Good and bad non-disclosure agreements
OCTOBER 26, 2019
PROTECTING THE CHILDREN 82-year-old Uncle Wong asks Hong Kong police: Why?
TURKEY: Kicking out foreign pastors CALIFORNIA: Foster care to homelessness ARIZONA: Kissing library fines goodbye This is a ministry that is trying to actually do some good out there for the Lord when it comes to health care. — Cameron & Roanna, members since 2017
A Biblical solution to health care For the last twenty-five years, Monthly costs Samaritan Ministries members Ranges based on age, house- hold size, and membership have been sharing medical level costs while praying for and Individuals $100–$227 encouraging one another — 2 Person $200–$454 all without health insurance. 3+ People $250–$555 Faithful. Affordable. Biblical.
samaritanministries.org/world (877) 578-6787 CONTENTS | October 26, 2019 • Volume 34 • Number 20
30 17 38
42 46
FEATURES DISPATCHES 5 News Analysis • Human Race 30 Stepping into the fray Quotables • Quick Takes As violent demonstrations roil Hong Kong, a bold group of volunteers is providing moral support and physical protection CULTURE for young protesters 17 Movies & TV • Books Children’s Books • Q&A • Music
38 A climate of insecurity NOTEBOOK Turkey is deporting Christian workers and church leaders, despite bowing to U.S. pressure one year ago in releasing 53 Law • Health • Religion American Pastor Andrew Brunson Lifestyle 42 Silence of the sheep VOICES Christian nonprofits and churches have adopted practices 3 Joel Belz from the for-profit world of avoiding liability, sometimes 14 Janie B. Cheaney leading to devastating outcomes 28 Mindy Belz 46 Fatherless and homeless 61 Mailbag Too many kids in the foster system end up on the streets 63 Andrée Seu Peterson once they reach adulthood 64 Marvin Olasky
ON THE COVER: Uncle Wong of Protect the Children confronts police in Hong Kong; photo by Kiran Ridley
Give the gift of clarity: wng.org/giftofclarity Notes from the CEO “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and those who dwell therein.” —Psalm 24:1
BIBLICALLY OBJECTIVE JOURNALISM THAT I like problems that have an obvious right or wrong solution: The answer INFORMS, EDUCATES, AND INSPIRES R is clear, I make a decision, and I’m done. Chief Content Officer Nick Eicher Trouble is, these kinds of easy problems tend never to show up. Editor in Chief Marvin Olasky Senior Editor Mindy Belz That’s frequently the case for our journalistic team at WORLD. We occa- Deputy Editor Michael Reneau Deputy Chief Content Officer J.C. Derrick sionally see simple stories, in which the options are starkly opposed, and the Magazine Editor Timothy Lamer National Editor Jamie Dean right choice is apparent. Occasionally, but not often. Digital Executive Editor Mickey McLean Life doesn’t give us many black/white, right/wrong, 2+2=4 questions. Most
of life’s questions involve a lot of gray. Most of the stories WORLD covers Managing Editor Daniel James Devine Senior Reporters Emily Belz, Angela Lu Fulton, involve complexities and complications, and often the more digging we do, the Sophia Lee Reporters Leah Hickman, Charissa Koh, more complex and complicated the stories become. Harvest Prude Politics exacerbates the problem, because for most of us, and for most Story Coach Susan Olasky Senior Writers Megan Basham, Janie B. Cheaney, issues, we have only two choices. Implicitly, we recognize that no political Andrée Seu Peterson, Lynn Vincent Correspondents June Cheng, John Dawson, Juliana choice perfectly addresses all the complexities of every issue, so we use expres- Chan Erikson, Charles Horton, Mary Jackson, Arsenio Orteza, sions like “the lesser of two evils” to refer to our decision-making process. Jenny Rough, Jenny Lind Schmitt, Andrew Shaughnessy, Laura G. With complex political issues, we will almost always have to resort to that kind Singleton, Russell St. John, Jae Wasson of decision. Reviewers Sandy Barwick, Bob Brown, Jeff Koch, Marty VanDriel We get in trouble when we try to oversimplify a complex issue, whether at Mailbag Editor Les Sillars Editorial Assistants Kristin Chapman, Amy Derrick, home or in business or in our church congregations. We like to offer a definitive Mary Ruth Murdoch Art Director David Freeland “yes” or “no” on every question, but it is hardly ever that Assistant Art Director Rachel Beatty Illustrator Krieg Barrie simple. Graphic Designer Arla Eicher Of course, if it were, then we wouldn’t need to turn to Digital Production Assistant Dan Perkins God and His Word for wisdom, and we wouldn’t need Website wng.org to “forbear with one another” as we work through Managing Editor Lynde Langdon problems. Complicated questions surround the rearing Assistant Editor Rachel Lynn Aldrich Reporter Onize Ohikere of our children, the life of our churches, the focus of Correspondents Julie Borg, Kiley Crossland, Anne Walters Custer, Laura Edghill, our time and energy, and our engagement in civic Julia A. Seymour, Steve West Editorial Assistant Whitney Williams issues. All of these urge us to seek God and trust his
wisdom, and to extend grace to our brothers and sisters Website wng.org/radio as they do the same. Executive Producer/Cohost Nick Eicher Managing Editor J.C. Derrick News Editor Leigh Jones Features Editor Paul Butler Dialogue Editor/Cohost Mary Reichard Reporters Kent Covington, Anna Johansen, Sarah Schweinsberg Correspondents Maria Baer, Myrna Brown, Laura Finch, Katie Gaultney, George Grant, Kim Henderson, Jill Nelson, Kevin Martin Trillia Newbell, Bonnie Pritchett, Cal Thomas, Emily Whitten [email protected] Producers Johnny Franklin, Carl Peetz (technical), Kristen Flavin (field) Listening In Warren Cole Smith, Rich Roszel
