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EARNING YOUR TRUST, EVERY DAY. 02.13.21 VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3 “HONG KONG HAS ENTERED A COLD WINTER. THE WIND IS STRONG AND COLD.” —P. 56 —P. COLD.” AND STRONG IS WIND THE WINTER. COLD A ENTERED HAS KONG “HONG THE INSURRECTIONIST HERESYP.38 PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGER COLLEGE VISIT OPTIONS DESIGNED FOR YOU Virtual. In-person. Your choice.

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Find out more and reserve your spot at go.pcci.edu/WorldVisit *Events are subject to change based on current conditions. FEATURES 02.13.21 VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

50 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF BUSINESS SURVIVORS Street-level views of how small businesses in America and beyond are faring by Marvin Olasky and the 2021 WJI mid-career class

38 44 56 CRISIS OF FAITH SOUTHERN BAPTIST DIVISION FREEDOM FIGHTER How can Christians prevent Amid debates on race within the Christian Benny Tai helps political passion from turning Southern Baptist Convention, some lead Hong Kong’s fight for democracy to unholy furor? black pastors wonder if it’s the right even as Beijing continues its clampdown denomination for their churches by Jamie Dean by June Cheng and Erica Kwong by Sophia Lee

PHOTO BY DANIELLE RICHARDS/GENESIS 02.13.21 WORLD DEPARTMENTS 02.13.21 VOLUME 36 NUMBER 3

5 MAILBAG 6 NOTES FROM THE CEO

65 Hank Aaron in 1973

Dispatches Culture Notebook “I WAS JUST A 11 NEWS ANALYSIS 21 MOVIES & TV 63 SPORTS President Joe Biden’s WandaVision, MAN DOING Playing ball flurry of executive Disenchantment, Run in Austin orders continues a trend Hide Fight, Fisherman’s SOMETHING Friends, Spycraft 65 SPORTS 13 BY THE NUMBERS THAT GOD HAD Home run 26 BOOKS hero 14 HUMAN RACE Racism’s far-reaching GIVEN ME THE effects POWER TO DO, 66 HISTORY 15 QUOTABLES 28 CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND I WAS 67 TECHNOLOGY 16 QUICK TAKES 30 Q&A LIVING LIKE AN Kira Davis OUTCAST IN MY Voices 34 MUSIC 8 Joel Belz Two box sets highlight OWN COUNTRY.” 18 Janie B. Cheaney American folk music’s 36 Mindy Belz ON THE COVER: illustration eccentricities 70 Andrée Seu Peterson by Mark Fredrickson 72 Marvin Olasky

2 WORLD 02.13.21 HERB SCHARFMAN/SPORTS IMAGERY/GETTY IMAGES

BIBLICALLY OBJECTIVE JOURNALISM THAT INFORMS, EDUCATES, AND INSPIRES

“THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF; THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO DWELL THEREIN.” —PSALM 24:1

EDITOR IN CHIEF Marvin Olasky WORLD NEWS GROUP SENIOR EDITOR Mindy Belz CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kevin Martin CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Nick Eicher WORLD MAGAZINE FOUNDER Joel Belz ARE DEVELOPMENT Pierson Gerritsen, Debra Meissner, EDITOR Michael Reneau Andrew Belz, Sandy Barwick, MANAGING EDITOR Daniel James Devine THERE Whitney Williams, Ambria Collins NATIONAL EDITOR Jamie Dean FINANCE Bill Gibson SENIOR REPORTERS Emily Belz, Angela Lu Fulton, CONCERNS ADMINISTRATION Kerrie Edwards Sophia Lee ABOUT MARKETING Jonathan Woods REPORTERS Esther Eaton, Leah Hickman, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Mickey McLean Charissa Koh, Harvest Prude MORE ADVERTISING John Almaguer, Kyle Crimi, STORY COACH Susan Olasky Christine Hartman, Elizabeth Kerns SENIOR WRITERS Janie B. Cheaney, Andrée Seu HONG MEMBER SERVICES Amanda Beddingfield Peterson, Lynn Vincent CORRESPONDENTS June Cheng, John Dawson, Maryrose KONG Delahunty, Sharon Dierberger, Juliana WORLD FOR STUDENTS Chan Erikson, Charles Horton, Arsenio CRACK- EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rich Bishop Orteza, Jenny Lind Schmitt, Laura G. GOD’S WORLD NEWS WEBSITE gwnews.com Singleton, Russell St. John, Jae Wasson DOWNS? MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Cochrane FILM AND TV EDITOR Megan Basham WORLD WATCH WEBSITE worldwatch.news REVIEWERS Sandy Barwick, Bob Brown, Jeff Koch, PROGRAM DIRECTOR Brian Basham Marty VanDriel EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Kristin Chapman, Mary Ruth Murdoch, “When police Elizabeth Russell arrested 53 WORLD JOURNALISM INSTITUTE ART DIRECTOR David Freeland organizers ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Rachel Beatty WEBSITE wji.world and candi- ILLUSTRATOR Krieg Barrie DEAN Marvin Olasky GRAPHIC DESIGNER Arla Eicher dates of a ASSOCIATE DEAN Edward Lee Pitts DIGITAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Dan Perkins pro-democ-

racy primary BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORLD DIGITAL over alleged subversion, John Weiss (chairman), William Newton (vice chairman), WEBSITE wng.org Mariam Bell, John Burke, Kevin Cusack, Peter Lillback, EXECUTIVE EDITOR Timothy Lamer reporters had Edna Lopez, Howard Miller, R. Albert Mohler Jr., MANAGING EDITOR Lynde Langdon to ask if they Russell B. Pulliam, David Skeel, David Strassner ASSISTANT EDITOR Rachel Lynn Aldrich would also REPORTERS Mary Jackson, Onize Ohikere Member of the Associated Press CORRESPONDENTS Laura Edghill, Collin Garbarino, arrest the Julia A. Seymour, Steve West 600,000- plus citizens

WORLD RADIO who had HOW TO CONTACT US voted. The TO BECOME A WORLD MEMBER, GIVE A GIFT MEMBERSHIP, CHANGE ADDRESS, WEBSITE wng.org/radio national EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Paul Butler ACCESS OTHER MEMBER ACCOUNT INFORMATION, OR FOR BACK ISSUES security law AND PERMISSION: The World and Everything in It is unclear on EMAIL [email protected] HOSTS Nick Eicher, Mary Reichard, determining ONLINE wng.org/account (members) Myrna Brown, Megan Basham violations. or members.wng.org (to become a member) MANAGING EDITOR Leigh Jones REPORTERS Kent Covington, Anna Johansen, (The voters PHONE 828.435.2981 within the U.S. or 800.951.6397 outside the U.S. Sarah Schweinsberg were spared, Monday–Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ET SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS Katie Gaultney, Kim Henderson, as election WRITE WORLD, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-9998 Les Sillars organizers BACK ISSUES, REPRINTS, PERMISSIONS 828.435.2981 or [email protected] CORRESPONDENTS Maria Baer, Ryan Bomberger, Laura FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/WNGdotorg Finch, George Grant, Jill Nelson, had FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @WNGdotorg Bonnie Pritchett, Jenny Rough, destroyed FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM instagram.com/WNGdotorg Cal Thomas, Emily Whitten their data.)” PRODUCERS Johnny Franklin, Carl Peetz WORLD OCCASIONALLY RENTS SUBSCRIBER NAMES TO CAREFULLY SCREENED, Rich Roszel, Kristen Flavin —WORLD LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE THESE correspon- PROMOTIONS, PLEASE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASK TO BE PLACED ON Listening In OUR DO NOT RENT LIST. Warren Cole Smith dent Erica Kwong, Effective Compassion WORLD (ISSN 0888-157X) (USPS 763-010) IS PUBLISHED BIWEEKLY (24 ISSUES) Anna Johansen, Charissa Koh whose story FOR $69.95 PER YEAR BY GOD’S WORLD PUBLICATIONS, (NO MAIL) 12 ALL SOULS CRESCENT, ASHEVILLE, NC 28803; 828.253.8063. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT The Olasky Interview is on p. 56 ASHEVILLE, NC, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. PRINTED IN THE USA. Jill Nelson, Marvin Olasky REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIB- Legal Docket ITED. © 2021 WORLD NEWS GROUP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. POSTMASTER: SEND Mary Reichard, Jenny Rough ADDRESS CHANGES TO WORLD, PO BOX 20002, ASHEVILLE, NC 28802-9998.

4 WORLD 02.13.21 MAILBAG

NEWS OF THE YEAR: TENSION rhythms. God designed Christians to DEC. 26, P. 62—JARED NISSLEY/LANCASTER, PA. be dependent people: dependent on It was a poor choice to run the photo God, each other, and local church depicting George Floyd’s violent leaders. death. Leaders and voices of color have said that amplifying and sharing “trauma porn” does not further the DEEP AND WIDE conversation about race. Instead, it DEC. 26, P. 10—RUSSELL GUETSCHOW/ only re-traumatizes people of color VICKSBURG, MICH. who are already bombarded by As I read WORLD Magazine and The images of violence against black and Sift, I am amazed at the quantity and brown bodies. quality of the material you generate every day. I find it hard to fathom how it is even physically possible to do this. NEWS OF THE YEAR: POLITICS Then I remember Who is the Source DEC. 26, P. 74—F.L. JACOBS/REDMOND, WASH. of the strength and the interviewing, Nearly half of our country no longer NEWS OF research, and writing abilities of your has faith in the accuracy of the voting THE YEAR staff. system in their country or their state. Every citizen should be very con- I expected the No. 1 cerned that corruption does not story to be the IMPRECATION AND APPRECIATION spread across the land to the point CHERYL BURNS/LEAWOOD, KAN. where we are just another banana accelerating decay in Once WORLD became “never Trump- republic. journalism and ers,” I cut my membership. Now my reporting (selective “Christian” friend of 30-plus years is WILLIAM V. ROLAND/VERADALE, WASH. an intellectual and social snob. I hope My wife and I sent a letter to Speaker choosing and God will smite you, not send you to of the House Nancy Pelosi last year, ignoring of events hell but give you back some of the stating that the image of her tearing and statistics), which suffering you have caused in dividing up President Trump’s State of the the body of Christ. Union address would have the same robbed us of notoriety as Nikita Khrushchev bang- dependable, KARLA LAIL/SHARPSBURG, VA. ing his shoe on his desk at the United decision-making Thanks for being my go-to source for Nations in October 1960. news that’s trustworthy when it’s hard information on to trust things. We’re going to make No. 2 Pandemic, it through this time, with God’s help NEWS OF THE YEAR: DEATHS No. 3 Tension, and and our own patience and prayers. DEC. 26, P. 90—BARRY BERTRAM/ CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY. No. 4 Politics. I always appreciate the annual list of DEC. 26, P. 44—KENNETH WIETING/ CORRECTIONS notables who died during the year. It GLENDALE, WIS. President Franklin Roosevelt called is nice to be reminded of their accom- Dec. 7, 1941, “a date which will live in plishments plus the brevity of life. As infamy” (“Safe harbor during polit- Christians we know only what is done ical turbulence,” Dec. 26, p. 13). for Christ will survive us. LETTERS AND COMMENTS Missionary Aviation Fellowship pilot EMAIL [email protected] MAIL WORLD Mailbag, PO Box 20002, and IT specialist Joyce Lin died in a 2020’S CHURCH DIVIDE Asheville, NC 28802-9998 plane crash in Papua, Indonesia. For- WEBSITE wng.org DEC. 26, P. 38—NEIL EVANS/CALDWELL, IDAHO FACEBOOK facebook.com/WNGdotorg mer New York Mets pitcher Tom We live in an independent culture. TWITTER @WNGdotorg Seaver died Aug. 31 (“2020 News of “My way is the right way” is the INSTAGRAM instagram.com/WNGdotorg the Year: Deaths,” Dec. 26, pp. 90, 103). PLEASE INCLUDE FULL NAME AND ADDRESS. anthem we all sing, in different keys, LETTERS MAY BE EDITED TO YIELD different melodies, and different BREVITY AND CLARITY. READ MORE LETTERS AT WNG.ORG/MAILBAG

02.13.21 WORLD 5 JOURNALISM Notes from the CEO KEVIN MARTIN DETACHED FROM CHRIST-CENTERED HUMILITY AND HOPE CAN BECOME ANGRY AND ANXIOUS.

Firm our work, our hope must be grounded in our promise-keeping Savior. He’s foundations accomplished already all that we need Humility and hope grounded in Biblical to justify our hope in Him. Journalism detached from understanding help us see ourselves Christ-centered humility and hope can accurately and trust our Savior become angry and anxious. It will settle for small saviors. It will be distracted by what-ifs instead of focusing on what is. E SEEK TO APPROACH the stories we cover with humility It will exaggerate problems and short- and hope. change solutions. Garden-variety humility and hope may be a step in the WORLD’s journalists are not immune right direction, but it isn’t enough. Humility and hope must from the tendency to take our eyes off be grounded in the Bible in order to withstand the pressures of Christ. It is part of Biblical humility that lead to hubris and hopelessness. to understand that we all tend to lean Here’s what I mean: Biblical humility allows us to see on our own understanding. But part of W ourselves always as image bearers created to glory in our Biblical hope is trusting that God gives relation to our Creator, yet fallen into a state of pride that shows our grace to the humble. desperate need. Biblical humility allows us to see our brothers and Please pray that we will grow in sisters, along with our neighbors, with the same heart of compassion grace, and that God would help us pur- and service demonstrated by Jesus, our humble example and Savior. sue Biblical humility and hope in our Like good journalism, humility requires an objective standard—and work. what could be more objectively true than God’s Word? Likewise, hope without objective grounding degenerates into mere fantasy. But, again, not just any object will do. Hoping in a person, or a system, or a program, or ourselves, might hold up for a time. But all of those things break down eventually, making our hope in them futile. So, as with the Biblically objective journalism we aim to practice at WORLD, and as with the Biblical humility with which we aim to approach EMAIL [email protected]

6 WORLD 02.13.21 A GOSPEL INFUSED STUDENT CAMP EXPERIENCE.

WAKE FOREST, NC • JUNE 28 - JULY 1 CLARITYCAMP.COM IF BIDEN EVER EMBRACED Voices JOEL BELZ SUCH VALUES, HE SEEMS TO HAVE LEFT THEM IN SCRANTON.

ever, the folks now mostly in charge first of drawing the plans, then of making them happen—and finally of suffering the consequences if they don’t. They’ll also have to face up to hordes of jilted and terribly angry taxpayers. Be watching, then, for such destructive values, If you can’t policies, and habits to become rapidly visible in at least these three broad areas of public life: healthcare, afford it … education, and provision for old age. I don’t have to go out on a feeble limb to make such a prediction. Our President Biden seems to lack new president himself was pretty explicit during the some Scranton sensibilities campaign. Expand Obamacare. It was the most oft-repeated promise from Biden’s lips. He guaranteed that the Y FATHER-IN-LAW, William C. Jackson, Affordable Care Act—which has not worked well to didn’t live long enough to compare notes this day—would under his leadership be expanded with our new president, Joe Biden. In fact, and amplified, and the government may offer a “Medi- both men were born and raised in Scranton, care-like” public option in the marketplace. Pa., with mostly World War II blue-collar Free college. Tuition is to be free at all public col- values. But both of them ultimately left. leges and universities, along with all historically black Grandpa Jackson—a man of modest institutions. But no grants if the family’s annual income M means—died seven years ago, debt-free tops $125,000, or if you’re enrolled at a private or and with his faith, his family, and his value system religious school. pretty much intact. Biden was just inaugurated pres- Elder care for the aged. With fewer details, but just ident of what is still the wealthiest nation in the world as much chutzpah, the Biden team is also grandly but did so having joined in the fracture and forfeiture proposing extended facilities for the nation’s balloon- of most of the commonsense structures that have ing population of aged people. With better medical shaped life so beneficially for Americans—including care leading to longer life expectancy, expectations millions toward the bottom of the scale. of other kinds are creating a drain on cash that used It’s hard not to compare the trajectory of the two to go to other calls. men’s “practical economics” over the years. But can we really afford all that? Keeping that focus on economic issues, I should If the new Biden government were to add nothing report that all of us in Grandpa Jackson’s extended but those three items to the coming year’s outlays, our family were indoctrinated again and again with the current deficit would explode more massively than simple warning: “If you can’t afford it, you don’t need any U.S. federal budget in history. (More on that in a it.” He built a house mostly with his own hands and later issue.) Our national debt would leap to a figure mortgage-free. He never owned a new car. He tithed. well past $30 trillion. And all this doesn’t touch the If Biden ever embraced such values, he seems to enormous costs currently associated with COVID-19 have left them in Scranton when he moved to Wash- or committed earlier to the high-priced facets of global ington. He’s spent most of his lifetime campaigning warming. and legislating for public policies that promised quick And we’ve focused here only on the dollar costs. and easy access to benefits voters typically used to What about the high costs to society of passing on to think they’d have to wait for. I stress here that Biden the federal government a host of new value systems is by no means the only spokesman for such unrealis- that would reshape our society? tic economics. Nor are Democrats the only party so Maybe it should prompt our new president to run glibly offering so impossible a future. They are, how- up to Scranton, find a few folks with a worldview like Bill Jackson’s, and ask with all sincerity: Can we really afford all that spending?

