Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 69, No. 11 | November 2012 for Churches of Christ VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST How should Christians respond to Muslim rage? BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE Muslim Morocco, “the one country in North Africa that Muslims across the Arab doesn’t seem to be protesting world burned U.S. flags and against the U.S.A. right now hurled rocks at police, enraged — or, as a local man told me by a 14-min- an hour ago, ‘at least not yet,’” ute YouTube Daughrity said in an e-mail. video. In Libya, Daughrity, religion profes- armed militants sor at Pepperdine University, stormed a was speaking about African U.S. consul- Christianity at a conference in ate and killed the city of El Jadida. There, a Ambassador Moroccan journalism student Chris Stevens. asked if he thought Americans Daughrity American appreciate Muslims. Christians Yes, he replied. The U.S. is a watched images tolerant society that embraces of the recent freedom of religion. violence with “She then asked me why a sense of Americans have started all of bewilderment. this violence by producing a film Some called for that denigrates Muhammad,” retaliation. Daughrity said. “I was shocked.” Church of Jahshan He explained that the man Christ members believed to be the film’s with extensive knowledge of producer, Nakoula Basseley ERIK TRYGGESTAD the Muslim world spoke out in Nakoula, was originally from hopes that education about the Egypt and that he had a crimi- Africans Claiming Africa: Christians share plans, dreams filmmaker and regional politics nal record in the U.S. The jour- Christians from Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda and other nations across the African continent hold hands with church would help quiet the storm. nalist wasn’t aware of either fact. members from the U.S. and sing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” during the Africans Claiming Africa for Dyron Daughrity watched the Khalil Jahshan, a native of Christ conference in Lusaka, Zambia. The conference, hosted every four years, highlights initiatives by African protests from predominantly See MIDDLE EAST, Page 14 Christians to spread the Gospel to the unreached nations of their continent. RELATED STORY, Page 12 BOX 11000 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73136-1100 A higher INSIDE call than CALENDAR .....................29 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. ducks CURRENTS ......................17 U.S. POSTAGE DIALOGUE ......................23 PAID INSIGHT .........................34 OKLAHOMA CITY OK INTERNATIONAL ............10 PERMIT # 276 NATIONAL ........................5 OPINION ........................30 Meet PARTNERS .....................25 the real PEOPLE ..........................28 Robertsons of Faith in a SECular world Connecting Christ REVIEWS .......................33 “Duck Dynasty.” Mizzou quarterback James Book advises on sharing VIEWS ...........................31 17 Franklin on God’s playbook. 23 Jesus with other faiths. 33 VOICES ..........................31 Victims of Alabama tornado help after Louisiana hurricane, Page 6 | www.christianchronicle.org | (405) 425-5070 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 2012 Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. A coal miner, a former Russian KGB agent, a missionary from Greece, a former Minister of Education in Russia, even an Advisor to the President in Ukraine have all told their stories at EEM dinners. It’s always a unique opportunity to hear from people impacted by the work of EEM. EEM will be hosting a series of benefit dinners all across the U.S., reporting on the latest efforts in the mission field. The dinner is “on us” and all we ask is that you come and hear how you can support the exciting works in Russia and Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Visit our website at www.eem.org for a list of fall dinners for 2012. The Bible. We want everyone to get it. facebook.com/EasternEuropeanMission · twitter.com/@EveryoneGetsIt · 1-800-486-1818 · www.eem.org EEM is overseen by the Prestoncrest church of Christ, Dallas, Texas. NOVEMBER 2012 THE CHRISTIAN CHronICLE 3 ‘Duck Dynasty’ trip Georgia church conjures precious boyhood memories gets a million- WEST MONROE, La. ormally, my children dollar surprise don’t beg to accompany Nme on reporting trips. ‘This family BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE But when I decided to catch up with the Robertson A recent Sunday contribution at the family — faithful Christians Hillcrest Church of Christ was higher than and stars of A&E’s popular took me in’ usual — $1 million higher, to be exact. reality series “Duck Dynasty” That’s the amount the Decatur, Ga., — Keaton INNER-CITY CHURCH looks to expand its outreach church received toward its $5.2 million Inside Story and Kendall renovation project, which will include a made it clear to former inmates who have served their time. 1,500-seat sanctuary and that