you this card.” Inside, it reminded the girl that she was not alone, saying that “there are good options for you and your unborn child; there are people who understand what
you are feeling.” On the back was a phone number where she could find people who wouldn’t judge her but could answer her questions. According to Jeff Slack, author of Adopt: The Option curriculum, stories like this one started coming in right away after the trainings began. About four years ago, Slack’s extensive background as a youth pastor drew a request to become a general board member for Night Light Christian Adoptions, an international adoption agency in Anaheim. They wanted a representative of student ministries. Despite having no personal background with adoption, Slack accepted. Over time, he said he began to real-
SAN QUENTIN — Robert Lott makes no excuses for his austere surroundings. It’s the price to be paid for a life derailed by bad choices and drug addiction. Even his Christian upbringing failed to reign in his rebellion. “He’d be good for three or four months then he’d get back on the drugs,” said his father Andy Lott, a retired firefighter. After each cycle of incarceration— sometimes jail, sometimes prison— the younger Lott, a graduate of a Southern California Christian high school, would seek out a construction job, work diligently at sobriety, become depressed, relapse and then often steal to finance the next buzz, his father said. “He’d tell his mom, ‘Do not pray for me’ because she would pray that he would get caught and he always did,” his dad said. “That was a blessing because he didn’t fry any brain cells.” Years later, the father still hears his son’s mantra ricocheting around in his head. “Dad, you don’t know how good the high feels,” Robert would tell his disappointed father. “I’m thinking, ‘I’m high on life. I don’t need anything else in my life. I love the Lord,’” the elder Lott said. The Lord, however, was the farthest thing from Robert Lott’s mind when he broke into a resi-
A team of spiritual leaders pray over Robert Lott at a ceremony marking his ordination at San Quentin.
Three strikes: Critics of California sentencing law say it’s time for reform ..........3 dential garage looking for loot to finance his habit. He got caught, and with two priors he qualified for California’s three strikes law. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and shipped off to Centinela State Prison in El Centro. Once inside those walls, Lott said he could no longer escape a most certain reality: “Sometimes God is trying to get a hold of you. How far are you willing to go for God to get your attention?” His father quickly recognized the change of heart.
See ADOPTION, page 8
“God was talking to him,” Andy Lott said. “God put a burden on his heart. Twenty years will get your attention.” With the state now in control of his physical life, Lott finally surrendered his spiritual life. “Before long, my cell was full of guys wanting to hear what I had to say about the Bible,” Lott said. “I told Him, ‘If you are really calling me, I will do what I can to prepare myself for ministry.’” Following through on a promise In the El Centro prison, Robert Lott was asked to serve on the ChapSee INMATE, page 2
Jesus Movement reunion keeps the music playing By Patti Townley-Covert IRVINE — When rock icon Barry McGuire finished his gig at the Whiskey A Go Go, he walked outside and noticed a man chained to a cross. Though it was 40 years ago, McGuire hasn’t forgotten the moment that dramatically impacted his life. “I looked him in the eyes and said, ‘Hey, what’s happening?’ His eyes poured love into me. His eyes said, ‘Are you OK?’ I saw concern, compassion for my well-being. I saw no judgment, no condemnation, no self-righteousness in this man. He was just a guy sitting there. His lips spoke one name, ‘Jesus.’” That incident melted McGuire’s “armor plating.” “I ran around the corner, but He (Jesus) got me,” he said, In 1971, McGuire asked Christ to
PHOTO BY BRAD HODGE
From left, Chuck Girard, Tom Stipes, Barry McGuire, Karen Lafferty and Mike MacIntosh share stories backstage.
be his Savior. Ron Strand, founder of the Upper Room ministries, which organized a recent Jesus Movement reunion at Concordia University, said McGuire was one of the “first musi-
cal legends who came to Christ during the Jesus Movement.” Because McGuire was a “noted icon in the folk rock community, for him to become a Christian was a big deal.” Soon after McGuire’s protest
song “Eve of Destruction” became a hit, the Jesus Movement began to spread from the West Coast across the United States and beyond. Mike MacIntosh, senior pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, described the ’60s culture that led to revival among the hippies: “We had a national crisis,” the pastor said. “Universities were on fire. There was a lot of bad coming down. ... God sovereignly answered the prayers of our parents and grandparents. ... Music was the bridge.” For McGuire becoming a Christian meant leaving Hollywood for good. “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do,” he said. “I just knew what I’d been doing wasn’t it. We were looking for freedom, so we threw all the rules away.”
Consequences brought pain That same lifestyle McGuire chose to leave led to the death of 16 of his friends through drug overdose, suicide and sexually transmitted diseases. Those tragic events deepened his quest for truth. “Freedom is good, but freedom without rules will kill you,” McGuire said, comparing life to the vehicle code. “If you throw the rules away, you’re going to kill yourself and somebody else. There’s a road code for life, and it’s basically the 10 commandments. The two greatest commands, to love God and others, sum up all the rest.” This understanding gave McGuire the answer to the “Eve of Destruction,” and he began singing about new life. Among his most memorable songs is “Bullfrogs and See REUNION, page 6
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INMATE‌ Continued from page 1 lain Inmate Advisory Committee and he enrolled in a correspondence program through Moody Bible Institute to earn his bachelor’s degree. In 2003 he requested a transfer to San Quentin, the Northern California prison once notorious for its violent underpinnings but now rebuilding its reputation through its educational offerings to counter recidivism. It was there that Robert Lott believed he would have the best resources for transformation. “It’s been a time of surrender, realizing that I can’t live my life on my own,â€? he said in a phone interview from San Quentin. “When you are on the bottom, there is nowhere else to look but up.â€? His studies at San Quentin have included leadership coursework through Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and general education classes with Patten University. Four years ago he finished his bachelor’s degree and the following year he was ordained through American Evangelical Christian Churches. Not long after starting a God
Robert Lott, who is serving time for burglary, has earned a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute while incarcerated. Here he is all smiles at his ordination service at San Quentin.
Chaser Bible study at San Quentin, and assisting the chaplain with Protestant worship services at the Garden Chapel Christian Fellowship, the only formally established church inside a California prison, Lott found himself at the spiritual helm after the institution lost its
chaplain. “He was pretty much running the chapel himself,� said the Rev. Doug Schlemmer, missions coordinator for American Evangelical Christian Churches, a denominational licensing and ordination ministry. “Talk about leaving it to the in-
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mates.� About 250 inmates attend the weekly chapel services. “This body is not just a chapel, but it’s a body of believers,� Robert Lott said of his congregation.
house religion,’ but I can truly say that for Bob and the men of the Garden Chapel Christian Fellowship of San Quentin, they are genuinely committed to Jesus Christ,� the pastor said.
Heart for the Kingdom Mike Bonnel, a retired San Francisco fire chief, who donates as much as 30 hours a week at San Quentin, said he’s impressed with Robert Lott’s commitment to the Kingdom. A former drug user who cleaned himself up after converting to Christianity 38 years ago, Bonnel said he is quick to see through false fronts. “When I meet somebody it’s easy for me to recognize the redeeming power of Christ in their life,� the prison volunteer said. “He’s definitely an upright guy. I’m not into painting pictures that are not true.� He said that once inmates understand the redeeming power of Christ, their conversion is often dramatic. “They know they’ve been forgiven greatly and their lives have been changed forever,� Bonnel said. “Bob has a guy’s heart. He’s been totally transformed. I see it in his speech, I see it in how he deals with people, how he shares Christ.� Robert Lott is equally impressed with Bonnel’s commitment, saying his efforts reflect the true heart of prison ministry. “Going into the prison and leading (the inmates) in church is not really prison ministry to me,� he said. “Prison ministry is helping them to transition inside, helping their families.�
To Judea and beyond That commitment to Christ and the Kingdom extends well beyond the armed gates of the prison. Several years ago, spurred on by the Great Commission and seeking to expand the prisoners’ ministry reach, Robert Lott formed Beyond the Walls, a missions and prayer ministry supported by the inmates. The prisoners—who donate the 19 cents to 35 cents an hour they earn from prison labor—have distributed more than $20,000 to various projects in the Philippines, Spain, Africa and India. “I can’t go beyond these walls, but there are other groups out there that I can support,� said Lott, adding that the group conducts prayer vigils as the need arises. Through Beyond the Walls, the inmates have also contributed to local food banks and Sleep Train’s program for foster children. “He’s done a phenomenal job of raising funds for missions and the soup kitchens in the area, making sure all the prisoners had gifts for their kids at Christmas to taking pictures of the inmates to send to their families,� Schlemmer, the AECC mission coordinator, said. “Here are these guys, inside, thinking of us on the outside.� There are other ways that Robert Lott’s reach is extending past the prison. Schlemmer recalled another inmate who was trained under Lott and then transferred to a prison in San Luis Obispo. “That guy is probably going to be ordained,� he said. “It hasn’t just stopped with San Quentin. That’s good discipleship. It’s crazy. It’s snowballing, but in a good direction, and I’m just watching it from the outside. Beall, the Golden Gate leadership administrator, agreed with Schlemmer’s assessment. “There’s a cadre of men just like him who are coming to live a Christ-like life inside the prison, no matter what other inmates might say or do,� Beall said. Some might call it confirmation of what can happen when we take time to listen to the Master. “It’s become a recognition of God’s call on my life,� Lott said. “It sounds like boasting, but my fingerprints are all over the place, and a lot of the guys realize the things I brought.� Lott, still several years away from his release date, said he’s thankful for all the doors opened by the Lord and that he’s hoping to someday serve on a pastoral staff—if someone is willing to take a chance on an ex-con. “The thing about prison is it’s a stigma that will never leave,� Lott said. “People will say you are forgiven, but it’s still a stigma. There are a lot of good people in here who have just done the wrong thing.�
Pursuing leadership training As part of his vision for transforming lives, Robert Lott has been working with officials at Golden Gate Theological Seminary to get inmates plugged into its Contextualized Leadership Development program, which he himself completed. Having now secured special permission from prison officials, he hopes to soon begin work on his master’s degree through the seminary’s North Bay School of Theology at San Quentin. Last year, the seminary conferred degrees to four inmates, many encouraged by Robert Lott. “He has a great heart for training leaders for the Kingdom and the church,� said Don Beall, who administrates the seminary’s leadership program. “He did help us to recruit people to help them become the leaders God has called them to be.� Morris A. Curry Jr., a pastor and former chaplain at San Quentin, said during his tenure at the Bay Area facility that his goal was to “provide as much semblance to a Christian church experience as possible in order to help men understand how congregations functioned so that when they returned to society they would be in a position to function as biblically literate members.� “Some people often dismiss an inmate’s profession of faith as ‘jail
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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 3
Three strikes is no game Critics of California sentencing law say it’s time for reform By Lori Arnold SAN QUENTIN — When Southern California native Robert Lott was arrested for his third felony, California’s stringent three strikes law assured him of a long sentence: 20 years for burglary. One of his former cellmates, also a third-striker, is doing life for stealing $40. Robert’s father, Andy, believes the law needs reforming. “He got sentenced to 20 years, which is ridiculous,” he said. “There are people serving less time for killing someone. The Lord has a plan. If it wasn’t for believing that God was in control, I’d be bitter.” In instances of nonviolent offenses, the law, enacted in 1994 by California voters, strips the opportunity of leniency when it may be warranted by circumstances. In those cases, they say, justice becomes hard-core retribution. “California’s three strikes law is the harshest in the nation,” said Pat Nolan of Justice Fellowship, a prison reform project of the highly respected Prison Fellowship. “When most voters approved it they thought the three strikes would be for violent or serious felonies. The way it was written it could be for any crime. That’s very draconian. Obviously, someone who has committed three crimes has a serious problem and society needs to deal with that, but in a way that is commensurate with the crime they’ve done.” Nolan is a former California assemblyman who was sentenced to prison for racketeering. The former law-andorder Republican said life inside the penitentiary proved to be as much about injustice as justice. “It really opened my eyes about how little was being done to help the inmates to rehabilitate,” the former legislator said. “They were being warehoused rather than taught to be law-abiding citizens when they get out.” It was primarily prison volunteers, most of them Christians, who were working diligently to help prisoners transform their lives and prepare for a clean start upon release, the former lawmaker said. “There are very, very dangerous people who need to be separated from society,” Nolan said. “The public has the right to protect itself, but we need to leave open the possibility that some can indeed change and turn their life around. Sometimes people can be pretty stingy about it.” Supporters of modifying the law said its shortcomings are especially glaring in light of serious state budget shortfalls and a recent U.S. Supreme Court order to release as many as 40,000 prisoners because of overcrowding. The three strikes law prevents any of the nonviolent offenders from being eligible for early release under that order. “Unfortunately, the law doesn’t allow that unless the governor commutes the sentence or an appeals court overturns the conviction,” Nolan said. A flawed system? Mike Bonnel, a Christian who volunteers at San Quentin as much as 30 hours a week, said he has changed his mind about the law, especially after watching Robert Lott and his in-prison ministry. During his time in prison, Lott has earned a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute, is poised to start his master’s degree, is leading the prison church and has established a ministry to support missions outside the walls of the Northern California correctional facility. “Our system is so bad, and it’s the one I voted for,” the retired fire chief said. “I thought the third strike was for
