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My Turn

Unfortunately I cannot give a hearty amen to Harry R. Jackson’s prescription for improving public education (“America’s Education Crisis,” October). Jackson seems to put the emphasis on improving the teachers.

As a former pastor and current high school teacher, I’ve found that almost all the teachers I’ve met know how to handle discipline problems. They also understand the culture of their geographic areas and know how to help kids master the basics. The problems lie primarily with students themselves and their families.

Teachers and school officials need students who will take individual responsibility for their education and parents who will establish education as a priority for their children. Students need to be taught deferred gratification. Parents need to eliminate the “part-time” jobs students work in order to pay for cars, car insurance and cell phones. Parents and students together need to establish study time, track assignments and monitor grades. Parents need to tell their kids that C’s, D’s and F’s aren’t acceptable.

Although teachers and schools can have some influence over students, they can’t give them the values that must come from family and church.
Jonathan Massey
Chandler, Arizona

Good News From Ukraine

I am happy to hear about pastor Sunday Adelaja and the work of the Holy Spirit in Ukraine (“The Unlikely Ambassador” by Valerie G. Lowe, October). Adelaja’s ministry seems different from many of the ministries in the United States, where so much focus is placed on celebrity and money. No wonder God is moving in a miraculous way in that part of Europe.
Jamie T. Taylor
Boston, Massachusetts

I heard Sunday Adelaja speak when he was in the United States, and his message about impacting the culture brought me to tears. I am a Pentecostal pastor and want God to move in my church the way He is moving in the churches in Kiev.
J. D. Smith
Brooklyn, New York

Divorce in the Pulpit

I read your report on Randy and Paula White’s plans to divorce (News, October). If the pressures of ministry are affecting your marriage, then you leave the ministry—not the marriage. The body of Christ has a decision to make about supporting religious leaders who believe that life should go on without any consequences for their decisions. It’s time to take a stand for God’s Word and what He says about marriage.
Deedee Merando
Coos Bay, Oregon

It’s getting to the point where it’s easier to say who is married than who is not. We’ve made our ministers celebrities, and many believe the hype. Randy and Paula White said they “grew apart.” What about Matthew 5:32, which warns about the sin of divorce? Does this verse not apply to people in ministry? Except for incidents of sexual sin or physical abuse, there are no grounds for divorce. What kind of example are the Whites setting for others?
D. Ayannali
Albuquerque, New Mexico

I’ve been a Christian for more than 30 years. I’ve been taught that when you are in ministry and face family-crisis situations, such as a possible divorce, you step down and allow others to take over while the problem is solved. I do not feel the Whites should stay in ministry. I will not respect either of their ministries in light of this situation.
Ron Acord
Chillicothe, Ohio

I do not condemn Randy and Paula White for giving up on their marriage, but I am exasperated because they think they should remain in their lofty roles, preaching a message they refuse to adhere to and continuing to declare a gospel that doesn’t have the power to work in their own situation. That is shameful.
Francis P. Martin
Lafayette, Louisiana

Our hearts are heavy and broken after reading the news of Randy and Paula White’s divorce. It sounds as if they both are going to continue their ministries as usual. What’s worse is that it doesn’t seem as if they’re going to even take a break, let alone step down.

We do not believe that God approves or overlooks this kind of behavior. Examples like this make it more difficult for other women who are in ministry. The saddest part of all is that this mars the name of Jesus. It could cause people to give up on God.
Donna, Louise and Nancy Warner
Mount Airy, North Carolina

The news about Randy and Paula White’s divorce was sad. However, what I found especially disappointing was that it was reported quite matter-of-factly. There was no sense of remorse. God created marriage to be a lifetime commitment. He said He hates divorce. We are not here to judge, but we must be faithful to God’s Word.
name withheld
Kansas City, Kansas

News of Randy and Paula White’s divorce was a double shock. A few weeks ago, the ABC news show 20/20 exposed the personal wealth of many TV preachers. Does the Lord want us to finance multimillion-dollar homes, yachts and jets with the money He has blessed us with? We need the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Don Hebard
Lake Oswego, Oregon

Can prominent ministers who end up divorcing claim to be models of leadership in the body of Christ? How much less can they if they inevitably remarry after only a short “break”? If God hates divorce because of how it misrepresents Him, then how much more does remarriage frustrate and grieve Him, especially when the reasons are unbiblical.
Sean Brouillet
Charlotte, North Carolina

I always thought that there are only two biblical grounds for divorce: adultery and an unbelieving spouse. If there is another reason divorce is allowed, please let me know. If not, it seems that Randy and Paula White are showing that it is OK to divorce outside the boundaries of God’s Word.
Otto Roder
Grants Pass, Oregon

Spooky Speculations

I was appalled by what Mark A. Pearson taught in his article about ghosts (“The Truth About Haunted Houses,” October). The theory that people who die without being “commended to God” might be trapped on earth is both illogical and unbiblical. Scripture clearly teaches that after death comes judgment (see Heb. 9:27).