HOW TO CONTACT US To become a WORLD member, give a gift membership, change address, access other Chief Executive Officer Kevin Martin Founder Joel Belz member account information, or for back issues and permission … Development Pierson Gerritsen, Debra Meissner, Andrew Belz, Sandy Barwick Email [email protected] Administration Kerrie Edwards Online wng.org/account (members) or members.wng.org (to become a member) Marketing Jonathan Woods Advertising Partnerships John Almaguer, Kyle Crimi, Phone 828.435.2981 within the U.S. or 800.951.6397 outside the U.S. Kelsey Sanders Monday–Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ET Member Services Amanda Beddingfield Write WORLD, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-9998 GOD’S WORLD NEWS Website wng.org/children Back issues, reprints, and permissions 828.435.2981 or [email protected] Managing Editor Rich Bishop Follow us on Twitter @WORLD_mag Design Director Rob Patete Follow us on Facebook @WORLD.Magazine WORLD JOURNALISM INSTITUTE Website worldji.com WORLD occasionally rents subscriber names to carefully screened, like-minded organizations. If you would prefer Dean Marvin Olasky Associate Dean Edward Lee Pitts not to receive these promotions, please call customer service and ask to be placed on our DO NOT RENT list. BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Weiss (chairman), William Newton (vice chairman), WORLD (ISSN 0888-157X) (USPS 763-010) is Published biweekly (24 issues) for $69.95 per year by God’s World Publications, Mariam Bell, Kevin Cusack, Peter Lillback, Howard Miller, (no mail) 12 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, NC 28803; 828.253.8063. Periodical postage paid at Asheville, NC, and additional mailing R. Albert Mohler Jr., Russell B. Pulliam, David Skeel, David Strassner, Ladeine Thompson, Raymon Thompson offices. Printed in the USA. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. © 2019 WORLD News Group. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WORLD, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-9998. Member of the Associated Press VOICES Joel Belz
Congregation B is bolder. Under the heading of “Biblical Worldview,” its leaders don’t hesi- tate to bring up subjects like abortion, care for the environment, or immigration. They may differ with one another on the applicability of specific Biblical sources, and they may not all come to exactly the same conclusions. But they believe such Bible-based teachings are available A better tone to us, even if it may take some hard work to pry them loose. The goal in this category is to equip WE CHURCH MEMBERS NEED TO LEARN TO congregants with thoughtful conclusions on a DISCUSS POLITICAL ISSUES CONSTRUCTIVELY variety of topics, so that those people can— either individually or in small-group Not since the Civil War, some thoughtful “fellowship”—take their conclusions R observers are saying, has our nation been so into the public marketplace of ideas. divided. Never so polarized. Never with so many Congregation C is even more of its citizens set so bitterly against each other. specific. It may or may not take time Since I wasn’t around back then, it’s a little and effort to equip its people in the hard for me to compare. But over the last three development of a thoughtful or four years, I’ve seen enough emotional yelling, Biblical worldview. No matter. The unrestrained table pounding, and enraged blame- leaders of Congregation C decide shifting to know that something more than for everyone which political posi- typical politics is at work. Or just look at your tions and measures ought to be calendar. There are still 13 months to go before enacted—and they rally the forces the next presidential election—but we’re going at needed to bring about such action. it as if we were in the last week of the campaign. “Vote for Proposition X,” they say. And it’s not just in the sanctuaries of elec- Congregation D takes the next toral politics that you’ll find all this ruckus. The How do we logical step by endorsing specific candidates for exchange spills over, naturally, to the news various offices. A Sunday morning pastoral media. From there, it jumps into the worlds of resist our prayer in such a church won’t just include a min- entertainment, music, and even sports. culture’s imal request that God would oversee the work of What concerns me most, though, is the propensity civic leaders, as instructed by the Apostle Paul, manner in which this to-the-death squabble but will regularly go beyond that to ask God to has invaded the walls of so many of our local to fill every bless the good guys (by name)—and punish the churches. Drop in during what we used to call conversation bad guys (by name)—at next Tuesday’s election. “fellowship hour,” and you’ll find anything but with ugliness (Action like that, of course, puts at jeopardy that fellowship. Sometimes it’s been just good, church’s tax exempt status with the IRS, and vigorous discussion. But it’s getting more and and insults? ultimately jeopardizes the integrity of the tax more animated—and it’s the animation that returns of all the church’s members. Churches scares me. When that energetic discussion like that need to take care to inform their turns into insults and abuse, truth and integrity members of such possible consequences.) are no longer the victors. Satan wins that round. So here’s the challenge. How do we fulfill Let me describe four different congrega- our roles as church members without letting tional types, strictly out of my own experience our gatherings degenerate into nothing more and imagination. You’ll have to decide for than meetings of a political precinct? How do yourself whether your own local church fits we bring specialized spiritual equipment to our any of these profiles. next discussion of Donald Trump—so we don’t Congregation A steers clear of anything beat up on each other in the “fellowship hall”? resembling political involvement. Whether How do we resist our culture’s propensity from its pulpit, its Christian education pro- (enhanced by too many government leaders) to gram, its teaching of its youth, or its informal fill every conversation with ugliness and insults? discussion (remember the “fellowship hall”?), it In short, how do we exhibit the fruit of the diligently follows half of the ancient proverb: Spirit (“love, joy, peace,” etc.) so that when “We just don’t talk about religion and politics onlookers see God’s people talking about their here.” It’s not a formal prohibition, but infor- political differences, it’s in an altogether
KRIEG BARRIE KRIEG mally, it’s pretty consistently observed. Biblical and constructive tone? A
[email protected] October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 3 LEADERSHIP FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY KNOW THEIR INCOMPETENCE
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Now Available at Amazon, Christianbook, Westminster Bookstore, 1 (800) 631-0094 and wherever Christian books are sold www.prpbooks.com DISPATCHES News Analysis / Human Race / Quotables / Quick Takes
War gaming Turkish armored vehicles take part in a joint patrol with U.S. forces near Tal Abyad in Syria. President Trump days later announced that he would pull U.S. troops away from the border between Turkey and Syria. On Oct. 9, Turkey launched attacks on Kurdish areas in Syria. BADERKHAN AHMAD/AP
Manage your membership: wng.org/membership October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 5 DISPATCHES News Analysis
Activist groups hold a rally at the Capitol calling on Congress to impeach President Trump.
