The Faith Connection

Olympics, Faith... and Car Repossessions

 

It’s not just the Olympic spirit being talked about in London right now.  Pastor Howard Jackson of Grace Covenant Church in Rocky Mount is there, talking with the athletes about other spiritual matters.  Jackson tells the Rocky Mount Telegram the founder of "International Sports Chaplains" invited him to be one of the U.S. chaplains to minister to the participants and spectators at the Games.  Rev. Howard is attending the Olympics with a Preston Bremus, a church member and student at N.C. Wesleyan College.

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Speaking of the Olympics, Team USA Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Kryzyzewski isn’t just passionate about the hardwood.  Coach K is also passionate about his faith –- and plans for the new Catholic Cathedral Campus in Raleigh.  He recorded this video clip before he left for the Olympics.

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An estimated 20,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses will gather this weekend and next at Raleigh’s PNC Arena for a major convention.  The Safeguard Your Heart event is one of nearly 400 that have been taking place in cities across the US this year.  The two 3-day weekend conferences will feature Bible-based activities and speeches.

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Duke Chapel will welcome its new Dean on September 1^st, and it’s an historic choice.  The Reverend Dr. Luke Powery will become the first African-American to hold the post, when he succeeds the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells.  Dr. Powery comes to Duke from Princeton Theological Seminary.  More details about Powery’s extensive background here.

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Folks at the Durham Rescue Mission say they are humbled and grateful for a $450,000 donation.  It comes from a woman who felt led to help the ministry -– in memory of her son.  Anthony Wilson covered the story for Eyewitness News and here's his report.

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Muslims in the Triangle and around the world are marking their holiest month of the year, Ramadan.  As part of the commemoration, the Islamic Association of Raleigh is soliciting food donations from the community to distribute to the needy.  Collection bins are set up in the IAR lobby.  The food pantry there will be open every Saturday of Ramadan for food distribution.

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Everybody’s favorite re-po squad is back with a new season of reality TV.  The stars of “Lizard Lick Towing,” shot in and around Wendell, NC,  sat down with “The 700 Club” to talk about what many of their fans don’t get to see on their TV show:  their faith.  Here's the link.

Oldies but Goodies at Local Church

 

One of the area’s most colorful and entertaining church outreaches to the community is coming up again this Friday. The youth and adults of White Plains United Methodist Church in Cary will turn back the hands of time for their annual Oldies Drive-in. They’ll transform the church parking lot into a 1950s style drive-in restaurant -- something they've been doing for 17 years now.

"It's basically the American Grafitti or Happy Days-type of culture and music they they're trying to recreate," says Rob Phillips, the Director of Youth Ministries.

They’ll serve classic “diner” food (with curbside service at your car), and have live music from the 50s and 60s. You’ll also see vintage cars and plenty of poodle skirts and biker jackets. 

"People can actually eat at their car like a classic drive-in," Phllips says, "and then they can get out and walk around to see the entertainment and classic cars."

Even "Elvis" (impersonator Wayne Tindle) will make an appearance.

   Elvis impersonator Wayne Tindle entertains at the Oldies Drive-in     photos courtesy White Plains UMC
 

The event is from 5 to 9 p.m., at a cost of 3 bucks a carload. Pre-1970 vehicles will be allowed in for free! Proceeds will benefit the church's various ministries -- but the emphasis is on fun.

"We call it an outreach event, because we don't really make a lot of money on it," Phillips told me. "It takes easily a hundred volunteers to pull this off. It's an outreach because it brings in a lot of people from the community and it shows the church can be a fun place and a fellowship place."

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It’s been quite a week for Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Raleigh Catholic Diocese. The Bishop and other Catholic leaders from the region have been at the Vatican for what’s called an ad limina visit. The trip is required at regular intervals for every diocese in the world, so that a status report can be presented to the Pope. You can read more about Bishop Burbidge’s visit with Pope Benedict XVI – and see photos – at this link.