8 WORLD 02.13.21 EMAIL [email protected]

DISPATCHES

News Analysis By the Numbers Human Race Quotables Quick Takes

With the stroke of a pen President Joe Biden’s flurry of executive orders continues a trend

by Harvest Prude in Washington

HEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TOOK HIS SEAT behind the Resolute desk hours after President his inauguration Jan. 20, he wasted no time in dismantling key pieces of the Trump Biden signs executive administration’s policy with 17 executive orders, proclamations, and memorandums. orders in the Some laid out the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, halted Oval Office. construction of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, ended the so-called “Muslim travel ban,” extended a moratorium on evictions during the pandemic, recommit- ted the United States to the Paris climate accords, and revoked construction permits W for the Keystone XL pipeline. DOUG MILLS/EUROPA PRESS VIA AP 02.13.21 WORLD 11 DISPATCHES News Analysis created the Deferred Action for Child- hood Arrivals (DACA) and Trump’s so-called Muslim travel ban both faced criticism and court challenges. One executive order called for an The increase of controversial and interpretation of anti-discrimination consequential executive orders has coin- law that includes gender identity or cided with the decline of Congress’ sexual orientation as protected classes. effectiveness. “Congress has ground to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) legal a halt in their ability to get stuff done,” counsel Christiana Holcomb said this Burge said. “Executive orders are a way move “[guts] legal protections for to do that governing that goes around women by denying female athletes fair Congress.” competition in sports, ignoring women’s Mark Caleb Smith, director of the unique health needs, and forcing vul- Center for Political Studies at Cedarville nerable girls to share intimate spaces “CONGRESS HAS University, added another reason for with men who identify as female.” GROUND TO A HALT Congress’ lack of action: “If you’re really Heritage Foundation President Kay IN THEIR ABILITY interested in getting reelected, then Coles James said the Biden administra- letting the president take the heat for tion’s actions “already signaled that it TO GET STUFF things makes sense.” will take unilateral steps that usurp DONE.” But the result may be that a presi- Congress’ power with divisive policies.” dent’s legacy shrinks in as little as four The flurry of first-day executive years. “Obama’s enduring legacy is orders was unusual, but as presidents going to be Obamacare—that’s how his- have come to rely on the use of executive tory is going to remember his policy action, their legacies have grown both agenda—because that was passed by more controversial and more fleeting. Congress,” Burge said. Biden’s first few days in office don’t show Similarly, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act any sign he’ll break with the trend: He is likely to be one of the most enduring continued sigining dozens of executive aspects of the Trump presidency. Many orders during his first few days in office, other policy accomplishments can go including orders requiring masks for away in a single signing ceremony. “It’s interstate transportation and repealing easy to undo an executive order,” Smith a ban on transgender military service. said. “It just takes the stroke of a pen.” Throughout the four years of his presidency, Trump issued 220 orders. President Barack Obama issued 276 over eight years. Generally, modern presidents’ executive order count has stayed in the low hundreds (not including pres- idential memorandums). Some presidents used many more: Theodore Roosevelt issued a whopping 1,081 EOs, and Franklin D. Roosevelt outstripped everyone by issuing 3,728 EOs during his 12 years in office. Ryan Burge, an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, said most presidents historically used executive orders for incon- sequential, bureaucratic processes. But historians and legal experts have recognized some orders as an overreach of executive power: FDR’s executive order for the internment of Japanese Ameri- cans during World War II (which Con- gress later backed) stands out. More recently, an Obama executive order that

12 WORLD 02.13.21 DISPATCHES By the Numbers VACCINE DOSE 83.9% The percentage of DO-SI-DO COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to West Virginia that the state had administered as of Jan. 25. 79.6% The percentage of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to New Mexico that the state had administered as of Jan. 25. 44.4% The percentage of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to Kansas that the state had administered as of Jan. 25. 45.1% The percentage of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to Virginia that the state had administered as of Jan. 25.

THE PERCENTAGE OF COVID-19 vaccine doses dis- 86.7% tributed to North Dakota that the state had administered as of Jan. 25, according to Centers for Disease 47.2% Control and Prevention data. Rollout of the COVID- The percentage of 19 vaccine was going well in some states in late January while creeping along COVID-19 vaccine doses slowly in others. West Virginia was the first state to finish administering the first distributed to Rhode dose to patients in all long-term care facilities. Island that the state had administered as of Jan. 25.

ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL BEATTY 02.13.21 WORLD 13 DISPATCHES Human Race DIED Joe Scheidler left his career and became a full-time worker for the pro-life cause shortly after the Supreme Court legal- ized abortion with its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. The veteran pro-lifer and co-founder of the Pro-Life Action League died on Jan. 18 at age 93. Scheidler used sit-ins and protests to advocate for babies in and around abortion facilities. He fought a legal battle that lasted almost two decades and came before the Supreme Court three times when a pro-abortion group tried to pin him with racketeering charges for his pro-life campaigning. In the end, NOW v. Scheidler assured that advocates for the unborn have the right to protest and witness outside of abortion facilities.

ARRESTED Protesters from Siberia to St. Petersburg to Moscow filled the streets of Russian cities on Jan. 23 to condemn the arrest of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Russian police arrested more than 3,000 protesters across the country, including Navalny’s wife, Yulia, in Moscow. Some- one poisoned Navalny, 44, with a Sovi- et-era nerve agent, and he went into a coma on Aug. 20. After his hospitaliza- tion in Berlin, he returned to Russia on Jan. 17 and was arrested. He could face DIED more than three years in jail for alleged fraud and money laundering—charges Navalny says are politically motivated, Larry King’s legacy since he has campaigned against corruption in the government of President Iconic television host interviewed Vladimir Putin. tens of thousands of subjects PARDONED Outgoing President Donald Trump com- ADIO AND TELEVISION HOST LARRY KING died Jan. 23 at age 87. muted the sentences of 70 people and Lawrence Harvey Zeiger, born in Brooklyn to Jewish immigrants, granted pardons to 73 others in his last became Larry King when he landed his first radio job as a disc jockey hours in office. They include former in Miami in 1957. His boss thought Zeiger sounded “too ethnic” and chief strategist Steve Bannon, who was saw “King” in a newspaper ad. King credited his ability to talk with scheduled to face trial in May for anyone, whether a prime minister or bus driver, to his insatiable siphoning money from a fundraising curiosity. Larry King Live premiered on CNN in 1985 and became a campaign to build a wall on the mainstay of American television for 25 years. He welcomed everyone U.S.-Mexico border. The White House R from the Dalai Lama and Mikhail Gorbachev to Elizabeth Taylor and said Bannon served as “an important Frank Sinatra. Obsessed with the afterlife, King often asked about leader in the conservative movement faith in interviews. King said he wanted to live forever and was and is known for his political acumen.” public about his wish to be cryogenically preserved. His estranged Trump also extended clemency to wife and three of his five children survive him. Elliott Broidy, a former fundraiser for Trump who illegally lobbied on behalf of foreign countries.

14 WORLD 02.13.21 STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES DISPATCHES Quotables

“When we started to see the uptick in children taking their lives, we knew it wasn’t just the COVID numbers we need to look at anymore.” Clark County, Nev., school district superintendent JESÚS JARA on his push to reopen schools in the Las Vegas–area district after seeing 18 student suicides between March and December last year.

“California’s uniquely severe restrictions against religious worship services—including its total ban against indoor worship in nearly the entire state— are patently unconstitutional.” U.S. appellate Judge DIARMUID O’SCANNLAIN, in a Jan. 25 panel ruling criticizing California’s ban on indoor church gatherings in most counties to prevent coronavirus spread. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge reluctantly upheld the ban, however, citing a previous Circuit Court ruling.

“As a lifelong Catholic, I have always been pro-life.” U.S. Sen. JOE MANCHIN, D-W.V., on his intention to vote against any Democratic attempt to repeal the long-standing Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion.

“I sort of realized how I was going to define my self-worth going forward. It wasn’t going to be about how much money I have.” STEFAN THOMAS, who has $220 million in Bitcoin locked in an account whose password he can’t remember. He has two password entry attempts left before the account will delete the digital currency.

“I could have died if I got out late.” ROBERT, an Indonesian father of three, who was in a hospital in Mamuju, Sulawesi island, when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck early on Jan. 15, killing dozens of people. He said he pulled out his IV and ran out before the building fell: “I cried when I saw the hospital where I was being treated collapse with people still inside.”

02.13.21 WORLD 15 DISPATCHES Quick Takes SHOW AND TELL A New Jersey 2 teenager’s science project caused the evacuation of his school when officials decided an object he brought to class was hazardous. The unnamed teen brought a quarter-sized antique to Had- don Township High School on Jan. 8 so that his science class could test a Geiger counter. The object was a piece from a Fiestaware plate. In the early 20th century, Fiestaware dishes often featured a uranium oxide glaze to provide a dis- tinct orange-red color. Some school officials weren’t impressed, though, and after learning about the radioactive object, they ordered an evacuation and called for hazmat units to investigate. “It’s a dramatic over-exaggeration,” the sophomore told NJ.com. “[It] gave off less radiation than most things you can find in an antique store.” Students were back in class in 30 minutes after officials determined the old ceramic shard posed no threat.

HAPPY FEET On a Zoom call, no 3 one sees your shoes. Investors and company officials with Crocs are cred- iting the global coronavirus pandemic with boosting sales of their comfortable but fashionably questionable shoes. In a quarterly report filed Jan. 11, Crocs announced it was expecting a 55 percent increase in sales of its foam shoes in the fourth quarter of 2020 over the previous year. “Amidst a global pandemic in 2020, we will deliver the stron- gest revenue in Crocs’ history,” CEO 1 Andrew Rees said in a statement. “We definitely benefited from consumer SEE SPOT SPEND casualization.”

RULES OF THE RESTROOM A Chi- WITH POCKETS FULL OF FEDERAL FUNDS, the Honolulu Police Depart- 4 nese company is facing criticism on ment spent $150,045 of pandemic relief money on a robotic dog. social media after its restrictive bath- The police department got the money for the robotic dog through room policy became public knowledge. the CARES Act, the coronavirus aid package that made billions of Anonymous tipsters leaked memos from dollars of loan money available to businesses as well as state and Anpu Electric Science and Technology municipal governments. Honolulu Police named the robot Spot and revealing the Guangdong province busi- deployed it to the department’s tent city for the homeless with a ness was fining employees for using the charge to take the temperatures of inhabitants. In an emailed state- restroom more than once per day. “We ment to Honolulu Civil Beat, a department spokesman claimed the are helpless. The fact is that the workers dog was “more than a thermometer” and could also perform a are lazy at work,” a company executive “touchless field screening” and interact with people in quarantine. told Guangdong TV. The executive According to creator Boston Dynamics, the robotic dog also dances. argued the roughly $3 fine for every excess bathroom visit was a better option than firing employees.

16 WORLD 02.13.21 BUSINESS WIRE/AP HAND OVER THE HAM The ending cerned about finding human remains, 5 of the United Kingdom’s time as part she took a picture and reported her of the European Union has led to bizarre discovery to Northumbria Police in scenes at European ports of entry. In northern England. Officers examined January, Dutch television broadcast the photo and declared an investigation video of customs officers impounding into a possible dead body. “It was ham sandwiches while processing Brit- already dark by the time we got a call, ish nationals at a ferry port. Once Brexit and so we had to deploy search teams took effect on Jan. 1, travelers from the to track down the scene to rule out any U.K. into Europe could no longer bring foul play,” police Inspector Phil Hamlani meat, fruit, or many other food products told the BBC. After a widespread search into Europe. As the drivers waited to of the field, the team found the delin- direct their vehicles off the ferry docked quent digit. But upon closer examina- at the Hook of Holland terminal, one [IT] GAVE OFF tion, police determined the object was passenger asked a Dutch officer if he LESS RADIATION actually a potato poking above the soil. could turn over the meat, but keep the Even so, Hamlani insisted he appreci- bread. “No, everything will be confis- THAN MOST ated the woman filing the report. “If it cated,” the customs agent replied. “Wel- THINGS YOU does turn out to be a vegetable, our come to the Brexit, sir, I’m sorry.” CAN FIND IN AN police dogs will thank you for the treat,” he said. MAN ON A LEASH To get out of the ANTIQUE STORE. 6 house during a pandemic curfew, JAILER’S SPECIAL A home for sale some people walk their dogs. One 9 in Guildhall, Vt., features four bed- Canadian woman put a leash on her rooms, two bathrooms—and seven jail significant other. Police in Sherbrooke, cells. The 2,190-square-foot property, Quebec, fined a couple approximately listed for only $149,000, was once the $1,200 for breaking an 8 p.m. pan- Essex County Jail. According to its Real- demic curfew on Jan. 9. According to tor.com listing, the house’s main section police, the woman claimed she was out once served as the jailer’s residence until walking her dog when questioned. officials shut down the jail in 1969. The Upon further inspection, authorities listing agent encouraged potential buy- discovered the leash was connected to ers to “bring your own ideas on what her male companion. According to this 28' x 40' wing could be!” media accounts, the couple was unco- operative with police, claiming that if dog walkers could break quarantine, they could too.

SERVING THE PEOPLE The mayor 7 and former mayor of a Vermont town have helped raise $30,000 to renovate a local playground, but they’re interested in treats, not swings or slides. That’s because the mayor and former mayor of Fair Haven, Vt., are a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a goat. The animals, elected as honorary mayors of the town, helped raise the money via raffles and sales of masks. However, the spaniel, at least, may not get to see the fruits of his labor: The playground has a “no dogs allowed” sign posted.

PO-TA-TOE A British woman walk- 8 ing her dog beside a field on Jan. 5 spotted what she believed was a human toe poking through the ground. Con-

02.13.21 WORLD 17 WE SHOULD BE PRAYING Voices JANIE B. CHEANEY AND THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT HOW TO INFLUENCE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

development, climax, and resolution. That story took thousands of years to tell before breaking upon a pragmatic and amoral world in approximately a.d. The real story 50. Gradually, the master narrative created the moral The world tells one narrative, universe that Theodore Parker saw as a long arc. And but the Bible tells another even though our culture today has relapsed into some of the vices of the Roman Empire, such as sexual license, paganism, and a stratified society of elites and RESIDENT BARACK OBAMA was fond of locat- plebes, it’s no longer amoral. “Social justice” is ideal- ing himself “on the right side of history.” He ism inherited from Christianity. also liked to quote this saying from Martin Let’s get real: This state of affairs is not going to Luther King Jr.: “The arc of the moral universe change anytime soon. The left holds almost all polit- is long, but it bends toward justice.” That’s ical and cultural power. It has seized the moral arc and the perfect tagline for a speech—hopeful, will continue to bend it. Those of us not on the left virtuous, and stirring—and King used it more (including classical liberals, traditional Catholics, P than once. evangelicals, and political conservatives) have three But King borrowed it from Theodore Parker, a choices: fight, surrender, or subvert. 19th-century abolitionist and Unitarian minister: “I The fighters need to take a hard look at the odds. do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the “What king,” asks Jesus, “going out to encounter arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I another king in war, will not sit down first and delib- cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure erate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet by the experience of sight; I can divine it by con- him who comes against him with twenty thousand?” science. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards (Luke 14:31). Which side appears to be the 20,000? justice.” But surrender is no option for a responsible citizen. But does it? As I write this, National Guard troops Giving in only ensures that disorder accelerates, and are pouring into Washington, D.C., to ensure a peace- when the whole system collapses, there will be no one ful transfer of power to the next administration, and to pick up the pieces or point in another direction. I’m praying they’ll have nothing to do that day. One Lawful subversion means quietly and strategically side of the political spectrum is triumphant and the working against the status quo. It’s often as hard to other despondent—or defiant. Wildly divergent views figure out as it is to accomplish. How can I subvert of what happened on and since Nov. 3 fill the airwaves anything when my job is threatened or my social and cyberspace: “The Victory of Truth and Justice” media account shut down? What kind of influence can clashes with “A Date That Shall Live in Infamy.” I’ve my side have when we’re hounded out of the public spoken to many Christian friends who subscribe to square? It’s time to get creative: We should be praying the Infamy narrative. Others claim Victory, and several and thinking and talking about how to influence our in between won’t say or don’t know what to believe. own homes, churches, and neighborhoods. It’s all about the narrative: The truth you believe The arc of social justice has been bending leftward shapes the story you tell, and vice versa. One reason for as long as I can remember. The “long march” that narratives have grown so much in power (not to men- began in elite universities has taken over media, tion divergence) might be that we’ve let go of the megacorporations, entertainment, and K-12 education. master narrative. The Bible describes a classic plot, But the story isn’t over. It took us decades to get here. with a setting, protagonist, central conflict, thematic If the Lord tarries, it may take a century to get beyond here. But we know what the overarching narrative is and where it ends.

18 WORLD 02.13.21 EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @jbcheaney

CULTURE

Movies & TV Books Children’s Books Q&A Music

A DIFFERENT SORT OF SUPERHERO WandaVision surprises with creativity and marriage messaging

by Megan Basham

MARVEL STUDIOS 02.13.21 WORLD 21 CULTURE Movies & TV The first episode of WandaVision offers no bridge from the couple’s final separation except what we can infer from the fantasy setting—a black-and- white, laugh-tracked sitcom à la I Love Lucy or Dick Van Dyke. The next two episodes update the period incremen- tally, going from a Bewitched-style backdrop to something more like The Brady Bunch. But the false cheeriness and contrived dilemmas don’t alter, except when a bossy neighbor breaks character to telegraph something like real terror through her pleading gaze. Or when an eerie voice with a decidedly modern accent comes through the old RCA radio. But these are all the disruptions of a moment, easy to dismiss when you have a superhero’s ability to bend reality. A quick snap of Wanda’s fingers and it’s back to whipping up a last-minute magical dinner to impress the boss so hubby can win the big promotion. We can only guess at this point, but it seems plain Wanda is hiding in the place so many of us go to when facing loss or pain, into the imaginary worlds of television. The central mystery rolls out slowly, allowing us to get lost in the superficial plotlines just as Wanda does. It’s understandable if, upon first seeing the initial “Pleasant Valley Sunday” IVE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER KEVIN FEIGE and the Marvel setting, you brace yourself for a com- team credit for this: They are willing to take a risk on a mentary on the oppressive nature of creative vision. marriage circa 1950. Or glass ceilings We saw this when Taika Waititi bucked expectations circa 1970. But WandaVision isn’t inter- from previous Thor movies for a stalwart, iron-jawed ested in any of that. Through Wanda and hero. Instead he made Ragnarok into a goofy buddy com- Vision’s relationship we see a surpris- edy. We saw it when the studio not only gambled on bizarre ingly touching tribute to that earthly characters from a minor comic with almost zero name institution Scripture calls the grace of G recognition (Guardians of the Galaxy), then handed the life. The idyll Wanda escapes to is a tra- reins over to a little-known horror director (James Gunn). And now, ditional marriage to the man she loves, having transformed superhero movies from the gritty Sturm und complete with homemaking and chil- Drang of Batman to lighthearted extravaganzas, Marvel has taken dren. No one is sneering at suburbia yet another unexpected turn: downsizing and going introspective here. with perhaps its strangest offering to date,WandaVision . In fact, in the first three episodes, The Disney+ series, airing in weekly installments like The Man- with the exception of a stray minor pro- dalorian, couldn’t lean any further into its small-screen stature fanity here, a subtle off-color joke there, without falling over. this is all the PG—nearly G-rated—world When we left Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth we remember from Leave It to Beaver Olsen), in Avengers: Endgame, the infinity stones had resurrected and The Andy Griffith Show. her from Thanos’ cosmic death snap. Her android love, Vision (Paul With no fight scenes and no special Bettany), however, was killed before the great disintegration, and effects, so far at least, this isn’t a show can therefore ne’er return. about saving the world. It’s about building a family. Which, in its own way, amounts to the same thing.