our most politically radical major party candidate ever. Warren at the political gaming tables doubled down by endorsing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s welfare-for-all (including immi- grants in the United States ille- gally) and national rent control pro- posals, which at the local level have repeatedly led to less housing for the poor. Everyone a target Nonpolitical individuals and organi- EVEN AMID A DIVIDED NATION, CHRISTIANS zations also found themselves under fire. One example:Des Moines Register SHOULD NOT DESPAIR by Marvin Olasky reporter Aaron Calvin obeyed editors’ requests that he check out the back- In the climax of Witness (1985), a Brooks used his gold-headed cane to ground of Carson King, a 24-year-old R corrupt police chief holds a gun beat Massachusetts Sen. Charles enjoying days of fame after he held up a on Harrison Ford’s character amid a Sumner over the head, inflicting more sign soliciting beer money on ESPN. group of innocent Amish bystanders. than a dozen bloody blows before the When the dollars became thousands, Ford asks, “What are you going to do, cane shattered. King said he’d donate the money to a Paul? Kill me? Him? The woman?” These days, only the words “civil children’s hospital. The thousands then I suspect a lot of us want to ask such war”—not sticks and stones—are become more than $1 million, helped questions as the accusations flit around becoming part of right and left threats, by the Anheuser-Busch beer company. Washington and almost everyone is so far. President Donald Trump Reporter Calvin found King at age potentially under fire. The dramatic tweeted what Pastor Robert Jeffress 16 had tweeted bad jokes with racial movie scene ends with Ford saying, proclaimed on Fox News: “‘If the themes. When the news came out, King “It’s over. Enough.” If only D.C. hearings Democrats are successful in removing maturely asked forgiveness for his would end with that declaration! Sadly, the President from office (which they immaturity eight years before, but it looks like we’re in for a raucous year— will never be), it will cause a Civil War Anheuser-Busch said, “We will have no and the “Help the Intel Community like fracture in this Nation from which further association with him.” Next, a Whistleblowers” campaign at GoFundMe our Country will never heal.’” New search for reporter Calvin’s younger
was up to $217,480 on Oct. 9. York’s Union Seminary, a stronghold of messages dug up some rotten writing of CAROLINE BREHMAN/CQ ROLL CALL VIA AP The battles in Washington were not theological liberals, tweeted back: his own—and the Register fired him. nearly as severe as those of the 1850s, “Jeffress’ threats of civil war … repre- Then came blog headlines like which you can read about in Joanne sent disturbing abuse of spiritual “Anheuser-Busch getting crushed for Freeman’s The Field of Blood: Violence authority. … This preaching is funda- cutting ties” with King. (One online in Congress and the Road to Civil War mentally anti-Christ.” poll showed 91 percent of respondents (2018). Then, congressmen drew pistols As Elizabeth Warren became the criticizing the beer barons.) and waved bowie knives at opponents. Democratic presidential front-runner, Shoot me? Shoot him? Early in They punctuated orations by flipping voters faced the possibility of a cam- October Nonprofit Quarterly reported, their desks. The most infamous paign next year pitting our most rhe- “2019 will be the last year for Susan G. incident: South Carolina Rep. Preston torically unusual president ever against Komen’s annual three-day breast can-
6 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 cer walk in Philadelphia.” That’s one BY THE NUMBERS indication of declining support. A decade ago Komen was in the pink, bringing in $367 million in fiscal year 2011. In 2012, Komen first announced it would no longer fund Planned Parenthood, then reversed itself. Both sides were angry, and Komen’s 2013 income declined to $270 million. By 2018 it was only $82 million. Some scientists and journalists are The share of American teenagers who rarely or never talk with their friends also firing away. After the prestigious about religion, according to the Pew Research Center. journal Science reported a big decline in 64% North America’s bird population, a front-page New York Times headline read, “Birds Are Vanishing From North America.” The lead was equally apoca- lyptic: “The skies are emptying out.” WORLD noted the study two weeks ago under the nonhysterical header, “REDUCED.” Now we can point out The rate of twin births among U.S. women last year. The twin delivery rate that some researchers are saying has decreased1 from in a 2014 high of 1 in 29 births, 31 likely due to changing in vitro Science’s shot missed. Slate quoted fertilization practices. (In 1980, the rate was 1 in 53.) Todd Arnold, a University of Minnesota conservation biologist who noted how species by species “the increases out- weigh the declines.” Arnold said he “could do a really cool and sophisticated analysis based on 500-plus species, [but] that would never get past the editor’s eye. It would have ended up somewhere. But certainly not in Science.” So we have a divided nation—but The number of people killed (with over 6,000 injured) in violent clashes some agreements are still possible. The between police and anti-government protesters in Iraq in early October. federal government’s latest ask, a 110 spending bill to stave off possible shut- down until Nov. 21, passed the Senate with 82 votes. Legislators regularly “reach across the aisle” to increase the national debt: Congress has already approved the federal government’s nearly $5 trillion Go-Fund-Me request. The remaining arguments concern 77,242The number of unaccompanied minors U.S. Border Patrol agents Mexican border wall-building and tax- caught crossing the U.S. border in the 12 months ending in August, up 58 percent from the previous year. payer funding of abortions. We’ll learn who has the most White House clout: pro-lifers or anti-immigrationists. For Christians, despair is never in season. As baseball’s postseason games continue, let’s pray for an attitude like that of Jonny Gomes, who played for the World Series–winning Boston Red Sox in 2013. That year, whenever team- mates or fans asked him how he was The number of people living in an average American household. doing, Gomes responded, “Just one day That’s 2.63up from 2.58 in 2010, marking the first time in at least 160 years closer to the parade.” A the number of people per household has increased.
