cp mag v5

Hasthe'lightening'ofrevival strucktheUnitedStates?

'JesusRevolution'review 'Yetanotherexampleof whytheologymatters

FROM THEEDITORS

Witheachpassingyear,themonthsofthe calendarseemtoturnfaster,andthe sameistruethisyearasthesnowmelts awayandwelookforwardtobaskingin thewarmthofthesun.Asweriseeach morning,it’sareminderthatGodhas blesseduswithanotherdayfilledwith opportunitiestofulfillHisworkonEarth.

IneachissueofTheChristianPost magazine,weseeGod’sworkin individuals’livesandhowHeoftenbrings faithfulstrangerstogethertocomplete Hismission,asseeninVolume5.

Thisissue’scoverstoryfeaturesourfirsteverevent,“UnmaskingGender Ideology:ProtectingChildren, ConfrontingTransgenderism”moderated byCP’ssocialcommentatorand podcasterBrandonShowalter.Theevent broughttogethersixChristiansdoing God’sworkintheirrespectivefields,as reportedbyIanGiatti(p.16).Ifyoucould notattend,don’tfret.Theeventisnow availabletowatchonlineforfree.Youcan alsogetthecompanionbookbyJeff Myers,Ph.D.,andShowalter, Exposingthe GenderLie,forfreeonline.

Thisissueisfilledwithmanyexceptional stories.AmongthemisreporterNicole Alcindor’sinterviewwithU.S.Senate ChaplainBarryBlack,whosemotherwas baptizedasshecarriedhiminherwomb, whichsethispathinmotion.Black’s journeywasn’teasy,andhislifeshows whatonecanachievethroughfaith,hard workandperseverance.(p.19).

Amongthehighlightsoftheyearsofar hasbeentheoutpouringoftheHoly SpiritthatbeganwitharevivalatAsbury University(p.14)thatsparkeda

movementanddrewpeopleworldwide tothesmalltownofWilmore,Kentucky.

Theyearhasalsoseengreattragedies, amongthembeingtheearthquakesin TurkeyandSyria.Justweeksbeforethat disaster,reporterLeonardoBlairtoured severalhistoricChristiansitesinTurkey (p.22),andhe’splanningareturntripthis springtocontinuehisexplorationofthis regionthatissosignificantinChristian history.

Formovielovers,wehaveareviewofthe wildlypopularfilm“JesusRevolution”(p. 28)writtenbyLeahMarieAnnKlett,and aninterviewwithJonathanRoumie,who playsLonnieFrisbeeinthemovieand portraysJesusin“TheChosen”by JeannieOrtegaLaw(p.30).

WhereveryoureadTheChristianPost— onournewApp,onlineorinthis magazine—ourmissionistobring informative,edifyingandinspirational stories.Wealsowanttosharewithyou thatatthefirstoftheyear,ElonMusk liftedCP’sbanonTwitterafterwewere blockedforninemonthsforrefusingto identifyaBidenadministrationofficial (whoisaman)asawomaninour reporting.

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62002ndStreetNW,Washington,DC20011

April2023,Volume5

EDITORIAL

ExecutiveEditor: RichardLand

SeniorManagingEditor: JohnGrano

ManagingEditor: MelissaBarnhart

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Texaschurchnamed'USBuildingofthe Year'byint'larchitecturegroup

After52yearsofministry,skydiving98-yearoldpreacherwantspeopletoseeJesusin hislife

Hasthe‘lightning’ofrevivalstruckinthe UnitedStates?

Yetanotherexampleofwhytheology matters

'UnmaskingGenderIdeology'panelwarns 'womenaregoingtolose'rightsiftrans ideologueswin

BarryBlack:America'sfirstblackSenate chaplainsaysthisBibleversesavedhim fromalifeofcrime

AmongTurkey’salluringtouristofferings,a strongdashofChristianhistory

“Mytitleisn’timportant”:JesusactorJonathan Roumiesayshe'scommittedtolivingforGod, notfame

NorthKorearanksasworstpersecutorof Christiansafterenacting'anti-reactionary thoughtlaw’

'JesusRevolution'review:Emotionally powerfulfilmhighlightshowGoduses brokenpeopletobringrevival

BearGryllssaysfaithis'keypartofsurvivor's toolbox,'laments'fluff'permeatingWestern Church

Therecentbookthatscreams‘I’maclassic!’ HowtheProtestant-Catholicalliancewas formed(pt.1)

RomaDowneyreleases'BeanAngel' devotional,encouragesbelieversto'shine thelightofGod'slove'

Travel:3placesinEuropetovisitfor religiousheritage

Asburyrevivalgripsschoolsthroughout theUnitedStates

TEXASCHURCHNAMED 'USBUILDINGOFTHEYEAR'BY INT'LARCHITECTUREGROUP

BYIANM.GIATTI

CARROLLTON,Texas—An ArmenianOrthodoxchurch inTexashasbeennamed U.S.BuildingoftheYearby aninternationalgroupofarchitectsand engineers.

SaintSarkisArmenianChurch,located northofDallas,wasvotedasthetop Americanarchitecturalworkin2022by World-Architects,anonlinepublisherwith nationalandregionalplatforms representingarchitects,landscape architects,interiordesigners,engineers, lightingdesigners,manufacturers,and architecturalphotographersfromover50 countries.

Spanningover4.5acres,thechurch siteincludesthreeseparatestructures:

thechurchbuildingandsanctuary,gym andyouthcenter,andahallforoffices, classroomsandakitchen.

SaintSarkishelditsfirstSunday serviceonApril24,2022,coincidingwith thedayofremembranceforthe1.5 millionvictimsofthe1915Armenian Genocide,athemethatfigures prominentlyinthechurch’sdesign.

InhonoroftheGenocide’svictims,on thewallsofthesanctuaryareengraved

1.5millioncircularicons,eachuniquely designedasatestimonytothelivesthat werelost.Andwhenviewedfroma distance,theiconsblendseamlesslyinto a“TreeofLife”intheshapeofa traditionalArmeniancrossthatoverhangs theglassdoorsleadingintothe

sanctuary.

DesignedbyarchitectDavidHotson, thesanctuarybuildinghearkensbackto thearchitectureofwhatisconsideredto betheworld’sfirstChristiannationof Armenia,whichadoptedChristianityin theearlythirdcentury.

AsareallArmenianOrthodox churches,SaintSarkisismodeledafter theancientchurchofSaintHripsime, whichwascompletedin618ADandis stillstandingintheArmeniancapitalof Yerevan.

InsidethesanctuaryatSaintSarkisis analtarwithanimageofayoungJesus sittinginthelapofMarywhichisadorned withflowersandotherartifactsinthe traditionofArmenianOrthodoxchurches.

LedbyFr.GhevondAjamian, SaintSarkisbeganasa communityofjustahandfulof familiesinthelate1970sandearly 1980s,meetingataprivatehome beforethehousewasconverted intoachurchinNovember1991.

Withabout800familiesnow involvedwiththeparish,the churchisrunbyAjamiananda parishcouncilthatconsistsof ninemembersvotedonannually bytheparishioners.SaintSarkis servesastheparishhomeforall ArmeniansinNorthTexas, OklahomaandArkansas.

Afteragroundbreaking ceremonyin2016,SaintSarkis tookaboutsixyearstobuild, Ajamiansaid,“mainlybecausewe didn’taccountforCOVID,or supplychainissues,orjust randommistakes.”

Whenaskedaboutbeing namedtheU.S.Buildingofthe Year,Ajamiansaidwhilehewasn’t personallyimpactedonewayor theother,it’sdefinitelyanhonor tohavethatrecognition.

“FromwhatIhaveheard,itisa verybigdealandeveryoneis excitedaboutit,”hesaid.

FundedbyentrepreneurElie Akilianatanestimatedcostof upwardsof$20million,the projecttooklongerthan anticipated,pushingtheoriginal consecrationdatebackfrom February2018untilitwasfinally completedinApril2022.

Underthejurisdictionofthe EasternDioceseoftheArmenian ChurchinAmericaandthe CatholicosateofEtchmiadzin, locatedinArmenia,SaintSarkis adherestotheNicaeanCreed fromtheCouncilofNiceain325 AD.

Thechurchitselfisnamedafter a4th-centuryRomansoldierwho becameaChristianandwaslater martyredforhisfaith.

Butdespitethechurch’srich Christianheritage,beinglocated inthe“beltbuckleoftheBible Belt,”Ajamiansaid,hasitsunique

challenges,especiallyinaculture dominatedbyBaptistand nondenominational megachurches.

“It’snotsomuch,‘Alright,you doincense,’or‘Oh,youcelebrate ChristmasonthisdayandIdoit onthisday,’”hesaid.“It'smore like,‘DoyoupreachtheGospel? DoyoutryandshowChristin youractionsanddoyoubring peopletoChrist?’”

“Ifyou’redoingthesekindsof things,thenIthinkwe’reallonthe samepage.”

Top: Thewallsofthesanctuaryareengraved with1.5millioncircularicons,eachdesigned asatestimonytotheliveslostinthe ArmenianGenocide.

Middle: Areflectingpoolinthecourtyardof SaintSarkisArmenianChurchinCarrollton, Texas.

Bottom: ThealtarofthesanctuaryatSaint SarkisArmenianChurchinCarrollton,Texas.

Photo:TheChristianPost/IanGiatti

AFTER52YEARSOFMINISTRY, SKYDIVING98-YEAR-OLD PREACHERWANTSPEOPLETO SEEJESUSINHISLIFE

BYLEONARDOBLAIR

At98,NorthCarolina preacherRoyJerniganis stillexcitedaboutsharing theGospel.Evenafter servingasamissionaryonIndian reservationsacrossthecountryfor52 years,Jerniganwon’tstoppreaching becausehislifeishisministry,andhe wantspeopletoseeJesuswhenthey seehim.

Afterresigningfromfulltimedutiesasapastorin Texasjustoverayearago tolivewithhisdaughter LindaWilliamsinLa Grange,Jerniganhas continuedpreachingto hundredsofpeopleweekly throughhis Facebook ministry,PreacherRoy Ministries.Andheremains energizedtokeephimself availablefortheLord’s servicebytakingcareof hisbodyphysicallyand spiritually.

“Well,I'mgoingtobe honestwithyou.Inmylife, [I]justsimplystayedwith theLord.Hesavedme whenIwas28yearsofage.Iturnedmy lifeovertotheLord.Andfromthattime on,Ihavetriedtoeatproperly.AndI haveexercised,keptmybodyingood condition,andIliveright,”heexplainedin arecentinterviewwithTheChristians Post.

Haditnotbeenforage-related maculardegeneration—an eyedisease

thatblurscentralvision—Jerniganwould stillbeleadinghischurchinTexas.

“Myvisionandmyhearingaremytwo greatestproblems.Ihavemacular degeneration.Beengettingshotsineach eyeforthepast11years,”hesaid.“That's oneofthereasonsIleftthemission.In thepastorateinTexas,Icouldnolonger seethepeople.Icouldsee,butIcouldn't

hisvision,Jernigansayshishealth remainsstrong.

“Asyouprobablyareaware,Idon't haveadoctorandI'monnomedication andIhavebeendoingexercises.Ido bodyexercisesorpush-upseveryday. AndIgenerallywalkaboutamileortwo. AndI'vebeendoingthatforyearsand [this]haskeptmyphysicalbodyingood condition,”Jernigansaid whenaskedhowhehas managedtostaysohealthy inhisoldage.“Mywhole life,peoplesay,‘Whydon't youretire?’Mylife,really,to behonestwithyou,mylife ismyministry.”

identifythem.AndI'dhavefuneralsandI couldn'treadtheBible.NowIhaveto quotefromtheScripturesI'dmemorized throughtheyears.”

Jernigannowdependsonhis daughter,Linda,todrivehimaroundbut insiststhataslongashecanfind alternativewaystostudyandread,hewill continuedoingministryonline.Apartfrom

Jerniganrecentlymade nationalheadlines after deciding,with encouragementfromhis family,togoskydivingto celebratehismilestonejust twoyearsshyofhis centennial.HetoldCPthat thereasonhedecidedto taketheplungewastouse themomenttoglorifyGod, andhehasgottenthe opportunitytodoso alreadyinseveralmediainterviews.

“InaboutSeptember,October(2022),I startedprayingaboutthisthing.AndI said,'Lord,ifyoucangetthegloryoutof it,I’lldoit.Butit'snotforme.I'mnota thrillseeker.Ihavenothingtoprove.I havebeenupthemountain,downthe mountain,throughthevalleys.I'mnot tryingtoproveanything.ButifIcangive

▲ RoyJernigan,98,justbeforehewentskydivinginNorthCarolinaonJanuary24, 2023.LindaWilliams

youthegloryoutofthis,andyouwillgive ustheweatherfitting,I'lljumpunlessyou tellmeno,'”Jernigansaid.“Ifit'sabad day,I'llknowit'sano.AndsoIleftitandI prayedcontinuallyeveryday.”

Andthedayofthejump,Jan.24, turnedouttobeabrightsunnydayin NorthCarolina.Jernigan tookthejump with SkydiveCoastalCarolinas and survived,muchlikehedidinWorldWarII, andtheKoreanandVietnamWarsasa NavalCorpsman.

