SPOTLIGHT
United in Worship
Musicians across Israel team up for Son of David
To mark the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood, Galilee of the Nations released a compilation project, Son of David, that its producer says represents the distinct sound of the believing community in Israel. Featuring a host of Messianic artists including Karen Davis, the project also has prophetic significance, says label President Yochanan Ben Yehuda, because it unites Jewish and gentile believers in worship. “What we have is this beautiful blend, spiritually, of the one new man,” he says. “Spiritually, I think, we’re making an incredible statement from the Lord that this is about Yeshua ben David [Jesus the Messiah], this is about His people, this is about one new man rising out of Israel.”
Adrienne S. Gaines
PRAYER POINT
Thousands of people will gather in venues around the world May 11 to pray for their nations during this year’s Global Day of Prayer. We encourage you to join them in praying that:
»Christians worldwide would be God’s hands and feet in the midst of suffering
»Nations closed to the gospel would be opened
»The body of Christ would pray faithfully for the lost
»The power of God would be demonstrated as a tangible sign of His presence.
To sign up for regular prayer updates from Charisma’s Prayer Initiative, visit prayerinitiative.com.
PUTTING FAITH ON FILM
With its poignant pro-life theme, Bella was a surprise hit in 2007. The independent film about a young woman faced with an unplanned pregnancy quietly grossed $5 million at the box office in the first four weeks after its release and has been lauded by groups such as Focus on the Family and the National Council for Adoption, which gave the film its Media Excellence Award. Releasing on DVD this month, the movie also earned the top prize at the Toronto Film Festival in 2006, the Smithsonian Institute’s Legacy Award and the grand prize at the Heartland Film Festival, among other accolades.
UNSUNG HEROES
Ending Stroke
For more than a decade, pastors Lyle and Deborah Dukes have been teaching the members of Harvest Life Changers Church International in Woodbridge, Va., how to live an empowered Christian life physically, spiritually and mentally. So when the American Heart Association asked the couple to be spokespeople for their Power to End Stroke campaign, they saw it as a natural extension of their ministry.
“We think ministry is not only preaching the Word but living the Word, so we’re trying to present a balanced program to the people,” Lyle Dukes says.
African-Americans suffer strokes at almost twice the rate of whites, and the disease is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. The Dukes say their predominantly African-American congregation has been receptive to their gospel of good health. “I believe that really living healthy is spiritual too,” Deborah Dukes says. “What we say does matter and does sink in. There are those who are going to do what they’re going to do, but they won’t go out without understanding.”
Adrienne S. Gaines
FAITH & CULTURE
Teens Lead a ‘Rebelution’
Twin brothers tell youth to rebel against low expectations
Twins Alex and Brett Harris have a message for their generation: Do hard things.
Teens are often encouraged to view adolescence as a time to goof off, the brothers say. But youth should see their teen years as a time to prepare for their life’s purpose. “A lot of young people have in their hearts that there is more to life than what youth culture is selling them,” Alex says.
To counter the effects of what they see as society’s low expectations of youth, the Harris twins have started what they call a “rebelution,” using their Web site, therebelution.com, to challenge youth to seek God’s purpose for their lives and begin walking in it as teens. In addition to hosting the popular site, the home-schooled younger brothers of I Kissed Dating Goodbye author Joshua Harris published their ideas in a book, Do Hard Things, which released in April.
They say their message has resonated profoundly with other teens. Brett says one young woman wrote them, describing herself as a rebel without a cause. But after hearing their challenge she rededicated her life to Christ and began working with two nongovernmental organizations as an advocate for sexually exploited children.
“We’re trying to show our generation a better way,” Brett says. “Excellence is cool. Having a heart to share the gospel, help the oppressed is cool.”
Adrienne Gaines