violent crimes. The whole system needs to be reworked. “I think if anybody is ready to get out its Bob. He’s ready to move on and live his life.” Pastor Morris A. Curry Jr., who once served as the Protestant chaplain at the prison, agreed, saying society stands to benefit from Lott’s heart. “I can’t wait for his release to occur because his contribution to the cause of Christ will be an asset to any pastor or congregation,” Curry said. The three strikes project Michael Romano, a Stanford law professor, agrees with Nolan that the law needs to be changed. Citing a June 30, 2011 report by the California Department of Corrections, 8,783 people have been sentenced to life through three strikes since its inception, and of that number, more than half—4,704—committed a nonviolent crime. And last year, California’ s state auditor issued a report estimating that the cost to incarcerate three strikers over the next 25 years to be $4.8 million—about $200 million annually. “These are usually minor, nonviolent crimes of poverty and desperation,” the professor said. “It’s especially egregious when serious and violent criminals are being released early because of the prison overcrowding.” Romano, who said he believes the law as it is written is “morally reprehensible, unconscionable and unconstitutional,” established the Stanford Three Strikes Project, a two-pronged approach that includes seeking reduced sentences for inmates sentenced to life for nonviolent third strikes and advocating for three strikes law reform through such avenues as the courts, legislation and the executive branch. As part of Stanford’s inmate project, the university’s law students investigate viable cases, write briefs and argue the cases in court. Because of limited resources, they handle about 15 cases at time. To date, he’s received about 5,000 requests for assistance from inmates. Among the cases in which a inmate received a life sentence include someone who stole a $2 pair of socks, a man forging his signature on a DMV test, theft of a check used in an attempt to purchase a slice of pizza, a man who broke into a soup kitchen to get something to eat and numerous cases of possession of a small amount of drugs. One man received a third strike for abetting by telling an undercover cop where he could buy drugs. Standard sentencing guidelines for murder, Romano said, are 25 years to life. Momentum changing? Although approved by voters by a 72 percent to 28 percent margin through 1994’s Proposition 184, momentum appears to be building for a modification of the law. “It was promoted as a way to keep murderers and child molesters behind bars where they belong,” Romano said. In 2004, voters narrowly, by 52.7 percent, rejected Proposition 66, an attempt to amend the law. A telephone survey in June of 950 registered voters conducted by the independent Field Poll found that 74 percent of voters support modifying the law “to give judges and juries more discretion in deciding the sentences given to persons convicted of a third felony as a way to ease prison overcrowding.” While voters may be inclined to make some adjustments to three strikes, the existing law still enjoys widespread support, especially in law enforcement circles. Those op-
posing Proposition 66 include the California Police Chiefs Association, California District Attorneys Association, Prevent Child Abuse California, National Tax Limitation Committee, California Sexual Assault Investigators Association, California State Sheriffs Association, Mothers Against Gang Violence, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Marc Klaas of the Klaas Kids Foundation. Those groups argue that while a third strike may be nonviolent, in most instances those being prosecuted as third-strike offenders have a long criminal history, including previous violent strikes. Grace, they said, should have its limitations. “We are not claiming that they shouldn’t be punished, but that the punishment fits the crime,” Romano said, saying that many of those sentenced for third strikes are developmentally disabled, uneducated or homeless addicts. Many are
products of the state foster system and little family support. “Many times when my students go see their clients in prison they are the first person to visit them ever,” Romano said. “They haven’t seen what the visiting room looks like, and we are talking about people who have been in there 11, 12, 15 years. “They are pretty hopeless. They have been written off by everybody.” A biblical perspective Like Romano, Nolan said he’s hopeful another push will be made to modify the law and that evangelicals need to carefully reflect on how they respond to the three strikes question and the wider issue of mandatory minimums, which can also limit judges when it comes time for sentencing of nonviolent offenders. “The same biblical principles apply, but no punishment should do
more harm than what was done to the victim,” Nolan said. “Eye-for-aneye was meant to restrain horrific crimes of retribution.” He added that there should always be a consideration for a second chance, or in this case a fourth chance, because people do change. “Justice should always be tempered with mercy and grace,” the former inmate said. “A lot of Christians supported (the law). I don’t think they realize how extraordinarily harsh this law is. It does seem to be over the top. “As Christians, that is one of our jobs, to remind (society) of Jesus’ sacrifice and what He did for us and forgiving our sins.” For more information on Nolan’s organization, visit www.justicefellowship.org. For more information on the Stanford project, visit www.stanford. edu and type Stanford Three Strikes Project in the search box.
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Branding faith: Sharing your story in a media-driven culture Throughout the history of the church, pastors, leaders and Christian communicators have struggled against the various cultures in which they found themselves. For the early church, it was the brutal Roman occupation. For Europe during the 17th century, it Phil was the Protestant vs. Catholic conflict. For the German church of the 1940’s it was Nazi oppression. In every case, any believer who attempted to present their message in a relevant way knew they had to recognize and understand the cultural framework of the time in order to be a more effective communicator. Today, churches and ministries struggle under our present cultural framework—the power of global media. The media’s influence in our lives is pervasive, and today, education, business, religion, leisure, science, even family life, are all measured against that influence. The answer to who is influencing you is the same as who’s influencing the culture. It’s the media. Media is culture. Today, researchers tell us that we’re being bombarded by more than 5,000 advertising messages a day. The average family in America watches TV and surfs the web between 7 to 8 hours per day. In fact, by the time a typical young person reaches 18 years of age, they’ve already seen more than 100,000 beer commercials alone on television. That’s why our challenge today is how to express our faith in a media-dominated culture. How to tell our story alongside the maddening swirl of media “clutter”—TV, radio, computer, digital music player, Internet, mobile phone and other technologies competing for our attention. How do we get the message of the church heard through the massive and growing wave of media static out there? We need to move far beyond the typical communication techniques of the past, and create a powerful strategy for reaching the most distracted audience in the history of
the world. Essentially, it’s about getting our message heard. It’s about telling our story, and making that story connect with your audience. A brand new world What is a brand? It’s simply telling a compelling story about a Cooke product, person or organization. In other words, what do people think of when they think of you? What is the story that surrounds your life and ministry? What does that story mean to your church, congregation, or community? Ultimately, the key to effective branding is that a successful brand isn’t what you say it is, it’s what they say it is. For instance, it doesn’t matter if your pastor is the most gifted leader in the community if people think he’s a con-artist. It won’t matter that you’re a brilliant preacher if your congregation thinks you’re a hack. And it certainly won’t matter that a humanitarian organization is global if nobody’s ever heard of it. In other words, it’s about perception. Telling an effective story about your church, ministry, project or yourself, begins with understanding the power of perception. In a media-driven culture, perception can be even more important than reality, because with the advent of technology, word travels fast. Whether it’s a simple email message or text message that’s forwarded exponentially to everyone in your address book, a viral video that’s distributed though the web or the convenience of cell phones, in the digital age, it’s tough to keep a lid on bad news, as various American presidents have discovered with White House leaks. A better story Nike’s brand is one of the most powerful in business. Just line up eight to 10 different pairs of tennis shoes—Nike, Adidas, Converse, Fila, New Balance, or more. The fact is, they’re almost all made from the same materials, and truth be told, most are probably made in the
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Distribution Coordinators: James Calley, Kim Baker Copyright © 2011 Selah Media Group The Christian Examiner, formerly known as the Christian Times and first established in 1983, is an independent Christian newspaper published monthly by Selah Media Group with an audience of Evangelical Christians. It is available in five regional editions throughout Southern California and Northwest Washington. In Minnesota, the paper is called the Minnesota Christian Chronicle. All our regional newspapers are available without charge at Christian bookstores, churches, and Christian businesses. Mail subscriptions are $19.95/year. The combined press run monthly is 174,000 copies. The Christian Examiner welcomes press releases and news of interest that is relevant to our readership. All unsolicited material is subject to the approval of the publishers and is not returned. Viewpoints expressed in the Christian Examiner are those of their respective writers, and are not necessarily held by the publishers. Advertising in the Christian Examiner is open to anyone desiring to reach the Christian community. Reasonable effort is made to screen potential advertisers, but no endorsement of the publishers is implied or should be inferred. The publishers can accept no responsibility for the products or services offered through advertisements. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Deadline for submission of ad copy, calendar events, and articles is the 15th of the month preceding publication for the San Diego edition and the 18th for the other editions. Address all correspondence to: Christian Examiner, P. O. Box 2606, El Cajon, CA 92021 Phone (619) 668-5100 • Fax: (619) 668-1115 • E-mail: info@christianexaminer.com
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Unless we can learn to tell our story more effectively, people of faith will continue to be seen as out of touch and irrelevant. same factory in China. So what’s the difference? Nike tells a better story. When Nike released it’s latest “Air Jordan” shoe, thousands of teenaged boys stood in line at Nike stories across the country for up to five days to get their hands on the shoes—some in freezing weather. Were the shoes that terrific? The reviewers say no. So why did they line up? The power of a compelling story. But, is branding biblical? I believe Jesus was very deliberate about his perception throughout his life on the earth: • Jesus came to earth in a different way than people expected. They wanted a king and He came in a manger. • He preached a different message than people expected. They wanted a revolution and He preached a message of love. • When one of His best friends was dying, against the wishes of his
friends, Jesus took his time getting to Lazarus. • He healed a man, then told him not to tell anyone. • He carefully chose the men who would be His closest associates. • During the height of His popularity, He withdrew to remote places to be alone. • He chose the method of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. • When He could have escaped in the garden, He told Peter to stop fighting and quietly allowed Himself to be arrested. • During the events that led to his execution, He even controlled the interrogation of Pilate by only responding to certain questions. Jesus had a purpose and plan for his life, and he refused to let others determine his destiny or how He would be perceived. Guiding perceptions Someone once said that if you
don’t control your perception, you’ll live the rest of your life at the mercy of others who will. Who will write the story of your life and ministry? Will you leave your own legacy, or wait for others to create it for you? There’s more at stake here than most people realize. The culture wars between secular and religious ideals are tearing this country—and many parts of the world—apart. Unless we can learn to tell our story more effectively, people of faith will continue to be seen as out of touch and irrelevant. The competition facing churches today seems overwhelming, but understanding the media’s influence will change the way you look at sharing your faith, through a casual conversation, a live sermon, or even through media programming like radio, TV or the web. After all, in the new media world, every believer now has the technology, the opportunity, and the calling to communicate his or her faith with the hope of changing the world. Cooke is a Ph.D, producer and media strategist. His new book is “Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Impact the Culture and Others Don’t” by Regal Publishing. Find out more at philcooke.com.
