The much-anticipated Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe raked in a whopping $65 million domestically at the box office, securing its place in best-opening-weekend history at No. 23. But more important than Walden Media and Disney’s collective payoff is how the film’s underlying message ranked in the hearts of moviegoers.

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Torrance, Calif., rented out two showings opening weekend. Members were encouraged to bring along unsaved friends. A fellowship night commenced directly after the movie, where both kids and adults created ice cream sundaes and played Narnia-themed trivia games with prize giveaways.

“We sent out 10,000 postcard invitations, gave away Narnia-themed booklets and sold over 400 tickets,” said pastor Bob Rognlien, who preached a Narnia-themed series that began Christmas Eve. “We wanted to make a connection with people so that they’d come back for the series.”

Pastor Bruce Cadle transformed his New Hope Church in Melbourne, Fla. , into the fantasy world of Narnia, complete with wardrobe and falling snow. “The response was just incredible,” Cadle told Charisma. “We saw a 50-person increase in one week. Almost all of them said they’d be back and would bring visitors.”

Many pastors got their creative inspiration and materials from Narnia Sneak Peak Events organized by the Mission America Coalition. The group’s goal was to encourage church leaders “to consider the fantastic ministry opportunity” provided by the film. In cooperation with Outreach magazine, Mission America held events in 150 cities nationwide.

“We were so blessed by their personal support,” said René Bogue, service coordinator at New Life Foursquare Church in Canby, Ore. “This was a good wake-up call. Many people did not know the story was a Christian allegory.”

Mission America’s outreach ideas included organizing book giveaways, forming Narnia-themed reading groups, buying out entire theaters and having children act out scenes from the story. Pastor Dave Johnson of Kalamazoo Community Church in Michigan said his church sold out almost 400 tickets in less than an hour. “We were pretty impressed by the reaction,” he said.

The positive response prompted them to purchase 400 more tickets, which also sold out. Members and guests received gift bags filled with Turkish Delight and a copy of Knowing Aslan, which explores the parallels between Aslan’s character and the character of Jesus.

Just weeks after the film released, Mission America was getting feedback from churches that hosted Narnia outreach events. Deacon Godsey of Trinity Church in Omaha, Neb., said 40 people accepted Christ after a showing. “And 20 others rededicated their lives,” he said. “I’m convinced we might encourage members to send thank-you letters to Disney for making the movie.”
Danielle LoCicero

Pastors and ministry leaders gathered in Dallas in January to discuss the future of the church
When revivalist Steve Hill took the microphone at the annual meeting of the Charismatic Leaders Council, he asked a woman in the back of the conference room to dim the lights. After speaking for a few minutes he asked her to dim them even more.

“This is what is happening in today’s church,” Hill told the group, which included healing evangelist Benny Hinn, Baptist broadcaster James Robison and theologian C. Peter Wagner. “There is a dimming of the gospel taking place in America. We’ve got to start preaching the cross again.”

The impressive group of Pentecostal and charismatic church leaders met in a hotel in Dallas in early January. Convened by veteran Pentecostal pastor Jack Hayford and Charisma’s publisher, Stephen Strang, the group listened to panels that included Bishop T.D. Jakes, Argentinean pastor Claudio Freidzon, Jane Hansen of Aglow International and John Dawson, president of Youth With a Mission (YWAM).

Hill’s sober warning was underscored by Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania, who delivered a plea for renewed focus on youth ministry. Luce cited statistics about American teens that made some people squirm. Included at the top of his list was the fact that only 4 percent of today’s teens are or will be evangelical Christians.

“We are losing,” Luce said bluntly. “What sort of world will our children and grandchildren grow up in?”

Several panel members lamented the fact that charismatic leaders are faltering, either by lack of integrity or by failure to pass the baton to younger leaders. Meanwhile, Jakes, pastor of the 30,000-member Potter’s House church in Dallas, pleaded with his colleagues to provide merciful restoration to ministers who have suffered moral failures.

Other participants expressed concerns that U.S. churches are watering down the gospel and making their message seeker-sensitive in order to attract crowds. Said Seattle pastor Casey Treat: “I am excited about ‘relevant’ ministry. But have we become so relevant to the world that we’ve become irrelevant to God?”

Not all the talk was negative. Many panel members said they were hopeful that genuine revival is around the corner-just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Azusa Street revival that launched the Pentecostal movement.

“Out of our constriction and confinement, a new thing will emerge in 2006,” predicted healing evangelist Mahesh Chavda, who said his North Carolina church is fasting and praying for a spiritual awakening this year.

Bible teacher R.T. Kendall, former pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, said he has sensed for years that true revival is on the horizon. “Something big is at hand. Isaac is coming!” Kendall said.

“What we have seen up to now is Ishmael. Abraham thought that Ishmael was the promised child. Wrong. As the promise to Isaac was proportionately greater than the promise to Ishmael, so what is coming is that much greater than anything we have seen. It will at long last be the coming together of the Word and the Spirit.”

James Robison surprised everyone in the room with his pleas for Christian unity. Admitting that he cannot wear the charismatic label, he begged everyone else to take theirs off. “We cannot let our theological beliefs nullify love itself,” he said.

Several voices also reminded the group that God is calling women not simply into ministry but also into church leadership. YWAM’s Dawson told the group about 25-year-old Brianna Esswein, a vivacious missionary nurse who died in Nigeria in December when a truck plowed into her van. He expressed hopes that Esswein’s story will inspire a new generation of women to head to the mission field.