22 WORLD 02.13.21 MARVEL STUDIOS 23

Run

Family Guy: Family episodes300+ (1999-present) South Park: episodes300+ (1997-present) Looney Tunes: Looney episodes 1,000+ years) (various The Simpsons: episodes600+ (1989-present) Crusader Rabbit: episodes400+ (1950-1957) WORLD 5 3 4 TO SCREEN RANT SCREEN TO ACCORDING COUNT, EPISODE BY * LONGEST-RUNNING U.S. U.S. LONGEST-RUNNING SERIES* ANIMATED 1 2 02.13.21 - - - - with her dad ends when the high- ends when her dad with by Marty VanDriel by brings with the the good bad TOO INTENSE? lets viewers know early on the movie will be violent and will be violent on the movie early know viewers lets WHEN IS INTENSE But the film’s violence is more than is more violence the film’s But The Daily Wire, the conservative news platform best known for for known best platform news the conservative Wire, The Daily soon for Zoe and her friend Lewis but ultimately Zoe can run and hide Run Hide Fight Run Hide ZOE HULL’S FIRST HUNTING TRIP HUNTING FIRST HULL’S ZOE what would be needed to move the plot the plot move to be needed would what language and crude Blasphemy along. one scenewith along occur throughout, prin Wire Daily The nudity. female of nec are these elements say cipals may may art. Viewers in truth-telling essary otherwise. say school senior smashes the skull of the wounded deer she had just just had she deer the wounded of skull the smashes senior school and violet, wilting is no Zoe misery. its out of putting it shot, Hide Fight disturbing. times at Matt Ben Shapiro, favorites conservative of the podcasts hosting and Andrew Knowles, Michael Walsh, and promoting is distributing Klavan, Daily such endeavor. first its the film, online. it can watch subscribers Wire pro prom of drama small-time the get four when and senior pranks posals bomb-filled a crash students disturbed firing start and cafeteria the into van and bodies fly. Bullets weapons. to risking her safety fight, to chooses Rankin doesn’t Kyle Director others. save for excuses or make the shooters glorify courage, The film praises their actions. and honor. self-sacrifice,

MORE TO COME? The Daily Wire executives told entertainment outlet Deadline they’re currently developing two series and another feature film.

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Futurama The Simpsons The and early-years and early-years , which deserveswhich , asked Groening Groening asked Disenchantment being more “pro being more ) and Leela ( ) and Leela , from , from Futurama by Bob Brown by fan—seriously disenchanted. fan—seriously Disenchantment is the charm not Disenchantment Disenchantment The Simpsons Hollywood Reporter Call me—a The same goes for the entire show. show. the entire The same goes for episodes released 21 recently Netflix DISENCHANTMENT: NETFLIX; RUN HIDE FIGHT: THE DAILY WIRE; BUGS BUNNY: WARNER BROS WARNER BUNNY: BUGS WIRE; DAILY THE FIGHT: HIDE RUN NETFLIX; DISENCHANTMENT: demonstrates Groening’s restraint, I’d I’d restraint, Groening’s demonstrates to seehate his indulgence. Groening responded that Netflix allowed allowed Netflix that responded Groening but added, freedom” creative “amazing If ourselves.” limit “We about projects. or gory”fane than his previous will not, as Groening has claimed, “go “go claimed, has Groening as not, will heads.” kids’ over Simpsons Bean’s maid scrubs her, she declares the she declares maid scrubs her, Bean’s clean as a child on his princess is “as jokes” “adult The stuff. Sick day.” funeral toward God. In the “Stairway to Hell” to Hell” God. In the “Stairway toward tries to anger God with Elfo episode, When blasphemies. vile increasingly The series overwhelmingly couches its The series overwhelmingly gags, occult imagery, humor in sexual and irreverence bestiality, violence, to 30 of 30 to rating: its TV-14 than stronger something Lisa ( her leaves iterations—but the first were noble qualities. if any, with few, overly optimistic elf, and a diminutive and a diminutive optimistic elf, overly Bean,In Groening Luci. demon named protagonist— female updates his strong cal medieval world. The storyThe withbegins world. calmedieval an arranged Princess Bean trying to avoid an with Elfo, adventures She marriage. Disenchantment is set in a mythi Groening, Matt creator - - - is offers the same offers SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS GOLDWYN SAMUEL Fisherman’s Friends Fisherman’s Warmhearted, with something of a something of with Warmhearted, are friends the say to not That’s Friends Fisherman’s ferent backgrounds layering their voices their voices layering backgrounds ferent the of a rebuke I saw sing together, to sow to day each hard so work that forces eager people I saw and division. enmity the past. than ridicule rather enjoy to community, for starving people I saw cultural to barriers down tear hungry to tired people saw all, I of Most exchange. a for and ready and isolation anger of singalong. old-fashioned good, Hallmark vibe, vibe, Hallmark doesn’t but that cynics, a pick for not say. to substance of nothing has mean it calls his Lon Danny when one point At in playing hit pop we hear a office, don The soulless, the background. sound, complete mass-manufactured contrasts lyrics, rap obscene with the of the authenticity with sharply stu recording and the church shanties the men reveals, a local dio where, sing. to learned about sailors talking are We choirboys. PG-13 language salty of so a bit here, pass jokes coarse of and a couple a shame it’s them. Likewise, between spend interest his love and Danny that only this is though together, night the scene— in a morning-after implied on-screen. or nudity no sex there’s the to many so drawing is guess I’d thing the As I watched now. right craze shanty all dif from folks of online videos many vacationers commands his best deal- best his commands vacationers the sign to Mays), (Daniel Danny maker, posthaste. a deal to singing sailormen gents old The problem: one just There’s in stardom. interested particularly aren’t

SONGS OF THE SEA Sailors in the 19th century often sang sea shanties (also spelled chanteys) to keep in rhythm as they worked together aboard ship. - -

(available (available

and don’t happen to have have to happen and don’t Fisherman’s Friends Fisherman’s Fisherman’s FriendsFisherman’s by Megan Basham Megan by SINGING 02.13.21 LIKE SAILORS WORLD While I’m not much of a singer, I do have one contri one have I do a singer, of much not I’m While indie British The 2019 After a young Scotsman shared a TikTok video of of video a TikTok shared Scotsman a young After F YOU’RE OVER THE AGE OF 21 21 OF AGE THE OVER YOU’RE F on most streaming platforms) tells the true story of a a of the true story tells platforms) streaming on most sing and day by lobsters catch who Cornishmen of group until lark all an amateur It’s night. by tourists to shanties in their a holiday take executives music some big-shot of the group of The boss Isaac. Port of village seaside from eras past and shared them across the social media social the across them shared and past eras from the hit even Johns the Longest called spectrum. A group “Wellerman.” of version its with 40 charts Top U.K. recommendation. movie bution I can make—a “Wel song titled whaling himself singing a 19th-century mil up racked post wild. His went the internet lerman,” sub-videos of hundreds and spawned views lions of Musk, (including Elon life of all walks from fans featuring their adding Webber) Lloyd Andrew and Fallon, Jimmy sailing songs dug up more the original. Others to voices a job tracking pop-culture trends, you may have missed missed have may you trends, pop-culture tracking a job sea shanties. craze: musical the latest British filmBritish Movies & TV & Movies

Anyone relishing the sea shanty craze Anyone online may also enjoy the warmhearted also enjoy online may

24 I CULTURE FAMOUS SPY Former CIA agent Aldrich Ames fed classified info to Russia for nine years before the FBI arrested him in 1994.

Watching this series, I couldn’t decide which is more dreadful—the lethal BOX OFFICE devices, or the devious people who wield them. TOP 10 Three themes emerge that impart timely lessons, perhaps unintended by

WEEKEND OF JAN. 22-24, ACCORDING TO the show’s producers, for those of us BOX OFFICE MOJO. QUANTITY OF SEXUAL not fitted with cloak and dagger. First, (S), VIOLENT (V), AND FOUL-LANGUAGE (L) CONTENT ON A 0-10 SCALE, WITH 10 HIGH, successful intelligence operations not FROM KIDS-IN-MIND.COM only use high-tech gadgets but also typically exploit human weaknesses. S V L “Honey traps” snare male targets in 1 The Marksman PG-13 not. rated compromising positions, and blackmail 2 The Croods: follows. The Stasi, East Germany’s intel- A New Age PG . . . . 1 3 2 ligence agency until 1989, deployed 3 Wonder dozens of “Romeos” to woo West Ger- Woman 1984 PG-13 . .4 5 3 many–government secretaries who had 4 Monster Hunter PG-13 .not rated access to sensitive information. Our 5 News of the undoing is more likely to result from World* PG-13 . . . . . 1 5 3 our vices than from others’ devices. 6 Fatale R ...... 6 7 7 Second, nations that employ spy 7 Promising Young tools against enemy governments may Woman R ...... 6 6 10 also ply them against their own citizens. 8 Our Friend R...... not rated DEADLY GAME Take China, for example: The first epi- 9 The War With Spycraft examines sode makes the case that the Chinese Grandpa PG. . . . . 2 4 4 the dangerous world of government “restricts, controls, and 10 Pinocchio PG-13. . . not rated monitors their people” through ubiqui- *REVIEWED BY WORLD intelligence gathering tous surveillance. In America, however,

by Bob Brown Big Brother may not be Uncle Sam so much as Facebook, Amazon, and their kin. Social media platforms and cell IN A NEW NETFLIX DOCUSERIES, former phone–tracking businesses use the per- intelligence officers explain past and sonal data we voluntarily surrender to present tricks and tools of the spy trade. manage our thinking and spending. Spycraft serves as an informative short Third, patriots are at the mercy of course on the intelligence game: basic traitors. Former CIA agent Aldrich Ames terminology, operational strategies, received millions of dollars for exotic weapons, notorious cases, and “betray[ing] every CIA operation he SPOTLIGHT: POETRY the latest technology—all sorted into knew of in Moscow,” knowing the dozen eight topical episodes. sources involved would likely be exe- Amanda Gorman, 22, won Don’t expect top secrets, though. cuted. Spying has always been a precar- praise for reading her poem Some information seems straight from ious team effort. Although Spycraft “The Hill We Climb” at Presi- the evening news, but interesting tidbits doesn’t look any further back than the dent Joe Biden’s inauguration. do come to light. Warning: Spycraft is 1800s, an account from Numbers Chap- Others interested in exploring rated TV-MA for sex and nudity. Much ters 13 and 14 comes to mind. Joshua poetry might try The Joy of of the objectionable material comes and Caleb faithfully described the con- Poetry by Megan Willome; from grainy surveillance videos and ditions inside Canaan, but the other 10 The Generosity by Luci Shaw; gratuitous reenactments in the “Sexs- spies brought back a “bad report” that 99 Poems by Dana Gioia; and pionage” episode. Spycraft also covers disheartened most Israelites. The result Morning Song: Poems for New subjects such as code-breaking, recruit- of that betrayal: 40 years of wilderness Parents, Susan Todd and ment, and sabotage. In the “Deadly Poi- wandering and the deaths of almost Carol Purington, eds. sons” episode, an umbrella fires a toxic everyone over age 20. ricin-laden pellet, and a perfume bottle I think I’ve decided: Human devious- sprays the deadly nerve agent Novichok. ness is the more dreadful thing.

GORMAN: PATRICK SEMANSKY/AP; SPYCRAFT: NETFLIX 02.13.21 WORLD 25 CULTURE Books American “one drop of blood” rule in assigning people to the despised minority, but didn’t go as far. Bookmarks Hindus kept low-caste members from pursuing high-caste occupations, and Overt and bigots for centuries made moneylending the only wealth-making opportunity open to Jews, and then attacked Jews subtle for knowing the ins and outs of money. American racists consigned most blacks to “the lowliest, dirtiest jobs” and then saw them as lowly and dirty: “Their degraded station justified their degra- dation.” Physical appearance and modes of speaking are important to caste main- tenance: “If you can act your way out, it’s class, not caste.” I’d differ with Wilkerson in a few The Office of Historical places, but overall her research looks Corrections by Danielle good and her writing is excellent. She Evans (Riverhead, 2020) is a accurately describes how slavery sup- collection of history-haunted porters used the Bible to support their short stories that show how ideology, but doesn’t point out that they racial biases make personal were Scripture-twisting. Plantations connection difficult. The Racism’s far-reaching were not gas-chambered concentration stories show a pharmacist effects camps. Some German Christians helped accusing a black customer of and eventually hid Jews, and some using a fake ID, a white mom by Marvin Olasky Southern whites within their Jim Crow pulling away her daughter society treated blacks humanely. Still, from a black playmate, a Jews such as Albert Einstein, who white college student’s life ISABEL WILKERSON’S Caste (Random escaped Germany, saw similarities: changing after a boyfriend House, 2020) includes lots of ugly spe- W.E.B. Du Bois wrote of him, “He hates gives her a Confederate- cific detail. A slave receiving 400 lashes. race prejudice because as a Jew he flag bikini. Positives: Great Slave workdays of 14-15 hours. Later, knows what it is.” dialogue, compelling lynchings and postcards with photos of Wilkerson gives so many examples characters, witty empathy. lynchings. Blacks not allowed into pub- of racism overt and subtle that by her Negative: Use of F-bombs. lic pools even on sep- conclusion I wondered whether she saw The Oxford University arate days or hours any hope anywhere. Then she tells of a Press reprint of My Bondage because whites white handyman who wore a MAGA cap, and My Freedom, the 1855 “would not go into “smelled of beer and tobacco,” and, autobiography of escaped water that had apparently because of her skin color, slave Frederick Douglass, touched black skin.” said the sump pump needed cleaning also spotlights up-close-and- Carnivals where cus- but did nothing to clean it. Wilkerson: personal prejudice. Douglass tomers hurled base- “Since he wasn’t helping, I felt I had saw in his owner, Master balls or other nothing to lose. … ‘My mother just died Thomas, “all the cruelty and projectiles at blacks. The intentional last week,’ I told him. ‘Is your mother meanness, after his conver- hiring of less competent teachers to still alive?’ He looked down at the wet sion, which he had exhibited work at blacks-only schools. floor. ‘No … no, she isn’t.’” before he made a profession Wilkerson takes that raw material A conversation began. Soon “he went of religion.” Later, Douglass and connects it to two other regimes over to the sump pump, bent down, and attended a Methodist church based on oppression: the Third Reich, reached into it. A minute or two later, in Massachusetts with segre- which thankfully lasted only 12 years he stood up. ‘Okay, sump pump’s cleared gated seating and commu- out of the 1,000 Adolf Hitler said it out.’” But once they had a personal con- nion where the minister said, would, and Hindu India, which has nection, he didn’t stop there but did “God is no respecter of per- lasted far longer. Nazis looked to Jim detective work to point out another sons.” —M.O. Crow laws for ways to institutionalize problem and save her some money—and racism: They discussed adopting the some stereotyping.

26 WORLD 02.13.21 in a male-dominated profession and chafes at restrictions based on her sex. She meets Breaking through Peter Lang, a Ph.D. student who pretends Four novels from Christian publishers to be a Nazi sympathizer. He admires Eve- lyn’s spunk and begins feeding her infor- by Sandy Barwick mation for her stories that reveal Hitler’s tyranny. Evelyn and Peter find their lives jeopardized when her Jewish ancestry is exposed and their close relationship is discovered. This book’s beginning drags, but as action increases, the plot moves with urgency. A scene depicting Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)—a real event on Nov. 9-10, 1938, when Jews were systematically attacked—jump-starts Evelyn and Peter’s escape from Germany.

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill: Homicide detective Amara Alvarez faces her first case after a teenager is found dead at a water park. A large stash of cash in the teen’s bedroom closet points to his involve- ment in illegal activity. After the investigation leads to a group of online gamers, Alvarez becomes immersed in the murky world of cybercrime. A mysterious hacker causes more trouble for Alvarez by stealing her personal information. Plot twists keep this mystery from being cookie-cutter, but the gaming aspects could be tedious for readers unfamiliar with virtual communities. One cautionary lesson emerges: The person you think you’re dealing with online may not be that person at all.