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Durham’s Sanctuary United Methodist Church is planning something extra special this Memorial Day. The church will present a long overdue honor to a World War II hero. PFC Joe “Reece” Lyndon Jr. landed at Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion, fought across France, and ended up a wounded prisoner of war. Although he earned a number of awards for his service and valor, PFC Lyndon never received the Bronze Star that was awarded retroactively to all the recipients of the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

That will all change on May 28^th. Sanctuary UMC and the Combat Infantrymen’s Association will award the Bronze Star to Lyndon’s son, Joe Lyndon III of Durham. It will be part of a service to honor all those who’ve paid the ultimate price in service to their country. The program will run from 1 to 2 p.m.

 

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What matters to former UNC stand-out and future NBA’er Tyler Zeller more than basketball? His faith. Zeller gave an interview recently with his pastor, J.D. Greear of Durham’s Summit Church, before the congregation. Here's the link to the video clip.

 

Changing the World (one house at a time)

 

Having hundreds of out of town teenagers roll into your city during summer vacation can be unnerving. But in Durham this week, it's nothing to worry about.

"Their motivation is their love for Jesus Christ," says Durham Pastor Michael Bond. "They want to serve him and also serve their community."

This week 252 middle and high school students from as far away as Georgia and Kentucky will be in Durham for the annual World Changers event. World Changers is a 20-year-old missions outreach of the Southern Baptist Convention. For the past seven years, Durham has been among the location sites for WC young people to come and do summer works projects.

Pastor Bond, who coordinates the Durham event through the Yates Baptist Association, says the young people will be doing construction and repair work at homes in the Bull City, under the supervision of adults. "Most of the middle schoolers will be doing either handicap ramps or painting projects, or they will work as a ground crew cleaning up shingles and things like that on the sites where senior high students will be doing roofing."

The recipients of these good deeds have been pre-approved by city and non-profit organizations. After their work days, the students will spend the nights camped out at a local school, with area churches providing the food.

The work is hard, the sun is hot, but spirits run high.

"It's just been wonderful," Bond told me. "In many cases we serve folks more than once. We may do a handicap ramp one year and in subsequent years, their roof may become an issue. It's people that desperately need the help. They're appreciative to get it. And they get out and interact with the young people."

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There's a lot of heated rhetoric both in the General Assembly and in the Congress these days, but some elected officials want to turn their voices upward. Monday, June 20th, has been dubbed North Carolina Call to Prayer Day by the NC Legislative Prayer Caucus. That newly-formed bi-partisan group is inviting public officials and citizens alike to come to the State Capitol from 5:00 - 6:00pm for the event. All will be invited to pray, sign a Call to Prayer Proclamation, and reaffirm the nation's religious liberties. NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Paul Newby and US Rep. Mike McIntire (D - NC 7th District) are among those scheduled to speak.

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Raleigh-based Christian teacher Anne Graham Lotz says the world needs a "wake-up call," and she's set the date for September 11th. Lotz has teamed up with author Joel Rosenberg for a worldwide simulcast on 9/11/2011 titled A Wake-up Call for God's People. Groups and individuals are invited to log on to a special website that night for an evening of biblical teaching and music. Churches are encouraged to sign up to be a "host site" for the event. Lotz is the daughter of famed evangelist Billy Graham.

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"I will never be normal, but I'm okay with that." So says baseball superstar and Raleigh native Josh Hamilton, in a profile piece in Christianity Today. Hamilton details his descent into drugs and despair -- and his remarkable recovery. 

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Among those most excited about Scotty McCreery winning this season's American Idol: members of his church in Garner. You can read about it here. 

 

 

Taking the Church on the Road

 

Some Chatham County congregations are taking their churches on the road next Sunday for a day of service.  

Members of Chapel in the Pines and Chatham Community Church will descend on North Chatham School for a much-needed school beautification work day.  The churches will actually forego their normal sanctuary services for the work day.  They’re expecting as many as 200 people to show up for the event, which they're calling The Church has Left the Building.