[email protected] @MarvinOlasky October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 7 DISPATCHES Human Race
Fouled from Morey, and NBA On Oct. 4, Daryl Morey, spokesman Mike Bass sent general manager of the out a statement saying it NBA’s Houston Rockets, was “regrettable” that tweeted an image with the Morey’s tweet “deeply popular protest slogan: offended many of our “Fight for Freedom, stand friends and fans in China.” Banksy’s Devolved Parliament with Hong Kong.” He But the Chinese-language quickly deleted the mes- statement the NBA posted Chinese censors also baby was born otherwise sage, but the damage had on Weibo used much stron- banned South Park, the healthy. Dr. Tim Vogel of been done. Chinese spon- ger language, saying it was irreverent animated show the North Jersey Brain and sors paused their deals “extremely disappointed in on Comedy Central, from Spine Center operated on with the Rockets, major the inappropriate com- the Chinese internet after a Lucas, covering his recent episode mocked exposed brain tissue with how movies self-censored skin. Doctors are still to appeal to the Chinese unsure about Lucas’ market. chances for normal devel- South Park creators opment, but, as his skull Trey Parker and Matt bones grow, Vogel told Stone responded with a CNN, there is a possibility fake apology: “Like the his brain can be protected. NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our Valued homes and into our hearts,” Devolved Parliament, a the statement reads. “We satirical painting by the too love money more than British artist Banksy, sold MOREY: BILL BAPTIST/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES • DEVOLVED PARLIAMENT: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES • MARIA: HANDOUT freedom and democracy. Xi for $12.2 million at a recent doesn’t look like Winnie auction in London. The the Pooh at all. Tune into canvas, finished in 2009, our 300th episode this shows the House of Wednesday at 10! Long live Commons empty of mem- the great Communist Party bers. Instead, its seats are of China. May the autumn’s filled with chimpanzees, sorghum harvest be boun- some hooting, some seri- tiful. We good now China?” ous, one standing, book in hand, in the middle of what Morey Survived looks like a speech. In a A baby born with part of social media post, the Chinese broadcasters ment” and that Morey’s his skull missing is the first anonymous artist appeared dropped Rockets games, views “undoubtedly seri- with the condition, called to make a connection and Chinese authorities ously hurt the feelings of exencephaly, to between Devolved canceled two exhibition Chinese basketball fans.” survive. Doctors Parliament and a games for a team affiliated The NBA faced a back- diagnosed previous paint- BE TRANSFORMED. with the Rockets, accord- lash from politicians and Lucas Santa ing of his of a ing to The New York Times. Americans who saw the Maria, now 7 row of When I visited Union, I could see the unique community that is fostered The NBA is popular in organization as choosing months old, chimps, one “ here. This community draws people in and was a big reason that I chose China, and the Rockets money over morals. In the with the con- wearing a Union. I was also welcomed so well by the music faculty when I came for have a large Chinese fan United States, the NBA had dition while sign that says, my music audition. I knew that this would be a place where I would be base because Chinese allowed its players and he was in the “Laugh now, native Yao Ming played for coaches to express political womb. They but one day we’ll challenged academically as well as spiritually. the team for nearly a views, and the NBA refused recommended his be in charge.” Its ” decade. to hold its All-Star Game in mother abort him since sale price was a record for LEAH CAMPBELL Concerned about losing North Carolina because of most babies born with Banksy and far outstripped music education major the Chinese market, a bathroom bill that the exencephaly die within the auction house’s Knoxville, Tennessee Rockets owner Tilman NBA claimed discriminated hours of birth. Maria Santa estimated value for the Fertitta distanced himself against transgender people. Maria refused, and her painting. SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT AT BE TRANSFORMED uu.edu/campusvisits 8 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org BE TRANSFORMED. When I visited Union, I could see the unique community that is fostered “ here. This community draws people in and was a big reason that I chose Union. I was also welcomed so well by the music faculty when I came for my music audition. I knew that this would be a place where I would be challenged academically as well as spiritually.” LEAH CAMPBELL music education major Knoxville, Tennessee
SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT AT BE TRANSFORMED uu.edu/campusvisits DISPATCHES Quotables
‘I don’t know if this is possible, but can I give her
a hug, please?’ WONG: ANTHONY KWAN/GETTY IMAGES • LANTERNFLY: MATT ROURKE/AP • MACKERETH: TRISTAN POTTER/SWNS • JEAN: TOM FOX/THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS/AP • VENEZUELA: CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES BRANDT JEAN, younger ‘Carrie Lam brother of murder victim Botham Jean, to the judge in the trial of former Dallas Police has made her Officer Amber Guyger, who had been convicted of murdering Botham Jean. During his victim choice.’ impact statement, Jean forgave Activist from Hong Kong JOSHUA WONG, citing Guyger and said, “I want the Jesus’ teaching that no man can serve two masters, in a tweet on the decision by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, a professed Catholic, to enact an emergency measure to ban masks in Hong Kong due to the protests. Wong said Lam’s loyalty is to Beijing.
‘It’s like waking best for you, because that’s exactly what Botham would up in a nightmare.’ want you to do, and the best LORI BEATRICE, of Phoenixville, Pa., on an would be to give your life to invasion of the spotted lanternfly in Christ.” The judge allowed Pennsylvania. The 1-inch-long bugs fly in the hug. people’s faces, land on them, and dump their sticky waste everywhere. The laternfly is currently threatening Pennsylvania’s ‘I feel like the $4.8 billion wine industry. last violinist on the Titanic.’ Venezuelan chef JONATHAN MORALES on wanting to leave the country. More than 4 million ‘Incompatible with Venezuelans have left the socialist country as its human dignity.’ economy sinks. The United Kingdom’s EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL on a doctor’s Biblical beliefs on human sexuality. The Department for Work and Pensions forced Dr. David Mackereth out of his job after he refused to use transgender pronouns. The tribunal ruled that Dr. Mackereth’s beliefs are not “worthy of respect in a democratic society.”