Besides this, what is the assumption? That Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu funeral services “commend people to God,” and the God of the Bible at that? If Christians are the only ones who can do this act, then most people who have died are still wandering the earth. That is ridiculous.

Finally, it is sad that Pearson recognizes his concept is not found in Scripture but says that as charismatics and Pentecostals we experience many things not found in the Bible. Evangelicals recognize that Scripture alone is the authority of our faith and practice. I am charismatic because charismatic faith and experience are clearly taught in Scripture. Obviously, believers practice things not found in Scripture in everyday life. But to say we can have any experience that does not line up with Scripture is dangerous.
Elisabeth Dyvig
Roanoke, Texas

Author’s response: Elisabeth raises four points regarding my article. First, she cites Hebrews 9:27, which teaches that after death comes judgment. Does Scripture teach that judgment comes immediately after death or on the Last Day? If it comes on the Last Day, then there is a time between death and judgment about which we know very little.

Second, she suggests that if what I wrote is true, then most people who have died are still wandering the earth. This is not true. In some particular situations, especially if a death is somehow unresolved, a soul might be “trapped.” Christian committal prayers (a funeral) are one proven way to bring healing and release.

Third, she states that for evangelical Christians Scripture alone is the authority of our faith and practice. Scripture is the chief authority, but there are many other authorities in the evangelical church (see Heb. 13:17 and similar passages).

Finally, she says having an experience that does not line up with Scripture is dangerous. But many experiences Christians have are not mentioned in Scripture. In those cases we need the gift of discernment and the wisdom of the church to help us understand which experiences are of God and which aren’t.
Canon Mark A. Pearson
Plaistow, New Hampshire

Clarification: In our October news brief about the resolution of an indictment accusing evangelist Morris Cerullo of under-reporting taxes, we reported that Judge Roger T. Benitez dismissed the case because prosecutors did not correctly explain the criteria for determining if a minister’s income is taxable. We failed to note that the judge said prosecutors’ “misconduct” created doubt about whether the indictment should have been brought at all. Benitez said clergy who get money after delivering a sermon face the same specter of tax prosecution, so prosecutors must carefully consider such cases lest they violate ministers’ First Amendment rights.

1 in 5 Pregnancies Worldwide End in Abortion

A recent study by the pro-abortion Allan Guttmacher Institute found that abortions have decreased by 17 percent worldwide, from 46 million to 42 million.

A recent study by the pro-abortion Allan Guttmacher Institute found that abortions have decreased by 17 percent worldwide, from 46 million in 1995 to 42 million in 2003.

But despite that drop, one-in-five pregnancies still are terminated each year. The report also found that the number of “unsafe” abortions was increasing, particularly in developing nations.

“Abortion is evidence that the needs of pregnant women are not being met,” said Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics analyst for Focus on the Family Action. “Women seek abortion when they fear they cannot adequately provide for their children. By providing clean water and better living conditions for pregnant women, the number of abortions will drop even more.”

ORU Receives $70 Million Pledge

Days after Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts resigned the scandal-ridden school received a $70 million pledge.

Days after Oral Roberts University (ORU) President Richard Roberts resigned and the same day that the school’s Board of Regents announced their plans to separate finances and leadership from Oral Roberts Ministries, the scandal-ridden school received a $70 million pledge, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Mart Green, founder of the Christian-based office supply store chain Mardel, announced that he would immediately give the school $8 million and the other $62 million after a 60- to 90-day review of the school’s financial records.

Green, who stated he has no ties to ORU, said he had been following the story in the media of the school’s recent troubles and decided he wanted to help move the university forward. “Let's straighten the ship,” Green said Tuesday. “Let's get integrity. Let's get trust built back and the rest will go away.”

Town Believes Prayer Brought Man Back From Dead

A 21-year-old was said to have miraculously awakened after being declared brain dead as a result of critical injuries sustained during an accident.

Town Says Prayer Brought Man Back From Dead

A 21-year-old Oklahoma native was said to have miraculously awakened after being declared brain dead as a result of critical injuries sustained in an all-terrain-vehicle accident, reported NBC News affiliate WOAI in San Antonio.

Family members of Zack Dunlap were astonished when he stretched out his arm and grabbed a nurse who was prepping his body for organ donation. The Dunlap family had urged their entire hometown of Frederick, Okla., to pray for a miraculous recovery.

“God come down and give him a miracle. I believe that with all my heart,” Dunlap's uncle, James Blackford, told WOAI. “Doctor came back down and said: 'Well, I don't know what happened. But I guess it was faulty equipment on the first test.’ It wasn't faulty equipment,” Blackford said. “God touched him.”