Legislative Update
Compromise and the battle of worldviews By Rebecca Burgoyne SACRAMENTO — As politicians argue their perspectives—both in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.—news analysts and citizen activists call for compromise. After all, children learn at the earliest ages they need to “share” and get along with friends, and businessmen learn the art of the deal in which each side benefits and each side loses. Yet the power grabs in the state capital continue, and citizens wonder why their elected representatives can’t find some common ground. C.S. Lewis said it well: “There is no question of compromise between the claims of God and the claims of culture, or politics, or anything else. God’s claim is infinite and inexorable.” What Lewis was describing—and what we see in culture and politics—is a battle of worldviews between traditional, biblical views and autonomous individualism. Compromise is seldom possible when it comes to defining beliefs. Compromise is not possible when defining marriage or family or supporting life made in the image of God, and many of the goals of our political elite run contrary to the principles of Scripture. California’s Democratic-majority Legislature is intent on reshaping California’s culture, making absent the wisdom of biblical truth. In summation, they are working overtime to stamp their worldview on culture and in law, reshaping California to solidify homosexual and abortion rights and to deny the rights of parents to raise their children without government interference. We saw this earlier in the year with the passage—and signing—of Senate Bill 48, Leno, D-San Francisco, legislation demanding children
as young as 5 years old be introduced to homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism through school history lessons. Sadly, SB 48 was just the tip of the iceberg. This session alone, legislators have passed more than a dozen bills that promote the homosexual lifestyle. These bills—many of which are currently on the governor’s desk—expand school bullying policies to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lifestyles, ease the requirements for transgender individuals to apply for amended birth certificates, expand domestic partnership rights, require most health-care personnel to complete LGBT sensitivity training and make sweeping changes to California law, redefining gender to mean “a person’s gender identity and gender expression.” Additionally, legislators passed Assembly Bill 499, Atkins, D-San Diego, which allows minors to circumvent parental authority and consent to medical care related to the prevention or treatment of a sexually transmitted disease. The focus of the legislation is to allow teens to receive the hepatitis-B and the controversial human papilloma-virus or HPV vaccines without parental knowledge. Promoting special rights The final days in the 2011 legislative session evidenced the battle, as we saw many proDemocrat power grabs surface in bills that promoted special rights for unions and homosexuals. Legislators attempted to increase their own election odds with measures that hamstring the people’s right to the initiative process—used increasingly by conservatives to take issues directly to the people and avoid
the toxic legislative climate. One bill that materialized in the final hours of session would move all initiatives to the November election, barring them from appearing on primary or special election ballots. November yields a bigger turnout, enhancing the chance that Democrats will vote. With a Democrat in the governor’s office, many long-shelved organized labor, personal injury and environmental measures were dusted off in hopes that these agendas might find success this year. Democrats do not want their polar political opposites to have that opportunity. Watching the governor Focus now turns to the governor, who has until Oct. 9 to act on the hundreds of measures that reached his desk. He can sign, veto or allow legislation to become law without action on his part. Legislators, currently home in their districts, will return to the Capitol in January for the second year of the 2011-12 legislative session. The first order of business will be two-year bills, legislation that passed its house of origin but is still under consideration in the second chamber. Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, then-President George W. Bush said, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” Perhaps, in light of the many sweeping changes being made in Sacramento that affect California’s families, we will finally revolt against a Legislature implementing its own—not the people’s—agenda. Burgoyne is a research analyst with the California Family Council.
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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 5
Google: Some nonprofits are more equal than others For years, Google has made its office software and Gmail programs available to individuals for free and to qualifying nonprofits—including religious organizations—at a discount. Now, however, Christianity Today reports those days are Chuck over for some. Google has grouped several of its tools into a “Google for Nonprofits” program—and “schools, political think tanks, so-called proselytizing groups, churches, and organizations that take religion or sexual orientation into account in hiring,” are excluded from free or discounted access. Christianity Today says that one reason for this “some-nonprofitsare-more-equal-than-others” treatment of churches is due to a fear of offending potential customers.
Colson
Haven’t we seen this kind of corporate cowardice before? You’ll no doubt recall how last year Apple dropped the Manhattan Declaration’s iPhone app because some gay-rights activists wrongly complained that the Declaration’s support of traditional marriage
was anti-gay. And earlier this summer, Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, withdrew as the keynote speaker from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit because of threats from, yes, you guessed it, more gay-rights activists. Presumably, Google made its office tools available to nonprofits at a discount because nonprofits provide beneficial services to society—and visibly supporting charity is good public relations and good business. But is Google now saying that those societal
…[churches] aren’t asking for special treatment from Google or anyone else— just equal treatment. benefits count for less than the easily offended sensibilities of a small minority of its potential customers? Remember, churches and religious organizations provide an incredible amount of needed services to their communities—and flourishing communities make for better business environments. Professor Ram Cnaan, from the University of Pennsylvania, estimates that the average urban congregation provides over $476,000 worth of social services to its community every year. This includes nearly $95,000
of volunteer hours worked; $79,000 dollars in economic benefits for drugs and alcohol treatment; $22,500 worth of divorce prevention, plus other economic stimulus for crime prevention, and so on. Ironically as well much of it goes to helping people with AIDS. And in almost every case, such church aid is not contingent on the recipient’s beliefs. When you multiply that kind of help by the 300,000 or so churches that exist in the United States—some urban, others suburban and rural—you can see
that churches are major social service providers. And many of those churches operate on a shoestring budget: The discounts they once received from Google and still receive from other companies make a difference. Yes, churches, if they are about the business of the gospel, will attempt to win their friends and neighbors to faith in Christ. And, yes, they will defend their beliefs in the public square. But they aren’t asking for special treatment from Google or anyone else—just equal treatment. Christianity Today reports that Google is continuing to “evaluate” its new program. Let’s hope that Google takes a good, serious look at the great benefits of religious organizations to their communities and also recognizes the difference between tolerance and repression. © 2011 Prison Fellowship. Reprinted with permission. “BreakPoint with Chuck Colson” is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship.
Proper role of government: Empowering people to catch up In my high school days, before sex and environmental education and the general dumbing down of the population, memorization of some Shakespeare was expected in Miss Kauffman’s 12th-grade English class. A favorite I still recall is this line spoken by Brutus in “Julius Caesar”: “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries...” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., repeatedly says in various ways it is too soon, or he isn’t ready, for higher office, such as vice president. He’s been in the Senate for a little more than seven months and has delivered only two major speeches—his maiden speech on the Senate floor and one in late August at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. In the Reagan Library speech, Rubio laid out his philosophical foundation, something that must be at the heart of any policy. Defining the proper role of government ought to be the central issue in the coming presidential campaign. Indeed, it should occupy our thoughts between campaigns be-
The 9th Circuit kicked the doors down Praise the Lord for the information in your September 2011 issue concerning the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the SDSU nondiscrimination case. I believe the court’s decision to reinforce the university’s nondiscrimination policy presents Christians with two positive benefits. First, it will wean collegiate clubs off of the government dole, and place them squarely where they ought to be: dependent upon God and the church. By doing that the university’s Christian club is able to prohibit members who do not truly love God. Secondly, the 9th Circuit has simultaneously kicked down the doors of the atheist, the LGBT and any other clubs who must allow Christians to join or risk losing their government funding. I suggest that mature Christian students have been given the
tion on the face of the Earth can fund or afford to pay for. An extraordinary tragic accomplishment, if you can call it that.”
cause those of us who pay income tax are not getting a good return on our investment. Here’s Rubio: “We have the opportunity—within our lifetimes— to actually craft a proper role for government in our nation that will allow us to come closer than any Americans have ever come to our collective vision of a nation where both prosperity and compassion exist side by side.” That takes the “compassionate conservatism” of George W. Bush to a different level. To Rubio, prosperity is not the opposite of compassion. Rather, the two are—or should be—joined. Prosperity provides the means by which people can be compassionate to those truly
in need, such as the disabled and elderly. It is also the ticket out of dependency for people who can work but have been robbed of their dignity by addiction to a government check. Dignity leads to many other character qualities, which advance the true welfare of an individual, benefiting society. Someone with dignity, self-regard and respect for others is unlikely to take part in a flash mob attack. Rubio points to a path beyond the familiar “either-or” debate; beyond envy of the wealthy and multiple and ineffective programs to liberate the “poor.” This repetitive scenario has produced, said Rubio, “a government that not even the richest and most prosperous na-
America offers. And our programs to help them should reflect that.” If this is not a speech that lays the foundation for a RuThe Republican role bio run for higher Rubio went further office, it is a speech than what might be that ought to begin a expected of a Repubmajor transition from Cal Thomas lican, acknowledging costly and ineffective his party is partly responsible for government programs to a renewed the growth of government: “I know empowerment of individuals. that it is popular in my party to No one, perhaps not even Rubio, blame the president, the current can know for certain whether he is president. But the truth is the only “ready” for higher office. President thing this president has done is ac- Obama has proven he wasn’t ready. celerate policies that were already Some leaders don’t know they can in place and were doomed to fail. lead until leadership is thrust upon All he is doing through his poli- them. The right philosophy is key cies is making the day of reckon- and the Reagan Library speech ing come faster, but it was coming proves that Rubio has the most imnonetheless.” portant ingredient of any leader: And then there is this, which vision. Read it, be inspired and shatters the left’s stereotype about then consider whether Rubio’s tide the right: “Conservatism is not is rising. To read the speech, visit about leaving people behind. Con- www.weeklystandard.com and type servatism is about empowering Rubio Reagan Library speech in people to catch up, to give them search box. the tools ... that make it possible for © 2011 Tribune Media Services them to access all the hope, all the promise, all the opportunity that Inc.
“green light” to join such clubs and evangelize in them. Raymond Saenz Valley Center, Calif.
irrationality of political correctness evil will be presented as good and good as evil (Isaiah 5:20). This tension will be recognized in the critical-thinking class as well. An unproven “homosexual orientation” has arbitrarily and illogically been placed in the category pertaining to race in the Education Code. The strategy is to bamboozle heterosexuals into referring to these people as “gay people,” “gay families,” “gay couples” and “gay community” to give the impression of a minority, which is faulty reasoning. Only a homosexualized-mind that has been bamboozled by the detestable doctrines and perverted practices of same-sex Sodom will think that this retrograde mindset is justified true belief! When GOD’S law is not in the schools they become like Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:9; Romans 9:29). Norman Sturgeon Cypress, Calif.
Truth and eternity Tragedy of tragedies: Truth arrived at by debates, public opinion polls, popularity of various edicts and teaching of different religious groups. “Not to worry; all religions end up in the same place,” produces a sense of security, proved false by the immutable Word of God. Spiritual truth will always disturb and irritate those who will not submit to any claim, disagreeing with “what I have always has been taught.” Truth can be attacked; it cannot be destroyed. The democratic “majority rules” will not suffice for mathematical or spiritual truth.” While religions continue to be divisive, Christianity unites people the world over. Those comprising God’s family are those who have trusted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment in
Conservatism is about… giving them the tools…to access all the hope, all the promise, all the opportunity that America offers.
The faulty thinking of SB48 By passing SB48 California public school students will be getting diverse signals regarding science, critical thinking and “homosexual orientation.” Thoughtful students will point out that since they are being taught to think scientifically, where is the scientifically substantiated, empirically verified, replicatable-proof that “homosexual orientation” is real, other than the wishful thinking of self-deluded homosexuals and their minion-bedfellow heterosexual cohorts? If there is no proof for “homosexual orientation,” then it can’t be scientifically known. If it can’t be scientifically known, then it’s arbitrary and has no place in education! But because of the emotional
full for their sin. To despise and reject Christ’s claim to be the Messiah, the only Savior of the world, is to believe Satan’s lies, and assures eternal doom and darkness. To accuse Christ of trying to “cram His religion down our throats,” will not be an acceptable excuse. Receptivity is a divine command and a sober responsibility. “There is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” If we are void of scriptural understanding we ought to be greatly alarmed. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. He who has the Son has life. These things are written that you may know you have eternal life.” Death is certain. Will we sadly reflect for eternity on what could have been? Richard Ellison Yucaipa, Calif.