Perhaps the most hopeful signals came from international and ethnic voices. Hispanic church planter Sammy Rodriguez reminded the group that Hispanics and other immigrant communities are the fastest-growing segments of the American church. Korean-American pastor Ché Ahn, whose father started the first Korean Southern Baptist church in the U.S. 47 years ago, said Asian charismatics in this country are using their wealth and education to transform society.

Myles Munroe, a Bahamian megachurch pastor and international speaker, chided the Americans for being too narrow-noting that our sport of baseball celebrates a World Series that is for U.S. and Canadian teams only. Said Munroe: “You must develop a global focus.”
J. Lee Grady in Dallas

Dozens of young men have accepted Christ while receiving treatment at Youth Town
Beth Miller was glad her son had limited phone privileges after she enrolled him in Youth Town, a Christian residential treatment center in Pinson, Tenn.

In his first weeks in the boot camp-like program, Stephen Wallace was limited to just five minutes twice a week. “Then we didn’t have to hear him berate us too long,” Miller said.

She and her husband sought help after they learned Stephen was smoking and selling marijuana. By the time Stephen was eligible for a pass, he had a new perspective. “I understand why you sent me here,” Stephen told his mom, “because if you didn’t, I was going to end up dead or in jail.”

Youth Town has been helping troubled youth since 1962 with its highly structured and physically challenging programs. Some young men are there under a juvenile court mandate. Others, such as Stephen, who has graduated from Youth Town and is now drug-free, are placed by worried family members.

Youth Town was founded by a group of Jackson, Tenn., men as a home for orphaned boys. Through the years, the outreach grew to include girls, and in the late 1980s began to specialize in substance-abuse treatment. In 2004, it began reaching out to young men with addiction problems exclusively.

Youth Town’s eight-week program, Youth Challenge, is designed to deter first-time offenders. The teens live in barracks with no air conditioning, chop wood for heat, shower outside and use portable toilets. “The greatest way we learn lessons is through experience,” said Mark Baldwin, director of programs at Youth Town.

“[Living like this] teaches them the difference between what is a right and what is a privilege. Then they have a greater respect for what their parents-most often just their mom-have provided for them.”

Youth Town’s 90-day substance-abuse program is called River Quest. The boys live in dorm-like rooms and are physically challenged by former professional basketball player Kendall Dancy. Although the program isn’t a quick fix, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported in 2002 that any program less than 90 days is ineffective, as it takes the first 30 days to “clear the fog.”

Youth Town staff said they combine the best components of 12-step programs and Christian recovery ministries to create their own technique. Today the ministry, which is available through some insurance providers, has an 80 percent success rate and has earned the sought-after stamp of approval from the Counsel on Accreditation (COA).

“When an organization such as Youth Town takes the initiative to seek accreditation from a third party it demonstrates a willingness to take a close look at itself and says to its donors, the community, and the kids themselves that when it comes to these vulnerable kids, good enough is not good enough,” said COA President Richard Klarberg.

Roughly 100 young men went through Youth Town’s treatment programs in 2004. All of them accepted Christ, and most were baptized. “Here we are impacting kids,” Baldwin said, “and yet the denominational differences we have don’t get in the way because we know what the important issue is: to take a kid and lead him to Christ.”

The women working in the cafeteria are considered the campus prayer warriors. “Everyone’s always praying for you,” resident Justin Porter said. “It’s amazing.”

Director Nick Pappas, a former football coach and salesman, was once hooked on gambling and alcohol. After he was converted and baptized in the Holy Spirit, he said he heard about a job opening on the 250 acres south of Jackson, Tenn.

A prophetic word led him to take it seriously. A guest speaker at his church told him he felt God was calling him to a place that was spacious in land and involved young people. “If you’ll honor Him,” the man said, “He’ll send you the most destitute of heart and hope, and in the name of Jesus you’ll see them healed.”

Pappas took the job, sight unseen.

He says addicts bury what’s bothering them. The anger-management training Youth Town offers shows teens how to substitute fits of rage with more positive solutions. “The inability to accept things we cannot change only leads to frustration, anger and anxiety,” counselor Lynn Landrum said. “For the young men in our care, these emotions often lead to self-medicating-using alcohol or drugs to relieve emotional pain or discomfort.”

Methamphetamine tops the list of addictions, as one in seven teens experiments with the drug, and 99 percent of users become dependent after one use.

Youth Town staffers believe Christians are missing some opportunities to help troubled teens. “I would love to see the church begin to acknowledge that mental health and addiction problems are affecting their church,” Baldwin said. “They’re either not willing to see it, or people are hiding it.”
Marsha Gallardo in Pinson, Tenn.

The Christian broadcaster said his January statements were ‘inappropriate and insensitive’
Amid a hailstorm of criticism, Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson apologized for suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke was divine punishment for withdrawing his nation from the Gaza Strip.

“My zeal, my love of Israel, and my concern for the future safety of your nation led me to make remarks which I can now view in retrospect as inappropriate and insensitive,” Robertson wrote in a letter to Omri Sharon, the prime minister’s son. “I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of the people of Israel.”

During a Jan. 5 broadcast of his 700 Club show, Robertson implied that Sharon’s illness was God’s retribution for his role in “dividing God’s land.”

“Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the [European Union], the United Nations or the United States of America,” Robertson told viewers. “You read the Bible and [God] says, ‘This is My land,’ and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, ‘No, this is Mine.'”

The comments prompted Israeli officials to cut ties with the televangelist on a project to build a $50 million Christian retreat center in Galilee near historic Christian sites such as Capernaum and the Sea of center, financed by a group of prominent Christian leaders, is expected to draw 1 million visitors annually when it opens within two years, the Associated Press (AP) said.

Daniel Ayalon, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., said Israel “respects Rev. Robertson and accepts his apology,” the AP said. But it was not clear at press time whether Robertson would rejoin the project.

Robertson’s remarks about Ariel Sharon were the latest in a string of awkward comments the televangelist has made in recent months. In August, Robertson found himself in the national hot seat when he called for the assassination of Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chavez. He later apologized.

In November, when residents of Dover, Penn., voted out eight school board members for their support of the intelligent design theory, Robertson advised townspeople not to call on God in times of crisis. “I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover, if there is a disaster in the area, don’t turn to God,” Robertson said on his show. “You just rejected Him from your city.”

Later that day he issued a statement to clarify his remarks. “God is tolerant and loving, but we can’t keep sticking our finger in His eye forever,” he said. “If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them.”

Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals and a participant in the retreat center project, said the controversy was a “blow to evangelical-Israeli relations.”

“It is my sincere hope that this project move forward,” Haggard said. “To successfully do this, the leadership of the evangelical community must exercise sensitivity and grace toward the people and leadership of the nation of Israel.”

At press time, Ariel Sharon remained in serious but stable condition in Hadassah Hospital, the AP said. Hospital officials said the 77-year-old leader is comatose and shows no signs of regaining consciousness.
Valerie G. Lowe

Gospel Light will now publish the popular . Church Sunday school material
In order to focus more on the books and magazines published by Strang Communications, Stephen and Joy Strang have sold their CharismaLife curriculum in two phases.

The CharismaLife Sunday school curriculum was sold July 1 to One Accord Resources Inc., a consortium of Pentecostal denominations and fellowships that joined forces in 1999 to produce a common Sunday school curriculum that fit their theological distinctives.

In January, the Strangs announced that Ventura, Gospel Light had purchased the publishing rights, customer database and inventory for The Next Generation . Church products, which has been the most successful part of Strang’s curriculum publishing enterprise. Financial details of the sales were kept confidential.

“Our decision to sell was not an easy one,” said Stephen Strang, CEO of Strang Communications. “In our company’s history, we have never sold any part of our company. But we decided we are trying to focus on too many things. In order to give a greater priority to our book area, which is exploding, and also to focus on our core magazine business, we felt that this was the right strategy to maximize our company’s growth in the future.”

Since 1990, CharismaLife has created a variety of children and youth ministry resources for churches, including Sunday school, CrossTraining, and, most recently, The Next Generation . Church and The Next Generation Jr. . Church, an acronym for “Kids in Divine Service.”

Strang’s late father, A. Edward Strang, Ph.D., headed CharismaLife for the first five years of the curriculum-publishing venture until he retired. Through the years, more than 38,000 churches have used CharismaLife products.

Before the acquisition, CharismaLife and One Accord partnered with Standard Publishing to use their HeartShaper and Encounter curricula as the core material for a new Sunday school curriculum, revising the material to be more distinct for the Pentecostal and charismatic churches.

Officials for Gospel Light, which has been selling curriculum since 1933, said purchasing . Church will enable them to offer churches a broader selection of resources. “While the need to disciple young people is as essential now as it always has been, the changing face of culture and technology demands that we offer ministry tools that connect with today’s ‘sight and sound’ generation,” said Bill Denzel, vice president of publishing and marketing at Gospel Light. “We are thrilled to be able to offer churches this amazing . Church program.”

Strang said he believes CharismaLife’s mission to see a generation experience a personal relationship with God, empowered by His Spirit, will continue. “I have a lot of respect for Gospel Light,” Strang said. “I’m happy that they’re able to carry on the ministry that my father and I started back in 1990.”
Eric Tiansay

Hal Lindsey Pulls Show From TBN Lineup

Christian broadcaster Hal Lindsey pulled his International Intelligence Briefing (IIB) from Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in January, claiming the network asked him to stop making negative comments about radical Islam on his show. “I … know your heart for evangelism of the Muslims,” Lindsey wrote in a letter to TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch. “But I don’t agree with your reasoning that warning about the dangers of ‘radical Islam’ is a hindrance to the Gospel to all Muslims.” Lindsey claims TBN pre-empted IIB, which analyzes current events in light of end-times prophecy, in December in an attempt to censor him. TBN spokesman Colby May said several shows were pre-empted that month for Christmas specials. Noting that Trinity began broadcasting a 24-hour Arabic channel in January 2005, May said the network in December asked all programmers to be careful about how they discuss Islamic terrorism. He said TBN wants to make the gospel accessible in the Muslim world, “and you’re not accessible if you are inartful in the way in which you make the segregation between Islam … and terrorists.” Lindsey planned to air IIB on Daystar and Sky Angel.