Though Dunlap has a lot of recovering to do many in the town believe that he is alive because of prayer.

“I think it's the result of people praying in this town, and committing him to the Lord,” said Roberta Klein, Dunlap’s neighbor. “God has a purpose for him.”

Grandmother Calling Parents to Boycott School

A grandmother is urging parents with children in California public schools to keep their children home Nov. 28-29 to protest two bills that would mandate homosexual instruction of all children.

Joy Stutz, a Southern California grandmother, is urging parents with children in California public schools to keep their children home Nov. 28-29 to protest two bills recently made law that would mandate homosexual instruction of all children without parental consent or an opt-out provision, reported One News Now.

Last month Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed California Senate Bill 777 into law, which mandates positive representation of homosexual lifestyles when teaching, and California Assembly Bill 394, which orders “anti-harassment” training to be given to students, parents and teachers.

“What [passage of the bills] effectively did was open the door wide [so] that the children in the public schools—all public schools in California—will be indoctrinated with the homosexual agenda, beginning with age 5 on up,” Stutz told One News Now. “They will no longer be able to have a reference of 'mommy and daddy' as being a normal family. It will now be taught that it is perfectly normal to have two mommies or two daddies.”

Stutz said that parents must join together to fight these laws and believes this boycott is a step in the right direction; the next step might be to withdraw students from the public school system and enroll them in private school or home school them.

“If this law stands, we must pull our children out of public schools,” she said.

Christmas at the Cathedral

A holiday gospel music special, featuring Mary Mary, Tye Tribbett and G.A., Martha Munizzi and Smokie Norful, will be aired on network TV next Tuesday night, Dec. 4.

A holiday gospel music special will be on network TV next Tuesday night, Dec. 4 (originally scheduled for Dec. 6). My Network TV, a network TV channel owned by FOX television, will air an hour-long event dubbed “Christmas at the Cathedral” featuring guests Mary Mary, Tye Tribbett and G.A., Martha Munizzi and Smokie Norful.

Hosted by comedian George Wallace, the show takes place in the 24,000-member West Angeles Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Los Angeles, the COGIC denomination’s largest and most prominent congregation in the U.S.

Bishop Charles E. Blake, the church’s senior pastor and also head of the 6 million-member COGIC, told Charisma his church was delighted to play host.

“Our holy days have been so secularized and twisted from their original meaning,” he said. “This is an opportunity to have a focus on the Lord and the kindness of Jesus and His coming to earth.”

According to Robert Coleman, the 46-year-old producer at FOX behind the project and a member at West Angeles, a Christmas-gospel extravaganza on network TV is a rarity. “May have been on cable before,” he said, “but this many gospel music artists in the mainstream on a major network is a first.”

–-PAUL STEVEN GHIRINGHELLI

ORU President Richard Roberts Resigns

Amid a wrongful-termination, lawsuit which included allegations of financial impropriety and sexual misconduct, Richard Roberts resigned his position as university president on Friday, Nov. 23.

Amid a wrongful-termination lawsuit filed in October by former professors at Oral Roberts University (ORU), which included allegations of financial impropriety and sexual misconduct, Richard Roberts resigned his position as university president on Friday, Nov. 23.

The resignation follows an emergency meeting at ORU called last week by the school’s founder, Oral Roberts, after tenured faculty members had issued a vote of no confidence in Richard Roberts’ ability to stay on as president.

Roberts asked faculty for a second chance and a fresh start, claiming he should remain at the school as president because stepping down would be tantamount to admitting to wrongdoing, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Several faculty members reportedly refused to acquiesce.

In addition to the no-confidence vote by faculty, ORU’s provost, Mark Lewandowski, one of four top administrators named in the wrongful-termination suit, announced last week that he was willing to go as far as resigning his top academic post if Roberts was reinstated, the AP reported.

Roberts, who asked for a leave of absence last month while an investigation into the school and his leadership is underway, said in his resignation letter on Friday: “I love ORU with all my heart. I love the students, faculty, staff and administration and I want to see God’s best for all of them.”

The Board of Regents will meet this week to determine the process for searching for a new school president.

Baptist Denominations Forge New Coalition

Groups of various Baptist denominations not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention plan to launch a new coalition of moderate and liberal-leaning Baptists.

Groups of various Baptist denominations not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., plan to launch in Atlanta this January a new coalition of moderate and liberal-leaning Baptists, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Dubbed the New Baptist Covenant, the group was organized as a result of meetings led by former President Jimmy Carter, who severed ties with the SBC in 2000 over its “increasingly rigid” positions, the AP reported.

Some of the participating denominations include the American Baptist Churches, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the National Baptist Convention USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

According to the National Baptist Convention (NBC) Web site, Carter, Bill Clinton and Al Gore are committed participants.