Thoughhewasrecentlydiagnosed withCOVID-19,Jernigan,whogot vaccinatedforthevirus,saidGod protectedhimfromgettingsickatthe heightofthepandemicevenashelost severalchurchandfamilymembers.

“Ididhaveseveralofmymembers,asI say,whodiedwiththis.AndIhavea nephewthatdiedwiththatthingin Virginia.ButtheLord,mybodywasin goodcondition.AndIfeellikereallyit's theLord'shandwaswithme,”Jernigan said.

THESTRONGEST CHALLENGETO JERNIGAN’SFAITH

Inhis52yearsofministry,Jernigan recalledfacingmanychallengesalong thewaybutnonemorechallengingthan losinghiswife,Lizzie,inJanuary2011.

“IsupposetheworsttimethatI'vehad intheinthoseyears,theworstpartwas mywifehadaheartattackdownin Hollywood,Florida,”hesaid.

Eventhoughdoctorsmanagedto revivehiswife,Jernigansaidshesuffered braindamageandslowlydeteriorated

overaperiodofaboutfiveorsixyears untilherdeath.

“Shestartedoffaslowprocessof degeneratinginthemindandthedoctor toldmeitwouldprobablybeslowbutthe brain...wouldprobablydie.Thosewere toughtimesforme,”Jerniganrecalled.

“Wehaddoneeverythingtogether fromourchildhoodon.…Onceyousaw one,yousawtheother.Wetraveled together.Weworkedtogether.Andshe startedlosinghermind.Andittookabout fiveorsixyears.Andletmesaytoyou, anypersonthathasnotbeenthrough thatcannotknowexactlyhowaperson feelswhensomeonetheylove[istaken fromthem],”hesaid.

“Whenthatmindbeginstofailandyou knowthattheydon'tknowwhatistaking place,itjustbreaksyourheart.Thatwas thetoughestfewyearsforme.Andaswe prayedtogethereverynight,I'dputherto bedandI'dsay,‘Honey,Iloveyou.’Then she’dsay,‘Iloveyou,’”hecontinued.“On SundaynightofJanuary9,2011,Iputher tobedthatnightandIsaid,‘Iloveyou.’ Thelastwordsheeverspokewas,‘Ilove youtoo.’”

Jernigansaidafterhiswife’sdeathhe spenthislifelivingaloneuntilNovember 2021when,afterLinda’shusbanddied,

theybothdecidedtomovebacktoNorth Carolinawheretheywouldbecloserto family.

“Whenshewasgoingthroughthe greatdifficultiesitwasverytough,but prayerandtrustingtheLord,Hebrought methroughit,”hesaidofhiswife’s passing.“Ididn'treallyseeanypurpose. ButthenIrecognizedthatIhadalotof peoplethatlovedandprayedformeand wantedmetokeepgoing.SoIpickedup thepiecesandbyGod'sgraceand mercy,Ihavecontinuedon,”hesaid. “There'snodoubtaboutit.Whenmywife died,partofmedied.Oneofthepeople saidthebestpart.”

ONPASTORSAND THESTATEOFTHE CHURCH

Askedtocommentonthestateofthe AmericanChurchtoday,Jerniganquickly explainedthatthemaindriverofhisfaith istheBiblewithoutthetrappingsof denominationalrestrictions.

“I'mnotadenominationalman.Idon't criticizethedenominationsbutthink aboutthis:wehaveallkinds ofdenominations—Baptist, Methodist,Presbyterian, Episcopalian,younameit, andeveryoneofthemhasa differentdoctrine,”he explained.“Theycan'tallbe right.Andso,consequently,I don'tclaimadenomination.I claimtobeaChristian.And asaChristian,Ifollowthe NewTestamentteachingson theApostlePaul.”

AndJernigan’s nondenominationalapproach toministryalignswiththe directionoftheAmerican Churchtoday.Datafromthe 2020U.S.ReligionCensus showthatinthelast10years, thenumberofAmerican Christianadherentsin nondenominationalchurches nearlydoubledinnumberand surpassedAmerica'slargest Protestantdenomination,

Peoplesay,ʻWhydon't youretire?ʼMylife,really, tobehonestwithyou,my lifeismyministry.

▲ RoyJerniganandhislatewife,Lizzie.

SouthernBaptist,byseveralmillion adherents.

Other recentstudiesalsoshow that whileAmericaremainsahighlyreligious nation,withsevenin10claimingaffiliation withsomekindoforganizedreligion,for thefirsttimeinnearly80years,fewer thanhalfnowsaytheyhaveformal membershipinaspecifichouseof worship.Churchattendancehasalso continuedtodecline inthewakeofthe COVID-19pandemiclockdowns.

WhileheadmitsthatbeingaChristian todayismuchharderthanitwas50years agowhenfewerdistractionswere competingforpeople’sattention, Jerniganbelievesthatthemodelofmany churchministriestodayispartlytoblame forpeopledesertingthepews.

“I'llbehonestwithyou,oneofthe

God.Ibelievethisisagrossmistake,that people,youseesomuchofthistoday, tryingtocommercializeandputthings intoapeacefultypeofthingratherthan teachingtheBible,”hesaid.“Idobelieve ifpreacherswouldcomedownoffthe highhorse,andquitpreaching,whatIcall cottoncandymessages,that'sallfluffand nosubstance,Ibelievethere'dbeagreat differenceintheworldtoday.”

Andasthechurchcontinuesto competefortheattentionofsociety today,Jerniganisworriedthatcurrent socialtrendsmightleadtoapointin societywhereJesusis“completely rejected.”

“Today,thereismuchmoretopulla personawaythantherewasinmyday,” hesaid.“Itismuchmoredifficult.Andit doesappeartomethatastime approaches,thatthingsaregoingfull circletotheextentthatChrist…isgoing tobecompletelyrejected.”

HeurgedChristianswholeft institutionalchurchesbutstillwantto maintaintheirChristianfaithtokeep readingtheBibleandprayingtoGodfor direction.

“Myheartgoesouttosomany people,itreallydoes,”hesaid.“There arealotofpeopleouttherethatare hungry,andthey'rethirstingfortheWord ofGod,buttheydon'thaveanyoneto giveittothem.”

biggestproblemsthatpastorshavetoday istryingtobuildachurchontheirown,” JernigantoldCP.

“Today,preachershavegotten themselvesintosucharutbybuildingbig buildingswithstainedglasswindowsand everything.Andthepeoplehave desertedthembecausetheygettiredof beingbledtodeath[financially].Andhear thepreachersay,'yougottogive,you gottogive,yougottogive.'My convictionisyoudon'thavetohound Christianstogive.Iftheyaresaved,they lovetheLord,theywillgive,”hesaid.

Jerniganalsocriticizedpreacherswho treattheirministryasabusiness.

“Ithinkit'sthewrongapproach. Commercial?Youdon'tcommercialize

Therearealotofpeople outtherethatarehungry, andthey'rethirstingfor theWordofGod,butthey don'thaveanyonetogive ittothem.

HASTHE‘LIGHTNING’OFREVIVAL STRUCKINTHEUNITEDSTATES?

BYWALLACEB.HENLEY

RevivalhappenedinWales in1904-1905,beginning withyouth.Isithappening nowintheUnitedStates?

InWales,EvanRoberts,acoalminer barelyoutofhisteens,hadbeenstruck bythelightning,andeveryonewithwhom hecameintocontactwasignited,“Iwill neverforgetthelightninginhisvoice,” saidAlunMorganofCaerfarchell,an oldermanwhowasincontactwithEvan inthosedays.

Whenthe revivalvolthitEvan Roberts,achurch leaderdescribed Evanas“actinglike anarticleofradium …aconsumingfire whichtookaway sleep,clearedthe channelsoftears andspedthe wheelofprayer throughoutthis district.”

W.T.Stead,a skepticaljournalist, wouldwritethatit seemedlike“living energyhad invadedEvan’s soul,burstall bonds,and overwhelmedhim.”[1]

IthappenedtoEvanduringaprayer serviceonSeptember29,1904.During thatsession,Evanbegantosense“an irresistibleinfluence”cominguponhimas helistenedtoPastorSethLloydprayfor Godto“bendme!”

Inashorttime,thehumbleyouth,a ganglyformercoalminerandblacksmith wouldberegardedastheleaderofthe revival.

Meanwhile,thelightningofrevivalhad struckateen-agedgirlinaCalvinist ChapelinWestWales.Ahistorian describedFlorrieEvansas“oneofthe highlysignificantfigures”intherevival. Duringachurchservice,thepastorasked peopletoanswerthequestion:What doesJesusmeantoyou?

Florrie,anewbeliever,couldnotbe silent.“IloveJesuswithallmyheart,”she declared.Withthat,convictionspread audiblyandtangiblythroughoutthe

In1902,DavidHowell,aprominent pastor,hadwrittenanopenletter soundingthealarm.

Waleswasheadedforatrainwreck spiritually,theologically,morally,and culturally.“TheauthorityoftheBibleand thefoundationaltruthsofChristianity werebeingjudgedinthecourtofreason andcriticism,”helamented.Pulpitswere spirituallyvacuousandpewsdeserted.

room.

Fromthosebeginnings,apowerful revivalbegantospreadthroughoutthe country.Anditwasmuchneeded. Churcheshadgonecold,andattendance haddeclined.Immoralityand drunkennesswerecorruptingthesociety, destroyingfamiliesandwrenchingthe beautyandlifefromWales,whichhad beenknownasalandofinspiring worshipmusicsungbymightychoirs

AsHowelldescribedthecrisesofhis time,RogerCohen,inaNewYorkTimes article,wrote decadeslater aboutthe “unraveling”ofour presentage:“The fabricofsociety frayed.Democracy lookedquaintand outmodedbeside new authoritarianisms… politicians,haunted bytheirincapacity, playedonthefears oftheir populations. Dystopiawasa vogueword…the greatrisingnations ofvastpopulations heldthefateofthe worldintheir handsbuthardlyseemedtocare…untilit wastoolateandpeoplecouldseethe GreatUnravelingforwhatitwasandwhat ithaswrought.”

Fruitisproofofgenuinerevival.Thus, themostimportantquestion:Whatwas “wrought”fromtheWelshRevival?

Considerthis:

● Withineightmonthsmorethan 100,000-150,000peoplehadjoined

▲ istock/freedom007

churches.DavidMatthews,arevival participant,summeditup:“Itisafact thatlargenumbershavebeenadded tothechurches.Notmerely convertedorrestored,orhelpedon, buttobecomefullmembers…”

● Matthewcontinued:“Thatwhich costlylegislation,cumbersome philanthropiceffort,ororganizations havefailedtodo,heretheSpiritof Godisdoingwitheaseand thoroughnesssurprisingtobehold. Drunkardsgiveupdrinkingwithout pledgeorpressure…quarrelsare healedwithoutthecourts…Homes madehappy…Debtspaidwithout legislation…Streetspurifiedwithout threatorfine…Thequestfor holinessbecamethepassionofthe maninthestreet”.Matthewsalso notedthat“everypubinLlanfairin Angleseywasclosed.”

● F.B.Meyerwrote:“Judgingfromthe fruits.Inthevastmultitudewhohave beentrulyconvertedandhavejoined thechurches,andthetransformation wroughtoverwidedistrictsinthe country.Itisimpossibletodoubtthat therehasbeenadeepandrealwork bytheSpiritofGod.”

● VynrwyMorgan,acriticofEvan Robertsandtherevival,latersaidthat “menwhohadbeenregardedas eithertoooldortoowickedtobe touchedandsaved,surrenderedfully andabsolutely,andhavesince becomeusefulcitizensandchurch members.”

Again,thefruitistherealproofof revival,andthestandardofmeasurement oftherevivalthatmaybeformingnowin Americathroughthestudentscouldbea hintofwhatistocome.So,thinknow aboutallthosestudents“callingdown

lightning”oncollegecampusesinour day.

Isrevivalonthehorizon?Weneedto joininspiritandsoulatleasttheirworship andintercession.It’seitherrevivalor “unraveling.”

Andifthereisanendtothecampus rallies,hopefully,thestudentswill continue“callingdownlightning,” worship,andrepentanceonbehalfof themselves,theirinstitutions,andthe nation.

IswearifIcomeacrossanother oneofthese,I’mgoingto screaminawaythatwillmake theT-Rexroarin"Jurassic Park"seemlikealeafhittingtheground.

Ayoungpregnantgirlinour communitysufferingfrommentalillness wasrecentlytakenbytheChristianfamily caringforhernottoadoctorforproper diagnosis,butinsteadtoapersonwho claimedtheyhadthegiftofhealing.After asinglesessionofprayerand deliverance,the“healer”declaredthegirl completelycuredandsentheronher way.

Flashforwardtotoday.Theyoung womanhasgivenbirthtoherchildandis rapidlydecliningfromamentalhealth standpoint,actinginthebizarrestof ways,puttingbothherselfandherbaby atrisk.

Here,onceagain,wehaveatragic exampleofwhathappenswhen Christiansaregrosslyilliterateintheology and,onemightargue,lackcommon senseinmattersofillnessingeneraland mentalafflictioninparticular.

THEQUEENOFTHE SCIENCES

Whatistheology?Theology:ol·o·gy: logos,reason;asubjectofstudy;a branchofknowledge.theo-:relatingto Godordeity.

Ifyou’reaChristian,itisyour responsibility—yourpersonal responsibility—tovigorouslypursue theologyforaslongasGodgivesyou breath.God’sWordisunambiguousin commandingustodothis.