Megachurches Name New Senior Pastors

John and Carol Arnott stepped down as senior pastors of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, effective Jan. 22. Senior associate pastors Steve and Sandra Long were selected to lead the church, which has been home to the Toronto Blessing revival since 1994. The Arnotts said they planned to focus their attention on Catch the Fire Ministries, a church outreach that oversees thousands of “soaking prayer centers” worldwide. Jan. 22 also marked the installation of Robert A. Schuller, 51, son of Los Angeles pastor Robert H. Schuller, 79, as senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral. The elder Schuller said he planned to remain chairman of the board of international ministries and stay active in the church, the Los Angeles Times reported. Meanwhile, South Korean pastor David Yonggi Cho said he would not leave the helm of his 750,000 Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul. Though he had previously announced plans to retire on his 70th birthday in February 2006, Cho said he would remain in the pastorate until he turns 75, the Korean Times reported. The Jan. 1 announcement sparked a controversy among some Protestant groups who worry that church members deify Cho and that the ministry is too dependent on him for its survival, the Korean Times said.

Southern Baptists Bar Missionaries From Speaking in Tongues

During a Nov. 15 meeting, trustees for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) International Mission Board (IMB) voted to no longer appoint missionaries who practice a “private prayer language,” widely understood to mean speaking in tongues, the American Baptist Press (ABP) reported. The IMB already bars people who speak in tongues during public worship from serving on the mission field. The new policy also prohibits those who speak in tongues privately. Some observers say the vote was an attempt to undermine the leadership of IMB President Jerry Rankin, who acknowledges having spoken in tongues for many years, ABP reported. IMB spokeswoman Anita Bowden told the news service the new policy was not connected to Rankin, as it does not apply to missionaries appointed before Nov. 15.

Harvest House Libel Action Dismissed

The Court of Appeals of the First District of Texas has dismissed a multimillion-dollar libel lawsuit brought by The Local Church and its publishing arm, Living Stream Ministry (LSM). The suit alleges that Harvest House Publishers defamed The Local Church by including it in its Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions by John Ankerberg and John Weldon. In its decision, the appeals court said the group’s inclusion in the book with “others who may have committed [immoral, illegal and despicable] … actions does not give rise to a libel claim.” Chris Wilde, spokesman for LSM, which publishes the writings of Watchman Nee, said an appeal would be made to the Texas Supreme Court.

Michael W. Smith to serve on president bush’s service Council

The White House nominated contemporary Christian musician Michael W. Smith to serve a two-year term on the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. President Bush established the council in 2003 on the first anniversary of the USA Freedom Corps to promote volunteer service. Chaired by former football pro Darrell Green and co-chaired by former senators Bob Dole of Kansas and John Glenn of Ohio, the council includes members from the private and nonprofit sectors, entertainment, sports, education and government. Smith was sworn in Jan. 14.

Cable Companies Offer Family Bundles

Responding to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission amid growing concerns about indecency on TV, the nation’s leading cable providers announced plans to offer family-friendly programming tiers. Beginning the first quarter of this year, Time Warner, Comcast and Cox Communications will offer mostly sex-and-violence-free bundles that include such channels as Disney, CNN Headline News and HGTV, while excluding networks such as FX, Comedy Central and MTV. Time Warner and Comcast bundles include Trinity Broadcasting Network, while Cox will allow local systems to tailor packages to include religious channels.

Jesus and Narnia

I’m thankful that something as high quality and intellectually stimulating as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has caught my grandsons’ attention (“The Gospel According to Narnia” by Steve Rabey, December). I’m glad I can take them to a movie that causes them to think about salvation and gives them a chance to follow up with a discussion.
via e-mail
Entebbe, Uganda

It is awesome that something good such as The Chronicles of Narnia has come out of Disney. This film is a great tool to reach younger kids. It helps us explain what Jesus did for us.
via e-mail
Riverside, New Jersey

God may be using Hollywood. But I saw a report on CNN about how The Chronicles of Narnia is being marketed to churches. A Disney representative was asked if he thought C.S. Lewis wrote the Narnia book as a religious story. He said no, and he said Disney did not create this to be a religious film. Disney is only concerned about making money.
name withheld

Let’s Keep Celebrating

Stephen Strang’s “The War on Christmas” (December) was right on! I understand why many Christians feel Christmas celebrations have become materialistic. However, things such as Christmas trees and celebrating certain days are neither good nor evil in themselves; what matters is the way they are used. Let’s use Christmas celebrations to honor God.
Glen Beyeler
Sun City, Arizona

A Virtuous Lady

Thanks for your article on Nicole C. Mullen (“She’s Just Everyday People” by Chad Bonham, November). Talk about a woman who is really beautiful on the inside! Your article could not have been more timely, when the world and even the church are busy talking about total body makeover. She is a role model for young Christian women today.
Chijindu Nworgu
Baltimore, Maryland

Nicole C. Mullen is one of my favorite Christian artists. I listen to her music several times a week. I thought her voice was beautiful, but when I read the article, I was able to see that she is beautiful inside and out. We need more people like her in the world.
Jasmina Cotton
Raleigh, North Carolina

Pushing Beyond the Past

The article “Press Toward the Mark” by Judy Jacobs (December) really spoke truth into my life. I am planning to get married next month and I am still struggling with past sins. I obviously do not want to take any of these sins into my marriage. The Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that I must “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13). The Lord also told me Judy was correct in everything she said. God wants me to clean up my life, forget about my past and look to Him.
name withheld
Winona Lake, Indiana

More on Farrakhan

I salute Kimberly Daniels for her bold article “Don’t be Fooled by Farrakhan” (November). Islam is encroaching relentlessly on Christianity largely because Christians have with open arms and mostly ignorance welcomed the enemies of Jesus instead of introducing them to Christ as Savior.
Katie Thomas
Kanab, Utah

Though many of the things [Farrakhan] says are true, we must not be blinded to his true colors. The “appearance” of godliness is only a disguise. The agenda has, and always will be, to establish Islam as the religion of the black man and to worship only Allah as god.
Michael Henderson
Los Angeles, California

I was a little saddened by Kimberly Daniels’ article. Though African-Americans do face injustices in America today, rather than focusing on how unfair things are-for example, that white people get away with crime and black people are punished-we should focus on the fact that no one should be committing crime at all.