The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher: Cora Wilson All That We Carried by Erin Bartels: On Stewart opened Moonlight Schools in Rowan County, Ky., in 1911. the 10th anniversary of their parents’ The nighttime schools served the illiterate adult population in the deaths, two estranged sisters embark on a surrounding areas. Over 1,200 adults attended the schools, and the hiking trip in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. program inspired a national movement to eradicate adult illiteracy. Older sister Olivia is an atheist and an attor- In this fictional story inspired by true events, timid city girl Lucy ney with a Type A personality, while Mel- Wilson travels to Morehead, Ky., to work as an assistant to her cousin anie, a New Agey life coach with a large Cora. At first, she’s shocked by the primitive lifestyle of the mountain social media following, floats through life people, but the longer she stays the more she comes to admire their clinging to any spiritual belief that creates hardworking ways and reverence for God. With the encouragement “good vibes.” They clash, especially about of Cora and Brother Wyatt, the singing schoolmaster, Lucy sheds whether it’s appropriate to forgive the man her insecurities and discovers her real purpose. Well-drawn charac- responsible for the car wreck that killed ters and a compelling plot bring this slice of history to life. their parents. A kind fisherman named Josh—the name not coincidentally a deriv- ative of Yeshua—shows up at a crucial When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin: Evelyn Brand is an Amer- moment. His gentle nature and thoughtful ican journalist stationed in Munich, Germany, where Hitler’s Nazi dialogue help the sisters reconnect. party is growing in popularity and strength. Evelyn wants to succeed Although readers don’t get a clear-cut conclusion, they’ll see a hint of spiritual growth in both sisters.

02.13.21 WORLD 27 CULTURE Children’s Books Afterword Strength amid struggle Picture books for Black History Month by Kristin Chapman

The Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard: Mary Walker was 15 when the Emancipation Proclamation declared she was no longer a slave. Life, though, was still hard: Mary had to work long hours for a meager wage, and there was no time In This Is Your Time for school. One day an evangelist gave her a Bible and said, (Delacorte Press, 2020) “Your civil rights are in these pages.” Mary promised herself Ruby Bridges pens a letter she’d learn to read it, but never found time. Then at 114, Mary to America’s youth, decided the time had come. Note: Parents may want to edit beseeching them to con- out one phrase taking the Lord’s name in vain. (Ages 4-8) tinue pursuing racial equality. Bridges recounts becoming the first black Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome: While child in New Orleans to many books recount how African Americans escaped slav- integrate an all-white ery through the Underground Railroad, this one highlights elementary school, com- the lesser-known story of families who fled north to escape paring the racial tensions the bondage of sharecropping perpetuated in the post–Civil she faced in 1960 with War era. Poetic writing and mixed-media illustrations what our nation still capture the emotion of one fictionalized family’s journey wrestles with today. She to New York: “‘No more picking,’ Daddy said mad. ‘No more concludes the brief book working someone else’s land,’ Mama said proud.” A helpful book for discussing (55 pages) by reminding the injustices African Americans experienced post-slavery. (Ages 4-8) readers that love and grace “will allow us to respect the many ways God has made The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene all of us unique and will Barretta: Scientist and inventor George Washington Carver’s allow us to turn our stum- interest in agriculture began as a child with a garden that bling blocks into stepping helped him become an astute observer of creation. At home stones.” he learned to be creative with natural resources and not to Fourteen years before waste anything. As an adult, his ingenuity guided his research Bridges’ historic stand, and eventually transformed Southern farming. Sadly, this Marguerite de Angeli picture book only briefly alludes to Carver’s Christian faith. released her groundbreak- It concludes with a New Age–inspired message of “Regard ing children’s book Bright Nature. Revere Nature. Respect Nature.” (Ages 4-8) April, which portrayed an African American family living amid racial prejudice. A Ride To Remember by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan: For many African American As Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” children, it would mark the speech in Washington, D.C., in 1962, Sharon Langley and her first time they saw them- parents were making history in Baltimore. For years, Gwynn selves and their experi- Oak Amusement Park had barred African Americans, but ences sympathetically peaceful protests finally helped lead to its desegregation. The reflected in a book. Today Langleys were the first black family to enter the park, and the book’s plot and writing photographers captured Sharon’s historic ride on the park’s may seem old-fashioned, carousel. Although carousel horses come in all different col- but the message still ors, Langley writes, “Everyone is equal when you ride a carousel.” (Ages 5-8) resonates. —K.C.

28 WORLD 02.13.21

CULTURE Q&A

BEING BLACK IN AMERICA For blacks, life in America can be complicated, but Christ is an anchor for identity and purpose

KIRA DAVIS, 46, IS AN EDITOR-AT-LARGE for the website RedState and host of the podcast Just Listen to Yourself. She’s also a black SOPHIA conservative Christian who’s outspoken about her faith and history LEE of facing racial discrimination. She lives in Orange County, Calif., INTERVIEWS with her husband: They have two children, ages 18 and 13. Here are KIRA edited excerpts of our July conversation. DAVIS You grew up in Canada? On rural Prince Edward Island. Readers might know it from Anne of Green Gables. My mom was a single white

30 WORLD 02.13.21 ILLUSTRATION BY DOUGLAS B. JONES Canadian, my dad a black American. conversation. People in these neighbor- They divorced before my mother even hoods want life to get better, but they knew she was pregnant with me. I was feel helpless. What I don’t hear many the only black person in town. In school conservatives say is: “How do we solve I got beat up on the bus a lot, bullied a that?” They assume people just need to lot, called the N-word a lot. Kids rolled “buckle down and get to it.” Sure, some ice bricks in snow and threw them at people in the ’hood need to buckle down, me. My mom complained to the school EVERY STUDY no excuses. But generations have not had at first, but it was always, “If we can’t SHOWS THAT the opportunity to amass wealth and see it, we can’t do anything about it.” It education. My husband and I are only got too hard for me to watch her feel so HAVING A NUCLEAR two generations into beginning to store bad about it, so I didn’t tell her but just FAMILY IS ONE any kind of wealth or assets, while many endured it, thinking, “When I can, I’m OF THE KEY white families are already many gener- out of here.” That’s what I did. I couldn’t ations deep into that process. I now live get out fast enough. COMPONENTS in Orange County, where parents helped TO THE SUCCESS lots of people buy their houses. That’s When did you meet your dad? When I OF ANY CHILD OF generational wealth and assets that peo- was a teenager and moved to Washing- ple in the ’hood don’t have. ton, D.C., to stay with him. And so that ANY RACE. was another culture shock. I went from Now, what do liberals get wrong? They an all-white community to an almost think people aren’t capable of helping exclusively black inner city. themselves. They treat us like infants, like lowering the bar in academics. First time you were part of a majority- George W. Bush called that “the soft black community. The black community bigotry of low expectations.” Here’s soft has its own cultural reality that I wasn’t bigotry talk: “These people can’t help prepared for. Being biracial, I faced it. They’re not like us. They can’t clean almost the same amount of abuse there you are. You’re valuable as a child of the up their own communities. They can’t as I did in Canada. I had to learn how to kingdom. I have an identity, a purpose, attain higher rates of education. We have navigate that. Colorism—the way you a belonging. to give them things.” look at each other differently based on whether you’re lighter or darker What brought you to Gary, Ind., for 10 When talking about solving cyclical skinned—is a real thing in the black years? At 24 I married my husband, issues in poor minority communities, community. who’s from Gary. It’s a mini version of conservatives emphasize solutions such Detroit, but straight up ’hood, more as two-parent households, while liberals How do you explain colorism? (Sighs) dangerous. People who lived on the point to fixing systemic racism. What do It’s so hard to explain. We keep some South Side of Chicago called Gary scary: you think? The answer is multifaceted. things in-house, because otherwise it murder capital of the United States. I There is no replacement for the nuclear gives people yet another bludgeon wasn’t scared, because I knew it was family. Every study shows that having a against us. So I hesitate to answer. But God’s will for us to be there, but lots of nuclear family is one of the key compo- we do struggle with what being light- or drive-by shootings, pregnant teens, nents to the success of any child of any dark-skinned means. Who is black? Who gang wars. Still, while we have a crazy- race. One reason you see black commu- isn’t? What makes you black? If you’ve high single-parent household rate, those nities breaking down is fundamental never lived in the ’hood, are you black? young moms love their kids just as much family breakdown. Want to talk about as that suburban mom or the rich dad. an invisible minority? It’s the black Identity was a struggle for you? When I Both liberals and conservatives talk nuclear family. We do not exist to any- was young. Because I talk like a white about these areas using statistics, for- body, but we’re there! I’m part of a Canadian, black people said, “You talk getting people with pain who are look- nuclear family. funny. You’re not really black.” But in ing for hope and have dreams for their Canada, people called me the N-word kids, just like we all do. And education? About 50 percent of every day. I tried to prove I was a “good black males drop out of school. Black black person.” I became very liberal and What do conservatives miss? When we inner-city people need school choice. I militant about my racial identity as a talk about Black Lives Matter, many con- saw with my own eyes the helplessness black woman. That’s why it’s so impor servatives immediately ask why no one of parents having to send their kid year tant to have an anchor in Christ. It talks about black-on-black crime. It’s after year to a failing public school, doesn’t matter where you’re from, what true we have high black-on-black crime knowing a better one is 20 miles away, your experiences are, how good or bad rates, but we do talk about it, in in-house but they’re not allowed by law to

02.13.21 WORLD 31 CULTURE Q&A sions. Let’s just preach the gospel.” Peo- ple who say they don’t want to talk about race can say that because they don’t have to, but the rest of us do. That’s send their kids there. School choice also not a realistic approach. It doesn’t mat- gives us access to a network that helps ter where your politics are, we should us become future builders, CEOs, artists, always be concerned about justice. If musicians. When your network is just there’s injustice, it’s our responsibility the inner city, many people you grow to address that. Justice gets twisted up with end up in jail or on welfare. It’s when it becomes man’s justice. Man’s not just as easy as simply pulling your- idea of justice changes and justice can’t self up by the bootstraps, when the be based on that. We’re not reliable opportunities aren’t even there. PEOPLE WHO SAY enough. Justice is God’s justice. THEY DON’T WANT Let’s talk about an example of helping in TO TALK ABOUT You live in Orange County now: very dif- Gary. You opened an after-school pro- ferent lifestyle. Many people think of the gram there. My father-in-law, a pastor RACE CAN SAY THAT black American experience as life in a in Gary, found a grant to pay for an BECAUSE THEY place like Gary, but that’s not the expe- after-school program for kids to go to DON’T HAVE TO, rience of all blacks in America. Not any- study and be safe. We had mentors and more. My husband and I are raising black volunteers. A lot of my work was just BUT THE REST children in affluence. The black people being with these kids, talking to them. OF US DO. here are raising an entire generation of Many didn’t have parental support or kids who don’t know anything about the were living with grandparents who ’hood or poverty. My kids started their didn’t know how to navigate the school lives in the ’hood, but they don’t remem- system, so I’d go to their science fairs, ber much of that life. They’re really attend parent-teacher meetings, advo- suburbanized. My husband and I grew cate for them in school. up with certain cultural foods, like fried chicken, and this generation wants Sounds like you made an impact. I don’t sushi, but they’re still black people from know. After five years, we ran out of a line of black people. We’ve uncon- money, so the program shut down. We sciously passed down some things to need 10 more of those programs in the them. They’re not done being black. city, but we don’t have the money: No tax base, no big-money donors. Every- body’s scraping by, so fundraisers are out of the question. You need people from outside the community who believe in and support your mission. Emotional expenditure is also an issue. It’s hard to stay in that job, because you see so much. You don’t know if you’re affecting these kids’ lives, but you do it because you love it. I asked my father- in-law, the pastor, “How do you love these people when they make the same mistakes and go back to drugs over and Cartoon over again?” He said: “I do it because I know it’s not my job to save anybody. That’s Christ’s job. It’s my job to love people and show them God loves them.” That was life-changing advice for me.

Discussions about racial disparities have stirred divisions within our nation and churches. I have heard Christians say, “Talking about racial justice creates divi-

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hit The Harry The Harry DAVID GAHR/GETTY IMAGES GAHR/GETTY DAVID will too. ’ 144-page book of essays, essays, of book 144-page ’ And his voice! It was cracker-barrel cracker-barrel was It And his voice! weird the old, gets who Anyone Harry Smith died in 1991 at age 68. 68. age at Harry died in 1991 Smith last turned 82 who Stampfel, Peter The silliest B-side is probably Jim Jim B-side is probably The silliest Century 20th Peter Stampfel’s of cover Stampfel’s The silliest? kooky with a strained relationship to to relationship a strained with kooky whis it rendered dysphonia before pitch anyone But in 2019. pery and hoarse Rich Jonathan “gotten” ever has who Tim will find Stampfel’s man or Tiny endearing. singing go-for-broke populating American voices B-Sides Smith (1960), enhanced with “ooga-chakas” “ooga-chakas” with enhanced (1960), obvi The most Blue Swede. from on loan (1939, Wonderful” It’s Say “They ous? in case in love” being “falling the “it” Leonard The truest? forgotten). you’d (1988) Knows” “Everybody Cohen’s performer other The only hands down. such considered even have might who 1996. in died who Tim, Tiny is project a records old of collector An obsessive also he was bric-a-brac, exotic and other a eccentric, countercultural genuine a nutty Drugs, Generation. one-man Beat art—nothing experimental spirituality, him. beyond was arcane or offbeat to and contributed October B-Sides Smith rec where especially Smith, like lot a is theme recurring use—a drug reational song-by-song collection’s own his in who’ve those as But concerned. notes—is mis musical of his decades followed for love his attest, can chief-making folk. beyond far extends songs great Jackson’s “I Heard the Voice of a Pork a Pork of Voice the “I Heard Jackson’s Stomp Jug Cannon’s although Chop,” kazoo-har a (is that Wagon” “Riley’s ers’ many While duet?) comes close. monica dominat songs the gospel obvious, are are more even that guarantee 3 Disc ing “Moun Lamar Bascom Lunsford’s true. is all three. one, just cite to tain Dew,” Recorded in January. the streets refers title its 2001 and 2019, between co-founder Rounders Modal the Holy to him singing and features Stampfel Peter the of year each song from his favorite is old, selection every Not 20th century. along most, but American, or weird, the backing of playing the no-frills with the three. of two least is at musicians, “Running Bear” Preston’s Johnny

“I SAW AMERICA CHANGED BY MUSIC.” Harry Smith while accepting the Chairman’s Merit Award at the 1991 Grammy Awards ceremony. - - Anthol The Harry these days, days, these Harry Smith

Peter Stampfel’s 20th 20th Peter Stampfel’s , a compilation generally generally , a compilation was released in August. It It August. in released was Nineteen Eighty-Four

(Dust-to-Digital) and (Dust-to-Digital) 02.13.21 (Louisiana Red Hot), two box sets (four and three and three (four sets box two Hot), (Louisiana Red WORLD The Harry Smith B-Sides The Harry Smith The obvious, the silly, and the true define and the true define the silly, The obvious, VERYONE’S QUOTING VERYONE’S presents the flip sides of the 84 country, blues, folk, and folk, blues, 84 country, of the the flip sides presents con Harry Smith ethnomusicologist the that 78s gospel the as in 1952 release to Records vinced Folkway Folk Music American ogy of Stone. Rosetta the roots-music as regarded Smith B-Sides Smith Century mine purpose on and accidentally that respectively) discs has Marcus Greil the critic what of veins the rich musical America.” weird the “old, called so try this sentence on for size: “The obvious, the silly, the silly, “The obvious, size: on for so trysentence this be defended.” to got and the true had Music

34 folk eccentricities music’s Orteza Arsenio by American highlight sets American box Two

CULTURE andOld, weird, E these. Other points in Franklin’s favor: Encore He may resemble Andraé Crouch on the New albums cover, but he sang better, and the choir that responds to his calls on the more rousing numbers needed him more than look back vice versa. Noteworthy new or recent releases Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers’ Song- by Arsenio Orteza book Vol. 1 by Barry Gibb & Friends: The bad news: The eldest Gibb’s pant- ing vibrato hasn’t aged well. The good news: His country-vocalist “friends” Cinema Story by Claude Bolling: sing lead half the You can’t buy hard copies Bolling, who died in December at 90, time. In that and or digital files of How was a pianist-composer best known for every other way, Can You Mend a Broken his 1975 parlor-jazz collaboration with this project beats Heart (UMG), the Barry Jean-Pierre Rampal, Suite for Flute and the Beach Boys’ sim- Gibb–curated sound Jazz Piano Trio. Nothing even vaguely ilarly configured track to the recent HBO resembling that album’s curlicues and (and universally Bee Gees documentary filigrees shows up among these 26 selec- derided) 24-year-old Stars and Stripes of the same name. It’s for tions, which cherry-pick Bolling’s con- Vol. 1 by a (pardon the pun) country streamers only. And tributions to the mile. Not only do this album’s mostly since streamers now soundtracks of five pre–Saturday Night Fever Bee Gees outnumber everyone French films (begin- songs have more in common with coun- else by a lot, the many ning with 1971’s try-pop than that album’s mostly pre– previous Bee Gees Doucement les Pet Sounds Beach Boys songs ever anthologies, 2010’s basses and ending could’ve, but a few of them even flour- encyclopedic Mythology with 1980’s 3 hom- ish anew—“Words of a Fool,” for included, may as well mes à abattre) and treat listeners to a instance, and “Too Much Heaven,” never have existed. So, dizzying display of musical heteroge- which Alison Krauss sings straight like Greenfields, this neity. And—the lack of continuity not- through the roof. playlist testifies to the withstanding—it all sounds good. Big sole surviving Gibb band? Check. Gypsy jazz? Check. brother’s market savvy. Baroque strings? Menacing organs? The Rough Guide to the Roots of Gos- But to what else does it Saloon piano romps? Check, check, and pel by various artists: The title attest? check again. includes the word roots because all 26 The Gibbs’ pop savvy, tracks predate not only gospel’s use of of course. The Bee Gees drums and electric not only never met a pop Close to Thee by Ernest Franklin: The instruments but genre they didn’t like, Jewel Records black-gospel catalog is also the capacity of but they also never met a getting reissued again, this time as recording studios to pop genre that didn’t like downloadable MP3s. And while this 1972 accommodate large, them back. More to the album by the Texas-by-way-of-Chicago swaying choirs. point: Even though Barry singer-reverend who’s no relation to They also predate concludes the docu Aretha isn’t necessarily the best, it may the LP, the 45, hi-fi, and stereo. There’s mentary by saying (no be the timeliest. Both “Trying Times” nothing anachronistic, however, about doubt sincerely) that and “In Times Like These,” with their the messages. Get worked up along he’d trade all of the hits references to social with the Reverend A.W. Nix about the just to have his brothers strife, their bet- “Black Diamond Express to Hell.” Smile back again, you know ter-than–Staple as Washington Phillips calls Nicodemus perfectly well that if Singers lyrics, and an “educated fool.” Shudder at the raw such a miracle were to their musical tough- power of Blind Willie Johnson’s “God occur, the first thing that ness (bass and Don’t Never Change.” And marvel as he and they would do is drums figure high in Mother McCollum celebrates Jesus as go right back into the the mix), feel like mini time capsules her “air-o-plane” 42 years before Larry studio and start making not to be opened until, well, times like Norman would celebrate him as a U.F.O. hits again. —A.O.