We’retoldto“beabsorbed”(1Tim. 4:15)inScriptureandteaching;“like newbornbabies,longforthepuremilkof theword,sothatbyityoumaygrowin respecttosalvation”(1Pet.2:2).We’re instructedto“notbechildreninyour thinking;yetinevilbeinfants,butinyour thinkingbemature”(1Cor.14:20)andto “growinthegraceandknowledgeofour LordandSaviorJesusChrist”(2Pet.3:18).

TheBibletellsusthat“hewhois spiritualappraisesallthings”(1Cor.2:15) anddirectsusto“examineeverything

carefully”(1Thess.5:21).TheChristian continuallydoesthissothatwe“may aboundstillmoreandmoreinreal knowledgeandalldiscernmentsothat youmayapprovethethingsthatare excellent(Phil.1:9,10)and“becauseof practicehave[our]sensestrainedto discerngoodandevil”(Heb5:14).

Theologywashistoricallyreferredto asthequeenofthesciences,with philosophybeingherhandmaiden, however,suchahighpedestalplacement hasbeendoneawaywithbyourmodern culture.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatit shouldnotbethatwaywithus.

Weneedadeeptheological foundationtobothlivewellbeforeGod andavoiderror.Inthecaseabove,a properunderstandingonthesubjectof themiraculous“signgifts”foundinthe Biblewouldhavepreventedtheawful situationthathasunfoldedwiththefamily thatweknow.

NO,YOUDON’T HAVETHEGIFTOF HEALING

Thetopicofmiraclesand,specifically, thesigngiftshavebeendiscussedand debatedforalongtime.Thatsaid,Ithink thetruthonthesubjectbecomesclear whenwestudytheScriptures,apply reasonandemploywhatThomas Aquinassaidwasakeypracticeofany truth-seekingphilosopher,whichisthe abilitytomakedistinctions.

ThetwodistinctionsintheBiblethat pertaintothiscasedealwiththecritical differencesbetweenwhatisprescriptive vs.whatisdescriptiveintheBibleand thefactofmiraclesvs.thegiftofmiracles.

TheBibledescribesmanyhistorical andmiraculouseventsthathappenedin theOldTestamentandearlyChurch,but thatdoesn’tmeantheyareprescribedfor today.

Moreover,whilethefactofmiracles runsthroughoutthewholeBible,thegift ofmiraclesisconfinedtothreevery specificandincrediblybriefperiodsof humanhistory.YouseeitwithMoses, Elijah/Elisha,andwithChristandtheearly apostolicera.That’sit.[1]

Further,thegiftofmiraclesis teleological,meaningithasdesignand purposebehindit.

WithMoses,Godusedittoglorify Himself,securethereleaseofHischosen peopleandputdownthechallengeof Egypt’sfalsegod,Pharaoh.Thesameis truewithElijah/Elishaandthefalsegod Baal.

ThegiftofmiracleswithJesusandthe apostleswereproofpointsofChrist’s Person,mission,andtheGospeltruthHe andHisdisciplesproclaimedtoaworld ofcountlessfalsedeities.

Whatthesetheologicalfactsmeanis this:ifyou(orsomeoneyouknow)think youpossessthegiftofhealing,youdon’t. WhileGodcanindeedhealsomeoneif Hechooses,theabilityforaparticular

[1]ThebookofRevelationdescribeshowthegiftofmiracleswillbegivenafourthtimetothetwowitnessesdescribedinchapter11.

persontohealatwillasJesusandthe earlyChurchdidisnotactivetodayand theconceptdoesnotfittheoverall designofmiraclegiftsasoutlinedin Scripture.

Inaddition,let’salsoapplyreasonand commonsensetothesubject.Howmany timesdoyouhavetowitnessyouror someoneelse’ssupposedgiftofhealing failbeforeyouadmititisn’treal?How manymorestarkandheartbreaking scenesofgriefandpersonaltragedy havetooccurbeforethetruthis admitted?

Andplease,whentheattemptat healingfails,don’ttrotoutthestandard fallbackreplyof,“well,theyjustdidn’t haveenoughfaith.”AsI’veoffered severaltimesinthepast,sincethere’sno

YETANOTHEREXAMPLEOFWHY THEOLOGY MATTERS

BYROBINSCHUMACHER

greaterfaiththanthatwhichexistsinthe heartofagravelysickchild,I’llflyyou first-classtoSt.Judewherewecanwalk thehallsandletyourgiftofhealingrip.

I’llsayitagain:Godhasn’tchanged, andHecandomiracleswheneverHe chooses.TestimoniesofHismodern-day miraclesaboundandareoftentimes accompaniedbyincontrovertibleproof.

Ifyouwanttoprayforsomeone’sor yourownpersonalhealingfromphysical oremotionalhurt,thenpleasedoso.If liberationoccurs,praiseGod!

Butifit’sclearthattherequesttoHim forhealingorasimilarmiracleisn’tgoing tohappen,thenit’stimetoeitheraccept Hiswillasthingsstandorpursueother avenuesoffreedomfromtheissue,some ofwhichmayseemmundane(like

counseling,medication,lifestyle modifications)butareeverybitasmucha giftfromHimasasupernaturalmiracle. Thatbeingtrue,howaboutyoujoin meinworkinghardtounderstandour BiblebettersowecanenjoythelifeGod intendsanddodgethesometimes heartbreakingconsequencesofbeing wrongaboutwhatScripturesays?

ASBURYREVIVALGRIPS SCHOOLSTHROUGHOUT THEUNITEDSTATES

BYMICHAELGRYBOSKI

Wednesday,Feb.8, 2023,beganasany dayatAsburyUniversity ofWilmore,Kentucky,a Christianacademicinstitutionthathelda weeklychapelserviceatHughes Auditorium.

However,bytheendofthescheduled service,somethingdifferentwastaking place,asaround30studentsstayed afterwardstoengageinprayerand impromptuworship.

AlexandraPresta,asenioratthe universitywhoisalsotheexecutiveeditor forthecampusnewspaperThe Collegian, toldTheChristianPost thatshe wasoneofthosewhoinitiallyleft.

“Ihadleftforafewminutesbutthen feltcalledtoreturn,”recountedPrestain aninterviewacoupleofdayslater.“Since

then,ithasn'tstopped.It'sbeenamixof worship,testimony,prayer,confession, silence.”

Forseveraldaysafterwards,Asbury becametheepicenterofanoutbreakof revival,withseveralthousandpeople comingtothecampustoworship,give testimonies,singandpray.

Notonlydidtherevivaldrawin studentsandotherstotheauditorium,but italsospreadtoothercollegecampuses, schoolsandchurchesacrossstateand denominationallines.

UniversityoftheCumberlandsof Williamsburg,Kentucky,wasoneofthose campuses,withCampusMinisterJacob Ratliff explainingtoCP thathisschool wasexperiencing“significantevidenceof theLord’swork.”

“Wehavebeenencouragedbyour

students’desirestoseeChristexalted. Theyhaveorganizedtwoworship gatheringsthathavebeenimpactfulfor ourcampusandlocalcommunity,”said Ratliff.Henotedthataround400 attendedanimpromptuMondaynight service.

“Itcanbetracedbacktomovements atAsbury.StudentspresentatAsburyon Thursdaynightreceivedintentional prayerfromAsburyfacultyandstudents whichencouragedthemtocomeback andorganizetheworshipnighton Monday.”

SamfordUniversityinBirmingham, Alabama,wasimpacted,withcampus pastorBobbyGatlin tellingCP thata seriesofregularprayerandworship servicesbeganattheschool“very organically."

▲ StudentscrowdthealtaratHughesAuditoriumatAsburyUniversityduringa revivaleventthatbeganonWednesday,Feb.8,2023.JoshSadlon

▲ StudentsgatheratHughesAuditoriumatAsburyUniversityduringarevivalevent thatbeganonWednesday,Feb.8,2023.SadieGayheart

AccordingtoGatlin,Samford’s spontaneousworshipcamewhen“a ChristianministryclassprayedforGodto bringaspiritofrevivaltocampussimilar towhatwashappeningatAsbury.”

“Onebyone,Godbegantocreatea senseofexpectationamongindividual, disconnectedstudents.OnWednesday night,astudentbroughtafewfriendsto ReidChapeltoplaypianoandguitarfora timeofpersonalworship,”Gatlinsaid.

“Astheysang,anotherstudentarrived toprayforrevival.Soonafewothers joined,andGodbegantomove.Asour men’sbasketballgamewasending,text messagegroupmessagesbeganto circulatetellingstudentstostopwhat theyweredoingandgettoReidChapel.”

GatlintoldCPthathundredsof studentsmadetheirwaytoReidChapel thesameweekasAsbury’srevival,with testimonies,Biblereading,worshipand prayerlastinguntil3a.m.

RobFultz,acampuspastoratLee UniversityofCleveland,Tennessee,told CPabouthowstudentsbegan continuousworshipoftheirownafter watchingtheeventsatAsbury.

Fultzcalledwhatwashappeningat Lee“apredominatelyspontaneous movementofprayer”and“abeautifully sacredmovement”thatwascontinuing fordaysonendwithouta“scripted

worshipservice.”

CedarvilleUniversityofCedarville, Ohio,sawaseriesofunplannedservices takeplaceoncampusinFebruary.

PresidentThomasWhite describedthe event as“aspecialoutpouringand sensingofthepresenceoftheLord.”

Theaveragechapelserviceat CedarvilleUniversityhasaround3,000 students.However,oneday, approximately1,000studentsstayed afterwardforadditionalprayerand singing.

“WhenIleftworkthatdaytogohome togetdinnerat5:30,westillhadasmall groupofstudents,”saidWhite.“Wecame backtothechapelthatnighttodoan eighto’clockprayermeeting.”

“Iwouldguesswehadabout1,000 studentswhoshowedbackupthat evening,andweprayed,wesangpraise songstoJesus,wereadScripture,and wewerestillthereafter10o’clock.”

Lateron,severalhundredstudents wenttoothercampuses,including MichiganStateUniversityandOhioState University,withtheintentionofwitnessing tocommunities.

GabrielCherry,oneofthestudents whowenttoMSU, toldCP thatthere “weremanysoberingconversationsthat wehadwithstudents”andthatthey “wereabletoprayforthemand

encouragetheminaneternalhope.”

“God'snamewasbeingliftedupinthe midstofdarkness,andthestudentswere abletobeencouraged,notbyourefforts butbytheprovisionoftheLord,”said Cherry.

Itwasnotjustuniversities,asmiddle schoolstudentsatGraceChristian AcademyofKnoxville,Tennessee,also foundthemselvesstayingafterscheduled worshiptopray,confessandgive professionsoffaith.

“Godcanspeakinshowersorwaves,” saidGCAUpperSchoolPrincipalAngie Nordhorninastatement sharedwithCP, addingthatGod“decidedtofloodour campuswithHispresence.”

“AsatenuredmemberoftheGCA community,Ionlyrememberoneother time,in2010,whenweexperienceda profounddemonstrationoftheHoly Spirit,”Nordhorncontinued.

“IpraythattheLordwillcontinueto floodourhallswithHispresence.”

▲ StudentsfromCedarvilleUniversitytraveltoMichiganStateUniversityinFebruary 2023tospreadrevivaltothecampus.AlexiFarrell

▲ StudentsatSamfordUniversityworshipatReidChapelaspartofrevivalservice. BobbyGatlin

'UNMASKINGGENDERIDEOLOGY' PANELWARNS'WOMENARE GOINGTOLOSE'RIGHTSIFTRANS IDEOLOGUESWIN

BYIANM.GIATTI

DALLAS,Texas—Whatisa humanbeing?Andwhat doesitmeantobea humanbeing?

Thosewerethecentralquestions consideredatTheChristianPost’s conference,"UnmaskingGender Ideology:ProtectingChildren, ConfrontingTransgenderism,"where severalprofessionalsfromvariousfields withexperiencefightinggenderideology cametogethertosharetheirinsights.

Acrowdofmorethan170people attendedtheeventco-sponsoredbyFirst BaptistDallasonMarch23forthe conference,whichtackledanumberof topics,includingthedangersofgender ideologyanditsimpactontheChurch, theindoctrinationandmedicalabuseof childreninthenameof“gender-affirming care,”andtheplightofincarcerated womenwhoarerequiredtoshareprison cellswithmenduetogenderself-IDlaws.

TheeventwashostedbyCP'sawardwinningsocialcommentatorand podcasterBrandonShowalter,who underscoredthe urgencyoffacing genderideologyinthe Church.

Showalterpointedto theveryoriginsof mankindin Genesis1:27

—whereGodmade bothmanandwomanin Hisimage—asan illustrationof transgenderideology’s “graveassault”onthe Gospelitself.

“Thesearenotsecondaryortertiary doctrinalmatters,”saidShowalter.“They areprimary.”

Getyourfreebook'Exposingthe GenderLie'here MaryRiceHasson,J.D.,afellowatthe EthicsandPublicPolicyCenter,was amongthespeakersintheevent’sfirst panelandwarnedthisideologyisa “globalevent”thatisshapingourworld fromlanguagetothefieldsoflawand healthcare.

Callingthemovementa“dangerto women,”Hassonpointedtothedecline ofreligionasplayingakeyfactorinthe spreadofthetransmovement.