It grieves me that black men are profiled and regarded with suspicion based only on the color of their skin. But the claim that “prisons have replaced plantations in America as a place of bondage for the black man” grieved me as well.
Glenda Grant
Thomaston, Georgia

As a born-again black male who is in prison, I believe that as a people we have in fact lost our way. Our focus has been distorted, and our views have caused many of us to shift blame for a lot of situations from ourselves to others. In other words, “God has been taken out of the equation.”

I believe Mrs. Daniels was right in stating that we must set our faces in prayer against Farrakhan’s idolatry because we are in a spiritual war. And yes, he is a devil! However, that devil is not a white American.
Anthony D. Clark Sr.
West Liberty, Kentucky

Fire in My Bones

You go, J. Lee Grady! Keep up the good work telling the church like it is (“We Need Tough Love,” December). Somebody has to keep the church on the straight and narrow. Thank you for being that someone.
Clyde Clymer
Amsterdam, New York

The column “We Need Tough Love” is right on. It referred mostly to Carlton Pearson’s slide into heresy, but doctrinal error is becoming so common among well-known preachers, teachers, evangelists and so on, that it’s truly a sign of the last days.
M. Galbreath
Star City, Indiana

I always enjoy reading J. Lee Grady’s column. It doesn’t cater to church politics. I am weary of church leaders compromising biblical truth for the sake of unity.
name withheld

J. Lee Grady feels the need to label Bishop Carlton Pearson a heretic. Jesus was labeled a blasphemer because He included sinners, and now Mr. Grady labels Pearson a heretic because he proclaims that God includes all sinners in salvation. Then Grady wonders why others have not jumped on his bandwagon of condemnation.
Kevin Cawley
Jackson, Missouri

My husband and I have been called to separate from a lot of ministries because we saw the wives having plastic surgery, experienced gossip among leaders and observed extravagant lifestyles. We’ve challenged our church to bring back a spirit of holiness in our personal walks with God.
Rev. Eric and Michelle Hensley
Orange, California

The message “We Need Tough Love” by J. Lee Grady should be preached from every pulpit. “’Love your brother’ does not mean ‘Always be nice.’” I wholeheartedly agree that we must confront. Too often I have seen those in authority shy away from confrontation, and their negligence leads only to greater shame, sorrow and pain.
L. Mabry
Maple Grove, Minnesota

I agree with Lee Grady when he says we need to “defend the faith from those who pervert it” and suspect that Bishop Carlton Pearson is promoting a false gospel. However, a Web banner that says “God is not a Christian” is not enough evidence to indict a person. There is a legitimate challenge to the exclusivist, conservative Christian culture that needs to be considered.
Scott Schmitt
Winter Park, Florida

I agree with most of what editor J. Lee Grady said in his column “The Devil Is Religious” (October). However, his suggestion that Pokémon and Harry Potter were not part of the devil’s ploy surprised me. I can’t help but refer to Scriptures that clearly call witchcraft sin.
LaVonya Goodwin
Omaha, Nebraska

My Turn

Charisma’s article on The Chronicles of Narnia nearly sold me on the idea that the movie was good fare for my grandchildren. I agree with the perception that there is a captivating message in the movie. But to promote this “mythical tale” as Christian seems unsound when major elements of the story do not line up with basic Christian tenets.

I do not agree that it is the same gospel found in the holy Scriptures. If nothing else is realized from a comparison of Narnia’s gospel and the biblical gospel, we should have discernment about the breath of God, the Holy Spirit. Christian teaching does not associate the “breath of God” with a lion.

Narnia supports the idea that the glory of an incorruptible God can be changed into an image of a four-footed beast. That an animal can bring life with its breath, even in a fabricated tale, has creepy notions. To imply that this is Christian spirituality gives me a chill.
Diane Valentine
Bloomington, Illinois

BOOKS

The Glory of Living
By Myles Munroe, Destiny Image,
Softcover, 176 pages, $.

Once again Myles Munroe delivers a powerful message on how to discover and achieve your purpose. In his latest book, The Glory of Living: Keys to Releasing Your Personal Glory, Munroe addresses ways to find your purpose in life and discover your personal “glory.” He says that every living thing possesses its own glory and exists to manifest that glory-meaning that we release our full potential by the work we do and by our personal holiness. Munroe’s book is a page-turner, and he exemplifies a wealth of knowledge about his subject. This is a must-read for anyone who is searching for the inspiration to accomplish his personal, God-given dreams.
Tracee N. Mason

In His Image
By Kenneth Ulmer, Whitaker House,
hardcover, 224 pages, $.