CHRISTIE GOODWIN/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES 02.13.21 WORLD 35 TENSION HAS TO REMAIN Voices MINDY BELZ PART OF HOLDING OPEN THE “PEOPLE’S HOUSE” WHILE ALSO PROTECTING IT.

wanted a swift revocation of electoral results, but hours later those wheels were turning again. Reagan in his 1981 address called inauguration “a commonplace occurrence … and nothing less than a miracle.” That is why the world watches too. Ever since John Adams handed power to Thomas Jefferson in 1801 and departed Washington, the globe momentarily pauses Inaugural miracles to see whether a peaceful handover to a rival will happen in so powerful a place. Transfers of power Dangers are never far away. I was at my desk in the are special, but politics Longworth building two months after Reagan’s inaugu- is not ultimate ration when Capitol Police officers came to say, “The president has been shot.” The area went into lockdown, and for hours it was unclear what was happening. We know ORTY YEARS AGO I attended my first Inaugu- now that the president’s deputies prepared but never ration Day. For the occasion I bought a suit. signed letters to invoke the 25th Amendment as surgeons I was 20 years old and working for a operated to remove a bullet lodged near Reagan’s heart. Republican congressman from Arizona, The assassination attempt, attacks from Libyan ter- Eldon Rudd, back in the day when lawmak- rorists, and of course 9/11 forever changed working life ers hired people like me for speedy typing on Capitol Hill. They made normal metal detectors and skills and some shorthand. I attended college searches, even lockdowns. Tension has to remain part of F at night. I remember now the unmatched holding open the “people’s house” while also protecting excitement I had in that suit, a wool tweed blazer and it. It’s why we have to take seriously the threat of January’s pencil skirt, and setting off across the street with col- assault, work to regain trust in our institutions, and throw leagues from the Longworth House Office Building to the doors open to examine yet another new government. the Capitol, careless of the cold wind. We can do that without obsessing over politics or We roamed the East Front, watched the military investing in it at the expense of civic and church life. In color guard practice its drills and a regiment dressed my heady days treading the halls of Congress, who was in Colonial-era regalia heaving its muskets. Then we shaping my life? Not the president of the United States, found our way to the West Front, the National Mall much as I admired Reagan. Friends and colleagues who already filling with people behind us. We had special invited me to lectures and Bible studies were sowing passes giving us seats in a section beneath the inau- life-changing seeds. gural podium. We wore no permanent ID badges at I was a new believer, for the first time living away that time, and I remember barricades but no metal from home and family, restless, ambitious, and open to detectors. I remember being close enough to see Ron- temptations. When I arrived in Washington, I’d never ald Reagan’s face move as he took the oath of office, been to a Bible study, I lacked Christian disciplines, and to hear him compare America to a shining city on a I didn’t know how to begin finding a church. hill, and to feel then that it was. In God’s providence, my boss was a late-in-life Cath- The 2021 inauguration, taking place inside a mili- olic convert who hired among his staff believing Catho- tary cordon with a fraction of the onlookers, could lics, engaging Southern Baptists, and a hyper-extroverted not have been more different—made necessary by a charismatic evangelical. They invited me to their lunch- pandemic and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. time Bible studies and to lectures from luminaries like But those alterations don’t change what’s impor Francis Schaeffer, whose books I began devouring. tant: that Inauguration Day represents the triumph of I met rooted Christian thinkers whose testimonies I the institutions of our democracy over any one leader admired, including Richard Wurmbrand and Chuck Col- or party. It reminds us the wheels of democracy turn son. But it was my day-to-day friends who enveloped me slowly but surely. The mob of a few weeks before in the aroma of Christ, who gave me lasting treasures. That’s the work we can all do wherever we are, and it made my commonplace life miraculous.

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FAITHHOW CAN CHRISTIANS PREVENT POLITICAL PASSION FROM TURNING TO UNHOLY FUROR? by Jamie Dean

Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol on Jan. 6.

JOHN MINCHILLO/AP

38 WORLD 02.13.21

In an update on Jan. 10, he wrote: On the morning after the Capitol Hill riots, “Over the last 72 hours, I have received preacher Jeremiah Johnson posted a public apology on his namesake ministry’s multiple death threats and thousands website: “I would like to repent for inaccurately prophesying that Donald Trump upon thousands of emails from Chris- would win a second term as the President of the United States.” tians saying the nastiest and most vulgar A month before the 2020 elections, Johnson said he had a dream with three things I have ever heard toward my fam- parts: Amy Coney Barrett would be confirmed to the Supreme Court, the Los ily and ministry. … I truthfully never Angeles Dodgers would capture the World Series, and Donald Trump would win realized how absolutely triggered and the White House. When the first two events happened, Johnson thought the third ballistic thousands and thousands of seemed certain. saints get about Donald Trump. It’s ter- But on the day after Christmas—12 days after the Electoral College confirmed rifying. It’s full of idolatry.” President Joe Biden’s victory—Johnson told his 324,000 Facebook followers that Meanwhile, the nation still reeled he might soon retract his prophecy. from terrifying scenes at the Capitol A follower replied: “Hold fast … God waits till his people stand at the shores of that included mobs beating a police the sea before he parts them … too many prophecies are of one mind … that God officer outside. Inside the rotunda, pho- will expose the wicked and Trump will prevail to God’s glory.” tos showed a pair of men wearing mil- On Jan. 7, the day after Congress certified that Biden prevailed—and after a itary-style fatigues. On one arm, a patch mob of rioters stormed the Capitol in protest—Johnson posted an apology for affixed read, “Armor of God.” being wrong about Trump. He rejected the notion that Trump didn’t win because Plenty of Christians voted for Trump people didn’t pray enough. And he refused to say Trump actually did win but the without idolizing him, and the majority election was stolen: “I want to go on record: I was wrong, I am deeply sorry, and didn’t riot. But the religious fervor—and I ask for your forgiveness.” sometimes furor—surrounding Trump’s Johnson says the response was brutal. defeat raises questions for evangelicals

40 WORLD 02.13.21 WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES the House doors where congressmen and reporters took cover before evacu- ating to secure rooms. A bare-chested devotee of the QAnon conspiracy theory bellowed from behind his face paint and horned, fur hat. Another man toted a Confederate flag through the halls. Leo Kelly seemed surprised he wound up on the Senate floor shortly after Secret Service rushed Vice Presi- dent Mike Pence from the room. In an interview with LifeSite News, the Cedar Rapids man said he walked to the Cap- itol after the Trump rally. He was disil- lusioned by the outcome of the election, and says he thought: “None of my institutions are working. What am I supposed to do?” On the floor of the evacuated Senate, he watched a group pray behind the speaker’s desk, and said they “conse- crated it to Jesus. … That to me was the ultimate statement of where we are in this movement.” A reporter’s video from the Senate floor shows a group of rioters purporting to pray after an exple- tive-laden romp through the room: “Jesus Christ, we invoke Your name.” Joshua Black of Leeds, Ala., said he wanted to make a similar prayer, according to investigators. Authorities said Black acknowledged posting YouTube videos of himself from the Senate floor. An affidavit quoted Black as saying in Trump supporters pray and assemble near crowd that the radical left is “ruthless, one of the videos: “I wanted to get inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. and it’s time that somebody did some- the building so I could plead the blood thing about it.” A chunk of those crowds of Jesus over it. That was my goal.” across the theological spectrum: How streamed to the Capitol after the rally, Leo Guthrie Jr., of Cape May, N.J., can Christians promote good policy though Trump didn’t follow them. A also cited religious motivations. Guthrie without losing gospel perspective? How February impeachment trial in the U.S. said he didn’t enter the Capitol building, can we remind ourselves—and others— Senate will center on whether Trump but authorities arrested him for break- that politics is important, but not ulti- incited mobs to the mayhem that after- ing through a police barrier outside. He mate? noon. told a local news station he thought the Johnson, who still insists mod- The images near the Capitol were people who went into the Capitol were ern-day prophecies are legitimate jarring: One group constructed a make- wrong, but said, “This was about revival, despite the massive error regarding shift noose in clear sight of the Capitol it wasn’t about threats.” Trump, says he’s asking himself, “Have building. On the National Mall, another Law enforcement used Leo Kelly’s I traded the prophetic spirit for the man leaned into a giant wooden cross, online interview in a statement of facts political spirit?” apparently praying. One photo showed about the incident, and the FBI arrested a demonstrator hoisting two giant flags, him on charges that included knowingly It didn’t take long for the spirit out- one reading, “Make America Godly entering or remaining in a restricted side the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to go from Again,” and the other showing a doc- building without lawful authority. Offi- raucous to riotous, even as Christian tored image of Trump brandishing a cials filed similar charges against Black. symbols and language popped up in the machine gun. In the online video, Kelly said he crowd. The crowds forcing their way into didn’t cause damage, but he felt con- Earlier in the day, thousands the Capitol were jarring too: Some peo- flicted. He said in some ways it felt attended a rally where Trump told the ple snapped selfies, but others beat on wrong to “violate someone else’s space.”

SELCUK ACAR/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES 02.13.21 WORLD 41 “God will judge us for what we did,” he said. “I’m redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. There’s no judgment that stands against me—perhaps I did something wrong. ... What are Americans supposed to do?” It wasn’t immediately clear whether the accused rioters using Christian lan- “THEY’VE guage have roots in local churches, but UNDERMINED the answer to Kelly’s question isn’t complicated: Praying for elected leaders is THE FAITH OF Biblical, and peaceful protests are law- BELIEVERS, AND ful. But invading the seat of government as part of a spontaneous mob is anti- THEY’VE MADE IT thetical to Scripture. MORE DIFFICULT Russell Moore of the Ethics and Reli- gious Liberty Commission (ERLC) FOR CHRISTIANS lamented the mixing of Christian TO SHARE THE notions with a brute grab for political power. “The sight of ‘Jesus Saves’ and GOSPEL GOING ‘God Bless America’ signs by those vio- FORWARD.” lently storming the Capitol is about more than inconsistency,” Moore wrote. “It is about a picture of Jesus Christ and of His gospel that is satanic.” That’s not because the Bible doesn’t allow patriotism. In an interview, Moore said he wasn’t calling on Christians to stop serving their country or advocating for policy or participating in politics: adviser to Trump, held a prayer service his audience: “I believe something dra- “But if our country becomes ultimate, the day after the election, attempting matic is going to happen before Con- then we’re really not able to be patriots, to declare victory for the incumbent. gress votes on those electors. Something because our country can’t deliver on White called on angels from Africa and very dramatic that will change the out- being a god.” South America to intervene. She spoke come of that vote.” in tongues. She chanted: “I hear a sound The dramatic riot two days later The vast majority of Christians don’t of an abundance of rain, I hear a sound didn’t change the outcome of the vote. riot at government buildings, but devo- of victory.” Meanwhile, Jeremiah Johnson wasn’t tion to politics does grow intense. That’s The video went viral, provoking the only self-proclaimed prophet apol- not a new phenomenon, but it was par- scores of parodies and online skewering. ogizing for his predictions. In Northern ticularly pronounced after Biden White grew noticeably quiet about alle- California, Kris Vallotton of the charis- declared victory and Trump declared gations of election fraud and didn’t matic Bethel Church—home to the fraud in the November elections. persist in bolstering Trump’s claims that Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry At a “Jericho March” in December, the contest was stolen. and the widely popular Bethel Music— Christian author and radio host Eric Neither did Robert Jeffress, pastor apologized in November for predicting Metaxas emceed an event for Christians of First Baptist Dallas and a fervent a Trump win. to pray for Trump to prevail. Contro- Trump supporter and evangelical After followers questioned Vallotton, versial radio host Alex Jones offered a adviser. (At a “Celebrate Freedom” rally he removed the post. When Vallotton theological twist: “This is the beginning in 2017, the choir from Jeffress’ church reposted the apology on Jan. 9, a fol- of the great revival before the Antichrist sang an anthem dubbed “Make America lower replied: “The Red Sea didn’t part comes! Revelation is fulfilled!” He added: Great Again.”) Jeffress didn’t disavow until the Egyptians were right on top of “I don’t know who’s going to be in the Trump after the election, but he also them. It isn’t January 20 yet.” White House in 38 days, but I do know didn’t show up at rallies to protest the Biden and Vice President Kamala Joe Biden is a globalist, and Joe Biden outcome. Harris took the oath of office on Jan. 20. will be removed one way or another!” Other Christian leaders did persist: Johnson, Vallotton, and other The crowd roared. On Jan. 4—three weeks after the Elec- self-identified prophets contended their Paula White, a Florida-based char- toral College confirmed Biden’s vic- errors about Trump didn’t make them ismatic preacher and a chief evangelical tory—televangelist Pat Robertson told false prophets. But Vallotton admitted:

42 WORLD 02.13.21 LEFT: LEV RADIN/SIPA USA VIA AP; RIGHT: SAMUEL CORUM/GETTY IMAGES LEFT: Rioters trying to enter the Capitol pastors is “how to deal with these to banish Christian thinking from the building clash with police. RIGHT: A man social-media-generated conspiracy the- public square: “The solution to bad prays during the siege. ories and cultish ideas—and trying to examples of Christian political theology differentiate between ideas that are just is not to reduce all modern examples of “It’s obviously humiliating. … This is the flaky, and ideas that are truly dangerous.” Christian statecraft to simplistic, beginning of me cleaning up my mess.” self-serving narratives.” It’s not clear what that cleaning up In some quarters, fervency about Evangelicals disappointed in of the mess entails, but Holly Pivec, politics stems from fear of the alterna- Trump’s loss should look for ways to co-author of A New Apostolic Reforma- tive. work with the Biden administration, tion?—a book about Christians claiming Some Christians look at a changing particularly on bipartisan issues like to be modern-day prophets—says the national landscape and perceive legiti- criminal justice reform and interna- failed prophecies surrounding Trump mate threats on important issues. tional religious freedom. On issues brought “shame” to the Church: “They Andrew Walker, a professor of Chris- where disagreement is inevitable, it’s hurt its witness to the watching world, tian ethics and apologetics at the South- helpful to emphasize how policy that they’ve undermined the faith of believ- ern Baptist Theological Seminary, says reflects Biblical teaching promotes the ers, and they’ve made it more difficult Christians should confront erroneous common good, not just self-interest. for Christians to share the gospel going theology while also upholding faithful Whatever the outcome, Moore says forward.” Christian teaching. how Christians approach political Pivec thinks theology unmoored “Instrumentalizing religion for the engagement is key: “We have to be from the clear teaching of Scripture also sake of political power is indeed wrong,” engaging in policy as people who know makes followers vulnerable to the kind Walker wrote in a column for Public that our very survival as a church is not of conspiracy theories that have prolif- Discourse. “Where theological systems dependent upon whether we succeed erated in movements like the QAnon or historians assert that Christianity is or fail in civic initiatives.” He compares fantasy. divinely fused with American destiny, it to the posture of Shadrach, Meshach, That’s not just a problem in one theo- correction is warranted.” and Abednego in exile: “We’re asking logical branch. Russell Moore at the But Walker says it’s also unfair to use God for help in this scenario. But even Southern Baptist Convention’s ERLC said the faulty theology of some to charac- if not—we’ll trust Him. And we’ll be the No. 1 question he’s been getting from terize the beliefs of all Christians—or obedient to Him.”

