FeedBack

My Turn

I thank God for pastor Dwight McKissic’s courage and resolve regarding the matter of glossolalia or speaking in tongues (News, February). I am aware of the Southern Baptist Convention’s creed. To have 100-plus pastors attend a meeting and submit a resolution on “partnership and free expression” is a milestone.

I am 74 years old, and for a long while had been praying and desperately seeking all that God had for His people. I was praying to become like Jesus when He, ignoring my unbelief, baptized me in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This is what He has for His people who want dunamis as well as exousia (power). My experience occurred nearly four decades ago.

My heart’s cry for Baptist believers to be filled with the Spirit was heard when I came face to face with Jesus and He called me into ministry. I married a Baptist pastor who believed that tongues was of the devil.

God sent Bishop Paul Morton to empower His people, and now He has sent pastor McKissic. His plan will be accomplished in the earth. This is not cultish, which is what I was taught, but empowerment for service to the King of kings.

Whether in private or public, speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit, which encompasses joy, freedom and spiritual power over the devil and his works, but we must maintain our connection with Jesus Christ. Speaking in tongues enables a believer to follow Jesus’ mandate with success.
Annie C. Scales
Ocala, Florida

Hope for the Gangstas

Thank you for your February issue, which contained the cover story about reaching gangs (“No More Urban Slavery” by Valerie G. Lowe). That issue was one of the most spiritually relevant issues the magazine has ever done.

It was filled from cover to cover with articles that helped us understand what God is doing today. We have to take back the streets and free the slaves in Jesus name!
Adrienne Miller, founder
Share His Light Ministries
Cary, North Carolina

The Christian Coalition Crisis

Although Ted Haggard’s moral failure was sad, I think it is less of a tragedy for the American church than the resignation of Joel Hunter as president of the Christian Coalition. His appointment gave hope that the organization would at least focus on the hugely important biblical issues of social justice and creation care.

The Bible makes it clear that morality involves obeying the Lord’s will in every area of life, not just personal sexuality. Hunter recognized this and was willing to lead the Christian Coalition into full obedience to the Lord. However, the organization would not accept this. Who will hold them accountable for this larger moral failure?
Elizabeth Moberly
Durham, England

Does God Like Hip-Hop?

Now Christians are fighting over whether we should use hip-hop music to reach people for Christ (News, February). We will never see God’s glorious kingdom come as long as we argue over secondary issues. What music we listen to, what we eat, how we dress and how we worship are really unimportant. Jesus told us that what is most important is what comes out of our hearts (see Matt. 15:16-20).
Bob McClain
Oxford, Alabama

The church has become so much like the world that we will do anything to get members. The Bible says we should not be conformed to this world.

We are always looking for alternatives to holiness, and when we can’t find any, we take what is unholy and make it holy. God is not pleased.
Gloria Boles
Savannah, Georgia

I strongly disagree with G. Craige Lewis’ vocal opposition to hip-hop music. Hip-hop ministers are able to speak the gospel with relevant lyrics and reach many who would otherwise not hear the message of Christ.

I am thankful for artists who are using their music to reach this generation for Christ. It is sad that Lewis’ influence is causing some pastors to stop inviting hip-hop ministers to their churches.
Lacy Welch
Largo, Florida

No More Gay Gospel

The so-called gay-affirming gospel is indeed toxic (Fire in My Bones, February). Our hearts have been broken because our own son, who was a pastor with a fabulous wife and wonderful children, has gone deep into this lifestyle and is very militant in proclaiming it.

So much of the church today refuses to confront sin as sin. Too many are watering down the Word of God.
name withheld

I agree with you that homosexuality is a sin. I think Jay Bakker was faced with a very tough challenge when asked by Larry King if he endorses the homosexual lifestyle. I know Bakker wants to reach homosexuals for Christ. But he went too far when he began preaching that the gay lifestyle is acceptable. We need to love homosexuals as Christ would, but without condoning the lifestyle.
Bryan Scott
Atlanta, Georgia

Thanks to J. Lee Grady for opposing Jay Bakker’s recent decision to endorse homosexuality. It’s about time someone confronted the lack of spiritual discipline in the church today.