In this excellent study, we discover that “as God becomes more visible to us He also becomes more visible in us.” To help us experience this truth, Kenneth Ulmer discusses the various names and attributes of God while examining some of His key “physical” attributes. Examining such distinct features as the hand of God, the heart of God and the face of God, Ulmer brings readers closer to understanding that God resides in our hearts as a caring Father. Ulmer explains that “God wants to be within our grasp” and will use what’s familiar to us to help us better understand His ways. Ulmer notes that revelation, recognition, relationship and reflection help accomplish this process.
J. James Estrada

Revolution
By George Barna, Tyndale House,
Hardcover, 160 pages, $.

According to demographer George Barna, there are more than 20 million souls spread across America, whom he calls “Revolutionaries,” demanding an authentic relationship with Jesus regardless of where it may be found. Labeling himself one of these counterculturalists, Barna lays out a strong case for his view that the traditional church is anemic. Whether he is measured by giving, servanthood, spiritual accountability or practicing faith in daily life, the “average” church member, Barna says, bears little evidence of Christ-likeness. In defense of traditional congregations, Barna says they cannot be roundly condemned for members’ failure to embrace scriptural commands and live for Christ. Still, this book is likely to stir a national dialogue and force millions to re-examine their Christian walk.
KEN WALKER

A Field Guide for Evangelical Christians
By Jews for Jesus,
Purple Pomegranate Productions,
softcover, 198 pages, $10.

Jews for Jesus has created a field guide for evangelicals to navigate the Messianic movement. To clear up confusion and correct false assumptions about the nature of the organizations within the movement, the book makes a distinction between Messianic congregations, missionary outreach organizations, educational institutions and friends-of-Israel groups. Readers will be enlightened about some of the history, as well as the purpose and function of these groups, and also encouraged to use discernment to figure out which ones are biblical and open to Jewish evangelism and which ones are not. Many evangelical Christians, in their zeal to show love and support to Jews or the nation of Israel, have actually supported groups that restrict evangelism or have unscriptural doctrines and practices. This guide is a valuable tool for Jewish Christians and those who want to understand the Jewish roots of Christianity.
DEBORAH L. DELK

MUSIC

Wherever You Are
By Third Day, Essential Records.

Third Day’s Wherever You Are carries a theme of hope on each song-a move that makes the album feel complete rather than predictable. Lead singer Mac Powell says, “Wherever you are … whatever you’re going through, God is ready to meet you right there.” This message helps listeners relate to the singable, all-out rock tracks “I Can Feel It” and “Tunnel”; strong ballads such as “Communion” and “Cry Out to Jesus”; and fun, up-beat tracks such as “Keep On Shinin’.” Some artists trade their music’s original edge for polished studio production after a few successful albums, but the music on Wherever You Are sounds both professional and honest to the band’s trademark guitar-driven sound. Creating an album with good music and a positive, Christ-centered message from start to finish, Third Day has succeeded once again.
MATT FEHRMANN

Ana Laura
By Ana Laura, Reunion Records.

Nineteen-year-old Ana Laura’s self-titled debut is a collection of vocals-based, adult-contemporary and pop songs. Her voice is rich and compelling, certain to draw comparisons to counterparts Jaci Velasquez and Rachael Lampa. She excels in the mellow musical territory, with songs such as “If You Ever Fall,” the ballad “Completely,” the worshipful “Abide in Me” and the cover of Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me.” The soft rock of “Don’t Run Away” and the grand pop of “Sometimes I Fall” also show she can easily deliver the more contemporary song. Ana Laura’s skilled vocal ability mixed with a good collection of songs make this debut a noteworthy release. Hers is a voice to listen for in years to come.
DEWAYNE HAMBY

All the Earth
By Parachute Band,
Integrity Music.

New Zealand’s Parachute Band recorded its first live project before a crowd of nearly 25,000 at the annual Parachute Festival. The subsequent album, All the Earth, captures the event’s worshipful atmosphere along with the band’s signature sound. The CD incorporates ballads such as “Complete” and adult-contemporary sounds such as “Shout” and “To Live Is Christ.” Other highlights include the pop-rock “Amazing,” the solemn “High Above,” the captivating reverent “Lord of the Heavens” and the traditional-worship title track. Because of an invasion of rock in the worship genre, the band’s sound falls squarely into the mid-tempo territory of current CD releases but manages to make its mark with memorable songs and varying lead vocalists.
DEWAYNE HAMBY

MOVIES

End of the Spear
Every Tribe Entertainment,
PG-13, opens Jan. 20.

A project seven years in the making, End of the Spear commemorates the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of five U.S. missionaries. Nate Saint, Jim Elliott, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youderian were killed in the eastern rainforests of Ecuador in 1956 by the Waodani tribe, who before their exposure to the gospel were the most violent society ever documented by anthropologists.

The film tells the story with a focus on Steve Saint, one of the slain missionary’s sons, and his father’s killer. It shows the events that lead to Saint’s reconciling with the killer in 1994 and subsequently moving with his family to live and minister among the Waodani for 16 months.

End of the Spear is not overtly evangelistic. Rather, it is a story of courage, redemption, reconciliation and forgiveness.

Although the story is raw at some points because of the once-violent nature of the tribe (spearings and machete slayings), humor is also woven throughout. Whether it is through scenes of the missionaries joking with one another or witty one-liners, the movie evokes the humanness of these slain heroes and the Waodani tribespeople.