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @deanworldmag 02.13.21 WORLD 43 SOUTHERNSOUTHERNSOUTHERN BAPTISTBAPTISTBAPTIST DIVISIONDIVISIONDIVISION

Amid debates on race within the Southern Baptist Convention, some black pastors wonder if it’s the right denomination for their churches

BY SOPHIA LEE

44 WORLD 02.13.21 02.13.21 WORLD 45 WIGHT MCKISSIC HAS wonderful memories of the Southern Baptist Convention as a black youngster. He watched black and white Baptists DDDpray and worship together, saw black and white pastors swap pulpits. His older siblings were all active with SBC-funded student groups in college. When he interned with a prison chaplain, the SBC financially supported him. So when McKissic, now the 64-year- old senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, joined the SBC in 1983, he did so with great opti- mism. At the time, he only vaguely understood parts of the SBC’s history— how a group of Baptists in the South split off from Northern Baptists over whether missionaries could own slaves, how multiple founding fathers of the SBC’s flagship institutions held slaves, or how, like many Southerners, South- ern Baptists defended segregation and supported the “Lost Cause” mythology until the 1940s. “But so much good was happening at the time that sort of smothered SBC’s very ugly racist history,” McKissic recalled. In 2011, John Onwuchekwa also joined the SBC, but with much less opti- mism than McKissic. Onwuchekwa is the 36-year-old lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, which he planted in 2015 with some financial help from the ABOVE: Pastor Dwight McKissic. PREVIOUS deep disparities between experiences SBC. For several years, he was active in PAGE: The 1950 annual meeting of the South- for black and white Christians. The 2016 ern Baptist Convention in Chicago (left); a the convention—preaching at the pas- prayer circle at a Baptist church in Los Angeles and 2020 elections, and many SBC lead- tors’ conference, speaking on panels, (below); a congregant from Bethel Baptist ers’ public support of President Donald and recruiting other black pastors into Church in Arlington, Texas (right). Trump, alienated some black members. the SBC. Still, Onwuchekwa said he They question: How much does the SBC joined with “hopeful skepticism”— prioritize racial reconciliation? Some hopeful, because he met a lot of South- nal orthodoxy drew many black Chris- Southern Baptists tell me the SBC has ern Baptists passionate about justice. tians, who benefited from fraternal and made racial progress, while others say But also skeptical: Forty years ago, an fiscal support: McKissic’s church it has regressed. SBC church told Onwuchekwa’s Nige- received a loan of $330,000 from the ria-born parents they weren’t welcome SBC in 1984 and another $3 million loan RECENT CONTROVERSY because of their skin color. in 1996, while Onwuchekwa accepted a showcases why some Many black Southern Baptists have $175,000 grant to help renovate his black members say the a complex relationship with the SBC. As church. These financial benefits some- SBC takes one step for- the largest Protestant denomination in times hold back disenchanted pastors ward and two steps the United States, the SBC has a rich, from fully withdrawing from the SBC. back when it comes to long-standing infrastructure of top- (McKissic said his church has since paid AAA race relations. On Nov. notch seminaries, church-planting and back more than what it had received.) 30, 2020, six SBC seminary presidents missions boards, programs and confer- But some black members wonder if released a statement condemning crit- ences, and lobbying arms. The SBC’s the SBC truly is home for them. National ical race theory (CRT). The statement commitment to evangelism and doctri- conversations on race have exposed declared that CRT, intersectionality, and

46 WORLD 02.13.21 MCKISSIC: PHOTO BY KIM LEESON/GENESIS; PREVIOUS SPREAD, 1950 SBC: SBCHISTORY.COM; LA BAPTIST CHURCH: JAE C. HONG/AP; MASK: DELCIA LOPEZ/THE MONITOR/AP on what it is and how to apply it. But it’s become a vortex sucking Biblical Chris- tians into heated debates: Some Chris- tians say CRT can be a useful tool in understanding long-persisting inequal- ities in society, so long as Christians don’t adopt it as an ideology or worldview. Others say CRT perpetuates some “WHILE SOME form of reverse racism against whites, PROGRESS HAS is no help for Christians navigating race issues, and has links to Marxism and OCCURRED, RECENT other ideologies that deemphasize per- EVENTS HAVE LEFT sonal responsibility. MANY BROTHERS On Jan. 20 a Stop Critical Race Theory coalition of law firms and AND SISTERS OF legal foundations filed three lawsuits COLOR FEELING against public institutions conduct- BETRAYED AND ing CRT programs, charging that they “perpetuate racial stereotypes, compel WONDERING IF THE discriminatory speech, and create hos- SBC IS COMMITTED tile work environments.” The coalition TO RACIAL said CRT programs “violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the United States RECONCILIATION.” Constitution.” The seminary presidents’ Nov. 30 statement contradicted the SBC’s Res- olution 9, adopted in 2019, which described CRT and intersectionality as “insufficient to diagnose and redress the root causes of social ills” but also sees them as helpful in “evaluating a variety of human experiences” so long as they are “only employed as analytical tools subordinate to Scripture—not as tran- scendent ideological frameworks.” “any version of Critical Theory” are Race Theory taught in our seminaries.” Mohler said the presidents’ state- “incompatible with the Baptist Faith Legal theorists and activists in the ment in November did not directly and Message.” In comments following 1970s developed CRT to attack laws and respond to Resolution 9, but “it’s cer- the statement, the presidents acknowl- systems that they say perpetuate tainly a part of the background.” Some edged that “racism still exists” and inequality. They looked at how once-law- Southern Baptist leaders are trying to opposed “the sin of racism.” ful practices such as segregation and rescind the resolution, saying it’s a sign Al Mohler, president of the Southern racial discrimination, though no longer of secular liberalism creeping into the Baptist Theological Seminary who ini- legal, created residues that still affect denomination. tiated the statement, told me the semi- people. Early last year those leaders formed nary presidents decided to address CRT Others objected. Conservatives the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN) after receiving constant questions from emphasized the positives in the Ameri- “to cultivate the momentum needed for Southern Baptists about it. (Mohler is a can experience. Marxists saw economic a course correction” in the SBC. They WORLD board member.) The statement class rather than race as the crucial aim to reboot a version of the “conser- doesn’t contain a clear definition of CRT divide, and feminists and LGBT leaders vative resurgence” that took place in or intersectionality, or what specifically focused on sex. A new doctrine, inter- 1979 when initiators tried to flush is problematic about them. But Mohler, sectionality, emerged: It emphasizes left-leaning leaders and professors out who’s running for SBC president this multiple overlapping (or “intersecting”) of the SBC. More than 2,500 churches year, told me the presidents’ purpose identities—race, class, gender, religion, signed on within the first two days of the was “not to issue a comprehensive anal- sexual orientation, etc.—that may dis- network’s formation, and it currently ysis [of CRT] but a statement that would advantage people. has more than 6,000 members. One of just signal and inform Southern Baptists CRT is complicated, and some CRT CBN’s objectives has been to remove that we’re not going to have Critical scholars even disagree with one another Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

02.13.21 WORLD 47 (ELRC) President Russell Moore, whose consulted black SBC pastors before open criticism of Trump has spurred releasing the statement, but they refused many Southern Baptists to call for a to modify it. McKissic called their stance change. CBN recently nominated Mike on CRT “a sledgehammer to a nuanced Stone, a Georgia pastor and member of conversation.” Mohler said he recognized CBN’s 48-member Steering Council, to that the seminary presidents’ stance will be the next SBC president. Stone chaired “disappoint” some, but added, “I think the task force that reviewed “the past the overwhelming majority of Southern and present activities” of ERLC. Baptists will appreciate it.” In light of the movement, some black members eyed the seminary presidents’ IXED REACTIONS TO statement with suspicion. At least four hot-button racial black churches left the SBC as a result. issues aren’t new in They’re less upset with the rejection of the SBC. In 1954, the CRT and are more concerned with the SBC affirmed the U.S. timing and implication of the statement: Supreme Court’s deci- Why a whole statement on CRT while MMMsion on Brown v. Board of Education of staying silent on other problems within Topeka, in which the court ruled that evangelicalism such as Christian nation- state-mandated racial segregation in alism, which may have played a part in public schools was unconstitutional. the Jericho March and the Capitol riot? That was the position of the denomina- “I’m no CRT advocate,” McKissic tion’s leadership, but many local clergy tweeted. “When we open our Bible, God strongly opposed it. In 1964, the SBC opens His mouth. The Bible doesn’t bow narrowly defeated a motion to affirm to CRT. CRT must bow to the Bible. The that year’s Civil Rights Act, and it wasn’t irony though is six Anglo males, until four years later, when Martin denouncing a racial theory, in a room Luther King Jr. was assassinated, that it where [African Americans] have been released a statement denouncing rac- systematically denied access, exempli- ism—though, again, not without bitter fies CRT.” opposition. Soon after the presidents’ statement, In 1995, by a nearly unanimous vote, National African American Fellowship the SBC adopted a historic resolution (NAAF) President Marshal Ausberry that apologized for the denomination’s issued a statement reaffirming the role in “condoning and/or perpetuating supremacy of Scripture, adding, “there individual and systemic racism in our are ideologies from a sociological and lifetime.” It was a striking, bold move— The 2018 annual meeting of the Southern anthropological perspective [that] when the first time Southern Baptists officially Baptist Convention in Dallas, Texas used appropriately, help us to better and directly addressed their denomina- understand the inner workings of living tion’s pro-slavery roots and acknowl- in a fallen and sinful world.” When those edged that “the racism which yet of black churches joining the SBC spiked ideologies conflict with Scripture, “it is plagues our culture today is inextricably 43 percent between 1998 and 2002. Scripture that governs our worldview, tied to the past.” Today, about 1 in 5 of SBC’s 45,000 our decisions, our lives.” The resolution earned national churches is predominantly black, Latino, Another group of Southern Baptist praise, but some were still skeptical, or Asian. pastors also penned a statement saying, including McKissic. In 2012, the SBC Furthermore, when J.D. Greear “While some progress has occurred, elected its first black president, Fred became SBC president in 2017, he pri- recent events have left many brothers Luter Jr., though the position doesn’t oritized seeking racially diverse candi- and sisters of color feeling betrayed and come with much executive power. dates. The majority of his committee wondering if the SBC is committed to Today, though, none of the major SBC appointments are minority members, racial reconciliation.” institutions has a nonwhite president. mostly from smaller churches. Many The seminary presidents and NAAF “That to me speaks volumes,” McKissic Baptist state conventions that affiliate leaders met virtually on Jan. 6 to discuss said. with the SBC have elected nonwhite CRT and race relations. McKissic, who Many black Southern Baptists say presidents. The International Mission participated in the meeting, described they want to see action, not resolutions Board’s goal is to have 75 black mission- it to me as “very robust” and “mutually condemning racism. Some say the SBC aries by 2025. (Its 2020 report says it respectful,” as did Mohler. In that meet- has taken those actions. They note that has 13 black missionaries out of 3,700.) ing, the presidents said they should have after the 1995 resolution, the number The NAAF and the North American Mis-

48 WORLD 02.13.21 RODGER MALLISON/FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE VIA GETTY IMAGES sion Board are also launching an out- tions about the SBC’s racial commit- Last year McKissic said his church reach effort to black churches. Those ment and also kept his church’s planned to stay in the SBC. But after are all steps the SBC has taken to show affiliation with the Progressive National the statement on CRT and the Jan. 6 it’s “committed to heading in the right Baptist Convention, an African Amer- meeting between the seminary pres- direction,” said Executive Committee ican Protestant denomination. His hes- idents and black pastors, he CEO Ronnie Floyd: “Our heart is to do itations grew last year, particularly announced his church is pulling out the right thing.” when Mohler publicly supported Pres- of his state Southern Baptist Conven- ident Trump. tion for now and may decide to leave HARLIE DATES, THE 39- Onwuchekwa’s “hopeful skepticism” the national SBC if it rescinds Reso- year-old senior pastor of morphed to full-blown skepticism in lution 9 in June. Progressive Baptist 2020, as crowds decried racial injustice. It’s a tough decision for McKissic. Church in Chicago, Though many prominent SBC leaders He still feels indebted to the SBC. He which joined the SBC publicly grieved George Floyd’s death, remembers the Southern Baptist hym- last year, told me he’s Onwuchekwa said some in the SBC nals and magazines scattered through- CCnot impressed: “It hasn’t fixed the prob- fought over terms like CRT and Black out his childhood home and his rich lem.” Dates had a tough time convincing Lives Matter: “It’s actually popular to theological education at an SBC sem- his church members to join the SBC. stand against racism, and it’s still not inary: “It’s a mixed bag. There is some When they cited the SBC’s history, Dates clear to you?” After nine years in the appreciation to the convention that told them, “That was the old Southern SBC, his church voted to leave the invested in you and birthed you. It’s Baptists,” pointing to SBC programs denomination last June. Dates’ church like, you don’t turn on grandmama that train young black pastors. But like also left soon after the seminary presi- and mama because they have issues, Onwuchekwa, he held strong reserva- dents’ CRT statement. you still love and support them.”

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @sophialeehyun 02.13.21 WORLD 49 Eatz restaurant owner Mark Canty

50 WORLD 02.13.21 CANTY PHOTOS BY PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY/GENESIS A DAY IN THE LIFE OF BUSINESS SURVIVORS

Jan. 9 was one more day of the continuing pandemic. With national unemployment hovering at 7 percent and the stock market near its all-time high, 20 World Journalism Institute students sought street-level views of how small businesses in America and beyond were faring

by MARVIN OLASKY and THE 2021 WJI MID-CAREER CLASS

02.13.21 WORLD 51 On Jan. 9 Mark Canty, an Air Force veteran and owner of Eatz in Bristol, Va., taped off five of his tables, leaving six for customers. Two were occupied at lunchtime as Canty pulled six racks of ribs and four half-chickens out of his smoker.

52 Eatz sits between an antique store on one side and two alizations hard: some small businesses mostly dead, oth- closed businesses on the other. The restaurant shut down ers slowed down, some speeding up and innovating, for three months last year but has now climbed back to others deepening community ties, and most working 45 percent of its pre-pandemic business. Only four of the among thorns and thistles for their daily bread. eight pre-pandemic employees, all family members, are Restaurants are hit hard. At PJ’s Coffee in El Dorado, still working. But on the sound system Diana Ross was Ark., five customers sat in booths at the back of the narrow singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” shop as a frozen-drink machine whirred behind the That same day Larry Faulkner, wearing a camouflage counter. A chalkboard high on the wall advertised “Live face mask and blue plaid work shirt, punched cash reg- Music!” in colorful letters but listed only a few faded band ister keys at Green Bay Cycles in suburban Chicago and names from pre-COVID-19 days, when local bluegrass said business was great: “Huge demand for bikes. People groups played to standing-room-only crowds. Alonzo are afraid to go to an enclosed gym.” Faulkner listed hot Johnson put down the plastic container from which he items: Stationary bike kits. Specialty shoes for Peloton was eating carrot sticks and prepared a coffee—and then bikes. Teenage boy mountain bikes. He fielded a call about a group of teenagers came in, laughing and filling the a girl’s bike needing repair: “Bring it in.” room with their chatter and jostling. When their coffees The Eatz diet is more common than the bike shop were ready, they fluttered out onto the town square like boom, but our students found a land that makes gener- a flock of birds. Even with her family business operating at 25 percent capacity, Nancy McClaren at J&J’s Family Restaurant in Pittsburgh considers herself blessed: Business is “not as good as it was, but not as bad as it could be.” Outside, peeling paint and burn marks surround the storefront’s bright green-and-yellow façade, but the look doesn’t much matter because most of the business now is by delivery. McClaren almost gave up during a ban on in-person dining, but then the owners of Shop ’n Save next door said they had $300 to feed employees—what could J&J do with that? McClaren’s team delivered sausage, bacon, home fries, and French toast: “Felt like divine interven- tion.” Other enterprises have also had it tough. North Caro- lina health regulations allow five customers at once inside Unique Highly Favored Beauty Supply Store. That’s more customers than owner Artesa McLean sees on many days. The first black-owned beauty supply store in Whiteville, an eastern North Carolina town of 5,000, has bubble- gum-pink walls displaying hairpieces and styling tools. “Black Lives Matter” shirts hang facing windows over- looking Main Street and a set of rusted train tracks. McLean ships specialty hairpieces and skin products to beauty professionals across the country, but they are also suffering, and she hasn’t attracted local customers. If sales don’t improve within two months, McLean plans a move to Lumberton, 35 miles away, in search of “a bigger crowd.” In Belvidere, N.J., Vincent’s Hair Cuttery Plus faces the only traffic light in town. On Jan. 9 Vincent Carlucci cut one man’s hair. The other seven chairs—four turned toward the wall—were empty. Leafless philodendron vines climbed the salon wall toward the light of an upper window. Taco John’s in Altoona, Iowa, was more lively, although the dining room was empty: All of the fast-food restaurant’s employees now focus on the drive-thru, which prides itself on having a speed eight seconds faster than brand average. Speed is also essential on Saturday morning in the Stone Ridge suburb of San Antonio: When one high-in-

02.13.21 WORLD 53 tensity workout at Orangetheory Fitness ended, Kalista LEFT: Vincent Carlucci, owner of Vincent’s Hair Cuttery Plus Stephens grabbed the gray plastic utility wagon housing in Belvidere, N.J., had to close shop for almost four months, but his business is slowing returning. RIGHT: Gyms across the bottles and wipes she uses to—presumably—remove the country, like this one last summer in Redondo Beach, any stray COVID-19 risk. The medicinal odor of the green Calif., struggled to stay open due to government lockdowns disinfectant in her paint sprayer was so pungent that it and people opting to work out at home. penetrated her black mask trimmed with orange. As pop music pulsed, she raced under the glow of orange lights On Saturday morning, Jan. 9, Fabian Leite wore a face to finish before the next group arrived. Classes now feel shield while shuttling freshly baked scones. Nine of the full at 75 percent. Location is vital for Orangetheory and 10 socially distanced tables were full, and a drop box for Inclusion Coffee, a student hangout close to the Uni- labeled “Prayer” may have been full as well. Two teenag- versity of Texas at Arlington. ers in leather club chairs tapped on laptops, and Lindsey ushered a group of women into the separate meeting SOME BUSINESSES with strong community ties are sur- room. To survive pandemic restrictions, the Leites baked viving. Sweet Brown Suga in Grayson, Ga., reported on whole quiches and boxes of muffins for customers to take Dec. 31, “What a Year!!!! Thanks to all our supportive home, and later launched online cooking classes. customers, family and friends we worked so hard and give Many businesses, including Landscape Concepts of the glory to God for getting us through.” Early in January Fairfax (Virginia), received initial help from the federal Fabian and Lindsey Leite, owners of Wesley Owens Coffee Paycheck Protection Program, but they’re now wading & Cafe in Monument, Colo., were still speaking of their within a river still cresting. success just before Christmas when 180 regulars and locals Owner Dale Sykes faces the cancellation of home and settled in lawn chairs in front of the café as a traditional garden shows this winter: They normally stream thousands Lessons and Carols service began. The Leites, who immi- of potential customers past landscape designers, interior grated from London eight years ago, served free hot choc- decorators, and builders. Last year Sykes already had his olate while live sheep, goats, and a donkey became part leads when COVID-19 hit, but this year, “I’ll be looking of a Nativity scene. Magi arrived via llama. for new ways of marketing.”