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How to personally know God Realize that you are a sinner. No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a good person. That is because we are all sinners. We all fall short of God’s desire for us to be holy. The Bible says, “There is no one righteous—not even one” (Romans 3:10 NIV). This is because we cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ. Recognize that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). This is the Good News, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it. Repent of your sin. The Bible tells us to “repent and turn to God” (Acts 3:19 NIV). The word repent means to change our direction in life. Instead of running from God, we can run toward Him. Receive Christ into your life. Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church. It is having Christ Himself
take residence in your life and heart. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NIV). If you would like to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, simply pray this prayer with complete sincerity. Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen. If you just prayed that prayer and meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart! Your decision to follow Christ means God has forgiven you and that you will spend eternity in heaven. The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV). To put your faith in action, be sure to spend time with God by reading your Bible, praying, getting involved in a Bible-preaching church, and telling others about Christ.
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REUNION… Continued from page 1 Butterflies.” For Tom Stipe, the self-described “bushy-haired preacher at the Saturday night Maranatha concerts,” the Jesus Movement was all about the music. Now pastor of Crossroads Church of Denver, Stipe explained how “the Baby Boom generation (an estimated 77 million teenagers) was saturated in rock music because our generation invented it. There was this undercurrent philosophy that kind of gave birth to everybody writing their own songs.” A special venue When Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, under the leadership of Chuck Smith, gave music a special place, more than a dozen bands and soloists found a church home, Stipe said. These pioneers of contemporary Christian music, like Chuck Girard and Love Song, drew crowds so large they packed a circus tent with nearly 3,000 people every Saturday night. “The influence spread worldwide because there were so many of us.” Girard’s contemporary worship style impacted many performers
PHOTO BY BRAD HODGE
Andraé Crouch, his sister Sandra and their friends lead the audience in worship during the Jesus Movement reunion.
including Karen Lafferty, who said she joined the fellowship of musicians after struggling with an identity crisis. While playing in nightclubs, she couldn’t reconcile the bar scene with her Christian faith. A friend introduced her to Campus Crusade resources, and Lafferty said she got “ego off the throne”
and decided to live for Jesus. Bible studies at the Costa Mesa church took place almost every night of the week, said Lafferty, helping her to live by faith even when she couldn’t pay her rent. “You don’t run away from God during difficult times, you run to Him,” she said. One night after studying Matthew chapter 6, the passage about how God provides for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, Lafferty said she went home and began plucking at her guitar. Then she started singing—words “straight out of the King James Bible.” Later she realized other Bible verses fit with that tune. “We wrote a lot of Scripture songs in those days,” Lafferty said. “It made the words easy to remember.” Those words penetrated hearts and changed lives. The August on-stage reminiscing gathering included powerful renditions of some of the original Christian rock songs—songs that exalted God among the nearly 600 attendees. The audience even sang along when seven-time Grammy awardwinner Andraé Crouch made a rare appearance with his twin sister, Sandra, and several of their friends. A song of the times Transitioning to the future, Strand asked his guests what they see on the horizon. Girard spoke about how evangelism drove the Jesus Movement. “We were out there every opportunity we had to share our faith, play our music, witness to people, share our stories and a lot of that is really gone. ... (Now) we produce a McDonald’s fast-food experience where people can come in and get out real fast to feel that they got fed.” To express his concerns, Girard wrote a new song, “The Heart of America,” which is available for download on www.chuck.org. McGuire said, “The tragedy is that so few people realize they are forgiven. How are they going to know they are forgiven if all they see is condemnation streaming from Christian eyes and judgment screaming from Christian lips?” To reconnect with those who need to hear the truth about Christ’s love, he’s taken his show on the road with “Trippin’ the 60s” tour. For more information see www.trippinthesixties.com. MacIntosh issued a challenge by replacing the saying that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” with “What happens here tonight should not stay here.” Strand said the Upper Room is doing its part by putting out a DVD of the Jesus Movement reunion. For more information, or to find out about upcoming events, visit www.theupperroompresents.com.
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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 7
Actress Nancy Stafford honored for witness within entertainment industry By Dan Wooding Assist News Service BEVERLY HILLS — Nancy Stafford, a 25-year veteran of the TV and big screen, was presented an Ambassador’s Award Sept. 17 during the 13th annual Media Fellowship International Praise Brunch. The award is bestowed to Hollywood insiders for their witness for Christ in the entertainment industry. “I feel overwhelmed,� she told the crowd. “We’re all ambassadors and so I don’t know why I was singled out, but I so appreciate it. We all have the opportunity to bring the light of the Lord into every place that he positions us in and that’s a mandate for everybody.� Over the course of her career, Stafford has had plenty of opportunities to share her faith. Among her most popular roles was five years of playing Michelle opposite attorney Andy Griffith in “Matlock.� She also was a cast member on the Emmy-award winning drama “St. Elsewhere.� She also starred in the ABC series “Sidekicks,� and began her television career as a regular in a dual role on the NBC daytime drama “The Doctors.� The former Miss Florida has been a guest star on numerous shows, with recent appearances on “The Mentalist,� “Judging Amy,� and “ER.� Her movie credits include “Moment of Truth: A Child Too Many� and “Deadly Invasion.� She co-stars with Randy Travis in the feature film “The Wager.� She’s also been the ‘voice’ in numerous projects—from Mattel video games to PBS documentaries. In November, fans can see her at home in her latest film “Christmas with a Capital C,� which will be
available on DVD. The cast for that film includes Ted McGinley, Daniel Baldwin, and comedian Brad Stine. When I asked her about “Christmas with a Capital C,� she explained, “It is about putting our feet to faith and how we can, instead of just fighting for our rights as believers, we can start being the hands and feet of Jesus in the community,� she said while mingling at the event. Although following Christ is firmly at the center of life and career, she admits it wasn’t always the case. “I actually came to faith after I started my career, but I was a lapsed Christian for many, many years,� Stafford said. At the time the actress said she had become a self-professed seeker who looking for answers in all the world religions. “I was a student of Buddhism and Hinduism and Rosicrucianism and the whole New Age gamut,� she said. “I was reading my Bible at the same time, too.
Nancy Stafford starred with Andy Griffith of the former TV hit ‘Matlock.’
Mission city fines couple for home Bible study Christian Examiner staff report SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — A local couple who was fined $300 for holding a Bible study in their home is challenging the city policy, which could result in additional fines of $500 per meeting violation. City officials maintain that Bible studies are the same as churches and, as such, require zoning approval known as a Conditional Use Permit. But the process of securing such a process, which can include environmental review, seismic retrofits and public hearings are lengthy and can often cost thousands of dollars. “Imposing a heavy-handed permit requirement on a home Bible study is outrageous,� said Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, which is representing Chuck and Stephanie Fromm. “In a city so rich with religious history and tradition, this is particularly egregious. An informal gathering in a home cannot be treated with suspicion by the government, or worse than any other gathering of friends, just because it is religious. We cannot allow this to happen in America, and we will fight as long and as hard as it takes to restore this group’s religious freedom.� San Juan Capistrano was founded as a mission in the late 1700s and is home to California’s oldest building still in use, a chapel where Father Junipero Serra celebrated mass.
Fromm said a hearing officer told him that regular gatherings of more than three people require a conditional use permit and that further religious gatherings in the home would be subject to a $500 fine per meeting. The Fromm’s appealed the hearing officer’s decision, but lost, prompting Dacus to turn to the Superior Court. According to Dacus, the Bible study group met on Sunday mornings until its hosts were threatened with further fines by the city. Chuck Fromm said his property was perfectly suited for the gatherings, held inside their family room and patio area, and that there was no noise beyond normal conversation and quiet music on the home stereo system. Dacus said that many of the Fromms’ neighbors have written letters of support, denying they were disturbed by the presence of the Bible study. The group is not affiliated with any particular church, nor is it seeking to establish a church in the home. The Fromm case is the latest in a series of attempts by California cities and counties to restrict religious gatherings in residential areas. In 2009, cases surfaced in Rancho Cucamonga and San Diego County. In both instances, the host families were holding Bible studies in their homes. Government officials in both those cases reversed there initial findings and allowed the studies to continue in the homes without permits.
A new paradise Her life took a dramatic turn in 1984 while she was in Hawaii shooting an episode of “Magnum, P.I.� “I had brought my Bible with me and I had this incredible encounter with the living Lord,� she said. “So right there on a beach in Hawaii, I went rushing into the arms of the one who’s been rushing after me all these years.� It affected more than her spirituality. “It certainly began to radically change the roles that I chose and how I conducted myself in the workplace,� Stafford said. “I began to pray about whether or not to take certain roles. As with all of us, when Christ is really the one informing us of our choices, you may not rise to quite the heights because you know it’s harder to say yes to projects that are anathema to our faith, so I turned down an awful lot of work over the years.� Stafford is not the only artist at home. Larry Myers, her husband of 24 years is a pastor and worship leader who helped to establish the original Vineyard Christian Fellowship. In the ’70s he was a member of the Chuck Girard Band, and as a concert musician appeared with Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake and Palmer), Bernie Leadon (Eagles), Chris Hillman (Byrds), T-Bone Burnett, among others. He has recorded with numerous artists including Bob Dylan, Johnny Rivers, Chuck Girard, Anne Herring, Kevin Prosch, David Ruis, Andy Park. In addition, he has appeared frequently on the Vineyard worship se-
PHOTO BY DAN WOODING
Bob Rieth, founder of Media Fellowship International, visits with actress Nancy Stafford prior to presenting her with this year’s MFI Ambassador’s Award.
ries “Touching the Father’s Heart.� The primary focus of Myer’s ministry has been teaching, counseling and the pastoral care of artists and musicians. A heart for the Middle East While he focuses on the spiritual needs in the industry, Stafford has her eyes and resources cast eastward. Having a longstanding interest and love for the Middle East, Stafford serves on the U.S. board of SAT-7, a Christian satellite television network with programming developed and produced by and for Christians in the Middle East and North Africa. Each week nine million people watch SAT-7, roundthe-clock broadcasting on three channels in Arabic, Turkish and Farsi languages. She has also hosted “Partnering for the Impossible� about SAT-7 satellite television’s im-
pact in the Arab world. In addition to visits to Egypt, Lebanon and Cyprus, she has also visited Israel where she filmed the TV specials “Where Heaven and Earth Meet,� “On Wings of Eagles,� and “Operation Isaiah 58.� Stafford also serves on the Biola University Studio Task Force— a network of 250 entertainment industry professionals who are dedicated to investing in the next generation of writers, directors, producers, actors and crew. A frequent speaker and faculty member at media events nationwide, Stafford also serves on advisory boards for The Dove Foundation and Westside Pregnancy Resource Center. For more information about Strafford’s ministry, visit www. nancystafford.com.