Chad Allen (as Nate Saint and Steve Saint); Chase Ellison (Steve Saint as a child); Louie Leonardo (Mincayani); Jack Guzman (Kimo); and Christina Souza (Dayumae) bring forth a provoking performance that will move audiences to tears. The intense sequences of violence and some nudity earned the film a PG-13 rating, but there is no profanity or explicitness.

Moviegoers might feel fatigued keeping up with the rapidly paced subtitles that translate the Emberra dialect (the language of the Panamanian tribe who portrayed the Waodani). In addition, trying to remember the names of the Waodani, how each was related and what vendettas they held against one another could easily confuse some viewers.

Overall, these details do not detract from the plot and message of the film. End of the Spear will challenge moviegoers to live out their faith with boldness, courage, and conviction and with eternity in view.

Also releasing is Steve Saint’s chronicle of his return to the jungles of Ecuador. His book End of the Spear (Tyndale House) is an update to Elisabeth Elliot’s Through Gates of Splendor.
LORIE G. MUNIZZI

Fiction – THRILLER

Showdown
By Ted Dekker, WestBow Press,
hardcover, 375 pages, $.

Preacher Marsuvees Black comes to Paradise, Colo., offering hope and grace-but at a high price. Will anyone stand up to his charisma and charm? Meanwhile, 37 orphan children who have been raised apart from a sinful world and taught the benefits of selfless living face evil’s lure. Can their faith save Paradise?

ROMANCE

Pink
By Marilynn Griffith, Revell,
softcover, 320 pages, $.

Raya Joseph and her fashion-business partners collaborate on a million-dollar wedding dress-for the woman who stole Raya’s fiance. Will the project save their fledgling company? The first volume in the Shades of Style series combines multicultural characters with heartache, drama, humor and romance.

SUSPENSE

The Witness
By Dee Henderson,
Tyndale House,
Softcover, 378 pages, $.

For eight years Amy Griffin’s two sisters believed she had been murdered. A witness to a killing, Amy had chosen to live in hiding to protect her family. Now she must come back, an act that puts all the sisters in danger. Is their faith strong enough to carry them through the dangers ahead?

Carlton Pearson’s Church Goes Into Foreclosure

Higher Dimensions Family Church has gone into foreclosure, causing the congregation led by Carlton Pearson to hold Sunday services at an Episcopal church in downtown Tulsa, Okla. Higher Dimensions has experienced a 90 percent decline in membership since Pearson began preaching what he calls his “gospel of inclusion,” the Tulsa World reported. The doctrine teaches that all people are saved, even if they don’t acknowledge Christ. With only 500 members, down from 5,000 a few years ago, the church has been unable to make mortgage payments on its 30-acre property, which at press time the ministry was trying to sell. Rev. Stephen McKee, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, where Higher Dimensions was to meet for 1 p.m. services for three months beginning in November, said he is comfortable with Pearson’s doctrine, the World reported. “[I believe] that God became a human being, and if He loved us enough to do that, I have difficulty believing in a God that’s going to put my colleagues in hell,” McKee told the newspaper.

Israel Newspaper to Print Christian Edition

The Jerusalem Post plans to begin printing a Christian edition this month, The Guardian reported. The newspaper planned to partner with the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem to produce a monthly Christian edition that would be distributed among U.S. evangelicals. The publications will highlight a range of subjects, including archaeology, tourism and ideological arguments, Post editor David Horowitz told The Guardian. But he added that the Christian editions would not be permitted to seek conversions. Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism has gone public with its plans to build a Christian theme park on 125 acres of land being donated to evangelicals. The $60 million Holy Land Christian Center would focus on the places Jesus walked and include a Sea of Galilee Amphitheater overlooking the mouth of the Jordan River, and a Christian Experience Auditorium and Multimedia Center, the Christian Science Monitor reported. It would also include an online broadcast center that would allow ministers to address their constituents back home live from a location near the Sea of Galilee.

Voters Oust School Board Members in Favor of Intelligent Design

All eight members of a Pennsylvania school board that had been sued for introducing intelligent design into science classrooms were removed from office in early November, the New York Times reported. Dover, Pa., voters elected a slate of challengers who opposed the teaching of intelligent design. In October 2004, the Dover school board voted to require ninth-grade biology students to hear a brief statement that there were “gaps” in the evolution theory and that intelligent design was a viable alternative they could learn about by reading Of Pandas and People, which would be kept in school libraries. Eleven parents later sued the board, arguing that intelligent design was essentially creationism in disguise and that the board was trying to impose religion on students, the Times said. Some observers say the election result was a sign that voters were weary of the controversy surrounding the trial. A verdict in the case is expected this month.

Texas Voters Cross Party Lines to Support Gay Marriage Ban

Texas voters overwhelmingly backed their state’s ban on gay marriage in November, with African-Americans and Hispanics crossing party lines to support the amendment, the Houston Chronicle reported. Proposition 2 passed with 76 percent of the vote. The election had the highest voter turnout of a constitutional amendment election since 1991. Observers say minority voters don’t necessarily see gay marriage as a party issue, but as a religious and cultural matter.