54 WORLD 02.13.21 CARLUCCI: PHOTO BY DANIELLE RICHARDS/GENESIS; GYM: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES customers. Owner Aminul Hogue, wearing a black face mask underneath reddened eyes, was chipping chicken from the grill. His revenue is 60-90 percent below pre-lockdown results. Canada has some tax exemption and wage subsidy plans for employers, but Hogue has depended on personal loans to maintain his restaurant and house. His wife and daughter, who work at the restaurant, have added part-time jobs. In his Bangladeshi accent, Hogue said, “Maybe we can survive six months. But if the lockdowns and restrictions continue past that, we will close the restaurant.” In Chichicastenango, Guatemala, the pandemic almost forced a closedown of Tziguan Tinamit, a restaurant in a two-story yellow building squished between a car parts store and a law office. But Paolo Tol has spent the last 14 years in this mountain town baking pizzas and making meals: He wasn’t ready to give up. Tol gave deliveries a try and certified his restaurant through the health center and national police. Then his phone started ringing. Peo- ple were hungry. The first day, Tol loaded a meal into his 1998 brown Chevy Blazer and drove through the empty streets. Eight times police pulled him over and checked his paperwork before waving him onward. But when he arrived at customers’ houses and gave a friendly beep on his horn, they came out—sometimes in pajamas and socks—and grate- fully received food through the window. Then Tol headed back to the kitchen where his wife, Gabriela, was packing up his next delivery. The empty streets made him sad, Tol said, but delivering food is important, and he thanked Other businesses have prospered in COVID-19 time. On God for the work. Jan. 9 Gil Lohr sat in front of his white-stoned house over- In Jerez, Mexico, a municipality in the north-central looking the hills of northwest Austin and said his luxury state of Zacatecas, COVID-19 life has been hard. Day home business is “booming.” He adjusted the mask over laborer Leobardo Rosales lost his work when the Mexican his salt-and-pepper beard and explained: High-tech work- economy closed last March. The cost of a kilo of eggs ers, thriving in the COVID-19 economy, want spacious houses jumped from $1.68 to $3.68. A ramen noodles foam cup with offices at home. They want larger yards and pools for went from 50 cents to 90. No one wanted to buy Rosales’ children. Many, moving to Texas from California and other 19 sheep. For three months his family survived with help expensive areas, bought homes after only a virtual tour. from friends in the United States. He found his first few South Carolina real estate agent Michelle Zawacki has also jobs in September when the government removed fines been busy, but pandemic uncertainty remains: “Even though for working. business is booming, I’m still anxious.” On Jan. 9 Rosales fed alfalfa to the sheep in his corral Business has been steady for Little Red Stool Organiz- with its 12-foot walls of cinder block. He lost a newborn ing in Augusta, Ga., which seeks to help people declutter lamb after he put it in the camper to keep warm. The lamb and organize their homes. Shannon Simoneau says “peo- soaked itself in urine and died in the cold. Its mother had ple are ready to get rid of things,” and more time at home no milk because Rosales had no feed. He hated entering has meant more time to declutter. Some have cleaned out the corral to the constant bleating of hungry sheep. But junk rooms. Others have finally purged years of posses- early in January Rosales found construction work: With sions, at times burying dreams of having children that his first full week of pay since March he was able to pay never came true. Simoneau says “beauty comes from for utilities and buy feed for his sheep. ashes. I see lives transformed.” —with reporting by Helen Lowe, Don Thompson, Julie Spencer, Heather Frank, Diana Matthews, Amy Lewis, Dave Aelts, Amy Morgan, Harriet WJI STUDENTS ALSO VISITED businesses in Canada, Gua- Ramos, Akilah Clarke, Bill Denham, Rich Gaffin, Taylor Farrar, Ivan temala, and Mexico. In Brampton, Ontario, a quiet Toronto Mesa, Samuel Sey, Michael Shead, Todd Schierkolk, Matt Connally, suburb, Epic Pita at the corner of a strip mall had no and Judy Whaling

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @MarvinOlasky 02.13.21 WORLD 55 Christian Benny Tai helps lead Hong Kong’s fight for democracy even as Beijing continues its clampdown by JUNE CHENG and ERICA KWONG

FREEDOM

JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON JAN. 7, legal scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting solemnly walked FIGHTERout of the Ma On Shan police station in a black coat and a face mask to a scrum of reporters and flashing cameras. A day earlier, police had rounded up Tai and 52 other pro-democracy figures on suspicion of subversion in an early morning raid. Their crime: taking part in an unofficial primary election Tai had spearheaded. Police released Tai, 56, on bail without charges after more than 30 hours of ques- tioning. They barred him from leaving the city. “Hong Kong has entered a cold winter. The wind is strong and cold,” he told reporters. “But I believe many Hong Kongers will still use their own way to move forward against the wind.” For the past eight years, Tai has walked against the wind by engineering nonviolent strategies—public discussions, strategic voting, and civil disobedience—for Hong Kong citizens in a city that has grown increasingly deaf to the will of the people and the rule of law. Although his plans sounded far-fetched when he proposed them, they’ve had an immense influence in shaping Hong Kong’s democracy movement. Authorities sentenced Tai to 16 months in prison for “inciting” the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests, and last July he lost his long-held position as an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). With the passage of a draconian national security law last June, his January arrest is likely only the beginning of further punishment.

56 WORLD 02.13.21 NORA TAM/SCMP/NEWSCOM

Despite the dire situation Hong Kong A few years later an abrupt breakup ABOVE: Benny Tai speaks to reporters now faces, Tai still holds onto hope of with his girlfriend crushed Tai. The blow while leaving the Ma On Shan police station after being granted bail in Hong Kong the city’s eventual rebirth. He finds left him with insomnia and unable to on Jan. 7. RIGHT: Tai at a 2014 rally. encouragement in the increased civic study for his exams to graduate. Tai’s engagement among Hong Kongers and Christian roommate suggested he try the growing calls for international sanc- praying. Desperate, he looked out his reforms, Tai wrote. Nonviolent civil dis- tions against the Chinese Communist dorm window at the dark, cloudy sky obedience was sometimes necessary to Party. Tai’s activism flows from his Chris- and prayed, “Please let me sleep open the public’s eyes to injustices that tian faith. tonight.” That night, he did. God hates. “As long as there’s injustice in soci- The answered prayer led him to fol- Looking back, he now sees how his ety, as long as authoritarian rule still low God, but it wasn’t until the spring life experiences and research led him to bars civil liberties, protest is putting of 1990, Tai says, that he became a Chris- kick-start Occupy Central, one of the faith into practice,” Tai wrote in his 2020 tian. While studying for his master’s largest protest movements in Hong memoir Love and Peace—The Unfin- degree at the London School of Eco- Kong. “It seems that very early on, the ished Journey of Protest. nomics, Tai attended a camp organized Lord who made me and loves me already by a Chinese church where he prayed, knew that at the start of 2013 I would BEFORE 2013, Tai was relatively unknown “Lord, I’m willing to put my life in Your start a political movement that’d change in Hong Kong, his native city. He attended hands.” Hong Kong,” Tai wrote in the memoir. Diocesan Boys’ School, a prestigious Starting in 2004, he focused his aca- Anglican secondary school, yet rejected demic research on the intersection of IT STARTED WHEN TAI penned an article Christianity. After gaining acceptance law and religion, and found justice titled “Civil Disobedience’s Deadliest to HKU, the best school in the city, he bridged the two. Biblical justice doesn’t Weapon” in Hong Kong Economic Jour- told a classmate “religion is just comfort just mean helping others on a personal nal. He outlined a plan to occupy the for the weak. I don’t think I need that level. It also involves combating systemic roads in Central, the city’s main business right now,” according to his memoir. injustice through political and legal district, to pressure Beijing to allow

58 WORLD 02.13.21 PAUL YEUNG/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES universal suffrage in the 2017 election posal to the government. If Beijing later when the Standing Committee of for Hong Kong’s chief executive. By then rejected it, then at least 10,000 people the National People’s Congress ruled it had been 16 years since the British would occupy Central. that Hong Kongers could only pick from handed Hong Kong back to China on The trio announced the creation of two or three preapproved candidates the basis that Beijing would grant the the group at Kowloon Union Church in for chief executive. Students boycotted former colony a high degree of auton- March 2013, two months after Tai’s arti- classes and took to the streets over the omy for 50 years. Yet China’s central cle was published. Tai pointed to the decision, leading OCLP leaders to launch government reneged on its promise: It church’s cross and noted it symbolized their protest on Sept. 28. continually delayed allowing Hong the spirit of civil disobedience: The suc- Thus began the 79-day occupation Kongers to vote for their leaders. cess of the movement depends on the that saw more than 100,000 protesters Tai’s article quickly circulated in self-sacrifice of citizens. take to the streets. With different fac- Hong Kong and thrust him into the lime- Tai paid a heavy price: He and his tions within the pro-democracy camp, light. More comfortable in academia, family received death threats that par- the protest quickly veered out of the Tai wanted someone else to lead the alyzed him with fear. Chinese state Occupy trio’s hands. That December, Tai pro-democracy movement, but no one media accused Tai of being a puppet and other key leaders turned themselves stepped up. So he contacted sociology manipulated by the United States in an in to the police for holding an unautho- professor Chan Kin-man and democracy attempt to foment a revolution. At one rized assembly. activist Pastor Chu Yiu-ming, and the point, Tai wondered why at age 48 he Beijing refused to budge, and in 2017 three co-founded Occupy Central with had given up a comfortable life for one a 1,200-member committee elected Car- Love and Peace (OCLP). filled with fatigue and fear. But he says rie Lam as the city’s chief executive. But Tai’s proposed plan included televis- God reassured him. the protests accomplished two of Tai’s ing Hong Kongers discussing how they In June 2014, the online referendum other goals: They engaged large swaths wanted to choose their leader, then a exceeded all expectations: Nearly of the public in civic affairs and attracted referendum on their preferred method. 800,000 people participated. Yet the the attention of the international com- Leaders would submit the winning pro- celebration quickly ended two months munity as images of young protesters

MAY TSE/SCMP/NEWSCOM 02.13.21 WORLD 59 using umbrellas to fend off riot police vote in the November district council appeared on TVs around the world. election. Pro-democracy candidates won a whopping 388 seats, holding majori- THE END OF THE Umbrella Movement ties in 17 of Hong Kong’s 18 districts. left many activists discouraged and In a New York Times op-ed, Tai noted hopeless. But Tai set his eyes on the 2016 that while the pro-democracy camp’s legislative election. In Hong Kong’s “astonishing victory” can’t fix Hong semi-democratic system, voters elect Kong’s undemocratic systems, “it is a only half the seats in the Legislative fresh opportunity to cultivate the city’s Council (LegCo). So Tai proposed Proj- democratic spirit … when our time ect ThunderGo, an election drive to comes to fully and freely exercise real prevent pro-Beijing lawmakers from democracy, the Hong Kong people will reaching a two-thirds majority. be ready for it.” In the end, the pro-democracy bloc made significant gains, winning 29 of RIDING THE WAVE of victory, Tai pro- the 70 seats. But the excitement was posed his “35-plus” plan of holding a again short-lived: In March 2017, the primary within the pro-democracy government arrested Tai and eight other camp ahead of the 2020 LegCo elections Occupy leaders on obscure public nui- to maximize the chances of winning a sance charges. A few months later, a majority. With at least 35 seats, pro- Hong Kong court disqualified six of the democracy officials could block bills and newly elected pro-democracy lawmak- pressure the government to take on the ers for criticizing China while taking protesters’ demands. their oaths of office. Yet weeks before the primary took Still, Tai kept busy. In 2017 he place last July, Beijing dealt another unveiled Project Storm, which focused blow to Hong Kong by implementing on the 2019 election for district coun- the national security law. Suddenly even cilors, a local government position that reciting the popular protest slogan “Lib- typically leaned pro-establishment. He erate Hong Kong, revolution of our hoped to double the number of pro-de- times” could lead to a sedition charge. mocracy district councilors to more than Hong Kong authorities warned that 200 of the 431 seats—giving them more participating in the unofficial primary sway in the election committee that could violate the new law, pointing to selects the chief executive. an article Tai had written in April detail- He encouraged more democracy ing 10 steps to laam chau, a term used supporters to run for district council among protesters that translates to “If and held training sessions for those we burn, you burn with us.” In it, he says interested in running. But in April 2019 if pro-democracy lawmakers won a Hong Kong courts found Tai guilty of majority, they could vote down the two public nuisance charges and sen- annual budget. According to the Basic tenced him to 16 months in prison. Every Law (Hong Kong’s mini-constitution), day in his jail cell Tai read Psalms, a that would trigger the dissolution of habit he continued after he was released LegCo as well as the resignation of the four months later on bail while awaiting chief executive. Yet Tai argued the pri- “IF WE ARE TRULY appeal. mary was solely to help the public GUILTY, THEN OUR The Hong Kong he returned to after choose the best candidates, none of CRIME IS DARING TO stepping out of the detention center was whom was required to adhere to his 10 wildly different: In June, the Hong Kong steps and veto the budget. SOW HOPE EVEN IN government drafted an extradition bill The day before the primary, police THIS DIFFICULT TIME that would allow Hong Kongers to stand raided the research office that set up the IN HONG KONG.” trial in mainland Chinese courts. That website and app for the primary, alleg- set off the anti-extradition law protests ing a data leak. in 2019 that lasted more than six months. Still, about 610,000 Hong Kongers One result of the protests—and the showed up, lining up at polling stations heavy-handed response from the gov- at the offices of district councilors, street ernment—is that Project Storm barreled corners, restaurants, and even a con- ahead as people turned out in droves to verted double-decker bus. Some resi-

60 WORLD 02.13.21 JUSTIN CHIN/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES dents held up umbrellas to block the Tai (center) and other OCLP leaders enter plan. This one, called Project Lazarus, sun as they waited in the nearly the courtroom at a 2019 sentencing for their has a long-term goal—to prepare Hong roles in the 2014 Occupy protests. 90-degree heat. Police officers patrolled Kongers for the rebirth of the city’s rule certain polling stations, some taking of law after tyranny ends. Through his photos, but did not interfere. including organizers and candidates. If online Patreon account, he teaches After the success, another stunning Tai and the others are charged and con- classes to educate local citizens about blow: Besides barring 12 primary win- victed, they could face up to life in the law and plans to facilitate citywide ners from running for office, the Hong prison. discussions—similar to those held Kong government made the primary during Occupy Central—on what a new, moot by delaying the September elec- YING FUK-TSANG, a professor at the democratic Hong Kong could look like. tions for a year, ostensibly due to the divinity school at Chinese University of He is also working on a book that would COVID-19 pandemic. Hong Kong, described Tai as a “frus- explain the rule of law in layman’s terms. Since then, the Hong Kong govern- trated sower” persisting in sowing hope Tai summed up his life philosophy ment has removed four pro-democracy in a free Hong Kong. His perseverance during his closing argument at the lawmakers for “threatening national is rooted in God’s calling in the Bible, Occupy Central trial in 2018: “If we are security,” which led the remaining 15 including to “do justly and to love truly guilty, then our crime is daring to pro-democracy lawmakers to resign in mercy” (Micah 6:8). sow hope even in this difficult time in solidarity. Today, pro-Beijing lawmakers After HKU fired Tai in July from the Hong Kong. I’m not afraid or ashamed mostly fill LegCo. position he had held for nearly 30 years, to go to prison. If this cup of suffering Then came the Jan. 6 crackdown on rather than wallowing and giving up, cannot be taken away, I will drink it 53 people involved in the primary, he did what he does best: initiate a new without regret.”

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @WORLD_mag 02.13.21 WORLD 61 THE WORLD’S LARGEST GATHERING OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATORS

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Sports History Technology

IN 2009, MATT PRICE was 23 and had recently moved to Austin when a friend PLAYING BALL asked him to help coach the baseball team at Reagan High School, an aca- demically failing school where Price IN AUSTIN found discouraged players and a ball- An Austin baseball program provides field full of weeds and potholes. gospel-centered mentorship, fun, and hope The baseball team told him they had for kids in the inner city nowhere to play during the summer, so Price and a friend organized a summer by Charissa Koh team. In the process, they built relationships with the players—many of

HANDOUT 02.13.21 WORLD 63 NOTEBOOK Sports on the kid. … We just tried to do as much as we could to just take that kid in and love him.” Darius Stewart, a sophomore who whom had no fathers at home—and plays shortstop for one of Naumann’s talked about the gospel. teams, said he’s been playing baseball Price soon learned about Major since he was 3. “Most teams don’t give League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in you a chance,” he said. “You mess up, Inner Cities (RBI) program: It provides you out of there.” But he sees a differ- baseball and player development for ence at RBI and appreciates “having inner-city kids. Price contacted Major coaches that actually want to be out League Baseball, which surprised him OUR HOPE IS TO here.” when it said he could run an RBI pro- GIVE PEOPLE AN Andrew Cyphers, a high-school gram that included Christian disciple- AVENUE TO ENGAGE freshman who has played at RBI Austin ship. Price quit his bank job to launch since age 4, said the coaches have helped RBI Austin in January 2011. IN RELATIONSHIPS him learn to manage his emotions. On Since then, RBI Austin has flour- WITH PEOPLE WHO the field: “I don’t slam my bat or my ished, growing from 100 kids in 2011 to ARE DIFFERENT helmet when I strike out.” Off the field: nearly 1,500 in 2019, with 350 coaches “At school, if someone’s messing with and 200 other volunteers. Price started THAN THEM. me, I know how to handle it and not get it to provide mentorships and opportu- mad and beat them up.” When conflict nities for kids in East Austin. Still, it’s arises, he said, he takes a few breaths sometimes a challenge to help kids and leaves to find his friends. growing up in difficult circumstances. Connecting baseball skills to normal RBI Austin offers baseball and soft- life is a theme at RBI Austin. After bad ball teams, one-on-one mentoring, and innings, Naumann reminds the boys discipleship groups that meet in they’ll also have bad days at college and coaches’ homes. Teams pray together work. “You got to power through it,” he before and after games and study Bib- said. “It’s all about making adjustments lical lessons during practices. Coaches and keeping your chin up.” He and the frequently drive players to and from other coaches have been helping their games. Price said he has seen “more sometimes disappear from the team high-school players apply to colleges. fruitful conversations and growth in car suddenly because a parent is struggling Last summer, when the COVID-19 rides than even on the ballfield.” with an addiction. These situations make pandemic stopped youth sports in Aus- Many kids in the program come from coaching harder, he said. He remembers tin, RBI Austin stayed in touch with low-income or single-parent homes. RBI one 7-year-old boy whose mother was players through its discipleship and coach Jimmie Naumann said players an addict: “You could just see it wearing mentoring program. It also launched a fundraiser: Donors gave $47,630 for grocery gift cards and laptops for 155 needy RBI Austin families. When restrictions lifted, 61 RBI Austin teams played a short season before the city of Austin shut down baseball fields in early July. Last summer’s race protests hit home for many of the minority players and their families. For years, East Austin kids have not had the same access to sports and quality education as wealthier parts of the city, said Price. In November 2020, RBI Austin hosted a series of events over Zoom to discuss racial justice from a Biblical perspective. Price says: “As we see these protests in our very city, our hope is to give people an avenue to engage in relationships with people who are different than them.”