10 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Give the gift of clarity: wng.org/giftofclarity
LOCKYER: COMMUNICATION WORKERS’ UNION • ROYAL MAIL: ISTOCK • RAMIREZ: BEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE • WALRUS: ALAMY • STUHR: CITY OF PORTLAND • PIPES: ISTOCK Mike Mike Water fight shore. The incident happened off the coast of Franz Josef Land. Josef Franz of coast The incident happened off the shore. when the water official disclosed the oversight oversight the official disclosed when the water official release from Russia’s Northern Fleet speculated that the female the that speculated Northern Fleet Russia’s from release official and was sunk during a September research mission in the Arctic Ocean. Ocean. in the Arctic mission research a September during sunk and was The vessel was a rubber landing craft. The attacker: an angry walrus. An an angry walrus. The attacker: landing craft. a rubber was The vessel The Russian navy has reported that one of its vessels came under attack one of its vessels that has reported navy The Russian sink the boat, but not before the Russian sailors were able to scramble to to scramble able to were sailors the Russian before but not sink the boat, walrus was probably defending her nearby young. The walrus managed to to managed The walrus young. her nearby defending probably was walrus Wheeler and the City Council, which pressed Stuhr on why he didn’t disclose disclose he didn’t on why Stuhr which pressed and the City Council, Wheeler include plant didn’t water the for million budget the $500 that ago years two as pipes. as central something Details, details … authority left out one water Oregon Officials with an treatment water a new crucial detail when pitching The water in 2017. City Council the Portland plant to of the pipes. Portland include the cost to forgot bureau director Bureau Water lit into Wheeler Ted Mayor Stuhr the City Council to come had Stuhr during a Sept. 17 meeting. plant treatment the water complete to million more $350 ask for to meeting infuriated The oversight million in 2017. $500 approved it had already after - - , a Royal , a Royal hadn’t escaped. hadn’t Quick Takes
gross misconduct and fired and fired misconduct gross in 2018. the short delay for the time of the dismissal, At on warn had been Lockyer violation. a previous ing for and union officials Lockyer item one minute late. late. one minute item Lockyer Robert three of nearly Mail veteran of accused was decades,
October 26, 2019 Ernest Ramirez Ernest • Release and catch few days. Authorities Authorities days. few Antonio, came just days after an admission by an admission by after came just days Antonio, most cases, authorities authorities most cases, had recaptured Ramirez. had recaptured Rather, Ramirez had been released by accident. accident. by released been had Ramirez Rather, and dangerous. Later that day, officials with the day, that Later and dangerous. U.S. Border Patrol agents agents Patrol Border U.S. recovered the mistakenly the mistakenly recovered old convict being held at Bee County Jail in Texas in Texas Jail County Bee being held at old convict announced on Oct. 1 that announced Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar that his office his office Salazar that Javier Sheriff County Bexar released inmates within a inmates released jail reported that that jail reported inmates over the past year. In the past year. over inmates U.S. Marshals reported on Sept. 25 that a 29-year- that on Sept. 25 reported Marshals U.S. had escaped, warning that the suspect was armed was the suspect that warning had escaped, had accidentally released a dozen a dozen released had accidentally The accidental release in Bee County, south of San south County, in Bee release The accidental appealed his firing to an employment tribunal, to an employment his firing appealed said Lockyer August. his firing in which confirmed system. in the British legal try his case he’ll Mail take its mail delivery? The British postal ser mail delivery? its Mail take an who delivered carrier a letter has fired vice Time action? for Royal Kingdom’s the United does seriously How DISPATCHES WORLD Magazine 12 TRASH, LABRADOODLE: ISTOCK • DAVID: DIMITRIS KAMARAS/FLICKR • LAY: NEWSCENTERMAIN.COM SCREEN CAPTURE • MAIL: STEPHANIE LAY • ACURA: INDIANA STATE POLICE Manage your membership: wng.org/membership litter onalocalbeach sounds like agood idea. But what ifyour localbeach is Celebrating International Coastal Cleanup Day by holdinganevent to pickup volunteers for Make-work company onthat day to stop sending theletters, buttheletters didn’t stop until coding issue initscomputer system that employees are intheprocess offixing. United Healthcare memorized. That’s because by Sept.19shehadreceived the with hybrid dog breeds withoutthinking problem,” hesaid.TheAustralian breeder care facility. Aspokesman for United saidthemassmailingwas theresult ofa Labrador-poodle cross in1989. “[They’re] says current breeders have gone too far “Frankenstein’s monster.” Guidedog trainer dogs hasapologized for what henow callsa letters from United, alladdressed to herautistic son, wholives inaseparate Sept. 23. Bythen,Lay said,hermailbox hadbeen filledwithmore than 500 Stephanie Lay and breeder Wally Conron, now 90, told The creator ofthe about thepotential impact ondog ABC Australia heregrets creating the letter 46times,each oneidenticalto theothers. Shereached outto the either crazy orhave ahereditary Designer dogs Designer ofWindham,Maine,probably hasaletter shereceived from health ordisposition. pristine andlitterless? Themayor ofaSouthKorean Labradoodle town purchased hundreds ofpoundstrash to it into theocean. spread across hisclean beaches ahead ofthe locals that noneofthetrucked-in trash made beach near Jindo, SouthKorea, andpromised Sept. 21cleanup day. Thepoint,hesaidlater garbage was completely removed from the in astatement, was to give theroughly 600 Mayor Lee Dong-jin saidtheimposter volunteers whosigned upsomething to do. breed of charged himwith felony resisting andamisdemeanor charge ofreckless driving. engine. Inactuality, thecruisers are outfitted withV8Hemis. Police arrested Gagliano and Driver DinoGagliano saidlater hethought theIndiana State Police cruiser onlyhadaV6 make astop, the20-year-old driver spedaway, eventually reaching speeds of 140mph. 55 mph zone intheearly morninghours ofSept.19. As thestate trooper attempted to 140 mphcarchase. Atrooper spotted thedriver ofa An Indianadriver expressed amazement after police were ableto keep upwithhimduringa hood the under A Hemi Send and repeat and Send small plaster replicas ofthemarblework. According risk ofcrumblingbecause ofweak ankles.Fractures Italian researchersItalian have warned that Michelangelo’s to for scientists, isstable thestatue now, butcould of Florence working incooperation withtheItalian 1504. InSeptember, researchers at theUniversity government released ofanexperiment details on were first discovered in Renaissance masterpiece sculpture ofDavid isat Museum officials say they have been monitoring century, some 350 years after itscompletion in crumble ifamajorearthquake strikes Florence. the size of Aging ankles Aging 2002 Acura David October 26, 2019 26, October ’s fractures since 2001. David traveling at 116 mph ina ’s anklesinthe19th • WORLD Magazine WORLD