Baptist Leader Adrian Rogers Dies

Adrian Rogers, Ph.D., pastor emeritus of 28,000-member Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., died Nov. 15 after battling cancer. He was 74. Rogers served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention three times, and his Love Worth Finding broadcast aired on more than 14,000 TV and cable outlets and 2,000 radio stations. After serving as Bellevue pastor for 32 years, Rogers retired in 2005, but he planned to continue his broadcast ministry and leading the Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute. Funeral services were to be held Nov. 17. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; four adult children; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Texas Pastor Electrocuted in Baptismal

The pastor of University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, was electrocuted Oct. 30 after grabbing a microphone while partly submerged in water, the Associated Press reported. Kyle Lake, 33, was a leader in the emerging church movement and had written Understanding God’s Will: How to Hack the Equation Without Formulas and (re)Understanding Prayer: A Fresh Approach to Conversation with God, both published by Relevant Books. Roughly 800 people were in attendance at the church, which was founded in 1995 by author Chris Seay and Christian musician David Crowder, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported. Funeral services were held Nov. 1 in Waco. Lake is survived by his wife, Jennifer, a 5-year-old daughter and two 3-year-old sons.

Juggling limited resources, Christian relief groups are providing aid to people in Pakistan and India
Fighting chill and traversing through hostile terrain, Christian relief workers continued to deliver supplies in Kashmir in the weeks after a earthquake rocked southern Asia Oct. 8.

Nearly a month after the quake, thousands of homeless still huddled by hillsides in need of food, medicines and blankets. Relief workers moved quickly, hoping to build enough emergency shelters to shield survivors from the harsh winter.

Christian volunteers say in Kashmir, the hardest-hit region, which is divided between Pakistan and India, some 750,000 people, including 300,000 children, lost homes. Official estimates put the death toll at 86,000 in Pakistan and 1,350 in India.

The worst-hit frontier towns of Uri and Tanghadhar, in India-controlled Kashmir, along with several hundred adjoining villages in northern Kashmir and parts of the Poonch District of India-controlled Kashmir, were razed to rubble.

Among the many Christian groups providing shelter and blankets was Samaritan’s Purse, which organized the largest airlift in its history for Islamabad, Pakistan. The organization delivered 120 tons of relief supplies, including enough rolls of plastic to shelter 24,000 families, 10,000 blankets, 350 wheelchairs, medical supplies, hospital equipment and other items. The supplies were to be distributed in Balakot and Muzzaffarabad, the two Kashmir cities closest to the epicenter of the earthquake.

Christian Aid pledged an initial $90,000 to assist relief efforts in the quake zone. The ministry’s director, Daleep Mukarji, said more money would be made available to agencies working in the area. “The scale of this disaster is so big that we must respond in some way,” Mukarji said. “If the relief workers require more money, we will respond immediately.”

Catholic charities, too, moved in personnel and material for relief operations, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India officials said.

Reports say the state government was caught napping when the devastation struck. Crucial initial days were wasted without launching massive relief and rescue operations. In Uri, a dozen villages remained inaccessible for more than a week. Even worse were the far-flung villages of Teetwal in Tanghadhar, where at press time people were still waiting for supplies.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir and have been negotiating peace since 2004. But in an effort to reach out to the quake victims in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, India on Nov. 7 opened three relief centers on the Line of Control (LOC) for victims seeking supplies and medical assistance to cross over.

Food, medicines and other relief material were being sent by helicopter to the three camps. Besides disbursing relief, workers also wanted to make these points a meeting ground for families hit by the quake but divided by the LOC.

The reconstruction of roads in Uri, necessary for normalizing the logistics, would take two to three months, according to Indian defense officials. India has also allowed Pakistani helicopters to fly close to the LOC on a case-by-case basis.

World Vision airlifted 4,000 tents and 12,000 tarpaulins from Italy and Toronto. The Salvation Army also contributed to the relief efforts by setting up a 92-tent camp with blankets and cooking supplies.

Meanwhile, Operation Blessing distributed 500 blankets to the people in the villages of India’s Uri sector, and a recent Church World Service-Action by Churches Together (CWS-ACT) distribution included 1,297 shelter kits and 993 food packages in Battagram village in northeastern Pakistan.

Doctors at the state-run psychiatric hospital in Srinagar, India, said five cases of acute stress response have come in. “One among them is a 10-year-old who is showing post-trauma disorders,” Dr. Abheena Hussain said.

Some Christian relief agencies faced hostile officials in India at the inter-state borders between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir state, where they levied heavy border taxes for the relief supply trucks. “Some bluntly asked me to give [$117] as a bribe to let the trucks pass through,” said Father José of Baramullah St. Joseph’s Social Service Centre.

There were also reports of officials blocking relief trucks from the Sikh religious community at the Wagah joint check post despite clear instructions from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Occasionally, bad weather brought relief operations to a halt, exposing quake victims to chilling cold and heavy rains. Many went without sleep during those times because they lacked tents. Cooking was virtually impossible, with no utensils or food to dig out from the debris. “Why did I remain, oh God, to suffer all this?” cried Abdul Qayoom, a 50-year-old Muslim schoolteacher in India’s Uri valley.

Amid such cries and sullen faces, the only heartening sight in the Kashmir valley and the affected areas of Pakistan were the occasional beelines of relief trucks making their way to the hills. But many civil relief operations ceased where the roads ended or where people crowded en masse.

Victims living in remote mountainous areas were surprised to meet Christian workers willing to take the trouble to reach them. “For days we kept praying to God for an answer,” said Qayoom, who with his villagers weren’t receiving any help until several Christian groups arrived. “I’m sure He is the one who brought you to us.”
Joshua Newton in Kashmir