“We seek nothing more nor less than that for which Christ prayed, for no other reason than that which He gave: that ours will be a believable witness as to who Jesus is and why He came,” said William Shaw, president of the NBC, the nation's largest predominantly black denomination.

Ministry Helps Bring Healing in Rwanda

In the years since the Rwandan genocide, Hutus and Tutsis have been finding ways to unite and rebuild.

Memories of bloodshed, rape and murder still haunt the hundreds of thousands of people who survived the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which left at least 800,000 dead in a three-month period. Yet in the years since the Hutu tribe planned and executed its brutal attack against the Tutsis, Christian observers say Rwandans have been experiencing the healing power of Christ, and learning to forgive and rebuild their nation.

“Despite such suffering, trauma and disappointments … more people are coming to Christ and submitting their lives to Him and accepting Him as Lord and Savior,” said the Rev. Philbert Kalisa, an Episcopal minister and founder of REACH, a Christian organization with a mission to help Rwandans reconcile.

Since 1997, Kalisa has been leading peace-building and conflict-management seminars across the nation. “The work of REACH-Rwanda with the people who were traumatized during the genocide of 1994 is so incredibly healing,” said Gerry Gardner, president of REACH-USA and staff member of Church of the Holy Spirit in Osprey, Fla.

“The atrocities are painful to hear about, but the hope that is rebuilding among the men, women and children in Rwanda is a model for the world, especially when one looks at what is going on in the Sudan and northern Uganda.”

Kalisa, who is Tutsi, fled with his family to nearby Burundi in 1961 to escape the persecution of the Tutsis families. He returned in 1995 and eventually founded REACH, an acronym for Reconciliation, Evangelism and Christian Healing, which seeks to first reconcile people to Christ.

“Our mission is broad; it is not only limited to the aftermath of the genocide,” he said. “We preach the gospel of reconciliation, calling and encouraging people to get reconciled with God and with one another.”

In addition to focusing on evangelism and reconciliation, REACH works with the Rwandan government and church groups to help relieve poverty and create jobs. REACH is currently raising money to buy and distribute motorcycles that will enable Rwandans to earn income as taxi drivers.

“Reconciliation requires that we are committed to setting all people free spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, socially and physically,” Kalisa said. “The church in today's society has no alternative but to provide holistic care to her flock.”

REACH volunteer Agnes Mukagasana, who is Hutu, said she was repeatedly raped during the genocide for being married to a Tutsi and felt betrayed by her family when her aunt and brothers turned her husband and children over to be killed because they were Tutsi. Feeling a deep sense of rejection, Mukagasana thought she had no one to turn to until she was introduced to Christ through the REACH program.

“God requests us to reconcile and forgive our enemies,” she said. “For the first time, I forgive. I forgive everyone who killed my family. I forgive those who raped me and my daughter. I forgive my in-laws, and I forgive even those that I don't know. I even forgive myself.”

Mukagasana now regularly visits those who killed her family in prison. She said living with hatred and anger for so many years continued to damage her long after the genocide ended. She now says that through Christ she has experienced more peace and joy than she had known even before her family was murdered.

Kalisa said the changes taking place in individuals and the nation as a whole can be attributed only to God's healing power. “When you look at how the country was destroyed, how the Rwandans killed each other … leaving hundreds of thousands of victims … no one could believe that these people would live together again in the same country,” he said.

“Now … people live together. No revenge. We have a united government where everyone is represented in parliament, army, police, and they work together to bring peace and unity among the Rwandans.”–Felicia Mann

Writers Strike Prompts Prayer in Hollywood

Recently 700 people gathered in Beverly Hills to pray for the end to the two-week writers’ strike that has halted production on many Hollywood studios.

Last Friday 700 people gathered for the National Media Prayer Breakfast at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., to pray for the end of the two-week writers’ strike that has halted production on many Hollywood studios, reported the Associated Press (AP).

“We pray that both groups would feel your supernatural guidance to stop blaming and posturing and start peacefully listening and negotiating,” prayed Geriann McIntosh, senior vice president of administration for Warner Bros. Television. “We pray that you keep everyone that is affected by the strike in your loving care.”

Many attendees at the breakfast, which was co-sponsored by the Hollywood Prayer Network and Mastermedia International Inc., focused prayers on quickly ending the strike to avoid massive job loss.

Prayer network founder Karen Covell, whose husband lost his job as a result of the strike, believes this is a critical time for Americans to pray for Hollywood, the AP reported.

“If it goes on for months it will shut down the income for families, and people need to start making tough decisions,” she said. “There is a lot of fear. There is a very current need for prayer.”

Covell added: “We are praying for it to be fast and fair and dealt with quickly.”