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Also on May 22^nd, the Triangle’s Jewish community will celebrate Israel’s 63^rd Independence Day.  The Jewish Federations of Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill have teamed up for a big festival, which will take place from 3 to 6pm at the RTP Hilton.  They’ll have Israeli food, music, and dancing.

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Baseball superstar and Raleigh native Josh Hamilton may be taking time off the ballfield, but not from the other great love of his life:   his faith.

The Texas Rangers all-star is helping to promote National Back to Church Sunday, a cross-denominational movement aimed at reversing declining church attendance.  Hamilton, who has been sidelined for weeks with an arm fracture, has given his official endorsement to the back-to-church movement.  He has credited his faith and church with helping him overcome a serious drug addiction.

“God’s word tells us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, and not give up meeting together," Hamilton says in a statement.  "We are to walk through life with other believers. My family and I have found that church is a wonderful way to do this, so I encourage you to join thousands of Americans as they go back to church on National Back to Church Sunday."

This year’s Back to Church Sunday is set for September 18^th.

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East Chapel Hill High School is going Greek next weekend – courtesy of the folks at St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church.  The church is sponsoring its annual Greek Festival at the school, Friday through Sunday.  They’ll have lots of Greek art, souvenirs…and of course, plenty of Greek delicacies.  

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Raleigh’s Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church is bringing back the days of the drive-in theater.  This Saturday night they’ll be showing Toy Story 3 at 7pm and The Blind Side at 9:15 in the church parking lot.  Concessions sold and donations collected will benefit the church’s mission trip this summer.

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With the date rapidly approaching, I thought it’d be a good time to revisit Amber Rupinta's report from a few weeks back about a religious group convinced that this Saturday (May 21^st) is Judgment Day. 

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Beautiful music alert:   Check out this new YouTube clip from Raleigh’s Hayes Barton Baptist Church, featuring visiting singers from Millbrook High School.

Extreme Makeover: Angel Edition

 

Carol Peoples of Raleigh loves Christmas trees and decorations.  She says it all goes back to her childhood.

"I'm the seventh girl of seven girls and we weren't as fortunate as a lot of other people, but I can remember getting off the school bus and mother and father would’ve put up a tree.  That tree just solidified Christmas.  The atmosphere in the home was changed -- everything was completely different."

 
Carol Peoples (2nd from right) and her Angels celebrate with a MakeOver honoree

 

Now, she's working hard to make sure others feel that joy.  The charitable organization she co-chairs, Peoples Community Foundation, has launched what it calls The Christmas Angel MakeOver Project.   Over the past few weeks, Carol and her group of "Angels" have gone into more than a dozen local homes to set up Christmas trees for deserving folks, with all the trimmings.

"People such as senior citizens or veterans or the disabled," she says, "people that otherwise would have put up a tree but (now) cannot put up a tree or take it down."

And, like the famous Extreme Makeover TV show, it's all done in secret.  The recipient doesn't know it's going to happen.  The Angels make their selections based on requests received on-line.  They do their research on the honoree, finding out about color schemes, likes and dislikes, etc.  And then, the person who put in the nomination makes sure the recipient is out of the house while the Angels do their work.

"We ask them to take the person away for about 3 1/2 to 4 hours," Carol told me.  "That's how long it takes us to beautify the home because we don't just put up a tree.   We decorate the whole room and usually put a beautiful wreath on the door as well to cater to the individual.  And then when the individual comes home the Angels are sitting there with angel wings and halos on, and it's absolutely gorgeous.  Every recipient, every home, every tree is completely different.” 

This is the first year for the Angel MakeOver Project, and they’ve stopped taking in nominations for this Christmas season.   After the holidays are over the Angels will return to the selected homes to remove the trees, leaving behind smiles and pleasant memories.

Carol says she wants next year to be even bigger, and she’d like for the idea to spread across the country.  She told me although both her parents are now deceased, the inspiration they provided lives on in the Angel MakeOver Project.

"My prayer is that every recipient will have a place in their home that they can invite people over and wake up Christmas morning and have somewhere that they can enjoy and discuss the birth of Christ -- just enjoy the Christmas season in a beautiful home."