We must confront sin in love. I would rather be confronted by brothers and sisters in the Lord than become a reproach to the name of Jesus.
Lori McDonald
via e-mail

Does the American church want the Lord to return to find it in the current state? If we don’t sharpen one another and judge righteously, we allow the Lord to bring discipline on us. Anyone ready for another Katrina, economic depression, school shooting or terrorist attack? God used Israel’s enemies and natural disasters to correct them.
George Siemer
Tampa, Florida

Jay Bakker’s mother, Tammy Faye Messner, once came to Florida, to participate in a gay pride festival. Christians are adding to the confusion on the issue of homosexuality. We promote and accept it rather than preach the transformation and renewal that Jesus Christ gives.
Jeff Poresky
St. Petersburg, Florida

I gave my life to Jesus Christ and was forever changed inside and out because of the anointed preaching of Jim Bakker in 1976. So I was grieved to learn that his son, Jay, has started preaching another gospel in contradiction to what the Bible teaches about homosexuality. I now have another special name to add to my daily prayer list.
Patricia Neuner
Knoxville, Tennessee

I lived as a lesbian for 25 years, but I was set free by the blood of Jesus. I have found that Christians are starting to believe the lie that homosexuals cannot change. It saddens me to see this in the church.

I shared my testimony on a campus in Kentucky, and homosexuals protested it. But it was interesting that not one word was spoken against me because I could relate to homosexuals and how the church has dealt with this issue.

While I was in the gay lifestyle I was asked to leave churches. It seems nobody has the patience to wait while God sanctifies a person.

Have we become stumblingblocks to these people? The sad thing is a lot of pastors know about the elephant in the room but are not willing to talk about it.
name withheld

A Tribute to Wilberforce

I was glad to read (“The Day Slavery Died” by Clive Price, February), and even more excited that Walden Media has produced a new film about William Wilberforce. I homeschool my children, and we had just finished studying about Wilberforce when I read your article.

He was an astounding, godly man. What amazed me most was his incredible perseverance and boldness. He fought against slavery for 18 years before he saw any concessions, and 44 years passed before slavery was abolished. But in spite of painful defeats, he prevailed!

I couldn’t help but make comparisons to our modern culture. If there was a fiery, bold man or woman of God in Congress or on the Supreme Court who would fight abortion as Wilberforce fought slavery, they eventually would prevail as he did. Surprisingly, many arguments that were used to defend slavery in the 1700s are used today to defend abortion.
Betty Mills
Golden, Colorado

Correction: Our January feature on T.L. Osborn, “He Dared to Touch the World,” incorrectly stated that Gordon Lindsay was a Kentucky native. He was born in Zion City, Illinois. Charisma regrets the error.

Students Trade Partying for Ministry

During spring break this year, more than 4,000 students chose to participate in philanthropic activities.

Christian spring break alternatives have grown in popularity among high school and college students in recent years. “Across America universities have taken an active notice that there are many college students that aren’t particularly motivated to participate in the traditional spring break … what I call sun, sand, surfs, suds and sex,” said Tony Arnold, media relations director for Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC). “Millennials, the college students of this generation, they are very interested in being active and involved in helping America and the world become a better place.” Instead of partying their spring breaks away some young people are choosing more philanthropic activities. More than 4,000 students worked with CCC to help rebuild areas in New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina; evangelize the 4 million college students in Mexico City; and minister to the poor in cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Los Angles. In Panama City Beach, Fla., some 1,300 students witnessed on the beach, by pools and outside nightclubs in an outreach dubbed “The Big Break.” “Students from our ministry are able to [speak to] students from around the country and turn that conversation to spiritual areas and introduce students to Jesus,” Arnold said. This year alone CCC has recorded 2,500 student conversations about spiritual matters and roughly 80 decisions for Christ. –Felicia Mann

Explosions in Mozambique Kills 93

Missionaries Rolland and Heidi Baker founder's of Iris ministries in Mozambique report no death's or injuries to their ministry volunteers.