“Allofsudden,youhadaculturethat wasstilllookingformeaningbutdidn’t haveananswerandwasmuchmore willingtobelieve,"saidHasson.“Sonow we’refacingasituationwhereabasic conceptlikesex—weknowwhatitis,it’s thedifferencebetweenmaleandfemale, it’sabiologicalterm—sexinthelawis beingredefinedtomeangenderidentity.”

Sincethe“comingout”offormer

OlympicgoldmedalistBruceJenneras CaitlynJennerin2015,transgenderism hasgrownexponentially,particularlyin theWest.

AccordingtoUCLA’sWilliamsInstitute, thenumberofyoungpeoplewhoidentify astranshasdoubledjustinthelastfew years,whileoneinfivepeoplewho identifyastransarebetween13to17 yearsold.

Andbecauseofthesubjectivityof genderidentity,Hassonsaidthe transgendermovementposesadire threattowomeninparticular.

“Genderidentityisafeeling,”she explained.“It’scompletelysubjective— can’ttestforit,can’tproveit,it’sgottobe declared.

“Whenyoumakethatalegalcategory, whatyou’redoingisyou’reinsuringthat women,inparticular,aregoingtoloseall thoserightsthatgowithsex discriminationlaws.”

Thatthreattowardwomenmightbe mostacute,perhapssurprisingly,inthe Americanprisonsystem.Intrans-affirming stateslikeCalifornia, biologicalmen— includingserialsex offenders—are allowedtotransferto women’sfacilities.

AmieIchikawa,who servedfiveyearsina Californiastateprison andnowheadsthe

WomanIIWoman prison advocacygroup,told thepanelthatwhile prisonwas“not

▲ MarryRiceHassonaddressesconcernsforwomen'srightsduringapaneldiscussionabout combattingtransideologytitled,"UnmaskingGenderIdeology:ProtectingChildren,Confronting Transgenderism"atFirstBaptistDallasonMarch23,2023.|TheChristianPost

wonderful”priortothe2021passageof California’sSenateBill132,whichallowed incarceratedmentobehousedwith womeniftheyself-identifiedaswomen, thingshaverapidlygonedownhill.

Ichikawatoldthestoryofone serial rapist who,beforethepassageofSB132, mutilatedhimself anddeclaredhimselfto beawomanforthesolepurposeof beinghousedwithfemaleinmates.

Alongwithbringingdistinctlymale politicking—including distinctionsofrace,gang affiliationandcrimelevel— intothewomen’sfacility, thisinmatewasserving timefortheviolentrapeof amotheranddaughter.

“Atonepoint,heasked thepresidentofthe women'sadvisorycouncilif hecouldgetajobinthe electricalshop,”she recounted.“Yearslater,we foundoutheelectrocuted

hisvictims.”

Now,saidIchikawa,the implementationofSB132haschanged cultureradically:shehaspersonally heardfromsome200womenwho“need totalktosomeone,”sosheprovidedher personalcellphonenumberforthemto contact.

Ichikawasaidsheandherformerly incarceratedpartnersare“dedicatedto holdingthelineandmakingsurewe

don’tabandonoursistersinside.”

Sohowdidwegethere?

JenniferLahl,whospent20yearsin clinicalnursingandisthefounderand presidentoftheCenterforBioethicsand Culture,saidtheshifthastakenplace evenasthemedicalprofessionhasbeen completelytransformed.

Whereastraditionallytheprofession involvedarelationshipbetweendoctors andpatients,nowintheGoogleera, doctorshave become“healthcare providers”and patientsarenow “clients”or customers.”

“Nowwe’ve becomeconsumers ofmedicine,”said Lahl.“Iwalkin,I showup,Isay, ‘Doctor,I’vedone theGooglesearch, here’swhatIwant,

▲ JenniferLahloftheCenterforBioethics&CulturespeaksatTheChristianPost'sevent,"Unmasking GenderIdeology:ProtectingChildren,ConfrontingTransgenderism"atFirstBaptistDallasonMarch 23,2023.|TheChristianPost

here’swhatIhave....”

Anotherfactor,accordingtoLahl,is thatmedicalethicsisnolongera requiredcourseinmedschool.

“Medicine—likeacademics,likethe media,liketheculturalelites—hasbeen captured,”shesaid.

Muchofthathasoccurredinthename of“gender-affirminginterventions,”ora patternofwhatpanelistDr.AndreVan Moldescribedas“junkscience”pushing outdecades-oldresearch.

“There'sdecadesofliteratureshowing overwhelmingprobabilityinagender dysphoricminorofunderlyinghealth problemsofadversechildhood experiences,badfamilydynamicsanda wayover-representationofautism spectrumdysphoria,andthattheseall predatethegenderdysphoria,”VanMol explained.

Accordingtorecentdata,thenumber ofminorsinAmericareceivinga diagnosisofgenderdysphoriatripled from2017to2021,withmorethan42,000 receivingthediagnosisin2021.Onthe socialmediaplatformTikTok,whichis especiallypopularamongyounger

people,thehashtag“trans”haslogged 50.2billionviews,nearlydoublingwithin thespaceofayear.

MoreEuropeannations,headded,are turningawayfromthis“junkscience”and insteadtellingminorswhoare experiencinggenderdysphoriato undergocomprehensivepsychological evaluationandtherapy.

Thisapproach,saidVanMol,isamore holisticmethodofaddressingwhattends tobeadeeplycomplexcondition.

“There'salwaysamorehonestanswer togenderdysphoriaorconfusionina minorthanchemicalsterilizationand mutilation,”hesaid.“Whattheyneedisto addressthoseunderlyingissues.”

Giventhemultifaceteddynamicof transgenderism,howcantheChurch respondinawaythat’sbothtruthfuland helpful?

JeffMyers,Ph.D.,thepresidentof SummitMinistries andco-authorofa recente-bookwithShowalter,titled ExposingTheGenderLie,saidChristians mustfirstacknowledgetheurgencyof theissueandthethreatitposes.

“Werealizedwecan'tbesilentonthe issueofgenderideologybecauseitisan attackontheveryideaoftruthitself,”said Myers.

Hesaidhe’s“veryconcerned”about transgenderismandpointedtosome 6,500catalogedbiologicaldifferences betweenmalesandfemales.

“Theideathatyoucanbeaboyand becomeagirlisalie;itisalieabout biologyanditisalieaboutpersonhood,” hesaid.

Myerspointedtotheteachingofthe postmodernviewthatwordsarereality— ateachingthatstretchesbacknearly threedecades,whenuniversitystudents werebeingtaughtthatnoobjective realityexists,only“knowable perceptions.”

“Soinsteadofsayingpeopleshould seekthetruth,nowpeoplesayyou should‘speakyourtruth,”heexplained. “Soifwordshavenorelationtoreality, thenwordslike‘male’and‘female’don’t matteranymore.”

Thatapplication,saidMyers,underpins theentireideologyoftransgenderism, which“twistslanguage”tothreatenthe livelihoodsofthosewhoseveryjobisto

“You’reajournalist,you’llgetfiredif youdon’tdothis,”hesaid.“Ifyoureferto biologicalmenwhoidentifyaswomenas transgenderwomen,youmustusethat terminology.

“Ifyou’reinthecorporateworldand don’tdoit,you’llbefired.”

PanelistJuliaJeffressSadler,a licensedprofessionalcounselorand bestsellingauthorof PrayBigThings,

saidthatmindsetiswhyChristiansmust beequippedwithGod’sWordinorderto respondeffectively.

“Ipersonallydonotseeatonofkids whohavereallystrongfaithand upbringingandareassuredoftheir salvationpersonallystrugglingwith transgender,that’snotwhatIsee,”she said.“Buttheydon’tknowhowtodefend thetruth;theydon'tknowhowtousethe Bibletoexplaintherealitythatwe’remale andfemale.”

Lahlechoedthatsentiment,statingher conviction—andperhapssummingup thebattleitself—thattransgenderism isn’tsimplyapoliticalorculturalattack butonethatissatanicinitsorigins.

“Idon'tbelieveintransgenderism,”she said.“Ithinkthat’saliefromthedevil.”

▲ JuliaJeffressSadlerspeaksataneventheldatFirstBaptistDallas titled,"UnmaskingGenderIdeology:ProtectingChildren,Confronting Transgenderism",onMarch23,2023.|TheChristianPost

◄ Dr.AndreVanMol(center)speaksduringapaneldiscussion atTheChristianPost'sevent,"UnmaskingGenderIdeology: ProtectingChildren,ConfrontingTransgenderism"atFirst BaptistDallasonMarch23,2023.|TheChristianPost

◄ JeffMyers,Ph.D.,thepresidentofSummitMinistriesandco-authorofthee-bookwith TheChristianPost'sBrandonShowalter,titled"ExposingTheGenderLie,"speaksatan eventheldatFirstBaptistDallastitled,"UnmaskingGenderIdeology:Protecting Children,ConfrontingTransgenderism",onMarch23,2023.|TheChristianPost

BARRYBLACK:AMERICA'S FIRSTBLACKSENATECHAPLAIN SAYSTHISBIBLEVERSESAVED HIMFROMALIFEOFCRIME

BYNICOLEALCINDOR

WASHINGTON—Asthe firstblackchaplainof theU.S.Senate,Barry Blackcan'thelpbut wonderwherehislifewouldhaveended upifitwerenotforthesavinggraceof Godrescuinghimfromalifeofviolence asateenagergrowingupinBaltimore, Maryland.

Black,74,becamethefirstblackman andSeventh-dayAdventisttobecome Senatechaplainin2003afterhewas nominatedfortheposition bythenSenateMajorityLeaderBillFristtobethe upperchamber's62ndchaplainaftera longcareerintheU.S.Navy,wherehe rosetotherankofRearAdmiral.

“IseethehandofGodthroughoutmy life.Iendedupasateenagergetting involvedwithagangthatcouldhave causedmeatremendousamountof difficulty.Twoofthem[gangmembers] actuallyendedupgettinglifeinprisonfor murderingsomeone,”recalledBlackinan interviewwithTheChristianPost.He wouldn'tbeministeringtodayifGod hadn'trescuedhimfromgangviolence.

“Iwasintherightplaceattheright time—notwiththem.Andreflectingon Proverbs1:10,whichwasaBibleversemy mothergavemeanickeltomemorize thatkeptmeoutofsomeofthetroubles. SowereitnotforthegraceofGod,I wouldhaveprobablybeenanaccessory tomurderandspentalifetime,oratleast

20years,inprison.”

Proverbs1:10 reads,"Myson,ifsinful menenticeyou,donotgiveintothem."

AsFebruaryisBlackHistoryMonth, Blacklooksbackonwhatit'sbeenlike servingnearly20yearsofhislife ministeringtostaffonCapitolHill,an outcomethatonceseemedunlikelyfora childgrowingupinamostlysingle-parent homeinthe1950sand'60s.

'NEVERWANTEDTO

DOANYTHINGBUT MINISTRY'

Asalong-distancetruckdriver,Black's fatherwasabsentformuchofhis upbringing.Asaresult,hismotherwas lefttoraisehimandhiseldestsiblingsby herself.However,hewasinvolvedinthe livesofhisthreeyoungestsiblings.

HismotherbecameadevoutSeventhdayAdventistandraisedherchildrenin thefaithandregularlytookBlackandhis sevensiblingstoBereaTempleof Seventh-dayAdventistChurchon

▲ ChaplainoftheUnitedStatesSenate,BarryBlack|TheChristianPost/NicoleAlcindor

MadisonAvenuetoattendservicesand she'dhostBiblestudiesinthehome.

HismotheralsoenrolledBlackandhis siblingsinaprivateChristianschooland paidwhatshecouldfortuitionand receivedsupportfromachurchprogram tocovereducationalexpensestuition.

"Webelongedtoachurchthat emphasizedandsupportedChristian education."

Fromtheearliestdaysofhischildhood thathecanremember,Blacksaidhe wantedtobeanordainedminister."I've neverwantedtodoanythingbutministry. Ithinktheprimaryreasonisthatwhenmy motherwaspregnantwithme,shewas baptized,andsheasked,asshewas beingimmersedbaptismally,thattheHoly Spiritwouldplaceaspecialblessingand anointinguponmeasanunbornchild."

Blackwasbornaboutamonthafterhis mother'sbaptismonNov.1,1948.

“Ilatershowedtendenciestoward interestinpublicspeaking.Ihaveavery

extrovertedandoutgoingpersonality, evenasafirst-grader,second-graderand third-grader,"hesaid."SoIneverhadan arrivalinmyvocationofaffection.I've alwayswantedtobeaminister,andI thinkit'sbecauseofmymom'sprayers.”

ButwhenBlackenteredhisteenage yearshegravitatedtowardthestreets andfoundbrotherhoodandfatherhoodin agang.“Ithinkthatgrowingup,when yourarelyseeyourfather,it’sproblematic becauseeveryoneneedsanadultmale rolemodel,”hesaid.

Despitefallinginwiththewrongcrowd asateen,Blackstressedthathehad severalmalerolemodelsinhislife, includingteachers,neighborsand membersofthechurch.

"Iwasveryblessed....Ididalotof talkingtomyheavenlyFatherbecause mymotherhadalwaysinstilledinmeand mysiblings'livesmorningandevening worshipinourhomeandtaughtustotalk toGodaswewouldtalktoafriend,"

Blackrecalled.