13 VOICES Janie B. Cheaney “The impact of the clinic is
understood what He meant, it would have visible in the city of Moundou. seemed so wrong. “Don’t You love us, Jesus? Why won’t You stay with us?” In the same way it seems not just sad, but wrong, to part from a The evangelical testimony grandchild who just planted a wet kiss on your cheek. We were made for relationship, but of the clinic is growing. God every hello will end with a goodbye. Is this the way it’s supposed to be? The saddest word “It is to your advantage that I go away,” knows our desire to serve Him Jesus said, “for if I do not, the Helper will not WHEN SAYING GOODBYE BRINGS TEARS come to you.” We know He was speaking of the and he has given us brothers Holy Spirit, but like I don’t envy others their big houses or His closest disci- R frequent vacations (or not much!). Here’s ples, we don’t at and sisters in the Luke Society what I do envy: Those grandparents who get to first understand visit their grandkids more than twice a year. the reasoning. Living less than a day’s drive—say, three What about this: to fulfill our vision for him in hours—away from grown children seems ideal. The work of Christ It’s close enough to join them for school plays means nothing to Chad, a country truly hungry and tournament games and sleepovers, but not us until the Spirit near enough to be an imposition (or a conve- breathes it into nience?). I’ll have to say, though, if my offspring our hearts. The for salvation.” Operating wanted to move down the road I wouldn’t love of the Father object. Instead, they both live on opposite can’t penetrate sides of the country. Better than opposite until the Spirit — DR. FREDERIC DJONGALI sides of the globe, but getting together is like opens up the in Faith MOUNDOU, CHAD the logistics for a summit meeting with all the eternal scheduling arrangements, lodging, and flight Trinitarian bond plans. and pulls us Even so, my life as a grandma is nothing to inside. That’s complain about, except when it’s time to say why Jesus can goodbye. say, “Abide in Goodbye is supposed to be one of the saddest me,” even while words in the English language. Not necessarily It seems not speaking of going away. He does not dismiss the so, at the end of an enjoyable evening with pain of goodbye, but He redeems it. “You will friends or an interminable phone conversation just sad, but be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.” with the IRS (once you finally get an agent on wrong, to That applies not just to the bittersweet the line). But when clinging to little ones who part from a farewells after a long and well-lived life, but will grow 2 inches before you see them again … also to the fraught ones, where love was not that’s sad. Or when you know your mother will grandchild pure or regret pierces our sorrow. A 54-year- never again wake up in this world. Or when you who just old friend dying of cancer knows she will The Luke Society is a Christian international medical ministry which partners with skilled health didn’t get to say it, but it occupies the space planted a wet meet her Lord but still longs to see her grand- professionals and uses medicine as a tool to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. where your dad used to be. children grow up. Why so soon? A father The Bible records some sorrowful goodbyes. kiss on your lamenting his son’s suicide tortures himself Our unique philosophy is built on the We provide financial support, David and Jonathan wept when they parted in cheek. over what he could have said—why so hasty? Each ministry is run by its own Luke Society ministries follow efficiencies of empowering nationals encouragement, mentoring and the field, not knowing if they would lay eyes on A daughter caring for her Alzheimer’s- health visionary. Our role is to Jesus’ example from Matthew rather than sending U.S.-based prayers for 42 ministries in 33 each other again. Paul took a tearful farewell of afflicted mother feels guilty for wondering, come alongside them and assist 9:35-36 of preaching, teaching medics to foreign countries. different countries. them in their kingdom calling. the Ephesian elders after assuring them it was Why so long? A wife who could have loved and healing. final. One of the longest goodbyes ever better sees her dying husband’s face turned recorded is John 14-17: Jesus’ farewell to His away: Why no forgiveness? disciples. He didn’t say the word, but “I go” “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Fraught hangs over almost every section: “I am going,” farewells are never the end, much less the “I go to prepare a place,” “I am leaving,” “a little temporary ones at the airport departure lane. while and you will see me no more.” Christ kicked out the back wall of goodbye and ISTOCK Like many of His other hard sayings, this cleared a path to a better hello. Let’s follow Touching lives in Jesus’ name one went over their heads. Even if they had Him. A 3409 S. Gateway Blvd., Sioux Falls, SD, 57106
14 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 [email protected] @jbcheaney www.lukesociety.org “The impact of the clinic is
visible in the city of Moundou.
The evangelical testimony
of the clinic is growing. God
knows our desire to serve Him
and he has given us brothers
and sisters in the Luke Society
to fulfill our vision for him in
Chad, a country truly hungry
for salvation.” Operating
— DR. FREDERIC DJONGALI in Faith MOUNDOU, CHAD
The Luke Society is a Christian international medical ministry which partners with skilled health professionals and uses medicine as a tool to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
Our unique philosophy is built on the We provide financial support, Each ministry is run by its own Luke Society ministries follow efficiencies of empowering nationals encouragement, mentoring and health visionary. Our role is to Jesus’ example from Matthew rather than sending U.S.-based prayers for 42 ministries in 33 come alongside them and assist 9:35-36 of preaching, teaching medics to foreign countries. different countries. them in their kingdom calling. and healing.
Touching lives in Jesus’ name
3409 S. Gateway Blvd., Sioux Falls, SD, 57106 www.lukesociety.org THIS IS THE REAL WORLD Sure, you need a degree. But you’re also the kind of person who needs more. You need to do something that matters. For Christ, the One who matters.
At Dordt University, we promise we don’t want to shelter you from the real world. We want to help you take it on. Be challenged. Be changed.
Schedule a campus visit at dordt.edu/visit.