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ADOPTION… Continued from page 1 ize “there’s nobody telling this story to students in the church—what adoption is, how it works and how they might be advocates for the idea if their friends get pregnant.” Within student ministries there are fairly common misconceptions, said Slack, an associate pastor with Inland Hills Church in Chino. Too often it’s believed that the kids are abstinent and that they don’t hang out with anyone who’s not. Yet, “reality shows those of us who have worked around kids, that our kids—whether in public or private school or even homeschooled— there’s a good chance they are going to know someone who gets pregnant, or they will become pregnant themselves. It’s happened in my ministry and to others I know.” Support is critical Slack said the reality is that a 14-year-old kid with no circle of support is going to have a really tough time. With the odds stacked against them and the child, there’s
Jeff Slack leads a training session for the curriculm.
a good chance that the baby will grow up to repeat the cycle. When it comes to options, Slack said that most kids think “they can either keep the baby or have an abortion or, oh yeah, they can place the baby for adoption.” That’s usually the third choice because young people don’t know how adoption
www.christianexaminer.com works or aren’t aware of its benefits. Plus, there’s a stigma frequently attached to this adoption solution. These problems, said Slack, motivated him to partner with Night Light, which offered help with financing the ministry. Night Light also provides a phone number that students can call to receive counseling and discuss the reality of various options. Manned by a Christian counselor 24 hours a day, the call line is a place where students can get straight answers. Slack said he wants the curriculum to be used by as many churches as possible so young people can learn about the biblical perspective. “God even uses adoption to describe his relationship, including us, in his family,” Slack said. “He has special consideration for orphans, those who don’t have parents.” According to Slack, the twohour DVD curriculum includes everything a youth pastor needs to put together an impactful event like the ones already presented in more than 500 churches. There are two biblically based lessons on adoption, a student guide, templates for student commitment
and hand-out cards, and advertising. In addition, the DVD contains ice-breaker games, PowerPoint slides, usable artwork and a parent information letter. Dreams of expansion While Slack said he appreciates the attention that Adopt: The Option has received, he’d like to “see it in at least 10,000 churches!” Modeled after the international True Love Waits effort that promotes sexual abstinence, Slack said, “Adopt: The Option is not just a curriculum resource; it’s geared toward youth group students to create a whole movement of a new paradigm. Most kids don’t know about adoption, so we want to break that and help them understand it in a positive way, not only where they just understand it, but where they’ll also support it.” U.S. Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, recently validated Slack’s efforts to bring about increased public awareness of adoption by choosing him to receive the Angels in Adoption award. Presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Slack said the threeday festivities in Washington, D.C.,
involved opportunities to interact with 120 other district honorees, congressmen and dignitaries who work with family welfare and adoption issues. With November set as National Adoption Awareness month, Slack said he is already receiving requests to speak on the option that encourages life for unplanned babies— and brings joy to so many families. For more information on Adopt: The Option visit www.adopttheoption.com or email Jeff at jeff@connectthefamily.com.
Massive 11/11/11 prayer gathering planned for Rose Bowl PASADENA — Thousands of Southland residents are expected to gather at the landmark Rose Bowl from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 for the “A Line in the Sand” prayer gathering. David Andrade, one of the organizers of the event, said the grassroots project evolved out of a meeting of about 40 evangelical prayer leaders last year. During the course of the meeting several people spontaneously shared stories of visions they received in which Jesus was drawing a line in the sand. “That stirred up a lot of things,” he said. Several others discussed the Hebrew symbolism of the number 11, which is “transition.” Rosebowl 11.11.11 was born. “We began to do the legwork,” he said. “It was just supposed to be a little dinky thing. The more and more we started talking to people the more we realized this was something bigger than us.” After the meeting, Andrade sent an email out to his global prayer network sharing about the concept. Prayer ministries around the world responded with plans for similar large-scale gatherings set for the same day. An event in Korea is expected to draw at least 7,000 intercessors. “They all had the same vision, to set themselves apart for whatever the Lord wants them to do,” Andrade said. “I can see God’s favor in all the things that have been going on. We had nothing to do it with it. We are just serving the Lord.” At the global gatherings, guests will spend time in worship by exalting the Lord. They will also be asked to consecrate themselves to God’s purposes. Prayer, prophetic ministry, proclamation, and a call to personal holiness and surrender, are also on the agenda. Andrade said he has been touched and humbled by the support, saying complete strangers have offered seed money to underwrite expenses. A team from Europe is planning global coverage of the event, while a television production company offered to film promotional videos at no cost. “We started with no money and we didn’t even know what to expect,” he said. Although there is no admission fee, a free-will love offering will be taken to cover costs. For more information, visit www. alineinthesand.info or www.rosebowlgathering.info.
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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 9
The changing face of evangelicalism How politics and cultural engagement have shaped the movement By Scott Noble Part one in a three-part series TWIN CITIES — While the term “evangelical” or the broader description, “evangelicalism,” has been used for many years, it was really only during the 1940s in the United States where the term and movement began to gain widespread use. After the modernist-fundamentalist controversy reached its zenith with the Scopes trial in the mid 1920s, many conservative Christians— stung by their defeat—began to retreat from culture, beginning a long yet effective effort to build and sustain a subculture. This subculture included schools, radio stations, magazines, universities, newspapers and a host of other cultural institutions that mimicked the American mainstream. For the rest of the 1920s, 1930s and early 1940s, this subculture and this new way of approaching American culture satisfied the majority of conservative Christians. Yet something began to stir in the late 1930s and early 1940s that would eventually grow into the modern-day evangelical movement. This new movement was not content with holding mainstream culture at arm’s length and meeting most or all of their cultural and social needs within this newly constructed Christian subculture. So in an attempt to break out of this pattern and engage culture on a much different level, evangelicalism—in its modern American context—was born. While descriptions are never exhaustive, this new movement was basically defined by several theological beliefs and by its new approach to culture and the non-Christian world. Evangelicalism would rally around the beliefs of a “decision” for Christ, the central aspect of Scripture in the life of a believer, the hope of an eternal home for those who put their faith in Jesus and a desire to tell others about Him. Social issues From a social standpoint, evangelicalism came to be known for its efforts at influencing broad social and political issues, specifically manifested in lobbying on issues such as abortion, keeping pro-family beliefs in schools, fighting evolution and a host of other issues. While evangelicalism grew as a movement and its influence increased during much of the last century, the turn of the new millennium ushered with it a new concern about the movement’s health and future. B. R. Lindner Professor of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary in Illinois and the author of “The End of Evangelicalism?” David Fitch argues that the movement is at a crisis point. “Evangelicalism has hit a turning point already,” he said. “It’s not growing. Not only is it not growing, it’s shrinking. And where it’s not shrinking—let’s say in Dallas, Texas—it is getting defensive and is retrenching and is trying to hold the fort. That means we are no longer a missional people; we are no longer bringing the Gospel—the Good
News, the mission of what God sent His Son here and the Holy Spirit to accomplish. In essence, we quit being the church.” There are many opinions as to why evangelicalism is struggling at the moment. Some argue that it has become too intertwined with the culture it once tried to either avoid or convert. Others argue that it has become too exclusive and does not handle well those with differing or challenging views. Political activities One of the more widespread arguments is that evangelicalism became too committed and too corrupted by its political activities. While evangelicalism emerged as a defined movement in the 1940s, it wasn’t until the mid- to late-1970s that evangelicals began to become more involved in the political process. The election of Jimmy Carter was the first notable impact of evangelicals on the national political scene, followed closely by the election of Ronald Reagan, the emergence of the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition and several national candidates who either described themselves as evangelicals or who paid homage to the growing movement. Fitch sees the emergence of evangelicals in the political world as an example of the movement’s sometimes schizophrenic activities. “The Christian nation kind of Jerry Falwell, Moral Majority development of the late 1970s was another episode in a history of episodes with evangelicalism in how it was seeking to engage culture after the 1920s and 1930s modernist-fundamentalist controversy,” he said. “It was schizophrenic in very similar ways to … like the first time they withdrew [after the Scopes trial].” The overarching issue for evangelicals was how to engage culture: How do Christians interact with a culture that oftentimes is at odds with its core beliefs and values? Retreat from it, grudgingly co-exist with it, accommodate to it or try to convert it? Fitch continued: “The second response was, ‘No, culture is not bad. Culture is good, and we must take it over for Christ and that’s what our mandate is,’” he said. “In either case, we lost the reality that the church itself in Jesus Christ is a culture-creating social world that engages the world incarnationally, humbly, non-violently, vulnerably. Realizing that there are some things good in culture that can be recaptured and/or God is already working in, but there are some things that must be rejected …” Logical response Chris Armstrong, associate professor of Church History at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul and managing editor of “Christian History & Biography,” takes a bit of a different approach, arguing that evangelicals’ emergence into politics was a logical response for a segment of the population that was witnessing its values being attacked and disputed. “The more immediate reason why we engaged in politics,” he argued, “is the kind of new lib-
erty and social experimentation and secularization in the 1960s and 1970s that leads up to the Falwells, Moral Majority campaign, which was again a sense that we’re losing … that our children living in America are threatened in their very faith by the schools they go to, by the family dynamics they see around them and the attacks on the traditional family and so on … ” With this perceived reality, evangelicals reacted out of “genuine concern for their families and especially their kids,” Armstrong believes. Since the secular political system was where the battle was taking place that was where evangelicals needed to wage against it. Regardless of whether or not the past 30 years of political and cultural engagement are the main—or even a significant cause—of evangelicalism’s current struggles, these are definite-
ly perceived by many to be a major reason for the movement’s current malaise. While the past cannot be changed, the present and future of evangelicalism is now being shaped in the nation’s universities and seminaries. The questions these twenty somethings are asking are not that dissimilar to the ones asked by previous generations of evangelicals, but they include a significant nuance. “I have only been teaching in an evangelical seminary for six years,” Armstrong said. “Even in those six years, in particular my younger students are questioning an exclusive identification of the Gospel with a message of spiritual salvation and saying, ‘What about the social dimension? What about our responsibility to the poor and other social issues?’ There is a definite turn … a willingness now to look at even [Walter] Rauschenbusch
and the Social Gospel writers and say, ‘Maybe there was some truth there that we missed.’” So the question is still how evangelicals should engage culture. “Everywhere I go, the church seems to be divided between the fifty somethings—Boomers who want to preserve the institution of the evangelical church and keep it going, so let’s try megachurch attractional practices— and then there’s all these twenty somethings who are going, ‘No, thank you’ but they really want to follow Jesus, they really want to engage the world, and they just need leadership,” Fitch said. “So there is this gap, there’s no question that evangelicalism is at a turning point …” Part two in “The Changing Face of Evangelicalism” series will look at those who no longer identify themselves as evangelicals.
10 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 IE
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Reuben Morgan and Hillsong Live expand their reach and toured with the likes of artists such as Building 429, Todd Agnew and 33Miles, as well as Mandisa, Natalie Grant, LeCrae and David Crowder Band. Derek Hoiem, president of the label, said the trio exemplifies the type of artists they strive to support. “They are excellent in their craft, they’ve paid a fair amount of indie dues, and they just flat out love God,” he said. “They show their passion for sharing the gospel not only with their voices but with their lives.” For more information, visit www. kimberrising.com.
Space Love Tour. For more information, visit www. rachaellampa.com. Groves gives fans early release to 10th record Sara Groves 10th record, Invisible Empires, is set to officially release on Oct. 18 but is offering a pre-release special, including a T-shirt and bonus songs, on her website. In a note on her website, Groves said the album was heavily influenced by Chapter 9 of Eugene Peterson’s “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,” a book she said she reads annually. “Structures become more important than the people who live in them,” he writes. “Machines become more important than the people who use them. We care more for our possessions with which we hope to make our way in the world than with our thoughts and dreams which tell us who we are in the world.” She goes on, citing Psalm 127, “Invisible Empires is looking at two skylines: one that is frenetic and man-made, and one that is eternal and not built in vain.” For more information, visit her site at www.saragroves.com. Jeremy Camp welcomes
new baby, album and book There’s apparently no such thing as the dog days of summer for Grammy-nominated artist Jeremy Camp, whose calendar is filled with a variety of new things, including a son with wife, Adrienne. Egan Thomas Camp arrived early in the morning Aug. 17 and is the first brother for big sisters Bella, 6, and Arie, 5. Egan made his entrance just as his famous daddy’s radio single “The Way” was No. 1 at AC Monitored—his 24th career top hit. Jeremy Camp was also scheduled to begin his fall headlining tour “We Cry Out” at the end of September just as his book “I Still Believe: Discovering Hope and Healing in the Midst of Life’s Deepest Valleys” was due for release. The chronicle reflects his journey of losing his first wife, Melissa, to cancer just months after marrying, and how he has grown in his relationship with God through the past 10 years. The full-circle account of Camp’s story explores how his story has impacted his music. On Sept. 10 he was one of the featured artists at the Harvest Crusade at Dodger Stadium. Visit www.jeremycamp.com/tour.
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Reuben Morgan single recorded, released by Kimber Rising Reuben Morgan’s writing prowess may also prove liberating for Kimber Rising, a Pop/R&B trio featuring sisters Amanda and Brianna Wilcox and Danielle Cruz. The three-year-old group will spend the fall promoting the radio play of their new single, “Forever Reign,” penned by Morgan and awardwinning songwriter and producer Jason Ingram. It will be released as a digital offering in October. The group, which just signed with Save the City Records, has performed more than 300 concerts
Dove Award winner Rachel Lampa is showcasing her voice as part of the a cappella group The Collective on the NBC show “The Sing Off.”