“IwasfortunatebecauseIbelongedto averylargechurch,probably800 members.Therewereenoughadultmale rolemodelswhoenabledmetomakeup forthedeficitofnothavingthatathome,” Blackadded.

“Moreover,thechurchschoolthatI attendedalsohadanumberofmale teachersandtheyservedasrolemodels aswell.”

BREAKINGTHE CYCLE

Childrenbornintopovertycanfallinto amulti-generationalcycleoffinancial strugglesandgovernmentdependence. ButBlackandhissiblingswereableto breakfreefrompovertyandtake advantageofopportunitiestoprosper.

"Whatevertheenvironmentis,growing

▲ InthisscreengrabtakenfromaSenateTelevisionwebcast,SenateChaplainBarryBlackreadsaprayer duringimpeachmentproceedingsasChiefJusticeJohnRobertslooksonintheSenatechamberatthe U.S.CapitolonJanuary30,2020,inWashington,D.C./SenateTelevisionviaGettyImages

upinpovertytaughtmeanumberof things.Ittaughtme,firstofall,thatthere's alwayssomethingyoucanbethankfulfor. Andnomatterhowdifficultthingshave beeninmylife,sinceIwasinpoverty,I lookbackandIrememberhowlittleit reallytakestolivequitewell,”Blacksaid. “Wesubsistedonbeansandricemost days,exceptontheweekends.Sothat letsmeknowhowlittlesomeoneactually needs.”

“Secondly,growingupinpovertyalso hashelpedmetolearnhowthankfulyou arewhenyoufinallymanagetogetoutof thatcycleofpovertyandpathology,andit causesyoutoappreciatealotmorewhat youhaveafteryouleavethatspotonthe socioeconomicladder.”

Alongwithhisextensivemilitary trainingandeducation,Blackisan alumnusofseveraluniversitiesand educationalinstitutions:Oakwood University,NorthCarolinaCentral University,AndrewsUniversity,Palmer TheologicalSeminary,PineForge Academy,SalveReginaUniversityand AlliantInternationalUniversity.

HereceivedaPh.D.inpsychology,a doctorateintheology,amaster'sdegree inmanagementandamaster’sofdivinity degree.HewascommissionedasaU.S. Navychaplainin1976.Inhis27yearsof service,herosetotherankofRear AdmiralandeventuallyservedasChiefof NavyChaplainsuntilhebecameSenate chaplainin2003.

“IhaveusedthetrainingthatIreceived andIputitalongsidemyexperiencesin militaryministrytohelpthousandsof peopleinCongressandsenatorsover theyears,"hesaid."Ihaveaprettysolid foundationinacademiathathashelped meimmenselyinministeringtoagroup ofpeoplethatarecharacterizedbysome significantdiversity."

WorkingasSenatechaplainhasbeen arewardingvocation,headded,because thereisawidevarietyofpeopletotend tofromvaryingdenominationsand religioustraditions,includingnonChristianstowhomheisabletominister.

"Youalsohavethatinthemilitary.Asa Senatechaplain,youhavekindofachain ofcommandandyouhaveamajority leader.Amajoritywhereyou'rereporting topeopletosomeextent,notquitethe

sameasinthemilitary.Buttosome extent,"Blacksaid."Youhavemany differentChristiandenominations worshipingtogether,studyingtogetherin thesamewaythatyoudointhemilitary. Theprimarydifferenceisthemilitarywill involvemoving.Youwouldgooutona shipforasix-monthdeploymentaway fromthebase.Orinmycase,youmay haveanunaccompaniedtourforayear."

Reflectingonhisroleasachaplainin theNavyandtheSenate,Blacksaid "bothvocationsareprettymuchthesame whenitcomestotheministry."Except that,intheNavy,chaplainsare "sometimesinacombatsituation.So, you'reawayfromonebase...orone geographicallocation."

ADAYINTHELIFE OFASENATE CHAPLAIN

Blacksaidhiseverydayworkdayas Senatechaplainvaries,butoverthe years,ithasbeenrewarding.

"Myday-to-dayroutineisverymuch theroutineofapastorwhoisresponsible forseveralthousandsofpeople.Iprovide forChristiansbecauseI'maChristian.I facilitatefornon-Christians,Hindus, Buddhists,peoplefromtheIslamic tradition,"Blacksaid.

Onanaverageworkday,Blackwill arrangemeetingstovisitpeopleinthe hospitalandtheworkspace.

"Iadviselawmakers,particularly regardingmilitaryissues.BecauseI'ma retiredtwo-staradmiralwithasignificant amountofexperienceandparticularlyin theseaservices:Navy,MarineCorps, CoastGuardandMerchantMarines,"he said.

"IteachBiblestudies.Iprepare sermonsandpreach.Iwritebooksand articles.I'vewrittensixbooks....I representmanychaplains,the DepartmentoftheSenate,inchurches aroundthenation,"hecontinued."I officiatedweddingsandfunerals.Ido marriagepreparationandmarriage enrichment.SoIdotheworkofafull-time pastor....That'soneofthethingsthat's

excitingaboutthis.Eachdayisdifferent andrewarding."

EventhoughBlackhastoministerto lawmakersandtheirstaffwhofallonthe polaroppositeendsofthepolitical spectrum,hesaidit's"notthatdifficult providingministrytobothparties."

"ThenatureoftheSenatelegislative processisadversarial,"hesaid."It's similarintheHouse,althoughtheHouse onlyneedsasimplemajority.Inthe Senate,manytimeswe'llneedatwothirdsmajority.SoIdon'tevenhavea difficultproblemwiththatbecauseIhave anadvisoryfunction.Andmanyofthe thingsthatIdoinordertoassistour lawmakershastodowiththetheological, ratherthanthepolitical."

CELEBRATING BLACKHISTORY

AsBlackcontinuesinhisministryrole, heisespeciallygratefultohavebeenthe firstblackmantobecomeaSenate chaplainandtohavebeenabletoimpart knowledgethatGodgavehimto thousandsofothers.

“I'mverypassionateaboutmycountry. IfeelthatAmericaisveryspecial.Ithink thatGodhasblesseduswithspacious skiesandamberwavesofgrain,purple mountainmajestiesabovethefruited plain,riversflowingalloverfor transportation,tohugeoceansbuffering usfrominvasionsfromwithout,”Black said.

“It’saveryspecialplaceanditislikea nationthatisbuiltonideas.AndIthinkin lightofahistorythatincludedslavery, democracyhasself-correctiveforcesthat haveenabledmetoseewhatInever expectedtoseeinmylifetime,andthatis anAfricanAmericanpresident,”he added.

“It’saveryspecialcountry,withavery specialgovernment.Andthatmakesita veryrewardingexperiencetohavehad theopportunitytoprovideministryatthe epicenterofwhat'sgoingonin government.”

AMONGTURKEY’SALLURING TOURISTOFFERINGS,A STRONGDASHOFCHRISTIAN HISTORY

BYLEONARDOBLAIR

▲ ChristianfrescoesonawallsintheChurchofStNicholasinDemre(ancienttownMyrainLycia)whichwererestoredintheprocessofrestorationtemple.The ChristianchurchofSt.NicholaswasbuiltinthefourthcenturyADinDemre.TheNicholasofPatara,knownasNicholastheWonderworker,wasthebishopof Myrafrom300to343andledChristianworshipinthischurch.Inthe11thcentury,therelicsofSt.NicholasweretakentotheItaliancityofBari.Thischurchwas foundduringexcavationsinthemiddleofthe19thcentury.Theexcavationsofthetempleandtherestorationofthechurchcontinuetoday.GettyImages

ANTALYA,Turkey—

Teşekkürederim pronouncedTeh-shehkull-erhEd-erh-im,isone waytosay“thankyou”inTurkey.Should youdecidetotakeatriphere,youmight findyourselfsayingTeşekkürederim repeatedlyinthisstunninglybeautiful transcontinentalcountrystraddling WesternAsiaandSoutheastEuropefor justtheirdeliciouscuisineandalluring culturealone.

AmericanauthorFannyFernis creditedwithcoiningthephrase"The waytoaman'sheartisthroughhis stomach"andtherichandhealthy MediterraneancuisineofTurkey,officially knownastheRepublicofTürkiye,seems designedtostrikeattheheartofevery palate.

Whetherit’sawell-preparedgourmet mealbythesea,chaiorcoffeebrewedat ahumblestreetsidecafé,apopular pancakecalledGözlemeorasweet pastrycalledknownasaKünefe,Turkish foodisneverboring.

TraditionallypreparedGozlemefroma streetsidepancakehouseinTurkey.|The ChristianPost/LeonardoBlair

AndwhileTurkey’spopularityforother offeringslike hairtransplanttourism has beengrowingamongAmericansin recentyearsalongwith political headlines,arecentvisittothecountry withanestimatedpopulationof almost 86million,showsthereismuchmoreto seeandexperiencehereliketheirfood, suchasagrowinginvestmentin unearthingChristianhistory.

It’s“anabsolutelystunningplace,” BritishexpatriateNikkiBullocktoldThe ChristianPostinsidethehistoricSt. NicholasChurchinDemrelastDecember wherethesaint’sdesecrated sarcophagusisprotectedbyplexiglass.

Turkey,isprominentlyfeaturedinthe Bible,particularlyinthe bookofActs, whereitiscalledAsiaMinorand credited astheplacethatallowedtheflourishing ofearlyChristianity.Itisthebirthplaceof theApostlePaul,whowasborninTarsus. Heisconsideredbymanyexpertstobe

thesecondmostimportantChristian figureafterJesusbecause abouthalf of the27booksintheNewTestamentcan beattributedtohim.

ThankstoTurkey’sMinistryofCulture andTourism,CPtraveledwith representativesfrom GoTürkiye,the country’sofficialtravelguide,andgota firsthandlookatChristianhistoryand Turkishcultureintheoldworldandthe experiencemadeacompellingcasefor Turkeybeingaddedtoamust-seeplace tovisitforChristians.

ForsixdaysbeginningDec.1,ajourney onTurkey’s SevenChurchesofRevelation tourhighlightedremnantsoftheseven churchesofAsiawrittenaboutbySt. John,the“disciplewhomJesusloved,”in thebookofRevelation.Thesechurches, whichreceivedlettersfromJesus,are well-knownamongChristianstobe locatedintheancientcitiesofEphesus, Smyrna,Pergamum,Thyatira,Sardis, PhiladelphiaandLaodicea.

Remnantsofchurchesintheseiconic

▲ RuinsatthesiteoftheancientcityofEphesus,Turkey.TheChristianPost/LeonardoBlair

cities,alongwithotherimportantChristiansiteslikethetomband churchofSt.Philiplocatedonthesiteoftheancient Hierapolis,a UNESCOWorldHeritageSite,inDenizli;theBasilicaofSt.John, inSelçuk;ortheremainsoftheancientcityofPataralocated nearthemodernsmalltownofGelemiş,inAntalyaProvince, haveallbeenexpertlycuratedamidbothmodernandfast developingTurkishcitiesandtownsthatareeasilyaccessiblevia publictransportationorprivatecarsonwell-kepthighways.

Theremainsofthecityof Ephesus nowsitabout1.8miles awayfrompresent-daySelçukdistrict.Thechurchtherehad forsakenitsfirstlove.Thechurchof Smyrna,nowlocatedin modern-dayIzmir,sufferedpersecution.Theremainsof Pergamum arenowlocatedinatowncalledBergama.The churchinthatcityneededtorepent.Thechurchin Thyatira, whichhadafalseprophetess,cannowbefoundinthecityof Akhisar.Theruinsof Sardis,thechurchthathadfallenasleep,are locatedinSalihli,Manisa.RemainsofthechurchinPhiladelphia, whichhadenduredpatiently,arelocatedinAlaşehir,Manisa, whileremnantsfrom Laodicea,thechurchwithlukewarmfaith, arestillbeingexcavatedinDenizli.

WiththehelpoftourguideServetUgurandtourismofficial AsliSener,journaliststouredruinsofchurchesintheancient citiesunearthedbyarchaeologistsoverseveraldecadesand eachsitehaditsownstorytotell.

InEphesus,forexample,whereearlyChristiansfaced significantpersecution,thenarrativeofhowtheysurvivedina citywherethedominantreligionwastheworshipofthegoddess Artemis,alsoknownasDiana,wasmorepalpableaswetoured theremainsofhertemple.

Comparingthehumbleremainsofasmallchurchnexttoa pagantempleinwealthySardis,whichalsofeaturedaJewish temple,tograndchurchbuildingswithbeautifulmosaicsin Laodicea,showedhowmuchthecultureofeachcityimpacted theexpressionoffaithineachlocation.

Muchoftheexperienceoftouringtheseancientsitesfor Christianswillsimplycomefromjustbeingpresentontheground andunderstandinghowfartheirfaithhastraveledandthetrials manysufferedtokeepit.

It’salsoaverysurrealexperiencetoexplorethishistoryas the Adhan,theIslamiccalltopublicprayer,fillstheairseveraltimes throughouttheday.

Eventhoughsheisanatheist,Bullockwhohasbeenlivingon herboatinTurkeyforthelastfouryearstoldCPlastDecember asshevisitedtheSt.NicholasChurchinDemre,thatshewas pleasantlysurprisedtoseemembersoftheGreekOrthodox Churchbeingallowedtopubliclycelebratethesaintinacountry where99%ofthepopulationisMuslim.