700 7th Street NE Sioux Center, Iowa 51250 CULTURE Movies & TV / Books / Children’s Books / Q&A / Music
Joaquin Phoenix
Movie reviewer class than sudden watch the world burn. Yet shifts in opinion about the even Satan is motivated by movie. more than this—namely, Seething So while not wanting to pride and envy make him defend a violent, profanity- want to devour the chief of heavy film I can’t recom- his rival’s creations. And resentment mend to WORLD’s pitiable, pathetic Arthur JOKER HAS PROBLEMS, BUT NIHILISM audience, I nonetheless have Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is ISN’T ONE OF THEM by Megan Basham to push back against the being devoured. collective sneer that’s dis- In the past, especially in missing the central themes the Heath Ledger incarna- In the run-up to claiming it’s killing the of Joker as so much angry, tion, it was accurate to call R Joker’s Hollywood comedy genre. white maleness. Part of the the Joker nihilistic. But the premiere, director Todd Since then, the R-rated reason it works as a vis- reviews that do so with this Phillips gave several inter- Joker, which received top ceral gut punch is because film are simply wrong. To views practically guaran- prizes and long ovations at it acknowledges some of nurse grievances, one must teed to set media tempers the Venice Film Festival, what’s driving the epidemic believe in some form of flaring. “Outrage has has started to see its Rotten of rage among America’s justice. Arthur believes become a commodity,” he Tomatoes score drop— isolated young men. fervently, and not without told one trade publication. something that probably Typically, movie villains some reason, that he’s get- He then lambasted “woke says more about the politi- seek to destroy and kill ting the short end of life’s
NIKO TAVERNISE/WARNER BROS. PICTURES BROS. TAVERNISE/WARNER NIKO culture” to Vanity Fair, cal preoccupations of the because they just want to stick. He’s the butt of every
[email protected] @megbasham October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 17 CULTURE Movies & TV
joke, the punching bag of institutions because of the street toughs, the rejected, dereliction of duty of some. fatherless orphan. Of course, a remaining Added to this seething question, Are comic book resentment, his violent ten- movies—though unques- dencies are nurtured by a tionably the collective pornographic environment. myths of our time—the best Phillips is surprisingly place to explore such com- Television restrained with his R rating plex ideas? Phillips has a here. We see billboards decent answer for that. advertising strip clubs as Hollywood doesn’t make Perfect Harmony well as vague glimpses of big-budget movies that In movies and TV, viewers, but this show skin in the journal Arthur aren’t about comic book R one story premise lacks Alan Sorkin’s maniacally scribbles in. characters anymore. “Look seems used more often screenwriting chops. Enough to make it clear that at [it] as a way to sneak a than most others: A new “I became head of one his lust is compounding his real movie in the studio director takes over a of the best music depart- loneliness. It’s impossible system under the guise of a music program, a football ments in the country not to feel empathy for this comic book film,” he said in program, a literature without caring about department, etc. The being accepted,” Arthur excruciatingly sad clown. one of those interviews. latest example is NBC’s declares at the start of Most of the controversy Ultimately though, Joker Perfect Harmony, a Episode 2, summarizing surrounding the film cen- fails because of its genre. Thursday night comedy the pilot for any viewers ters on the idea that a char- The character has to hit about a struggling church who missed it. “Why acter who shares so many those DC marks. He has to choir. start now?” characteristics with recent become the mastermind Not all such dramas Some quicker-witted mass shooters could elicit supervillain directing feel stale (think Mr. dialogue peppers the our compassion. But hordes of minions. He has to Holland’s Opus). And of show, and certain charac- shouldn’t he? Shouldn’t rise to the top so he can take course, the newcomer ters show more nuance they? Christians make great on the man in black. It’s a teacher, director, or after Episode 1. And yes, efforts to show love to mur- preposterous finale that coach typically has new there’s plenty of music, derers once they’re behind turns all that came before ideas that don’t jibe with like a mash-up of bars, but what about the into a twisted fantasy. Real the community. The “Hallelujah Chorus” and strange, repellent loners Arthur Flecks don’t end that problem comes when “Eye of the Tiger.” Still, before they become Jokers? way. And in a different kind producers rely on lazy viewers may not get a stereotypes to populate chance to see if things As Scottish Pastor Robert of movie, a better movie, the small towns their improve: Ratings for the Murray M’Cheyne wrote, neither would this one. A choirs, schools, and first two episodes were the seeds of every sin known churches inevitably dismal. to man is in each of our inhabit. Last year NBC tried a hearts. Phillips’ treatment of This show has series with a similar this iconic villain, intended BOX OFFICE TOP 10 them all. Rednecks premise, Rise, loosely FOR THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 4-6 or not, shows that watering according to Box Office Mojo who married too based on a young adult those seeds seems right to a early. A sugary- book series. The show man. As we’re watching the CAUTIONS: Quantity of sexual (S), violent (V), sweet pastor who was extremely sexualized and foul-language (L) content on a 0-10 scale, film, it, at times, feels right with 10 high, from kids-in-mind.com turns out to be a and highlighted the to us. But it ends in death. S V L villainous hypocrite. “small-minded,” small- After Arthur murders a `1 Joker* R...... 5 7 7 To be fair, though: town folk making life All churches should hard for a theater direc- trio of wealthy, entitled `2 Abominable PG...... 1 2 1 strive for the diver- tor. It didn’t get picked up alpha males, he begins to `3 Downton Abbey* PG...... 3 3 2 sity of Perfect for a second season. amass followers who cheer `4 Hustlers R...... 8 4 10 Harmony’s fictional Which raises the Arthur because of their `5 R...... 5 8 10 It: Chapter Two choir community. question: When will own grievances, some of ...... `6 Judy PG-13 3 3 5 Bradley Whitford Hollywood get the which have merit. Show me `7 Ad Astra* PG-13...... 1 6 5 (The West Wing) message that relying on NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA the human being who isn’t `8 Rambo: Last Blood R. . . . . 4 9 6 playing grumpy rural America for clichéd sinned against. The evil of `9 War unrated ...... not rated widower Arthur characters isn’t as Joker and his followers `10 Good Boys R...... 6 5 10 Cochran might be profitable as it thinks? reaches full flower when —by LAURA FINCH *Reviewed by WORLD enough to draw they burn down all the