Last week a depot housing old weapons remaining from Mozambique’s devastating civil war exploded, killing 93 people and injuring hundreds more. According to CNN, the explosion was due to the blistering heat, which overheated the building. Missionaries Rolland and Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries have served in Mozambique for the last 12 years and report damage to their physical structures but no injuries or deaths to the ministry’s volunteers. “Shrapnel and missiles rained down on a radius of 10 kilometers,” Rolland said. “At least two missiles directly struck our Zimpeto base. Others kept flying over the center. Our church was hit, but our children were huddling in our prayer hut. It’s miraculous that no children were hurt.” Ministry volunteers report protecting the children in the prayer hut for almost five hours until the bombs and missiles stopped exploding. “We just prayed and prayed and sang to the Lord,” said Anna Coumos, a 21-year-old volunteer with the ministry. “We met death face to face and walked away in victory. God is perfect and His ways we will never understand, but He is faithful. We have lived through Psalm 91.” She asked intercessors to pray that the ministry would be able to meet people’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs in the explosion’s aftermath. “Please pray for the healing of shock and trauma,” Coumos said. “For me, every time I hear a drum or a loud truck rumbling by or a kid whistling like that sound of a missile flying through the air, I just cringe and feel so awful inside.” Nearly a month ago Mozambique was devastated by floods and cyclones that hit this impoverished country.

Study Finds Values Movies More Profitable Than R-Rated

Films with very strong Christian values fared three times better at the box office than ones with very strong non-Christian values.

For films released between 2002 and 2006, ones with very strong Christian values fared three times better at the box office than ones with very strong non-Christian values, according to a recent study by MovieGuide, a Christian movie review company. The study compared films with explicit Christian content such as The Nativity Story and movies with morally uplifting themes such as Charlotte’s Web to films with strongly unbiblical worldviews such as The Da Vinci Code and Brokeback Mountain. Though there were 116 uplifting films and 299 strongly non-Christian films, MovieGuide found that films with Christian values earned more collectively than those with non-Christian worldviews. “American moviegoers want movies with overt Christian values and biblical worldviews,” said Ted Baehr, leader of the research team and founder of MovieGuide. “They don't want to see movies that mock their faith and values.”

Photo Credit: Jamie Trueblood/New Line Cinema

Christians Participate in Global Day of Prayer for Burma

Roughly 1 million people from Burma have been displaced from their homes as a result of the destruction caused by an ongoing internal conflict.

Christians from around the world participated in a prayer day designed to raise awareness about the plight of the Karen people of Burma, which has been under a military dictatorship since 1962. Roughly 1 million Karen have been displaced from their homes as a result of destruction caused by an ongoing internal conflict, reported Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which organized the Global Day of Prayer for Burma along with Karen Aid, the Karen Action Group and the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People. The prayer day was held in London on March 10. “[CSW] believes that prayer changes things in ways beyond our imagination,” said Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s chief executive officer, the Christian Post reported. “Burma is a country that needs prayer—for the regime, for those suffering oppression and for those helping to change people’s despair to hope.” Among the prayer targets were for God’s truth and love to penetrate Burma; for lasting peace and freedom in the nation; and for the restoration of democracy, ethnic rights and freedom for all political prisoners, the Concerned for Burma Web site reported.

Gilbert E. Patterson Dies

G. E. Patterson, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), died March 20 after battling prostate cancer. He was 67.

Gilbert E. Patterson, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), died March 20 after battling prostate cancer. He was 67. Senior pastor of 12,000-member Temple of Deliverance COGIC in Memphis, Tenn., Patterson had led the nation’s largest Pentecostal denomination since November 2000. “Under his leadership we've seen tremendous strides toward true spirituality,” Bishop George D. McKinney, overseer of COGIC’s San Diego jurisdiction and a member of the church's General Board, told Memphis’ Fox 13 News. Even after announcing in September 2005 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Patterson remained active in ministry. He was seen in weekly broadcasts from his church that aired on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Black Entertainment Television. “It was a direct result of his work, such as his TV ministries, that allowed people to see COGIC as it should have been projected,” Bishop Jerry Maynard told Fox 13 News. Patterson leaves two leadership positions vacant, but COGIC leaders said filling those seats is not their immediate focus. “We have lost a great leader, and we are in mourning,” said Bishop Charles Blake, who is now serving as the denomination’s interim presiding bishop. “Time will take care of all those leadership issues. Right now we must reflect on the great leadership of Bishop G.E. Patterson. We’re not focusing on succession. Right now we want to focus on the bishop’s family and how we can help them.” Senior pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Blake will lead the 5.5 million-member denomination until its next election is held in November 2008 or until a special election is called. Patterson is survived by his wife of 35 years, Louise.

Mozambique Floods Help Bring Revival

Missionaries Rolland and Heidi Baker report that Mozambicans are accepting Christ and being healed despite the widespread destruction.