“It’sveryrareinTurkeythatyougetsomewherewherethey allowtheChristianfaith,”BullocksaidofTurkey.“They(the generalpublic)don’tknowaboutthischurch.…Iftheyknew,and itwasadvertised,alotmorepeoplewouldhaveshowedup.”

Top:ThebaptistryamongtheruinsoftheBasilicaofSt.JohnonAyasulukHillin Selçuk,Turkey.

Bottom:RemainsoftheLibraryofCelsusinancientEphesus,locatedinwestern Turkey.ItwasoneofthemostimpressivebuildingsintheRomanEmpire.

Photo:TheChristianPost/LeonardoBlair

NORTHKOREA RANKSASWORST PERSECUTOROF CHRISTIANSAFTER ENACTING'ANTIREACTIONARY THOUGHTLAW’

BYRYANFOLEY

NorthKoreahasreclaimed itspositionastheworld’s worstpersecutorof Christians,accordingto thelatest WorldWatchList report preparedbythereligiouspersecution watchdogOpenDoorsUS.

OpenDoorsUSreleasedits2023 WorldWatchListonTuesday.The document,releasedannuallysince1993, ranksthecountriesoftheworldbasedon theseverityofthepersecutionand discriminationChristiansaresubjectedto. WhileAfghanistantookthetopspotin 2022,NorthKorearegaineditsstatusas theworld’sworstpersecutorofChristians in2023.Somalia,Yemen,Eritrea,Libya, Nigeria,Pakistan,Iran,Afghanistanand Sudanroundoutthetop-10worst persecutorsofChristiansonthisyear’s WorldWatchList.

Inastatementannouncingthefindings ofthe2023WorldWatchList,Open DoorsUScitedan“anti-reactionary thoughtlaw”implementedinNorthKorea asaparticularlytroublingdevelopment. OpenDoorsUSInterimCEOLisaPearce toldTheChristianPostinaninterview thatthelawwasenactedin2020.

Pearcedescribedthe“anti-reactionary thoughtlaw”asa“waytolegitimize persecutinganybodywhohasany literature,anythingofWesterninfluence,” includingtheBible.Shepointedtothe lawas“anotherreason”forNorthKorea’s presenceatthetopofthisyear’sWorld WatchListwhileacknowledgingthat“in practice,it’sdifficultforthingstobemore brutalfortheChurchthantheyalready were.”

OpenDoorsUScitedacommentfrom NorthKoreanescapeeTimothyCho whenpaintingapictureofthehostility facedbyChristiansthere.Chosaid, “Christianshavealwaysbeeninthefront lineofattackfortheregime,”referringto theKimdynastythathasruledthe countrywithanironfistforseveral decades.AccordingtoCho,“Theiraimis towipeouteveryChristianinthecountry. TherecanonlybeonegodinNorth Korea,andthatistheKimfamily.”

AsforAfghanistan,whichclaimedthe titleofworld’sworstpersecutorof ChristianslastyearamidtheTaliban’s highlypublicizedtakeoveraftertheBiden administration'swithdrawalofU.S.troops fromthecountry,WorldWatchList

founderWyboNiccolaitoldCPthatthe situationhas“reallynotchanged”inthe pastyeareventhoughthecountry droppedfromNo.1toNo.9onthelist. Henotedthat“anumberofthingshave changed”thatledtoAfghanistanranking furtherdownonthelistoftheworld’s worstChristianpersecutorsthisyear.

“TheTaliban,duringthetimeof takeover,theykilledalotofChristians. Theyarenolongerthere,”hesaid.“Many otherChristiansfledsotheyareno longerthere.”Niccolaialsodetailedhow alargenumberofChristianswhohave decidedtoremaininAfghanistanhave gone“deepdownunderground.”

OneChristianwhofledAfghanistan followingtheTaliban’stakeover,identified asZabi,elaboratedonthesituationon thegroundinaneighboringcountryina statementtoOpenDoorsUS:“Our situationisdesperate.MymotherandI managedtocrosstheborderinto anothercountry.IamprayingthatIcan leavethiscountryandgosomewhere safe.ImayhavetogointohidingorI’llbe deportedtoAfghanistan.Ifthathappens, Imaybekilled.”

TheWorldWatchListalsolisted NigeriaasahotbedforChristian persecution.Thenumberofreligiously motivatedkillingsintheAfricannation rosefrom4,650to5,014inthecourseof ayear,accountingfor89%ofthe internationaltotalof5,623Christians killedfortheirfaithin2022.Thenumber ofreligiouslymotivatedkillingsworldwide markedaslightdecreaseworldwidefrom the5,898measuredthepreviousyear.

PearcecalledontheU.S.State Departmentto“re-establishNigeriaasa countryofparticularconcern,”a designation reservedfortheworst violatorsofreligiousfreedom.She contendedthatbasedonconversations with“ourteamsofpeoplewholivethere,” Nigeria’sabsencefromthelistof countriesofparticularconcernforthe secondyearinarowis“adifficultthingto reconcile.”

TheWorldWatchListalsoreflectsthe emergenceofSub-SaharanAfricaasa troubledspotforChristianpersecution, hometofourofthetop-10worst persecutorsofChristians.“Thewhole regionisheadingintocatastrophe,”said

► Peopleholdplacardsincludingone(top)thattranslatesas2023Keyyearoffive-yearplanimplementationduringarallytovowto carrythroughthedecisionsofthe6thPlenaryMeetingofthe8th CentralCommitteeoftheWorkers'PartyofKorea(WPK)atthe MaydayStadiuminPyongyang,NorthKorea,January5,2023. KIMWONJIN/AFPviaGettyImages

WorldWatchResearchManagingDirector FransVeerman.

“TheaimofIslamicStateandaffiliated groupsistodestabilizetheentireregion, establishanIslamiccaliphate—ultimately acrosstheentirecontinent—and,long term,theyareconfidentthisiswithintheir reach.TheyarehelpedbyotherIslamists focusingonnon-violent,systemic Islamization,”headded.

Veermanstressedthat“itisn’tjust governmentsinAfricathataren’tfacing uptothetruenatureofthisreligiously motivatedpurge,it’sgovernmentsacross theworld.”Hewarnedthat“thepriceof thisdenialisincalculable,notjustto

Africa,buttothewholeworld.”

StatisticscompiledbyOpenDoorsUS revealthatmorethan360million Christiansworldwidefindthemselves subjecttodiscriminationandpersecution onthebasisoftheirfaith,accountingfor oneouteverysevenChristians.The watchdogorganizationcharacterizedthe persecutionofChristiansasat“the highestlevelssincethelistbegannearly 30yearsago.”

Thisyear’sWorldWatchListmarksthe firsttobereleasedafterOpenDoors USA,theorganizationthatpreviously releasedtheWorldWatchLists, separated fromOpenDoorsInternational

andassumedthenameGlobalChristian Relief.OpenDoorsInternational announcedonJan.1thatitsU.S.chapter wouldhenceforthbeknownasOpen DoorsUS.

OpenDoorsUSidentifiesitselfasa “globalNGOnetworkwhichhas supportedandstrengthenedpersecuted Christiansfor68yearsandworksinmore than70countries”toprovide“practical supporttopersecutedChristianssuchas food,medicines,traumacare,legal assistance,safehousesandschools,as wellasspiritualsupportthroughChristian literature,trainingandresources.

'JESUSREVOLUTION'REVIEW: EMOTIONALLYPOWERFULFILM HIGHLIGHTSHOWGODUSES BROKENPEOPLETOBRINGREVIVAL

BYLEAHMARIEANNKLETT

TheJesusMovementwas oneofthemostpivotal eventsofthe20thcentury, leavinganundeniable imprintonculture,musicandmost notably,theChurchandevangelism.But ithasn’tbeenattheforefrontoffilmand movies—untilnow.

“JesusRevolution,”hittingtheaterson Feb.24,tellsthetruestoryoftherevival thatbeganinhippiecommunitiesonthe WestCoastinthelate1960s,eventually spreadingacrossthecountryand bringingmillionsofsoulstoChrist.

StarringKelseyGrammer(“Frasier”), JonathanRoumie(“TheChosen”) andJoelCourtney(“TheKissing Booth”)anddirectedbyJonErwin (“ICanOnlyImagine”)andBrent McCorkle(“Unconditional”),“Jesus Revolution”isn’tpreachyor political;itdoesn’trelyongenre tropestocarrythestory.Rather,it’s atender,heartfeltandsometimes humorouslookatthecomplicated figuresbehindtheJesus Movementandhowarevivalwas sparkedamongthemostunlikely ofpeoplegroups,pavingtheway formanychurchesandChristian musictoday.

“JesusRevolution”issetagainst thebackdropofthelate1960sand early1970s,aperiodwhenyoung peopleweresearchingfor meaningandbelonging.Itopens onPiratesCoveBeachin California,whereaTimemagazine reporterisonthesceneofa

revival;along-hairedfigureisbaptizing peopleintheoceanwhilehundreds, includingPastorChuckSmithanda youngGregLaurie,lookon.He’sboth intriguedandconfused.

“Whatyou’reseeingisasymbolof newlife,”Smithtellsthereporter.“Every regret,everydoubt,allwashedaway, forever.”

Thefilmflashesbacktoayearearlier whenLaurieislivinginasmalltrailerwith hisalcoholicmother(KimberlyWilliamsPaisley).He’sattendingamilitary academy,andhe’srestlessandlost— untilhemeetsabeautifulyoungwoman,

Cathe,whoinviteshimtojoinhercrewto traveltoSouthernCalifornia.Though raisedinareligioushome,Catheiseager tobreakfreefromallrulesand restrictionsandturnstodrugsinabidto doso.

Meanwhile,Smithiswatchinganews reportaboutthehippies—andhe’s disgusted.They’relost,aimlessanti-war fanaticsandfrankly,theyneedabath. Theyare,hetellshiscongregation,a “generationwithoutrestraints.”

AndthenhisdaughterJeanettepicks upahitchhikinghippiewhointroduces himselfasLonnieFrisbee.Helooksoddly similartoJesus,andhe’s passionateaboutbringingsoulsto Christ—andJeanetteiseagerto introducehimtoherdad.Though initiallyresistant,Smithismovedby Frisbee’stestimonyandopensthe doorsofbothhishomeandhis churchtothestreetpreacher’s crewofhippies.

Afterfacingoppositionfrom churchleadershipoverthe inclusionofhippiesinservices, Smithpubliclyannounceshis churchwelcomesallpeople, hippiesandall,andit’snotlong beforeamovementbegins.

“You’regoingtoneedabigger church,”Frisbeetellshim—and fromthere,theCalvaryChapel Movementisborn.

Laurie’slifeisabouttobe upendedtoo.AfterCathe’ssister nearlyoverdoses,Cathebecomes disillusionedwiththelifestylethat

promisedherfreedom.Andwhenhis friendsnearlycrashtheirvanwhilehigh ondrugs,afranticLauriemeetsFrisbee whointroduceshimtoJesusandthe promiseofeternallife.It’snotlongbefore thetwoarebaptizedintoSmithand Frisbee’schurch.

Astherevivalsgrowbigger,Frisbee beginsperformingactsofhealing,and thousandsaresaved.Abuddingpastor himself,Lauriebecomesaneager participantinFrisbee'sevangelistic efforts.Butsoon,frictioneruptsbetween SmithandFrisbeeasthelatterbecomes distractedbyhisego.

“Therewouldbenomovementwithout me!”hedeclaresbeforeannouncinghis exitfromSmith'schurch,muchtoLaurie’s dismay.ButbeforeFrisbeeleaves,he sharesavisionGodgavehim:Hesaw Lauriespeakingbeforethousands, sharingtheGospel.

However,Laurieisstillstrugglingwith traumafromhischildhood,aswellas personaltroubles:He'sfacingresistance

fromCathe’sparentswhenheasksfor permissiontomarryher,andfrankly,he’s notsureheshouldbeenteringthe ministry.ButGodhasotherideas,andin onepivotalsceneinthemovie,Smith looksonsmilingasLauriebaptizes peopleinPirate’sCove.

Today,thankstothementorshipof Smith,thecreditssay,Lauriebegan leadinghisownchurch,HarvestChristian Fellowship,whichisnowoneofthe biggestchurchesintheU.S.—andhe andCathehavebeenmarriedforalmost 50years.Theinfluenceofthehippies behindtheJesusMovement,knownas “Jesusfreaks,”hadonChristiancultureis stillseentoday,particularlyinChristian rockandgospelmusic.

“JesusRevolution”isavisually stunningfilm,withsweepingshotsof Californiabeachesandcolorfulcostumes. Fast-pacedandentertaining,it’sattimes humorousandoftentouching,withthe lovestorybetweenGregandCathe servingastheemotionallypowerful

backboneofthefilm.

RatedPG-13,itdoestouchondifficult subjectslikedrugabuse,alcoholismand infidelity.Filmmakersalsomakeapointto highlightthehumanityofthecharacters; FrisbeeandSmithareportrayedas complicatedmenwhoGodusedforHis purposesdespitetheirflawsand missteps.Itdriveshomethebiblicaltruth thatnoone,notevenhippiesor pharisaicalreligiouspeople,isbeyond God’ssavinggrace.It’sastoryofreal faithlivedoutinallitsbeautyand messiness.