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Durham’s Judea Reform Congregation is celebrating Chanukah (Hanukkah) in a particularly big way this year.  Since the synagogue is celebrating its 50^th anniversary, they’ll light 50 menorahs Sunday night at a big Chanukah party.  The 8-day Jewish festival of lights began this past Wednesday at sunset. 

Chabad of Cary hosts that town’s first ever Public Menorah Lighting and Party Sunday afternoon at 4, at Cary Towne Center

And if you’re not sure how to celebrate Chanukah, Chabad of UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University  has an on-line primer with everything you want to know

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The audience at this year’s Christmas production by Fayetteville’s Northwood Temple Church will get an American history lesson.  The Christmas of 1776 tells the story of a key event in the Revolutionary War that saved George Washington’s fledgling army from total collapse.  Northwood’s play recreating this “Christmas miracle” runs through Sunday.

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You’ve probably heard by now that Raleigh native Josh Hamilton was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player.  Quite an honor for the Texas Rangers outfielder and Apex High alum.  But Hamilton, who’s made eight trips to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction, says the awards and accolades come secondary to his faith.  He talks about it in this interview (about 1:50 into the clip).

Anniversaries, concerts... and 24-hour preachin'

 

Congregants of Durham's Judea Reform have 50 reasons to cheer right now.  Plus 30 reasons.  Judea kicks off a year-long celebration this weekend marking the temple’s 50th anniversary, along with the 30th anniversary of Rabbi John Friedman as its leader. 

 “(Judea’s) main impact has been in providing an attractive place for Reform Jews, or those who want to try Reform Judaism,” says Dr. Friedman.  “We’ve had, over the years, five of our students go on to be rabbis.  We have a very rich educational program and social justice program.  And our worship services are very popular.”   

Things kick off tomorrow night at 7 with a "History Wall" dedication featuring photos from the five decades of Judea's history.  A congregational open house takes place Sunday morning. 

Friedman says the temple has come a long way in fifty years.  “When the temple was founded in 1961 there were less than 20 families, and it was founded in the basement of someone’s home.” 

Now there are more than 600 families.  One of Judea’s former rabbis, Eric Yoffie, has gone on to become president of the liberal Reform Judaism movement.  Rabbi Yoffie is scheduled to return to Judea in April to speak as part of the anniversary celebration.   

And Dr. Friedman himself has developed a national reputation.  I asked him if he could go back three decades and give himself advice knowing what he knows now, what would it be?

“I’ll tell you one thing for sure,” he says.  “I wouldn’t have answered the many calls I had to go and interview in other congregations.  Because I never found anything I liked as much as living in Durham.  This is nearly a Shangri-La kind of place for a rabbi, especially one who enjoys the intellectual climate that Durham and Chapel Hill provide.”

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The faithful from Raleigh's Edenton Street United Methodist Church will fan out tomorrow to do good.  The church's second annual Great Day of Service will send families and individuals off "as the hands and feet of Christ to those in need."   Church leaders have put more than two dozen projects and service options on the agenda this year, ranging from nursing home visits to serving the homeless at Moore Square.  The day will begin with breakfast at the church and a short worship service.

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Hundreds of women from across the country will gather at Shaw University tomorrow as the Divinity School hosts its 27th Annual Women's Conference.  It's a day-long event opening with a morning worship service and closing with an evening banquet.  The keynoter is the Rev. Debra Haggins O'Bryant, the first female chaplain of Hampton University.

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Methodist men are called to "Share the Game, Share your Faith" tomorrow at the Duke vs. Army football game.  "Duke Day" is a community outreach that features a pre-game worship event at Duke Chapel, a tailgate lunch, and the game.  This video clip explains how it's to work.

