Our mission: To inform, An international inspire and unite newspaper Vol. 69, No. 2 | February 2012 for Churches of Christ For Lipscomb and Don Meyer, a court of reconciliation BY MURRAY EVANS | FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE It was a moment that would have seemed improbable 12 years ago — longtime coach Don Meyer walking onto the basketball court at Lipscomb University, with friends and univer- sity officials there to celebrate the naming of the court in his honor. As Meyer spoke while surrounded by dozens of his former players, his voice choked with emotion — not just because of his love for Fear and faith them, but also his love for the university at AS KENYA BATTLES ISLAMIC TERRORISTS from Somalia, a Church of Christ prays which he worked from 1975 to 1999 before for opportunities to take the Gospel to its increasingly Muslim neighborhood. leaving because of a bitter disagreement Meyer over athletic affiliation. ERIK TRYGGESTAD “I made a lot of mistakes coaching Young Muslims, many from Somalia, walk the streets of Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighborhood near the meeting place of a Church of Christ. here, but we did a good job of get- ting the right kind of guy to come to BY ERIK TRYGGESTAD | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE yellow and baby blue. In sandaled feet, In Eastleigh, hand-painted signs denote Lipscomb,” Meyer told the crowd dur- children at their heels, they navigate what buildings are — and aren’t — for ing halftime of a Lipscomb-Kennesaw NAIROBI, Kenya — A Sunday morning the massive craters that dominate the sale. Somalis have bought much of the State game at Allen Arena on drive in this East African capital is a streets. Recent rains turned the potholes neighborhood’s real estate, presumably Lipscomb’s Nashville, Tenn., campus. journey through a sea of burqas. into lakes, bringing traffic to a standstill. with money plundered by pirates. “All these guys are important to Young Muslim women tiptoe through Many of the Muslims come here from Among the signs is one that reads me,” he said. “As you get old and the muddy streets of the neighborhood neighboring Somalia, a lawless land “Nairobi Church of Christ, Eastleigh ... you can’t coach anymore and you’re known as Eastleigh, dressed in long, where Kenya recently deployed troops Meets Here. Everyone Is Welcome.” See MEYER, Page 12 flowing Islamic garments in shades of in pursuit of an Islamic terrorist group. See NAIROBI, Page 10 BOX 11000 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73136-1100 INSIDE CALENDAR .....................29 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. CURRENTS ......................17 U.S. POSTAGE DIALOGUE ......................21 PAID INSIGHT .........................34 OKLAHOMA CITY OK INTERNATIONAL ..............8 PERMIT # 276 LETTERS ........................31 NATIONAL ........................5 OPINION ........................30 The PARTNERS .....................25 The heart of Tennessee David Kinnaman church Jesus wanted? PEOPLE ..........................28 Mt. Juliet church moves from ‘unChristian’ author discusses his Authors critique today’s REVIEWS .......................32 ‘serve us’ to service. 17 new faith-based research. 21 Christian communities. 32 VIEWS ...........................31 Winner of eight ‘Best of the Christian Press’ awards, 2011 | Breaking news, exclusives at www.christianchronicle.org | (405) 425-5070 2 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 2012 The Bible Can Change A Nation For Good. More and more of Ukraine wants the Bible in their Public Schools. It is becoming part of their school curriculum. Two more states, Rivne and Poltava, Ukraine are asking for bibles. Over 283,000 students in 1,494 Public Schools. We’ve been called. And we will be there. So can you. With the Bible. April 29, 2012 www.milliondollardunday.org · 800-486-1818 EEM is overseen by the Prestoncrest church of Christ, Dallas, Texas. FEBRUARY 2012 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE 3 Pain, suffering and God’s plan in wife’s illness y family left church early on a recent MSunday morning. After the Lord’s Supper, we just got up and walked out. It wasn’t that we were hoping to avoid the sermon. Our friend Randy Roper, who was Inside Story preaching BOBBY ROSS JR. that day, Where the Central Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Ala., once stood, there’s a clear view. A Baptist church and a school can be seen in the background. always blesses us with his practical, After the tornado: $2 million short biblical messages. AN ALABAMA CONGREGATION played a leading role in disaster relief efforts church finds itself about $2 million short of Nor was the funds needed to replace its own building, it that we after a killer twister, but now the church finds itself in need of help. leaders told The Christian Chronicle. Bobby Ross Jr. needed to be “We’ve been the source of disaster somewhere BY BOBBY ROSS JR. | THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE “There’s been quite a few conversions,” relief,” said Bill Rayburn, one of the more important. Seriously, preacher Lee Jamieson said. “But the church’s five elders. “Now, we’re in need where would that be? TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The slab. primary difference was of some relief of our own.” Rather, my wife, Tamie, That’s about all that remains of the when you told people, ‘We’re The church, about a mile south of the was hurting. She had a Central Church of Christ building. with the Churches of Christ, University of Alabama campus, had insur- little, plastic bag of ice But in the aftermath of the April 27 and we’re here to help you.’ ance, but the coverage fell short, said Rick pressed against her left tornado that claimed more than 50 lives in You could see by the looks Hatfield, a finance committee deacon. wrist, and I could tell how this west-central Alabama city, the congre- on their faces that they While insured damages exceeded $4 uncomfortable she was. gation turned its back on its own massive knew something special was million, he said, the estimate to rebuild a “Do you want to go?” I pile of bricks and steel. happening because we had comparable facility is $6.5 million. asked. Instead, members looked outward — to suffered alongside them.” The original cinderblock auditorium was Jamieson She nodded. the hurting community — as they worked Now, eight months after built in the 1960s, with additions over the Our family has experienced to feed, clothe and provide physical and spir- transforming its devastated property into years. The tornado also destroyed the an interesting — for lack of itual support to thousands of storm victims. a disaster relief center, the 300-member See ALABAMA, Page 14 a better description — year and a half as Tamie has dealt with anemia, fatigue, swell- Finalists named for presidency of Oklahoma Christian ing, inflammation and joint problems related to rheu- OKLAHOMA CITY — A national search O’Neal’s new administration. alumnus with two law degrees, Garrett matoid arthritis, Sjogren’s committee has named two finalists At the time, deSteiguer was a senior came to work at her alma mater in 2007 syndrome and lupus. to succeed Oklahoma development officer at after serving on its board of trustees and The medical profession- Christian University Northeastern Oklahoma as a law professor at Faulkner University als have tried a number of President Mike O’Neal, State University. He in Montgomery, Ala. pills and shots — and now who will retire at the end of brought his fundraising Her professional experience includes infusions — to get Tamie’s the academic year. acumen, leadership gifts, a decade with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in illness into remission and Both candidates, John passion for higher educa- Bentonville, Ark., where she served as vice control the pain and inflam- deSteiguer and Allison tion and love for students president of benefits compliance and plan- mations so that there’s no Garrett, already serve as and over the next decade ning, vice president and general counsel, permanent damage to joints senior vice presidents for helped the university raise corporate division, and assistant secretary. deSteiguer Garrett and organs. (I’m not a doc- the 2,200-student university. gifts topping $100 million, She oversaw large staffs and had budgetary tor, but that’s my rudimen- DeSteiguer is senior vice president the search committee said. responsibility for more than $550 million. tary understanding.) for advancement. He was recruited to Garrett is senior vice president for For more details on the candidates and See EMPATHY, Page 4 Oklahoma Christian in 2002 as part of academic affairs. An Oklahoma Christian the search process, see www.oc.edu. 4 THE CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE INSIDE STORY FEBRUARY 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. • Don Meyer’s speech: Find a link to the longtime coach’s remarks at a ceremony naming the Lipscomb University basketball court after him. • Breaking news: Don’t wait to read all the latest news or check out exclusive online features. EMPATHY: Illness brings compassion for others FROM PAGE 3 on our church’s annual spring break Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. mission trip. We’re still praying, still hoping for the Now, she has figured out, she can’t best and still putting our faith in God. run anymore. We’re so blessed with caring Christian At the same time, Tamie’s experience brothers and sisters and Christian has made her — and her husband — Chronicle colleagues who offer constant much more aware of people for whom support and understanding — even as, illness seems interminable. in some cases, they deal with much Of course, my wife always has been an more trying diseases and circumstances exceptionally caring person. Her husband in their own lives and families. drives with one hand on the steering Before writing this, I had to promise wheel and the other on the horn.