Ultimately,“JesusRevolution”isa movieaboutJesus;abouthowevenin thedarkestoftimes,He’smoving; workingwithinheartsandmindsto providehopeandtruefreedom.Atatime ofsocietalunrestandconfusionthat mirrorsthe'60sand'70s,“Jesus Revolution”providesamuch-neededjolt ofhope.

► JonathanRoumieasevangelistLonnieFrisbeein "JesusRevolution,"aLionsgatefilm.|DanAnderson

MYTITLEISN’T IMPORTANT

JESUSACTORJONATHANROUMIESAYSHE'S COMMITTEDTOLIVINGFORGOD,NOTFAME

BYJEANNIEORTEGALAW

► JonathanRoumieattendsthe30thannual MovieguideAwardsatAvalonHollywood&Bardot onFebruary10,2023,inLosAngeles,California. AlbertoE.Rodriguez/GettyImages

MYTITLEISN’T

HOLLYWOOD—Actor JonathanRoumieplays revivalistLonnieFrisbee inthenewfilm“Jesus Revolution,”anddespitehisgrowing popularityandinfluence,hesayshe's committedtopickinguphiscrossdaily andfinishingtheracewell.

RoumiehasplayedJesusforthree seasonssofarinthehistory-making series,“TheChosen,”andatthe30th annualMovieguideAwards,theactor sharedwhyhecontinuestolooktoGod inthemidstofhismassivesuccess.

“Attheendoftheday,thetitleisn't important.Mytitleisn'timportant.The needtohaveatitleisn'timportant,none ofitmatters,”

“Whatmattersisthatpeopleknowthat Godisloveandmercyandcompassion. Andthere'salwaysmoreroomforpeople toknowanddiscoverwhoHeisandhow Hecanradicallyandprofoundlychange theirlivesiftheygiveHimachancetodo so,”hesaid.

“JesusRevolution,”whichisnow showingintheatersnationwide,was inspiredbythetruestoryofthespiritual awakeningthatsweptSouthernCalifornia inthelate1960sandearly1970s.The KingdomStoryfilm,incollaborationwith Lionsgate,wasdirectedbyfilmmakers JonErwin(“ICanOnlyImagine”)and BrentMcCorkleandproducedbyKevin Downes.

Inthemovie,PastorGregLaurieand hiswife,Cathe,whoarebestknownfor leadingHarvestChristianFellowship, representayoung,waywardgeneration thatwaslost.ButaftermeetingLonnie Frisbee(Roumie),acharismatichippie streetpreacher,thisgroupfinds

themselvesatthechurchofPastorChuck Smith,whichsparkedthisgeneration's Jesusmovement.

DespiteFrisbee’ssignificantinfluence andleadershipduringtheJesus movement,andlaterVineyardChurchin YorbaLinda,hestruggledwithhisfaith, druguseandhomosexuality.Hedied fromAIDSattheageof43.

Whenaskedhowhe,unliketheman heportraysinthefilm,wouldfinishhis Christianrace,Roumiesaidfollowing Jesusuntiltheendistheonlyworthwhile solution.

"Ithinkpickingupyourcrossdailyis notaneasytaskbutit'stheonly worthwhiletaskattheendoftheday,” RoumietoldCP.

Headded,“Whenwealldepartfrom thisEarthandmeetourMaker,hopefully, we'regoingtoberesponsibleforthe livesthatweleadwhilewewerehereon Earth.Howwetreatedeachotherand therespectwegaveeachotherandthe peoplearoundus.

"Ithinkcommittingtoexcellenceinlife affectseveryareaoflife,notjustyour familyrelationshipsbutwork,career,the wholething.”

AlongwithRoumie,“JesusRevolution” starsfive-timeEmmywinnerKelsey Grammer,JoelCourtney(“Super8”), KimberlyWilliams-Paisley(“Accordingto Jim”),AnnaGraceBarlowandNicholas Cirillo.

JESUSACTORJONATHANROUMIESAYSHE'S COMMITTEDTOLIVINGFORGOD,NOTFAME

BEARGRYLLSSAYSFAITHIS'KEY PARTOFSURVIVOR'STOOLBOX,' LAMENTS'FLUFF'PERMEATING WESTERNCHURCH

BYLEAHMARIEANNKLETT

BearGryllsisthefirstto admithe’ssomethingofan unconventionalChristian.

ThesurvivalistandTV hostisunabashedlyopenabouthisfaith andhowitservesashisfoundationfor livinganempoweredlife.Buthedoesn’t wanttosanitizehismessagetomakeit inoffensivetoareligious audience,andfrankly,he doesn’thavemuchtimefor Westernchurchculture.

“IthinkJesuswouldreally strugglewith99%ofchurches nowadays,”the48-year-old BritishadventurertoldThe ChristianPost.“Ourjobinlife istostayclosetoChristand dropthereligious,dropthe fluff,dropthechurchifyou needtobecausethatmeans somanydifferentthingsto differentpeopleanyway.Keep thebitofchurchwhichis aboutcommunityandfriends andhonestyandfaithand love.Allthemasks, performances,musicand worshipbandsandallofthat sortofstuff—Idon’tthink Christwouldrecognizealotof that.”

Heexpressedhisdistasteforwhathe called“religiouslanguage,”sanitizing messagesinsuchawaywherepeople “can’tbehonest,can’texpressdoubtand can’tfail.”TheChurch,hesaid,is“the placetohavedoubtsandquestions.”

“LookattheearlyChurch.Itwasa

roomfulofpeopleeatinganddrinking anddoubtingandstrugglingand arguing,”hesaid.

ButtheChurchtoday,hesaid,has gottenawayfromthat.

“Probablymostofthepeopleinthe congregationhavesubstanceabuse,and probablymostoftheircongregations strugglewithpornandallthatsortof stuff,”hesaid.“Whatareliefitiswhena pastorcanstandupandgo,‘Welcometo thehospital,folks.Herewego.I'mjust standingalongsideyouontheroad, failingourwaythrough,butreachingout ofdesperationforlifeandloveand redemption.Let'slookoutwards,andlove

otherpeople,andwe’reinittogether.’”

It’sthiskindofhonest,zero-fluff approachtolifethathasmadeGryllsa worldwidesensationandoneofthemost recognizedfacesofsurvivalandoutdoor adventure.AformerBritishSpecial ForcessoldierandEverestmountaineer, hestarredinDiscovery’s“Manvs.Wild” andhosted“RunningWildwith BearGrylls”ontheNational GeographicChannelSeries. He'sembarkedon countlessdangerous expeditions,scaledMount Everest,eatensnakesand spidersandevensurviveda free-fallparachutingaccident inAfrica.Hisbooks,which rangefromsurvivalskills handbookstofiction,have alsosoldover15millioncopies worldwide.

Grylls’latestbook, Mind Fuel:SimpleWaystoBuild MentalResilienceEveryDay, offershonestandpractical waystopracticebettermental health,somethinghetoldCPis acrucialpartoflivinga healthy,God-gloryinglife.He drawsfromhisownstruggles withconfidenceandself-doubtto challengereaderstoprioritizetheir mentalhealthandbuildresilience.

“Ithinktheworldistougherthanit's everbeen;Ithinktherearesomany thingshitting,especiallyyoungpeople fromeveryangle,”hesaid.“I'vewritten booksonphysicalfitness,I'vewritten

booksonnutritionandtrainingandall thatsortofthings.I'vewrittenabout spiritualstuffwith SoulFuel.Butmental fuelisanimportantpartofourarsenal;it canhelpusstaystrongandbuildthat resilienceinafast-changingworld.”

Dividedintoshortsections,Grylls’ bookiseasilydigestibleandfullof practicaltoolsforbuildingmental resilience,fromgettingoutsideand prioritizingfitnessandnutrition(Grylls saidhemostlyeatsananimal-baseddiet: redmeat,lotsofdairy,fruit andhoney)tosurrounding oneselfwithcommunity—all lessonstheoutdoorsman saidhe’slearnedthrough failure.Gryllsstressesthe importantrolevulnerability playsinbuildingmental resilience,highlightingthe powerofhumilityand sharingone’sstruggles.

“We'resoconditionedto onlytalkaboutthegoodstuff whenit'sworking,but actually,it'sinthestruggles andinthethingsthatgo wrongthatwebuild connections,"hesaid.“When wehaveconnectionswith people,wesharetheir strengths.Aproblemshared isaproblemhalved.”

Andfaith,hesaid,isthe mostcriticalpartoflivinga strongandempoweredlife.

“Ithinkweneglectour spiritualityatourownperil,” hesaid.“Ifyou'vegotthat connectiontotheAlmighty, everythingelseiswindow dressing.Spiritualityissucha keypartofasurvivor's toolbox.Isay,arguably,it'sthenumber onething.Ifyougetthatright,everything elseisbearableandpossible,and achievable.”

HepointedoutthatthroughouttheOld andNewTestaments,biblicalheroesfrom KingDavidandDanieltoJohntheBaptist dealtwiththeirmentalbattlesthrough connectiontoGod.

“Thesolutionisalwaysfoundin connectionwiththeAlmighty,”hesaid. “There'salwaysstruggle,there'salways

hardship,butthere'salwaysfaith,and faithalwayswins.Faithconquers everything.Intermsofpreparingusfor lifeandkeepingusmentallystrong,faith isalwayskey.”

Headdedthatveryfewbiblical,heroic momentshappenedontheirown;rather, theyalwayshappenedincommunityand betweenfriends.

"It'salwaysabouttogetherness,"he said."LookatJesuswithHisbandof guyswhoHesharedeverythingwith,the

throughexample.

“Weliveitourselves,”hesaid.“We embracechallenges.Wegetoutside,we train,wegiveourselvespermissiontofail. Wekeepgoing.Weunderstandthat resilienceisamuscleandwedevelopit throughstruggles.Welaughtogether,we traintogether,getcoldtogether.Wetry andeathealthytogether.”

TheEmmywinneralsoemphasized thepowerofencouragement,allowing childrento“failandtomaketheirown mistakesandtoknowthat lovingarmsarestillthere.”

Hechallengedparentsto “befreeandbehonestand sharethestrugglesand knowthatfaithanddoubtare twosidesofthesamecoin.”

“Ithinkthatspeaksagain tothechurchculturethatcan oftenbeveryjudgyvery harsh,veryfullofrulesvery unforgiving,ironically,very lackinginfreedom,”hesaid.

“Andtheywonderwhyso manykidshavetheseepic spiritualjourneys,anditcan takethemalifetimeifatall, tocomebacktothelight becausesheddingoffthe heavystuffishardwork.It’s especiallyhardinthatchurch culturethathasrulesand regulationsandperformance andmasks.”

Mentalhealth,justlike spiritualandphysicalhealth, isakeycomponenttoliving anempoweredlife,Grylls said—andhewantspeople tobeequippedinan increasinglyanxiousand depressedsociety.

good,thebadandthestruggles.They werealwaysbrutallyhonest.Theywere unchurched;theyweren’tsmileyand nice.Itwasraw,itwasreal,itwaspainful, itwashonest,itwasangry,itwasjealous, itwasallofthesethings.Butitwas spokenanditwassharedandtherewas anincrediblecommunity,andinaway, thatisChurch.”

Grylls,whosharesthreesonswithhis wifeofover20years,Shara,said childrenlearnmentalresilienceprimarily

“Don’twaituntilyou’resicktoseea doctor,”hesaid.“MindFuel is preventativementalhealth;Iwantto equippeopletotacklelifeonthefront foot,helpingthemlearnsomesimple, dailyandeasilyaccessibletipsthatwill helpthem.Iwrotethisbookjustasmuch forthemasforthepersonthatisgoing throughthedarkstormsandstruggles.I wanttohelppeoplebuildmental resiliencebeforetheyneedit.”

▲ TheNationalChurchesTrust/wikimedia

THERECENTBOOKTHAT SCREAMS‘I’MACLASSIC!’HOW THEPROTESTANT-CATHOLIC ALLIANCEWASFORMED(PT.1)

BYRICHARDD.LAND

Onceinawhile,tooseldomactually,abookis publishedthatscreams,“Iamaclassic!Iwillbe aroundforagoodwhileandIwillmakea difference.” SocialConservatismfortheCommon Good.AProtestantEngagementwithRobertP.George, (Wheaton:Crossway,2023)isjustsuchabook.

SocialConservatismiseditedbySouthernBaptistTheological SeminaryEthicsProfessorAndrewT.Walker,andcontains chaptersbyvariousEvangelicalscholarsandsocialleadersin whichtheyattempttoexplainthewaysinwhichDr.Robert George's,theMcCormickProfessorofJurisprudenceand directoroftheJamesMadisonPrograminAmericanIdealsand InstitutionsatPrincetonUniversity,careerand“ministry”have enlargedtheirunderstandingofnaturallawaswellasthe necessityforProtestantsandCatholicsaliketodefendthe cultureindefenseofthecoreofthe“permanentthings”—the dignityandworthoftheindividualhumanbeing,religiousliberty, marriage,andthefamily.”

ProtestantscholarsasdiverseasDavidDockery,Scott Klusendorf,MarkTooley,PaulMiller,JenniferMardellPatterson, andCarlTrumansharehowtheirengagementwithRobert George’sworkandmoreimportantly,withthemanhimself,has sharpenedtheirargumentsandmadethemco-belligerentsinthe strugglewiththeilliberalandnarcissisticspiritoftheage.Unlike mosteditedcollectionsofessays,therearenoweakchapters.