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Are you a foodie?  You can enjoy foods from 14 different countries tomorrow at St. Ann Catholic Church in Clayton.  Admission to the church's International Food Festival is free.  It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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If you build it, they will come.  But first people have to vote for it.  The South Durham Little League is hoping to renovate the back field at Hope Valley Baptist Church.  They've raised $30,000 for the ball field so far, but they need another $20,000.  The Little League and the church are hoping for a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project, but that requires folks voting early and often.  Here's the link if you want to vote or find out more details.

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That rumble you hear from Ft. Bragg this weekend may not be a training exercise.  They're expecting 10,000 to come out Saturday to Rock the Fort, a Christian rock concert sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  It'll be on the Main Post Parade Field from noon until 8:30 p.m.

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Finally, the North Carolina minister who preached for 24 hours straight -- more or less.  Steven Furtick of Charlotte's gigantic Elevation Church (5,000 members) held a 24-hour internet preach-a-thon this week to launch the release of his first book, Sun Stand Still.

Growing churches, faith & sports, and more

  

 “I know it sounds like a pastor-like thing to say,” Benji Kelley tells me, “but this is really a God thing.” 

Something definitely is going on at newhope church in Durham, ranked in the newest issue of Outreach Magazine as the tenth fastest-growing church in America.  newhope moved into its new Southpoint-area location just over a year ago and has seen its attendance skyrocket, now averaging about 2,000 people a week.  Very impressive for a church that’s been around only about 8 years.

“We have this saying around here:  ‘where reverence meets relevance,’” says Dr. Kelley, newhope’s pastor.  “We want to stay faithful to the Bible and we want to stay faithful as Believers, but we want to be very relevant to the culture where we connect with people in the 21^st century.”

The magazine recognition comes just as newhope prepares to open the first of several planned satellite campuses.  Services at newhope church Garner begin Sunday in what used to be the New Life Church building on Benson Road. 

“We’ve got about 50 of those (New Life) folks that are fired up and ready to become newhope,” says Kelley, “and we’ve got about 30 to 40 of our folks from newhope that are going over to Garner to insert some new DNA into that church and new energy.   It looks and feels just like this (Durham) campus feels.  And we’re hoping and praying that God will do there in this new chapter what He’s been doing here.”

 newhope church Garner has its first services this Sunday at 9 and 10:45 a.m.

 

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United Church of Chapel Hill begins its new ministry year with what has become a tradition at the church:  for the next three Sundays the church will feature what it calls "sacred conversations on race." 

 

 First up this Sunday:  Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton, key figures in a North Carolina misidentification case that made national headlines.  Thompson, who is white, wrongly believed that Cotton, a black man, was the man who had raped her.  Cotton was convicted and served more than ten years of his sentence before DNA evidence cleared him and conclusively implicated another convict. 

 

 Thompson and Cotton will talk about their story of injustice and forgiveness, and the book they've co-authored about it, at United Church this Sunday morning.

 

 

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NC Catholics magazine takes a look at how faith guides several big names involved in local collegiate athletics.  The September issue cover story features interviews with NC State Football Coach Tom O'Brien and UNC Men's Lacrosse Coach Joseph Breschi, along with three major figures at Duke:  Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Football Coach David Cutcliffe, and Athletic Director Kevin White. 

 

 

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Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wendell is welcoming a new pastor.  The Rev. Dr. Claude Wilson-Staton comes from Lincolnton and will start Monday, with his first Sunday in the pulpit on September 26th.   

 

 

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I'm constantly fascinated by how our local faith groups use various media to get the word out about things they’re doing.  Check out this creative video promo from First Church of Fayetteville on a new sermon series they're starting Sunday.

 

 

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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest is celebrating its acquisition of papers and letters from one of the 20th century's most influential theologians, Dr. Francis Schaeffer.  More about the collection here.

 

 

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Finally, here are a couple of faith-based stories from Eyewitness News you might've missed: 

 

 

Folks are still talking about Jon Camp's report on how a Johnston County girl's religious faith has gotten her suspended from school.  The student is a member of the Church of Body Modification.

 

And Jennifer Kovaleski reported on how a Chatham County church's vandalism troubles have also brought out the good side of human nature.