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Hillsong Live worship leader Reuben Morgan said Australia’s recent natural disasters helped him to better see that “God Is Able.”
Lampa goes a cappella to compete on ‘The Sing-Off’ Dove Award-winning recording artist Rachel Lampa was set to take to the small screen Sept. 19 as part of the a cappella group The Collective for season three of the fall NBC series “The Sing-Off.” Lampa, whose new album All We Need was due in stores on Sept. 27, is part of a group of Nashville vocalists formed specifically for the series by Jeremy Lister of season two runner-up Street Corner Symphony. Hosted by Nick Lachey, the show features the judging panel of Ben Folds, Sara Bareilles and Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman and brings together a cappella groups from around the nation, who compete each week for the votes of the viewers. Lampa will hit the road later this fall with Group 1 Crew, Shonlock and Rapture Ruckus for the Outta
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Australia’s Hillsong Live, in the midst of a European tour, released its latest album, “God Is Able” in July. Garnering wide acclaim, the album climbed to No. 1 on multiple retail sales charts. Worship leader Reuben Morgan said the title song hit close to home this year as his native homeland was rocked with cyclones and floods. “We were continually reminded just how true those words are,” he said. “God is able: able to save, able to heal, able to rescue from the fiercest storms and highest floods. There are so many times when you feel as though you are out of your depth—in my case it happens every time I get up to lead worship or speak—and there’s something revolutionary about being able to say or sing “our God is able, In His name we overcome, for the Lord our God is able.” “You can’t celebrate God’s ability without realizing quite how weak we really are; you can’t say God is able without also remembering that we are not. And here’s the really crazy thing about acknowledging our weakness: it’s one of the most comforting and liberating things around.” Transparent Productions has announced that Hillsong Live will appear in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre on December 5. For more information, visit live. hillsong.com. For details on their LA performance, visit www.transparentproductions.com.
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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 11
230 tons of debris removed from Canaanite water system By Gary D. Myers BP News Service GEZER, Israel — An archeological team from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary has uncovered a natural cave at the end of a Canaanite water system in Israel, shedding light on an Old Testament culture. The Gezer Water System Expedition, about 20 miles west of Jerusalem, is a joint project of the seminary and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Dan Warner, associate professor of Old Testament and archaeology at the school, and Tsvika Tsuk of the authority are directing the excavation of the ancient Tel Gezer water system, which dates as early as 1800 B.C. “The research at Gezer is important … because of our commitment to understand the Bible within its historical context,” Warner said. “Any information we can gain to give better insights into the cultures of the biblical world helps us interpret the Bible. “Most think of the Canaanites as an old, rustic culture—not so. Digging the water system took great technical and hydraulic skill. This was a very advanced and sophisticated culture that had pronounced impact in biblical times.” It is believed the Canaanites cut the massive tunnel around the time of Abraham using flint tools. Measuring nearly 13 feet wide by 24 feet high at the opening and stretching 150 feet into the ground at a 38-degree slope, the Gezer tunnel is the largest ancient water system ever unearthed. Late in the final week of the 2011 dig, the seminary team found the
natural cave at the end of the massive rock-hewn water system—the prime objective of this season’s dig. It is believed that the system’s original water source is located in or near the opening of the cave. Creating a buzz The excavation, which removed 230 tons of dirt this summer, created quite a stir within the Israeli archaeological community. Numerous archaeological dignitaries made their way to Gezer to tour the site this year. Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron, two archaeologists who wrote an influential article on the subject in 2003, were among the guests. Sam Wolff and others from the Israel Antiquities Authority also visited the site. The seminary team encompassed the work of 33 people at different times during the summer. The buzz has continued in the United States. In October, Warner will present his research at the Oklahoma Water Research Symposium and Governor’s Water Conference, and in November, he will give lectures at the Near Eastern Archaeological Society and American Schools of Oriental Research meetings in San Francisco. The water system and the cave were discovered more than a century ago by Irish archaeologist R.A.S. Macalister during his excavation at Gezer from 1906-08. French archaeologist Pére L.H. Vincent visited the water system and the cave during Macalister’s excavation. Neither archaeologist fully excavated the cave, and they offered conflicting descriptions of the cave and water system. Seeking answers During next summer’s dig, scheduled for May 27 to June 15, the New Orleans team will focus
PHOTO BY ART BEAULIEU
Members of the excavation team dig dirt and debris from the ancient Gezer water system, 20 miles west of Jerusalem. New Orleans Seminary is leading the exploration of the massive rock-hewn tunnel.
on excavating the cave in hopes of answering several lingering questions about the water system. First and foremost, the team will try to discover how the Canaanites knew about the water source. Warner believes the Canaanites found the water source through an opening in the cave located outside the city walls. He speculates that the tunnel was cut to provide the city with a safe water source during times of siege. “The tunnel is cut perfectly straight, and it’s very artistic,” Warner said. “You don’t cut something like that blindly.
You have to know water is down there. You just aren’t going to spend all that time and energy.” Another question involves the date of the tunnel’s construction. Macalister, Tsuk, Warner and other archaeologists have proposed an early date for the system—during the Middle Bronze Age, pegged at between 1800 and 1500 B.C.— making the Gezer tunnel one of the oldest rock-hewn water systems ever discovered. Other scholars, including noted archaeologist William Dever, do not believe the system is that old.
He has proposed a Late Bronze Age or Iron Age date for the tunnel. Warner remains hopeful that evidence can be found to settle the long-running debate over the date. “We might get a better perspective (on the date) inside the cave,” Warner said. “There might be carvings on the wall or some type of inscription. There could be pottery remains, and if we find consistent pottery remains from the Middle and Late Bronze Age, that at least gives us a pretty good idea that it dates from the start of the Middle Bronze Age.”
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OCT 11 • TUESDAY
OCT 22-NOV 6 (cont.)
NOV 11 • FRIDAY
Covina Women’s Connection. 11am1pm, The Covina Bowl, 1060 San Bernardino Rd., Covina, $16 • (626) 919-1446, (626) 857-1041
Fri 7:30pm; Sat 2:15pm & 7:30pm; Sun 2:15pm, LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N Church St., Redlands, $7-18 • lifehousetheater.com
Community Mission Night (Global Recordings+ Network). 7pm, Global Recordings Network, 41823 Enterprise Circle N, Ste. 200, Temecula • (951) 719-1650
OCT 23 • SUNDAY
11:11:11 – A Line in the Sand global gathering. 11am-9pm, Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena • rosebowlgathering.info
OCT 1 • SATURDAY
OCT 7 • FRIDAY
OCT 12 • WEDNESDAY
Moreno Valley Women’s Connection Breakfast Buffet. 9am, Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club, 28095 John F. Kennedy Dr., Moreno Valley, $12 • (951) 485-9604
Faith & Work Life Gala Dinner, featuring Bob Doll of BlackRock Equities, 5:30pm, Big Canyon Country Club, Newport Beach • faithandworklife. org, (714) 272-7865
Riverside Christian Women’s Club luncheon. 11am, Canyon Crest Country Club, 975 Country Club Dr., Riverside, $18 • (951) 687-2599
Corona Life Services’ Walk for Life. 10am, Corona City Park, E 6th St., Corona, free • (951) 272-3063 David Barton is keynote speaker for Justice 2011, a fundraising gala for Advocates for Faith and Freedom, with comedian Mike Williams, emcee. 5-9pm, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, 900 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach • faithfreedom.com, (951) 304-7583 KidCare International’s “Moving’ Mountains” Benefit Concert, Dinner & Silent Auction, with the Blind Boys of Alabama. 5:30pm, Bridges Auditorium, 450 North College Way, Claremont, $35-45 • (909) 624-6101 The Cathedrals-Influenced Tour, with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. 6pm, Calvary Church, 1010 N. Tustin Ave., Santa Ana • 1-800-965-9324, trinitycommunications.org
OCT 5 • WEDNESDAY Women’s Connection, “Autumn Leaves” luncheon. 11am-12:30pm, Calimesa Countr y Club, 1300 S Third St., Calimesa, $12 • (951) 845-8082, (909) 795-2796
David Crowder Band, “The 7 Tour,” with Gungor, Chris August & John Mark McMillan. 7pm, House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave., San Diego • transparentproductions.com Southern Gospel Concert with Evidence Quartet & Melody Boys, presented by the Saints Alive. 7pm, First Baptist Church of Hemet, 26089 Girard St., Hemet • (951) 658-7133
OCT 8 • SATURDAY F a i t h & Wo r k Life 4 th annual conference, 7:30am-3:30pm, Concordia University, Ir vine. $25 • faithandworklife.org, (714) 272-7865 A Chosen Vessel in Pursuit of Holiness Fashion Extravaganza. 5pm, Imani Temple Christian Fellowship, 253 Rebecca St., Pomona, $10 • (909) 620-9161 David Crowder Band, “The 7 Tour,” with Gungor, Chris August & John Mark McMillan. 6pm, Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood • transparentproductions.com
OCT 10 • MONDAY Glendora Christian Women’s Connection. 11am-12:30pm, Via Verde Country Club, 1400 Avenida Entrada, San Dimas, $15 • (909) 593-6100
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OCT 14 • FRIDAY Birth Choice of Temecula Respect Life Banquet & Benefit. 6:30-9pm, Rancho Community Church, 31300 Rancho Community Way, Temecula, $50/ person, $90/couple or $400/sponsored table of 8 • birthchoicetemecula.com, (951) 699-9808 x103
The Master’s Chorale, presented by the Saints Alive. 6pm, First Baptist Church of Hemet, 2609 Girard St., Hemet • (951) 658-7133
OCT 27-29 • THU-SAT Jesus Joy Jubilee National Fellowship Conference. Thu & Fri 7:30pm; Sat 6pm, Community Missionary Baptist Church, 939 Clay St., Redlands, free • (909) 240-7848
OCT 28 • FRIDAY ChristianSinglesFriends.org Dance Club. 6:30pm, D&D’s Dance Club, 1445 Spruce St., Riverside • ChristianSinglesFriends.org
OCT 29 • SATURDAY
NOV 11-13 • FRI-SUN International ProLife Youth Conference, with Bernadette Smyth, Lila Rose & more. St. Matthias High School, 7851 Gardendale St., Downey. Hosted by Student for Life of America, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust & Ireland’s Youth Defense • internationalprolifeyouth.com ‘Engaging with Islam’ conference with Jay Smith. Upland Brethren in Christ Church, 845 W Arrow Highway, Upland • (909) 982-1016
NOV 12 • SATURDAY Christian Singles: Veteran’s Dance Party. 7pm, Crossroads, 2331 Kellogg Ave., Corona, $15-20• christiansinglesfunevents.com, (714) 622-4002
Bingo Extravaganza, Carnival games, bouncers, contest & live music. 3-6pm, First Lutheran Church, 203 East G St., Ontario • (909) 986-5178
NOV 12-13 • SAT-SUN
Celebration Freedom Gourmet American Barbecue. 6-9pm, Far Reaching Ministries Headquarters, 38615 Calistoga Dr., Ste. 100, Murrieta. Hosted by The National Center for Law & Policy, $50/ person • (760) 747-4529
NOV 13 • SUNDAY
Big Gospel Musical, with The Kelly Sisters, Inland Empire Men of Praise & more. 5pm, Greater New Foundation Fellowship Church, 841 S Main St., Pomona • (951) 675-0655
OCT 31 • MONDAY
NOV 19 • SATURDAY
R.O.C.K. Reaching Our Community Kids, Halloween alternative. 5-8pm, Grater Works Church, 25823 Jefferson Ave., Murrieta, free • (951) 600-2619