The recent torrential floods that washed over Mozambique devastated infrastructures and have left tens of thousands of people without homes and in need of food. But missionaries Rolland and Heidi Baker, who lead Iris Ministries in Mozambique, said the widespread destruction has also caused residents to be more open to hearing about Jesus. “No one resists the gospel,” Rolland Baker said. “Everyone is eagerly listening to every word, responding to every call, wanting prayer for everything.” The prayer requests are numerous, he said, as many people have gone without food for weeks and are living in huts made from sticks and grass. Many also are very sick or have died from diseases that have started to spread. Iris Ministries is helping to meet physical needs while some Mozambican pastors are praying for residents. Together, the efforts are bringing a glimmer of hope, Baker said. One result is that they have received several reports of physical healing, he said. “We always have good news,” Baker said. “We tell the people, ‘Jesus knows your suffering.’ Through all of this we will seek Him more, and He will reveal Himself more than we ever thought He would.” The Bakers say that although God is moving in this southeastern African country much of the promised relief has yet to arrive and area residents need humanitarian support from Christians abroad. To learn more about assisting Iris Ministries’ relief work, log on at . –Felicia Mann

BattleCry Pushes Past Controversy to Worship God

Roughly 22,000 young people gathered to worship God in San Francisco, a city known for its ultraliberal politics.

Last weekend 22,000 young people gathered for Teen Mania’s BattleCry event at the AT&T stadium in San Francisco. Teen Mania founder Ron Luce said teens are inundated with negative images and activities in the culture and that BattleCry events are a way to give teens positive alternatives. “They're pillaging these kids,” Luce told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We've got a whole generation, an innocent generation, a virgin generation being raped on the sidewalk by the perverseness of this culture.” Luce said BattleCry is an example of positive cultural alternatives. The two-day event included a rock concert featuring popular Christian bands, speakers, a comedian and a rally at City Hall. During last year’s BattleCry event in San Francisco, an abortion protest led to a verbal brawl with city officials, causing some local leaders to criticize this year’s conference, the Chronicle reported. But despite the controversy, participants said it was incredible to see so many young people praising God and standing up for their beliefs. “Just seeing all the people in one place, it’s amazing to see just how powerful God is,” Seongwoo Chae, 18, told the Chronicle. This was the first of three BattleCry events scheduled this year; the other two will be held in Detroit and Baltimore.

AG Summit Issues Prayer Challenge

Prayer summit attendees were challenged to 'cry out' for the Holy Spirit's fire and warned against having a New Testament Christianity without an emphasis on the Holy Spirit.

The Assemblies of God (AG), concluded a prayer summit March 7 that drew 1,400 people to Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Mo. On opening night, Rev. Jim Cymbala, senior pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City, challenged attendees to “cry out” for the fire of the Holy Spirit in their churches and their personal prayer lives. “How sad to travel around the country and world and see churches trying to have a Christianity that represents the New Testament without an understanding and an emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit,” he told attendees. AG leaders said the summit was held to encourage believers to become knowledgeable about prayer and to allow the Holy Spirit to invigorate their prayer lives. “The devil does not care how much we talk about prayer, how much we preach about prayer,” General Superintendent Thomas E. Trask admonished. “We didn’t call a prayer summit just to preach about prayer. We are going to pray.”

Earl Paulk Sexual Misconduct Case Dropped

The sexual misconduct lawsuit that was filed against Atlanta minister Earl Paulk was dropped on Monday.

The lawyer for Bobby and Mona Brewer dropped a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against Atlanta minister Earl Paulk, founder of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, on Monday, less than a month before it was scheduled for trial, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The Brewers filed suit in 2005, alleging that Paulk used his role as a spiritual leader to coerce Mona Brewer, a former church soloist, into having a 14-year affair with him. Paulk's lawyer acknowledged that Paulk had a sexual relationship with Mona Brewer but said she initiated it. The couple’s lawyer, Louis Levenson, said he dropped the case because he was having difficulty getting witnesses to testify against Paulk and was experiencing long delays in preparing the case, the newspaper said. Levenson dropped the case just before DeKalb Superior Court Judge Mark Anthony Scott was to rule on Paulk's lawyers’ motion by to dismiss the allegations on grounds that the couple waited too long to file suit under Georgia law. Because he dropped the case before the ruling, Levenson can file another suit with the same allegations, the Journal-Constitution. Currently, the Brewers ha ve not announced plans to refile the lawsuit.