Dr.GeorgeisagraduateofSwarthmoreCollege,Harvardand Oxford(D.Phil.,dissertationtitle:“Law,Liberty,andMoralityin SomeRecentNaturalLawTheories.”).

HethenacceptedanappointmenttothePrincetonUniversity faculty,wherehehasbeeneversince,withincreasingdistinction andacclaim.

Overtheyears,Dr.GeorgeinteractedwithEvangelicalleaders suchasRichardJohnNeuhaus,CarlF.H.Henry,andChuck Colson.ThroughtheMadisonprogramatPrinceton,foundedby Georgein2000,scoresofProtestantandEvangelicalscholars havecomethroughthatprogram,greatlyexpandingGeorge’s influence.

Likemyself,Georgeisanup-from-the-ranksscholar(wewere

thefirstinbothourfamiliestogotocollege).Ihavecometohave greatadmirationfor“Robby,”whomIhavecometoknow personallythroughourattendanceandspeakingatnumerous conferences.Robbyalsoverygraciouslyreadoneofmybook manuscriptsandmadenumerousveryhelpfuleditorial suggestions.

Asanoriginalsigneeof“TheManhattanDeclaration,”Ibelieve

itrepresentsthekindofpowerfulandhonestProtestantCatholicecumenismthatacknowledgesthetwotradition’s differenceswhileaffirmingtheirmanyimportantagreements ontheissuesofmarriage,life,andreligiousliberty.Without George’sleadershipandexample,itisdoubtfulthat“The ManhattanDeclaration”wouldhavehappened.

AsaPrincetonundergraduate(1965-1969),Iwas astoundedwhenIvisitedPrincetonforaMadisonProgram eventtolearnthatmyalmamaterhadanundergraduate populationwheretherewereapparentlyathousand studentsinvolvedinweeklyBiblestudies,approximatelyhalf ProtestantandhalfCatholic.Theyalsohadformedan interdenominationalstudent“chastity”societywhich scheduledseparateeventsthatcoincidedwithregular studentsocialactivitiesthatdidnotrevolvearoundsexual chastity.Uponinquiry,studentstoldmethiswasadirect influenceofDr.Georgeontheundergraduatestudentbody.

IfyouhadtoldmewhenIgraduatedfromPrincetonin June1969(asacandidateforBaptistministry)thateitherof thosefactscouldhavehappenedatPrincetonthree decadeslater,franklyIwouldn’thavebelievedittobe possible.SuchwastheinfluenceofoneRobertP.George.

Dr.Georgehasonesecretweapongoingforhimthathas servedhimwellovertheyears,asidefromatowering intellect,andpossessingnoneedtotrytoprovethattoyou. Hereallydoesn’tcarewhatTheNewYorkTimesthinksof him.Hewasdescribedin2009bytheTimes’David Kirkpatrickas“thiscountry’smostinfluentialconservative Christianthinker.”Robby’sreplyisveryrevealing—“Idon’t believeawordtheNewYorkTimessays,andIdon’tbelieve anyoneshouldbelievethatclaim.”

Robby’sphilosophy,hislife,andhisimpact,Ibelieve,is admirablysummarizedbyhisreplytoAndrewWalkerinthe book’safterward,“SeekingtheTruth,SpeakingtheTruth.A DialoguebetweenRobertP.GeorgeandAndrewT.Walker.”

Walkerasked,“Whatadvicewouldyougivetoyoung scholarsandpublicintellectualsrightnow,inthisparticular agewe’relivingin?”

Robby’sreplyiswisdompersonified.Robbysaysfirst,you must“Seekthetruthandspeakthetruth.”

Then,“Youalsoneedthevirtueoftheloveoftruth.”

“Third,youneedintellectualhumility.”

Then,Georgesaysyoumusthave“courage.”

Assomeonewhohasalreadyreadthisbook(devouredit mightbemoreaccurate)twice,letmegiveyouaclue.Read theafterwardfirst.Theafterwardconsistsofamost illuminatinginterviewofRobbyGeorgebyAndrewWalker, thebook’seditor.

Doingthiswillsignificantlyenhanceyourreadingofthe precedingchapters.

ROMADOWNEYRELEASES'BE ANANGEL'DEVOTIONAL, ENCOURAGESBELIEVERSTO 'SHINETHELIGHTOFGOD'S LOVE'

BYJEANNIEORTEGALAW

Emmy-nominatedactress andNewYorkTimes bestsellingauthor,Roma Downey,isencouraging readersofhernewbook, BeAnAngel,to bearayoflightinpeople'slivesby performingactsofkindnessforafamily member,aneighborinneedorsomeone inthecommunity.

Downeysharesherown stories,testimonyandBible versesinthe52-week devotional, BeAnAngel: DevotionstoInspireand EncourageLoveandLightAlong theWay.Attheendofeach chapter,there'sa"beanangel" suggestion.

"Whatmightyoudotodo somethingforsomebodyelse?

Toshowsomebodyalittlebitof kindnessorpayitforwardin someway,”Downeyproposedin arecentvideointerviewwith TheChristianPost

Downeywasapartofthe iconic‘90sTVseries“TouchBy AnAngel,”andafterplayingan angelfornearlyadecadeon screen,shehascontinuedto sharethehopethatarisesfrom herfaithinJesusChrist.

"Ithinkwhenyouhavehadan experienceofGod,whenyoudo havearelationshipwiththeLord, thenyouwanteverybodyto

knowaboutitbecauseitislife-changing. Itistheinnersunrise,itissteppingout fromthedarknessofthenotknowinginto thelightandcertaintyofthebeautyand wonderandawesomenessthatisour GodandhowlovingHeis,”Downey declared.

Comingoutoflockdowns,isolation,

lonelinessandsufferingfromthe pandemicandlossofbothlivesand livelihood,thefilmmakersaidpeople wereableto“reevaluate”whotheyare.

“Ithinkwerealizethatthere'salotof isolationandalotoflonelinessand heartacheoutthere,”shecontinued."I feel,ifnothingelse,Ihopemybookjust remindsusall...whodoyou knowinyourneighborhood?Is theresomebodythatlivesby themselves,someoldpersonby themselves?Couldyou,when you'reonyourwayhomefrom thegroceryshop,stopandpick somethingupanddropitoff?

"They'rereallysimplethings. Thisisnotbrainsurgery.They makeadifference,”Downey assured.

Downeysaidshealso frequentlypraysforcommon decencyindiscourse,lamenting thenegativityandhatefulness sheseesonTwitter."Iknowit's hardtocreate,andit'seasyto criticize.Ijustthinkwehave enoughcritics.Weneedtobe noisierencouragers,”Downey posited.

BeAnAngel featuresseveral quotesfromvariousfaithleaders andinfluencers.Inone devotional,Downeyquotedthe lateDellaReese,herco-staron "TouchedByAnAngel.”Itwason

thesetofthatprogramwhereDowney andReeseoftenprayedtogetherthat Godwouldusethemas"catalysts."

"Ifwe'regoingtobeusedbyGod,we needtoletgoofourexpectationsand getoutoftheway,”ReadsReese'squote inthebook.

Downeyadded,"IfGodisgoingtouse usandHe'sgoingtocomethroughus," youcannotbe"infrontofthat,stopping theflowofSpirit."

Inthebook,Downeysharesseveral personalstoriesfromherownlifethat illustratehowshehasbeenencouraged togivebacktoothers,andhowherfaith inJesushadhelpedhergetthrough challenges,lossandheartache,and showkindnessandempathytoward others.

"Ineverwantedtopretendtobe anythingIwasn't.Imean,clearly,I'mnot anangel.IplayoneonTV,butI'mnot perfect,andImessupjustlikeeverybody else.That'snotwhatI'msuggestinghere, thatwebeperfect.Butsimplythatwe

allowourselvestobeusedforgoodness, forkindness.Thatweallowourselvesto beusedtoshinethelightofGod'slove, andthatwerememberthatwe'reall connectedandthatweallbelongtoeach other.Ithinkthat'sthethingthatwe've forgotten.

"We'veforgottenthatwebelongto eachother,eveninourowncountry,we seesuchdividedtimes.”

Downeyandherhusband,Mark Burnett,producedtheepic2013historymakingseries“TheBible”thatwasseen byover100millionpeople.Althoughthe couplehashadagreatimpactonthe world,shesaiditreallyonlytakessmall gesturesofkindnesstomakea monumentalimpact.

"Ifeelifwewantchangeinourworld,if wewantchangetoreflectthekindof valuesandthesortsofpeoplethatwe are,thatwewanttobe,andthesafety thatwewantourfamiliestolivein,the changehastobegininsideeachand everyoneofus.Idon'tknowhowto

impacttheworldstage,butIdoknow howtowithinmyownfamily,withinmy ownheart,withinmyowncommunity. That'swhatI'mresponsiblefor.”

"I'mjusttryingtoencourageothers through BeAnAngel thatifweeachdida littlebitofsomethingtogether,that maybeinourtogetherness,collectively, wecouldmaketheworldjustalittlebit kinder,”Downeyconcluded.

3PLACESINEUROPE TOVISITFOR RELIGIOUSHERITAGE

BYDENNISLENNOX

Nowisthetimetoplanthattripto Europe,withthepeaklatespring andsummertravelseasonjust aroundthecorner.

WhilejustaboutanywhereintheOldWorldhas notablereligiousheritage,thefollowingthree placeshaveoldchurchesorcathedralsthatare worthplanningavisitaround.

▲ St.Michael’sMount,France.iStock/CristinaCiochina

MONTSAINTMICHEL,FRANCE

St.Michael’sMount,asitsname translatesinEnglish,isatidalislandoff theFrenchcoastattheborderof Normandy andBrittany.

Centeredaroundamedievalabbey dedicatedtoSt.MichaeltheArchangel, thisisoneofthemostpicturesquespots inallofFrance.

St.Aubert,theeighthcenturybishopof Avranches,builtanoratorythateventually becametheabbey.Bythe11thcentury thenumberofreligiouspilgrimsvisiting wassogreatthattheabbeywasrebuilt intowhatyoubasicallyseetoday,though additionscontinuedthroughthe15th century.

Thereligiousfoundationcontinued untilrevolutionaryFranceandEmperor Napoleon,when Mont-Saint-Michel was convertedintoaprison.Theprison closedjustashistoricpreservationand moderntourismbecamepopularinthe late1800s.

Aswithsomanyotherdestinations, MontSaint-Michelisthekindofplaceyou wanttospendthenight,aswalkingthe cobblestonestreetsafterdaytrippers departisacompletelydifferent experience.

GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND

Gloucester seldommakesthelistings ofplacestovisitwheninBritishIsles.

Thosewhoknowaboutthiscityin southwestEnglandprobablyknowitas thegatewaytotheCotswolds.Others mayknowit’sbytheancientborderwith Wales.

Anchoredbythe CathedralChurchof St.PeterandtheHolyandIndivisible Trinity,asGloucesterCathedralis splendidlycalled,Gloucesterisactuallya destinationinitsownright.

Thecathedralitselfisamodern creation—thatistosay,itonlybecame theseatofabishopandtherebya cathedralatthetimeoftheReformation, whenHenryVIIIseparatedtheChurchof EnglandfromRomeanddissolvedthe deeplyentrenchedmonasteries.The cathedralwasoneoftheformerabbeys undertheoldreligion.

Ofparticularnoteareseveralchurch monuments,includingthecanopied effigyandtombofEdwardII,kingof Englandfrom1307untilhisabdicationin 1327.Thenthere’sthegreateastwindow, whichistrulygreat.Asbigasatennis court,itwassupposedlythelargest

windowintheworldatthetimeofits installationinthe1350s.Amongthe medievalstainedglassaredepictionsof ChristinmajestyandtheVirginMary.

TRIER,GERMANY

It’shardtofindamoreconsequential placeinthehistoryoftheWesternchurch than Trier,Germany.

SituatedonthebanksoftheMoselle RiverinsouthwesternGermanyisatruly ancientcity.EstablishedbytheRomans, thiswastheimperialseatfromwhich EmperorConstantinetheGreatreigned. Repurposedandrestoredis the BasilicaofConstantine,which,backinthe day,servedastheemperor’sthrone room.Today,themassivebrickedifice housesaLutheranchurch.

Thebigdrawisthe HighCathedralof St.Peter

Datingtothefourthcenturywhenit wasbuiltoverthepalaceofConstantine’s mother,EmpressandlaterSt.Helena,this istheoldestcathedralinallofGermany. Thecathedralisapanoplyof architecturalstyles—thebrickonnorth andsouthwallsatthetranseptsisoriginal totheRomans—thankstothepower andwealthofTrier’sRomanCatholic archbishops,whoreignedsupremeboth spirituallywithinthechurchandsecularly intemporalaffairs.Today,theholderof thebishopricisameresuffraganbishop.

Helenaiscreditedwithbringing severalholyrelicstoTrier.Amongthe relicsis therobeJesusChristissaidto havewornbeforeorduringhis crucifixion

▲ TheinterioroftheHighCathedralofSt.PeterinTrier,Germany.|DennisLennox

▲ TheCathedralChurchofSt.PeterandtheHolyandIndivisibleTrinityinGloucester,England.DennisLennox