The Golden State Quartet, presented by the Saints Alive. 6pm, First Baptist Church of Hemet, 26089 Girard St., Hemet, free • (951) 658-7133
OCT 15-22 • SAT-SAT
NOV 1 • TUESDAY
NOV 19-DEC 30
Kathy Trocolli & Friends Mediterranean Cruise with Ellie Lofaro, Don Piper • 1-800-288-4778, christiancruises.com
Impact 2011 Conference, with Dudley Rutherford, Steve Mays, Jim Reeves & more. 9am-1pm, Felix Event Center, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, free • kkla.com, 1-888-321-2469
“It’s a Wonderful Life.” Fri 7:30pm; Sat 2:15pm & 7:30pm; Sun 2:15pm, LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N Church St., Redlands, $7-18 • lifehousetheater.com
Bingo Extravaganza. 6pm, First Lutheran Church, 203 East G St., Ontario • (909) 986-5178
OCT 15 • SATURDAY Community Health Fair. 9am-3pm, Moreno Valley Community Park, 13380 Frederick St., Moreno Valley, free. Hosted by Valley Christian Church • (951) 966-9635
OCT 17 • MONDAY Community Choir & orchestra rehearsals (every Monday). 7pm, Temecula United Methodist Church, 42690 Margarita Rd., Temecula • (951) 667-5388 OCT 19 • WEDNESDAY Singles 40+ Class, with Dr. Diane M Boll, Wednesdays thru Nov 9th. 7pm, Crossroads Christian Church, 2331 Kellogg, Corona • (951) 737-4664 OCT 20 • THURSDAY Grace of Gold Luncheon & Glory Gates Quar tet Concer t. 11:30am, Grace Church of Glendora, 1515 S Glendora Ave., Glendora, $6 • (626) 335-1746 OCT 21 • FRIDAY Young Adult Ministry Happy Hour Open Mic. 7-10pm, Primm Tabernacle AME, 1938 S Towne Ave., Pomona, free • (909) 627-0818
NOV 2 • WEDNESDAY Women’s Connection, “Country Fair” luncheon. 11am-12:30pm, Calimesa Country Club, 1300 S Third St., Calimesa, $12 • (951) 845-8082, (909) 795-2796
NOV 3 • THURSDAY Steven Curtis Chapman, in concert. 8pm, California Theatre of the Performing Arts, 562 W Fourth St., San Bernardino, $19-63.50 • ticketmaster.com
NOV 4-6 • FRI-SUN Women’s 2011 Fall Retreat, with Martha Snyder & Jeff Mercer Band. Idyllwild Pines Camp, 26375 State Hwy 243, Idyllwild • (951) 659-2605
NOV 5 • SATURDAY
Sidewalk Prophets, concer t benefiting Rancho Damacitas Children’s Home. 7:30pm, Rancho Community Church, 31300 Rancho Community Way, Temecula, $15-20 • (951) 302-7597
1st Annual “Shoes of Hope,” Gospel Fest, honoring Dr. Maya Angelou & Lindsay Hughes. 7-9:30pm, Riverside Fox Performing Arts Theatre, 3801 Mission Avenue, Riverside, $2565 • samaritansfetgospelfest.org, (909) 886-4544
OCT 22 • SATURDAY
Quartet Night Murrieta with Glory Gates Quartet and Firm Foundation Quartet. 6pm, Gateway Church of the Nazarene, 23560 Jefferson Ave., Murrieta, free • ggqf.org
Turning Point Int’l Ministries Prayer Praise & Worship Conference, “Gotta Pray, Gotta Praise,” with John & Beerly Heary, Rob Freeman, Gwen Rose, & more. 9am-3pm, DoubleTree Hotel, 222 N Vineyard Ave., Ontario, free • (651) 217-3228 3rd Annual “A Holy Land Experience: Bible City Tour & Bible Character Costume Party,” presented by Love is the Way Events. 10am-2pm, Agape Family Life Center Church, Rancho Cucamonga, $5 • (909) 215-8910 Upper Room cof fee house, with Frank Pastore. 6:30pm, Location TBA • theupperroompresents.com, 1-888-6798228
OCT 22-NOV 6 “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.”
NOV 6 • SUNDAY
E-Waste Recycling Collection Event. 9am4pm, Target, 41040 California Oaks, Murrieta • (951) 698-7650 Shoe Box “Packing Party” for Operation Christmas Child. 11:30-2pm, Calvary Chapel Jurupa Valley, 9215 Orco Pkwy, Riverside • (951) 686-6238
NOV 27 • SUNDAY Musical Tribute of the Legacy of Mahalia Jackson. 3pm, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 600 N Garey Ave., Pomona • (909) 597-7134
DEC 3 • SATURDAY Christmas Rotational Dinner Dance. (details to follow) • (714) 622-4002, christiansinglesfunevents.com
DEC 4 • SUNDAY Celebrate Messiah, Christmas concert with Community Choir & Orchestra. 4pm, Temecula United Methodist Church, 42690 Margarita Rd., Temecula • (951) 667-5388
DEC 31 • SATURDAY Upper Room coffee house, New Year’s Eve Celebration. 6:30pm, 5540-B Rockfield Blvd., Irvine • theupperroompresents.com, 1-888-679-8228 Christian Singles: Giant New Year’s Eve Dance Party. Cal State Fullerton, Titan Student Building. Partnered with KKLA 99.5 • christiansinglesfunevents.com. (714) 622-4002
FEB 18-25 Sandi Patty & Friends Cruise, with Natalie Grant, Mark Shultz, Wayne Watson & more. Eastern Caribbean • 1-800-2884778, cruisewithsandipatty.com
Cal Baptist University Choir & Orchestra concert. 6pm, Crosspoint Church, 6950 Edison Ave. & Euclid Ave., Chino • (909) 606-9833
MORE EVENTS online now at • Future events for the Inland Empire not listed in this issue. • Events for LA County, Orange County and San Diego County. • Weekly and monthly ongoing meetings: Bible Studies, Evangelism, Fellowships (Men, Women, Seniors, Singles, Youth, MOPS), Motorcycle Ministries, Music/Entertainment, Prayer Groups, Recovery and Support groups (Alcohol, Divorce, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Food, Sexual, Grandparenting, Grief, Celebrate Recovery, The Most Excellent Way, and many more), Seminars/Classes, Health/Fitness.
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October 2011 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • 13
Potter’s Field brings unique ministry performance to SoCal Christian Examiner staff report REDLANDS — For centuries, Christian hymns have exalted the purity of the Christian life and likened the cleansing of sins to the whiteness of snow. Even so, Michael Rozell, a Christian since 1987, can’t quite seem to get out of the muck. In fact, he relishes it. Nearly one-third of the year he finds himself up to his elbows in miry clay. It covers his face, his jeans and his T-shirt. Nearby, his wife, Pam, diligently watches as she sings original songs capturing the hope of Christ through the imagery of the Potter and the clay. The Montana couple created the Potter’s Field Ministry in 1992 after appearing at a women’s retreat in Florida. The performance blended their natural talents—his passion for pottery which he developed at age 14, and her talent for singing and songwriting. The unique team effort moved their audience and,
Barbecue to benefit religious liberty law firm MURRIETA — The National Center for Law & Policy will hold its annual benefit dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at the headquarters of its ministry partner, Far Reach-
ing Ministries.
The Celebrate Freedom Gourmet American Barbeque will feature a keynote address by Wes Bentley, president of Far Reaching Ministries, an international missions organization. Dean Broyles, president and chief counsel of the National Center for Law & Policy, which he founded several years ago as the Western Center for Law & Policy, will share stories of faith and hope as staff and supporters celebrate God’s ongoing faithfulness to the ministry’s mission to protect faith, family and freedom. Tickets are $50 a person or $450 for tables of 10. Event sponsorships are also available. Dress is business casual. Reservations are requested by Oct. 14. For more information, send an email to dcarter@wclplaw.org or call (760) 747-4529.
Jesus Joy Jubilee Conference in Redlands REDLANDS — Community Missionary Baptist Church will host the Jesus Joy Jubilee National Fellowship Conference Oct. 27 to 29. The sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday. Speakers will include ministers Eric Biggers and Marquise Cox, and Pastor Sonya Cheltenham. Admission is free. The church is located at 939 Clay St. To register, call (909) 240-7848.
Classes for 40-plus singles CORONA — The 40-plus singles class at Crossroads Christian Church will host a talk by author Dr. Diane M. BolI during a weekly series from Oct. 19 to Nov. 9. Classes will start at 7 p.m. Boll is the author of “From God’s Heart To Mine.” Topics to be covered include shame, love, sex, marriage, maturity, change, sadness and control. The discussion will be
since then, the pair has traveled across the country, leading people to Christ and bringing healing to wounded hearts. Southern Californians will get numerous opportunities to see their ministry in person in October and November as the couple tours the Southland. The national ministry has enabled Michael to share his journey from brokenness to wholeness in an effort to inspire others. A one-time Wall Street marketing director, Rozell survived the high-stress position through a variety of addictions that he said “gripped and enslaved his life.” But two days after his marriage to Pam, Michael accepted Christ while visiting Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa at the invitation of a friend. Leaning on the Lord, Rozell, now an ordained pastor, turned his back on his addictions and left his sales career to follow the Lord. Pam, a former Miss Georgia and a contestant in the Miss America Pageant, shares about her suc-
cess in the music industry, having been a featured soloist at the White House, a Broadway cast member in “42nd Street” and an original cast member of the Los Angeles Company at the Shubert Theatre. She also had a solo act as a headline entertainer on luxury liners, traveling the world aboard seven different cruise lines. “But no accomplishments could fill the void in her heart,” her bio says. “It wasn’t until she fully surrendered to Jesus that she found a true purpose and fulfillment in life. What Pam was looking for in performance was a substitute for the fullness of life that Christ promised in His Word.” Those who attend their presentations will also learn about a new aspect of their ministry, Potter’s Field Kids, which ministers to children in Central America, Southeast Asia and Africa through an orphanage, after school and literacy programs, and other education and recreation projects.
rounded out by a session on “God’s Purpose For My Life.” The format will include discussion groups and interactions with Boll. The church is located at 2331 Kellogg Ave. For more information visit www. crossroadschurch.com or call (951) 737-4664.
the Year. Described as a contemporary Christian band, the group also performs worship music. All proceeds benefit the children of Rancho Damacitas, which serves abused and neglected youth. Advance tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. The ministry is located at 31300 Rancho Community Way. For more information, send an email to dev@4kidsfirst.org or call (951) 302-2317, ext. 236.
Packing it in for children RIVERSIDE — Calvary Chapel Jurupa Valley is hosting a shoebox “Packing Party” for Operation Christmas Child from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13. During the event, volunteers will be placing school supplies, toys, hygiene items and candy into the boxes, which will be distributed by Samaritan’s Purse. Each packer will also have an opportunity to include a note and photo with the boxes. “The most important thing we are putting in each shoebox is prayer,” coordinator Linda Rither said in a news release. The church is asking volunteers to provide $10 to cover the cost of the items and the $7 shipping cost. “I’m blessed to be a year-round volunteer with Operation Christmas Child and have seen God working with this ministry,” Rither said. For more information Please call Linda at (951) 686-6238.
Alternative Halloween MURRIETA — Greater Works Church will present ROCK, Reaching Our Community Kids, a family Halloween alternative from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Faith Factor and Paul & Silas are scheduled to perform. Guests may wear non-scary costumes. Games will be offered. The church is located at 25823 Jefferson Ave. For more information, call (951) 600-2619.
Benefit features Sidewalk Prophets TEMECULA — Rancho Damacitas Children’s Homes will present a fundraising event featuring the Sidewalk Prophets in concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21. The Nashville band won the 2010 GMA Dove Award for New Artist of
Experiencing the Holy Land in the Southland RANCHO CUCAMONGA — Love Is the Way Events presents its third annual “A Holy Land Experience: Bible City Tour and Bible Character Costume Party” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at Agape Family Life Center Church. During the event, children may have their “passports” stamped as they visit each biblical city along the tour. Guests are invited to come dressed as their favorite Bible hero to be entered into the costume contest. Described as an indoor-outdoor carnival atmosphere, the gathering will offer live music, food, activities and prizes. Tickets are $5 per person. For more information, call (909) 215-8910 or search online for “Love Is the Way Events.”