64 WORLD 02.13.21 HANDOUT NOTEBOOK Sports

HOME RUN HERO Relying on Christ, Hank Aaron thrived on the ballfield despite immense racial prejudice

by Ray Hacke

HEN FULFILLING WHAT he considered his Christian duty to make coming to terms with desegregation Major League Baseball accessible to elite black players, Branch Rickey when the Braves arrived there in 1966. needed a man of solid Christian character to help accomplish his “I kept feeling more and more strongly goal. Hence, the Brooklyn Dodgers general manager hired Jackie that I had to break the record not only Robinson. for myself and for Jackie Robinson and How fitting, then, that another Christian would come along in for black people, but also to strike back Henry Aaron to build on Robinson’s legacy. at the vicious little people who wanted Known for breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record in 1974, to keep me from doing it,” Aaron wrote W “Hammerin’ Hank” died on Jan. 22 at the age of 86. Aaron’s 755 in his autobiography, I Had a Hammer. career homers still rank second all-time among major leaguers, “I was just a man doing something behind only Barry Bonds’ 762. that God had given me the power to do, Aaron experienced much of the same discrimination Robinson and I was living like an outcast in my faced: During his minor league days in the South Atlantic League, own country.” Aaron could not stay in the same hotels as most of his teammates. That made Los Angeles Dodgers On the field, he suffered verbal abuse from both players and fans. broadcaster Vin Scully’s call of Aaron’s While closing in on Ruth’s record in the early 1970s, he received record-breaking home run at Atlanta’s hate mail and death threats daily and even needed FBI protection Fulton County Stadium on April 8, 1974, at the ballparks where he played. all the more poignant: A reporter once asked Aaron, a onetime Catholic who became a “What a marvelous moment for base- Baptist, how he remained calm despite the daily hate-filled invective ball! … What a marvelous moment for he faced for trying to break a revered white player’s record: “When the country and the world! A black man I was in the ballpark, I felt there was nothing that could bother me,” is getting a standing ovation in the Deep Aaron responded. “I felt safe. I felt like I was surrounded by angels South for breaking a record of an all- and I had God’s hand on my shoulder.” time baseball idol!” Roughly midway through Aaron’s 23-year career in the major Two white fans even ran onto the leagues, his employer, the Milwaukee Braves, relocated to Atlanta— field and clapped Aaron on the back to the heart of the civil rights movement. Much of the South was still celebrate the occasion—proof that even in the South, white fans could embrace an African American as their hero.

CSU ARCHIVES/EVERETT COLLECTION/ALAMY 02.13.21 WORLD 65 NOTEBOOK History

CLOSE-CALL SURVIVOR WWII veteran Wilbur Halvorsen says brushes with death strengthened his faith in God

by Sharon Dierberger

SIXTH IN A SERIES ON WAR VETERANS

STAFF SGT. HALVORSEN yelled for his men to take two shots and keep running, following orders to get downhill in the dark past German snipers and into the Belgium village of Mageret. As Hal- vorsen knelt to fire his own shots, his M1 rifle jammed. He jiggled the bolt to unjam it, when—phsht!—a German bullet hit him in the chest. He crumpled to the ground, and the Battle of the Bulge went on without him. Halvorsen had already narrowly escaped death by a German grenade. During his time in the combat zone, he’d seen many fellow soldiers killed. He was a Christian believer who trusted in a divine plan, but as he lay in the snow bleeding, he wondered, would God save him again? Wilbur “Web” Halvorsen had been drafted into the Army in 1942, when he was 24. An economics graduate and former wrestling captain at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., he’d already been Gen. George Patton’s 3rd U.S. Army com- working a year at Morton Salt in Chicago manded Halvorsen’s division and for $21 a week when duty called. directed his battalion to capture Hill 105 After training, the Army assigned outside the town of Brest. him to Company A, 50th Armored Infan- MY FAITH During the American attack on that try Battalion in the 6th Armored Divi- hill, an enemy grenade blew off Halvor sion as a rifle squad leader. Sent to BECAME EVEN sen’s helmet, and shrapnel lodged in his England in 1944, his division readied STRONGER back. A bullet went through a nearby itself for the Normandy invasion. BECAUSE soldier’s eye, and another killed Hal- Halvorsen disembarked on Utah vorsen’s lieutenant. After losing contact Beach more than a month after D-Day, OF THE WAR. with remaining squad members, Hal- as the Allies continued their assault. vorsen hid beneath a haystack, then snuck into dense foliage as enemy soldiers strode by.

66 WORLD 02.13.21 ILLUSTRATION BY TRUDY KING; INSET: HANDOUT He survived thanks to five French NOTEBOOK Technology children who found him and, using an ingenious ruse, led him safely past marauding Nazis. The 11-year-old placed his younger siblings along a path as lookouts. Each signaled when it was safe for Halvorsen to move forward. He made it back to American troops just as his commanding officer was about to declare him missing in action. Halvorsen was scared that day, not knowing if he would live, die, or be caught by the Germans. But he says, “I prayed every day, and I was brought up with a strong faith.” He believes God was looking out for him and protecting him. What happened after the bullet pierced his lung in Belgium was further proof. He recalls his thoughts as he lay in the snow, staring at the sky with blood trickling from his mouth, knowing lung wounds are usually fatal: “If I was going to die, I was ready to accept it.” He focused on all his parents had taught him about God, and prayed. A medic finally arrived. Halvorsen CANCELED AND endured a difficult transport, then waited 15 hours at the Bastogne field DEPLATFORMED hospital, where famed thoracic surgeon Maj. Lamar Soutter, who had only Will online conservative voices recently arrived on a glider plane amid be silenced after right-wing groups gunshots, operated on him successfully. stormed Capitol Hill? “That was a miracle,” says Halvorsen. “Without his expert surgery, I wouldn’t by Juliana Chan Erikson be here.” After the war, Halvorsen fell in love, married, and moved to Seattle, where FTER A JAN. 6 RIOT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., left five people he worked in sales. His first wife, Leonie dead, major technology companies moved swiftly to cut Darro, died in 1989. Later, he reunited connections with right-wing extremist groups and anyone with his teenage sweetheart, Marion, deemed associated with them. Within days, Facebook, who was also widowed. Wilbur and Mar- Twitter, Apple, and Google had suspended accounts linked ion have been happily married 30 years to former President Donald Trump and the right-leaning and live on Whidbey Island, Wash. social network Parler. For his service, Halvorsen was The post-riot purge raised the question: Would con- awarded two Purple Hearts, four Bronze A servative voices be broadly silenced online? The answer Stars, and a French Medal of Honor, depends on where you look. among others. In Parler’s case, just keeping its website online has Halvorsen, now 102 years old, says been a challenge. After Amazon’s web hosting platform that seeing death and surviving so many booted Parler from its servers, the Twitter-like social close calls during the war forced him to media network turned to one of the few companies will- contemplate his own mortality. It also ing to help—Epik, a small U.S.-based web host and reg- prompted him to call out to God for istrar. Epik also happens to serve other right-wing clients, help: “My faith became even stronger including news outlet One America News, fringe video because of the war.” site BitChute, and social media platform Gab. He adds, “I wish I could give that faith to everybody.”

JAAP ARRIENS/SIPA USA/AP 02.13.21 WORLD 67 NOTEBOOK Technology Public Advocate, a Virginia-based group that promotes traditional family values and produces what President Eugene Delgaudio calls “low-budget Less than a week after getting kicked political theater,” has called President off-line, Parler brought back its website Joe Biden’s election victory fraudulent. with help from Epik. But then the con- The group was suspended from Twitter demnations rolled in—against Epik. for two months and forced to take down Tech site Gizmodo dismissed Epik YouTube videos for its election claims. as a “harbor for deplatformed cess- Delgaudio says he’s prepared to go else- pools,” and the Telegraph labeled it “the GIZMODO where, if necessary, whether for social registrar keeping extremists online.” DISMISSED EPIK AS media, hosting, or fundraising services. After PayPal dropped Epik last October, A ‘HARBOR FOR “We know there’s censorship and Epik senior VP of communications Rob- we’re experiencing this censorship,” he ert Davis said industry insiders banned DEPLATFORMED said. his company from attending this year’s CESSPOOLS.’ That may explain why his group annual industry trade show. maintains accounts on numerous social Website registrars perform a boring media platforms. At the bottom of Pub- but important job: They sell domain lic Advocate’s website are 16 different names (for example, www.parler.com) social network icons—from right-wing- to anyone wanting a live website and friendly platforms such as Telegram, officially register the domains to ICANN, BitChute, Rumble, Gab, and Parler, to the world’s internet directory of web more mainstream platforms such as addresses. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The “All we are is a domain registrar,” group takes donations from PayPal and Davis said. “We’re just here so you can fundraising platform Piryx, keeps back- pay $10 and get ‘birthday.com.’ Epik ups of videos, and relies on old-fash- hasn’t given up its policy on who it does Christian groups SPLC has labeled anti- ioned forms of crowdsourcing like direct business with. I have shut down more LGBT hate groups, including the Pacific mail and in-person events. Nazis than any other web host out there.” Justice Institute, the Pray in Jesus Name Delgaudio says he recognizes it may Davis admits Epik works with orga- Project, the Center for Family and only be a matter of time before tech nizations that the Southern Poverty Human Rights, and the Public Advocate companies threaten to deplatform him Law Center (SPLC) has designated hate of the United States. again. groups. I confirmed Epik is the registrar for at least two: Euro Folk Radio and American Renaissance. But I also found that several more SPLC-designated hate groups have websites registered with Epik’s larger competitors, including GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Tucows. That suggests tech companies have deplatformed groups on a case-by-case basis, rather than equally across the board. The SPLC’s hate group list includes not just white supremacist groups such as Proud Boys but also Christian groups. (The latter often make the list because Cartoon of their disapproval of homosexual relationships.) Online donation platforms banned some groups and permitted others. Pay- Pal, for example, recently ended its relationship with GiveSendGo, a Chris- tian crowdfunding site that the Proud Boys and Kenosha, Wis., shooting sus- pect Kyle Rittenhouse have used. But PayPal still collects donations for several

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INTRODUCING: Season 2 of Effective Compassion HOW DOES BEING A CHRISTIAN AFFECT THE WAY WE HELP PEOPLE?

In these new episodes, Anna Johansen Brown and Sarah Schweinsberg visit fractured communities in a dozen states. They ind people working to restore their neighborhoods and show us what compassion looks like in the midst of crisis.

SEASON 2 SNIPPET “If we’re standing here telling“ other people they gotta trust God, and we don’t trust God, they’re gonna know we’re lyin’.”

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Effective Compassion-S2.indd 1 1/26/21 3:20 PM THE INSUFFICIENTLY Voices ANDRÉE SEU PETERSON TRUMPETED THING ABOUT CHRISTIANITY IS ITS SHEER PRACTICALITY.

That is an appeal to logic, gentlemen and gentle- women. As martyred missionary Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what Bearers of secrets he cannot lose.” The man with treasure buried in the field (Matthew Do we live now as if we are 13:44) is presented as the utterly practical man. Jesus heaven-bound? does not mean for us to regard him as primarily pious but as primarily smart, calculating. He can afford to be generous of spirit with his fellows because he has E CHRISTIANS ARE BEARERS OF SECRETS. buried treasure. Resources for any eventuality are I feel that way all the time—whenever the assured. snowbirds winter in Boca Raton and sum- The not-so-smart and calculating individual is the mer in Quebec while I stay stuck in town. one who trades heaven’s eternity for a handful of years: Whenever the reflection in the bathroom “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple mirror tells of a soon shedding of this and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. mortal coil. Whenever memory mocks me At his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, cov- W by refusing to divulge a common house- ered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell hold word. from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:19-21). ’Tis then that I remember our secret. Then the most predictable thing happened: “The The insufficiently trumpeted thing about Chris poor man died. … The rich man also died” (v. 22). tianity is its sheer practicality. If the Bible is taken to Father Abraham said to the rich man, who was now heart (we call that “faith”), then there is no need to in everlasting misery, “Child, remember that you in conjure the virtues of peaceableness and equanimity: your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus One simply finds them present as the byproduct of in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted believing God. here and you are in anguish” (v. 25). To wit, we are going to heaven soon. Practical, right? That’s it. That’s our secret. It’s so simple that one But we are not to keep the secret to ourselves. hardly hears it mentioned anymore. Heaven is our secret in the sense that it is what deliv- Now for the practicality. Heaven is forever and ever. ers and empowers, but not in the sense that it can be But suppose we could put a numerical figure on it, horded with impunity. The four lepers by the gate of like a trillion trillion years—to the 10th power! Com- Samaria in Elisha’s time intuited that it would not go pare that duration to the number of elliptical loops well with them if they kept good news from a starving around the sun that remain in your flu-prone, irritable population (2 Kings 7:9). bowel syndrome–susceptible matter, and you can And surely, we live among a starving population. readily calculate that there’s a bigger proportion of God is always looking to enfold more people into the hereafter than the here. the secret. A secret that, once a man has buried it in What will you not give up with a smile for a deal his heart, sets him free from envy of those who seem like that? to be luckier (Psalm 73). It renders him able to forgive; The author of Hebrews at least thinks so: “Recall to love; to be honest; to be uncontrolled by his issues, the former days when … you joyfully accepted the by other people’s issues, by fear of death, fear of man, plundering of your property, since you knew that you fear of rejection, past wounds, bad memories—or the yourselves had a better possession and an abiding need to flee to Boca Raton. one” (Hebrews 10:32, 34). Winter comes, and its chill is felt throughout our land. But keep the secret in your heart, and I will too. And we will make it through.

70 WORLD 02.13.21 EMAIL [email protected]

REMEMBER THAT Voices MARVIN OLASKY OUR DEEPER PROBLEMS ARE THEOLOGICAL, NOT POLITICAL.

media consumption that ranged only from The New Yorker (liberal) to The Daily World (Communist). In my bubble I believed for a time that revolution would come if only I and others were bold and courageous. Four decades of disparagement-by-media have pounded evangelicals. Many stopped reading and watching what mocked them. Many entered a Fox News Alternate universes or Salem Radio bubble. After the election, One Amer- ica News and The Epoch Times became all the rage. Fleeing ideological addictions In 1972, one month after Richard Nixon’s landslide reelection, New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael said, “I live in a rather special world. I know only one per- N ONE SENSE, THE SACK OF THE CAPITOL on son who voted for Nixon.” Some recent Trump voters Jan. 6 was the farce that launched 1,000 snips. know no one who voted for Joe Biden, so when I or Snip: “From years of covering white nation- other Worldlings described his victory factually, it’s alists and the alt-right, I already knew that the not surprising that some said, Stop my WORLD sub- right contained violent and anti-democratic scription. I want to get off. elements,” Buzzfeed reporter Rosie Gray wrote. My Communist Party addiction lasted only 16 “What Jan. 6 showed was how deeply even the months, but even then I needed God’s merciful inter- I nice church ladies and retired grandpas who vention to leave that drug behind. Others, though, have nothing to do with those groups have descended may be able to regain a grip on reality by popping into an alternate universe.” their right-wing-media-only or left-wing-media-only Snip: You could have replaced Gray’s byline with bubbles. One way to do this is by deliberately devel- that of Violet Blue, New York Chimes, or Scarlet Green, oping a Twitter stream that includes both liberals and Chicago Baboon, and the words would have been conservatives. almost the same. One message has been standard for This January I regularly received letters from media years among liberals: The right is fascist. The new addicts asking about my own habits. These days I rarely twist is extreme: Everybody run. The retired grandpa’s consume television news or radio talk shows. But since got a gun. I’m a conservative, I follow on Twitter liberals includ- The D.C. insurrection would have been tragic rather ing Conor Friedersdorf, Emma Green, Michael Wear, than symbolic if Vladimir Lenin rather than Jacob Sarah Posner, Michelle Boorstein, Michael King, and Chansley—the farcical horn-wearing QAnon man—had Megan McArdle. I also follow conservatives, including been a leader of the pack. And yet, it’s concerning that unconventional ones like David French, Ross Douthat, some churchgoing chanters joined Chansley in fantasy Andrew Sullivan, and Rod Dreher. land. After last year’s racial tension I wanted especially We should be careful with our critiques. It was to read some Christians who are black, so among those rational to vote for Donald Trump in 2016 or 2020, I follow on Twitter are George Yancey, Esau McCaul- given the Democratic opposition. It was also rational ley, Derwin Gray, Jemar Tisby, Glenn Loury, Mika to say NO by writing in Ben Sasse or voting for the Edmondson, Justin Giboney, and Trillia Newbell. American Solidarity Party. But it wasn’t rational to What else to do? Pray that Joe Biden will be more believe in January 2021 that Trump would have a patriotic than partisan. He’s now the president of all second term—yet millions thought it would happen. of us. Pray that Christians won’t be fooled by Q or Why? Much to my shame—but Christ’s fame for other gnostic heresies that pretend to have secret His ability to change lives—I lived in an alternate uni- wisdom. Remember that our deeper problems are verse during 1972 and 1973, so I know ideological theological, not political. Elephant-riding Republicans addiction. Four years of anti-war agitation had eventually get stomped. Democrats who worship pounded me. I joined the Communist Party USA after worldly wise-men are betting on the wrong donkey. Biblical objectivity exists. God is sovereign. Praise His plan, not mine or yours.

72 WORLD 02.13.21 EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @MarvinOlasky YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE

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