they facilities for its education needed to go BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE program and offices. with me. The 700-member con- At the gregation received news of Sunday the donation from Donald morning “Bubba” M. Cathy, senior assembly of vice president of Chick-fil-A. the White’s Contributors, including Perry Bobby Ross Jr. Ferry Road Chick-fil-A employees, gave Church funds in memory of Donald A. Perry, of Christ, we tried not to who served for 15 years as an elder of the gawk as Duckman Jase Hillcrest church. Perry, vice president of Robertson offered the com- public relations for Chick-fil-A, died July munion thoughts and Duck 27 of a heart attack. He was 60. Commander Phil Robertson “I’ve never seen anything like the cloud joined other elders in praying that settled over the congregation” after with those who responded Perry’s sudden, unexpected death, said to the invitation (see related Ernest Holsendolph, a member of the story, Page 17). Hillcrest church and editor of its newsletter. For me, the trip to West The donation, which places the church’s Monroe brought back fond renovation project “on the brink of success,” memories totally unrelated was equally unexpected, Holsendolph said. to duck hunting or cable Perry’s widow, Marilyn, urged the con- television. gregation to “come together, because we That’s because — for BOBBY ROSS JR. have work to do in this community.” two years during my early Elder Randy George and minister emeritus James O. Maxwell visit outside a one-time dry cleaners “Let us keep faith with Don,” she added. childhood — this Ouachita that the Roswell Church of Christ intends to convert into a resource center for released inmates. “He really loved this church.” River community was my hometown and the White’s KANSAS CITY, Kan. realized I needed a savior — Jesus — and EXPANDED COVERAGE at www.christianchronicle.org Ferry Road church my onique Singh wraps her arms this family took me in as I was and loved home congregation. around Vickie Owens, her me until I learned to love myself.” In 1974, when my father, beloved sister in Christ, and Through inmate mentoring, addiction Bob Ross, decided to become gently kisses the side of her head. support groups, private counseling and a minister, he left the Air If not for Owens and fellow transitional “houses of hope,” the Roswell Force and enrolled at the Mmembers of the Roswell Church of Christ, church strives to share Jesus — and a now-defunct White’s Ferry Singh has no doubt that she’d still be better way of life. Road School of Preaching. trapped in an abyss of desperation and Now the inner-city congregation I was 6 years old and had despair. endeavors to renovate a one-time dry finished kindergarten in “God has delivered me from the cleaners and transform it into a Christian PHOTO PROVIDED Blytheville, Ark. When we bondage of myself: drugs, alcohol, pros- resource center to serve prisoners after Donald Cathy and his wife, Cindy, present a check moved to West Monroe, titution, gang affiliation, homelessness, a their release. to Donald Perry’s widow, Marilyn, and Hillcrest See WEST MONROE, Page 4 hopeless state of mind,” said Singh, 45. “I See ROSWELL, Page 21 Church of Christ minister Richard Barclay. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY NOVEMBER 2012 www.christianchronicle.org Go online to find news updates, an expanded calendar, classifieds and much more. Use the barcode at right to visit our mobile site. • See video of Zambian Christians singing original compositions during the 2012 Africans Claiming Africa for Christ conference. • Breaking news: Don’t wait to read all the latest news or check out exclusive online features. WEST MONROE: Meeting conjures memories improve your serve FROM PAGE 3 However, the old nightclub did not my brother Scott — nearly a year have a baptistery, and I could not han- www.harding.edu/mmin younger than me — joined me in the dle the freezing pond water where my first grade at Kiroli Elementary because father first tried to baptize me. Instead, the school did not offer kindergarten. I gave my life to Jesus that afternoon in 36-hour, non-thesis DEGREE As a result, we remained on the same my family’s bathtub. educational track all the way through During my recent trip to northeast • Accredited graduate courses high school and later at Oklahoma Louisiana, I spoke on good news in • Online at-a-distance Christian University, prompting questions Churches of Christ at the 19th annual • Scholarships available about whether we were twins (despite Prayer Enrichment Workshop hosted by how much better looking than him I am). the Calhoun Church of Christ, west of WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING In the 1970s, a pungent odor from the West Monroe (see related story, Page 8). • “This degree has better equipped me with the biblical knowledge and paper mill permeated West Monroe. It Before my presentation, a man with practical understanding I need to be a more effective servant for God.” still does, I discovered.