Gospel concert set for Hemet HEMET — First Baptist Church of Hemet will host a concert featuring “The Golden State Quartet” from Bakersfield at 6 p.m. Nov. 19. The concert, sponsored by Saints Alive, will also include a performance by J.D. Miller, a Christian songwriter and multiple Grammy Award-winner who has worked with the Gaither Vocal Band. The concert is free, but a love offering will be taken. The church is located at 26089 Girard St. For more information, call (951) 658-7133.
Three-day conference to explore Islam UPLAND — Upland Brethren in Christ Church will conduct a threeday conference “Engaging with Is-
Pam Rozell sings original music about the Potter and the clay while her husband, Michael Rozell, molds pottery. The couple, founders of the Potter’s Field Ministry, are touring Southern California.
The Rozells, sensing another call of the Lord, also established the Missions Training School at Potter’s Field Ranch to train missionaries to fulfill the Great Commission. “He has truly fashioned a ministry that is doing its part to spread the gospel of Christ all over the world, whether it be through the touring ministry or by taking care of God’s children,” their website says. The couple will bring their ministry to The Bridge in Cathedral City at 6 p.m. Oct. 23. For more information, call (760) 324-8281. The Packinghouse Church in
Redlands will host the couple at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6. For more information, call (909) 793-8744. Corona will be the site of the third inland performance at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Living Truth Christian Fellowship. For more information, call (951) 735-2856. The final Inland Empire presentations will be made at Fontana’s Water of Life church on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27. For times, call (909) 463-0103. To see more Southern California tour stops, visit www.pottersfield.org.
on Nov. 4. An interpreted presentation for the deaf is set for Oct. 29. The theater is located at 1135 N. Church St. More ticket information can be found by visiting www.lifehousetheater.com.
Preparing for ‘Celebrate Messiah’
Apologist Jay Smith will share his expertise on the Muslim faith in the “Engaging with Islam—Apologetics and Polemics” at Upland Brethren in Christ Church.
lam—Apologetics and Polemics” Nov. 11 to 13. The guest speaker will be Jay Smith, an apologist who debates with Islamic experts. The sessions will include time for questions about both religions and their differences. Registration for the conference begins Friday evening. The conference runs all day Saturday and concludes with a Sunday session. Details of the schedule are available on Facebook and can be found by typing the conference title in the search box. Although the conference is free, a love offering will be taken. The church is located at 845 W. Arrow Highway. For more information, visit www. ubic-church.org or call (909) 9821016.
Narnia on stage in Redlands REDLANDS — Follow the escapades of four brave children as they join forces with the mighty lion, Aslan to free the land of Narnia from the clutches of the White Witch in the award-winning rendition of “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe” at LifeHouse Theater. The play, by Joseph Robinette, faithfully recreates the wonderful world of C. S. Lewis’ Narnia in this dramatic adventure for the whole family. It runs Oct. 22 to Nov. 6. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2:15 p.m. Sundays. A Thursday evening performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
TEMECULA — Vocalists and instrumentalists are invited to try out for the Community Choir and Orchestra rehearsals of Handel’s Messiah, which will be presented in a free “Celebrate Messiah” concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at Temecula United Methodist Church. Rehearsals will be held at 7 p.m. every Monday beginning Oct. 17 at the Methodist church. An annual event since 1998, the Celebrate Messiah concert features a community choir of 70, a community symphony orchestra of 30, and professional soloists. A carol singalong is also part of the concert. The church is located at 42690 Margarita Road. For more information, call (951) 667-5388.
Pastors invited to Impact conference AZUSA — The Impact 2011 conference for pastors and other church specialists will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Felix Event Center at Azusa Pacific University. The event is sponsored by KKLA 99.5. Speakers for the event will include Dudley Rutherford, Shepherd of the Hills Church, Steve Mays, Calvary Chapel South Bay; Jim Reeves, Faith Community; J.P. Jones, Crossline Community and Frank Pastore, of the Frank Pastore Show on KKLA. Organizers of the event said the conference will provide information on how to increase the impact of your church in the community, motivate church staff and volunteers, and maximize the use of social media and radio. A session will also be provided on building and expansion programs, including how to find the best architect, contractor and financing for those projects. The conference is free, but preregistration is required. For more information, visit www. kkla.com or call 1-888-321-2469.
14 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 IE
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Christian radio icon Rich Buhler retires from hosting radio show ‘The Bottom Line with Roger and Hous’ takes over slot By Dan Wooding Assist News Service
More than 500,000 children are at risk in the Horn of Africa because of the severe drought.
Famine in the Horn of Africa By Elizabeth Griffin SEATTLE — On July 20, the United Nations announced that a famine has hit a large section of Somalia, with severe drought conditions throughout the Horn of Africa. An estimated 10 million people have been affected in northeastern Kenya, Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. This is the first official famine in the region since 1984-85, when one million people died in Ethiopia and Sudan. Famines mean a lack of resources to meet the basic food requirements for the population, acute malnutrition in more than 30 percent of the population and a death rate equal to five out of 10,000 people per day. Somalia has not had rain for the past two years, and no rain is predicted until October. Without the rain, the people, who rely on agriculture for sustenance, have no food. At least 500,000 children from the region are at risk of death, according to UNICEF. The challenges in Somalia are not new. According to Dave Eller, president of World Concern, the nation has existed in an almost feudal system of government since the official government collapsed in the early 1990s. Militarized control of shifting regional governments has resulted in oppression. “Somalia is like the wild, wild west,� said Derek Sciba, marketing director of World Concern. The nonprofit Christian relief organization based in Seattle has worked in the nation since the mid-1980s, digging wells to provide water, improving the agricultural system and teaching hygiene and sanitation practices. “They are a people who live day to day under oppression,� Eller said. “That is tragic enough without the effects of a drought placed upon them. It’s not just that things are a little worse; this is a tragedy
at the heart of the issue. Their children are dying.� Eller worries that people will grow tired of hearing about Somalia because it has been in desperate need for so many years. “This situation is different,� he said. “Before, the people were always able to pull together a little bit to eat. Their normal lives were just above the survival line, but now they have dropped below it. That demands a response from all of us.� With no infrastructure of communication, it is challenging to tell people where to go for supplies, food and water. Though starving, they put everything on their backs and leave their homes behind, not sure where to go, according to Eller. More than 1,300 people cross the border into Kenya each day, where an established refugee camp is already at 300 percent of its capacity. World Concern is addressing the famine in several specific ways. It is bringing water, emergency food and survival supplies to southern Somalia, which has been inaccessible until recently because of high security risks. The organization is also extending its reach to northern Somalia and Kenya, with the primary goal of delivering water to families. “The situation has been building for years,� Eller said, explaining that the recent announcement by the United Nations brings the need into sharper focus and is an appeal for governments around the world to increase their response. “It is the highest need in the world today,� Eller said. “It is not a short-term problem like a hurricane or earthquake. This is the worst drought the region has seen in more than 60 years.� The United Nations is gathering relief organizations, including World Concern, to coordinate efforts to help the people of Somalia. To find out how you can help, visit www.worldconcern.org/crisis or call (866) 530-5433.
COSTA MESA — Rich Buhler, 65, known to his many loyal listeners in Southern California as the “Dean of Christian Talk Radio� and who has been battling pancreatic cancer, is stepping down from his role as host of the long-running “Talk From the Heart� show on KBRT/740 AM. His last show aired on Sept. 16 and will be replaced by “The Bottom Line with Roger and Hous.� Roger Marsh and David Housholder, who have filled in for Buhler during his absences, will host the new show. Buhler stressed that his condition has not worsened. “I’m actually doing very well and feeling good most of the time but I have good days and I have bad days and it’s impossible to predict when they are going to happen,� he said. “I am occasionally slowed down by chemotherapy, occasional infections, and period hospitalizations which have made it difficult to be faithful to a five-day-a-week program.� He said he hopes to still contribute to the station from time to time. “KBRT is my radio home, and I’m not leaving KBRT. The radio audience might hear me doing commentaries and news stories, guest hosting or producing special programming.�
The veteran broadcaster, author, and speaker who lives with his wife Dianne in north Orange County, was originally admitted to a local hospital in July 2010 after suffering from severe stomach pains. A biopsy subsequently revealed that he had a “mass on his pancreas.� Eventually Buhler was able to return to “Talk From the Heart� but has recently found it increasingly difficult to deal with his cancer treatment and also hosting the show. “My listeners have become accustomed to tuning in and finding out that I am not there on some days. I am sad to be departing the show, but I’m also looking forward to having a more flexible schedule that will allow for me to go with the flow of battling the cancer.� In the days and weeks following news of his cancer, Buhler said he was overwhelmed with thousands of messages from people around the world who said they had been praying for him. “Thanks also for so many listeners who have called and written to tell me of their concern, prayer, and encouragement,� he said. “It has been one of the most overwhelming experiences of my life to receive such love and support.� Besides his own battle with cancer, Buhler’s wife was diagnosed with melanoma, which has been removed, and she is now cancer free. The new show is described as a
Long-time talk show host Rich Buhler ends radio career while continuing to battle pancreatic cancer.
“daily dose of current events with a biblical worldview, the KBRT website said. “Roger and Dave will take current events and bring them down to the bottom line. No opinionated spins ... just the facts with solid focus on truth while staying away from over-sensationalized opinions.� Marsh is a radio producer who freelances in voiceovers, while Housholder is a pastor and Fulbright Scholar in New Testament. For more information, visit www. kbrt740.com.
Study: Abortion tied to depression, suicide By Michael Foust BP News Service LONDON — Women who have undergone an abortion have an 81 percent higher risk for mental health problems and are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse alcohol and suffer depression, according to a study in a mainstream British journal that is getting considerable attention from both sides of the abortion debate. The meta-analysis—meaning it reviewed numerous studies of related research—in the latest edition of the British Journal of Psychiatry examined 22 studies from 1995 to 2009 involving 877,000 women, including 163,000 who had experienced an abortion. The paper’s author, Priscilla K. Coleman of Bowling Green State University, said there actually are “hundreds of studies� showing a link between abortion and serious mental health risks, and that three recent studies that reached a very different conclusion had major flaws. One of those studies by an American Psychological Association task force received significant media attention and concluded
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there were no risks. But Coleman said her analysis shows that abortion “is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems.� “There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion decision,� Coleman writes in her paper before chiding the research community for not conducting unbiased research. “... The responsibility therefore rests initially within the research community to set aside personal ideological commitments, objectively examine all high-quality published data, and conduct analyses of the literature that are based on state-of-the-art data analysis procedures....� The issue of abortion and mental health problems, she wrote, too often is “shrouded in political controversy� and “has not received the scholarly attention it deserves.� The fact that the study was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, one of the world’s leading psychiatric journals, is important, those who monitor the abortion debate say. “Its appearance in a top psychi-
atry journal indicates that it was carefully critiqued and evaluated by respected public-health scholars,� Michael J. New, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, wrote at NationalReview.com. “... Hopefully, the prestige of the journal, the volume of studies included, and the consistency of the findings will encourage the mainstream media to give a second look to this important issue.� Coleman’s study “offers the largest available body of evidence on the psychological impact of abortion,� New said. Jeanne Monahan, director of the Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity, said the study “reveals the indisputable truth that abortion is bad for women’s mental health.� FRC is a pro-life group. “With this information, doctors now have a valid and unbiased synthesis of the current research available on the relationship between abortion and women’s mental health,� Monahan said in a statement. “Because it is a meta-analysis, the research is much more thorough and reliable than any other single study or review to date.�
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16 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • October 2011 IE
www.christianexaminer.com
The Father’s global family is gathering together to cry out for an unprecedented global outpouring of His Holy Spirit, in the midst of a changing world. Friday, November 11, 2011 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Rose Bowl Stadium Pasadena, California
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” www.rosebowlgathering.info