18 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Documentary Sheep Among Wolves Vol. II The new documen- turns “millions” to Jesus R tary Sheep Among is better than democracy; Wolves Vol. II describes “spiritual sleepiness” in mass conversions of the West is worse than Muslims to Christ inside persecution. The film Iran. The film relates this touts both the decentral- good news amid some ized nature of the under- production foibles and ground Iranian church controversial missiology, and the fact that the yet rightly challenges “majority” of its leaders viewers to self-examina- are women. tion and prayer for the A few minor peeves: Television persecuted church. subtitle typos, excessive Successful evangeliza- acoustic guitar perfor- tion among Muslims “flips mances, and little video Emergence the script,” the filmmak- from inside Iran. Largely, In ABC’s new weekly despite misgivings, wants ers say, on Western meth- Westerners share infor- drama Emergence, to keep Piper safe and ods. Instead of winning mation from meetings R shadowy villains want to camps out with the clan converts then discipling they’ve held with Iranian get their hands on a little while they figure things them, Christians teach church leaders in girl who seems to have out. nonbelievers how to wor- Indonesia, where much of survived a mysterious Evil forces want Piper, ship, pray, and read the the film is shot. But a plane crash. As a police and they want to destroy Bible. Muslims learn they number of Iranians with chief and her family any evidence of the plane owe submission to Jesus, face and voice disguised shield the youngster from crash. They bury the not Allah. Conversions do give powerful accounts danger, they try to find wreckage far out at sea follow, often reported in of coming to Christ. (The out why she is so valu- and seek out anything connection with visions unrated film discusses able to evil forces. ABC associated with the of Christ. The disciple- rape and suicide.) might have a hit on its accident. Young Piper making movement The film (streaming on hands with Emergence, seems to know more (DMM) has thrived in YouTube) also explores but is it worthwhile view- than she is letting on. Her cultures where a strong Iran’s relationship with ing for Christians? memories resurface, sense of obedience to Israel. Iranian Christians In the middle of the despite her attempts to the divine already exists. are “falling in love” with night, a plane crashes keep them at bay. She (For more on DMM, read the Jewish people as well over Long Island Sound, wants desperately to Jerry Trousdale’s as the Messiah. But there and strange storms belong to a family, to stay Miraculous Movements. comes an apocalyptic cause the electrical grid in a safe haven far from a Radius International has plot twist: God is “raising to malfunction. Chief Jo chaotic past she has published a thoughtful up a resistance church in Evans (Allison Tolman) escaped. critique.) the Middle East” that will arrives at the scene of After only three epi- “Mosques are empty” prevent another the wreckage to find a sodes have aired, it’s in Iran, the film proclaims, attempted extermination furtive survivor, a little difficult to make a recom- as Islam’s second-class of the Jews and provoke girl named Piper (Alexa mendation about this citizens—women (and them to repentance. Swinton) who instantly series. The plot involves blacks in East Africa, I’ve Perhaps. God ways bonds with the officer. an intriguing mystery, but seen firsthand)—are flee- aren’t Western ways. Who is she, and how has young viewers would find ing Islam. Hardship that —by BOB BROWN she alone remained alive the scenes of gore dis- when the entire aircraft turbing, and the show has been destroyed? contains occasionally Piper has lost her salty language. Still, the memory and has no place characters are well devel- to go. Chief Evans’ home oped and believable (so becomes a place of far), and the themes of safety, and Evans’ father love, loyalty, good vs. evil, and daughter accept and a family battling Piper as one of their own. tyranny are timeless. Even Evans’ ex-husband, —by MARTY VANDRIEL SHEEP AMONG WOLVES VOL. II: FAI STUDIOS • EMERGENCE: VIRGINIA SHERWOOD/ABC VIRGINIA • EMERGENCE: STUDIOS II: FAI VOL. SHEEP AMONG WOLVES
See all our movie reviews at wng.org/movies October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 19 CULTURE Books
nent deadline to write a beings can and ought to column. Some do, but why manage or steward time.” make that weakness a He also notes, “Hindu phi- universal principle? losophers were brilliant. And why do we care They could have made about time? Vishal mathematics the language Mangalwadi’s This Book of science but did not Changed Everything because their energies (SoughtAfterMedia, 2019) were spent seeking ways describes the Bible’s multi- to be delivered from the ple impact on us—including illusion (Maya) of the our understanding of time. physical world.” He describes boarding a Andreas Wagner begins Counting German train scheduled to Life Finds a Way: What get him to a small village at Evolution Teaches Us 5:59 p.m.—and he arrived at About Creativity (Basic, the minutes 5:59! Mangalwadi compares 2019) by relishing eons of AND PONDERING ETERNITY that with the experience of time: “Long before life a friend in his native India itself arose, nature … created by Marvin Olasky who arrived at a railway glittering crystals, like the station 25 minutes before diamonds that take millions In This Life: Secular passion that animate my the train’s scheduled of years to gestate in the R Faith and Spiritual life.” departure, only to see the womb of our planet. … Freedom (Pantheon, 2019), Say what? In “Amazing train move away before he Once these building blocks Martin Hägglund under- Grace” we sing, “When could board. The friend had assembled into the ear- standably writes, “The we’ve been there ten thou- marched furiously to the liest living cells, Darwinian thought of my own death, sand years, / Bright shining station manager and com- evolution kicked in.” Note and the death of everything as the sun, / We’ve no less plained, but the manager the usage: “had assembled.” I love, is utterly painful. I days to sing God’s praise / said, “Oh! That was yester- Who assembled them? do not want to die, since I Than when we’d first day’s train.” Then, “kicked in”: a want to sustain my life and begun.” That joyful excite- Mangalwadi asks why mechanical metaphor in a the life of what I love.” But ment moves me, but the cultures are so differ- book about creativity. he then writes, “At the Hägglund writes, “If I ent. He says European Lewis Dartnell begins same time, I do not want believed that my life would Bible-readers learned that Origins: How Earth’s my life to be eternal. An last forever … I would never man “began in time … but History Shaped Human eternal life is not only be seized by the need to do God breathed eternity into History (Basic, 2019) with unattainable but also anything with my time.” his soul. … Resurrection four words: “We are all undesirable, since it would That doesn’t make sense to and eternal life make us apes.” The book goes eliminate the care and me: I don’t need an immi- greater than time. Human downhill from there.
BOOKMARKS Economist Adam Smith said, “People of the Former Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said, same trade seldom meet together … but the con- “Government is simply the name we give to the versation ends in a conspiracy against the public, things we choose to do together.” In Christ and or in some contrivance to raise prices.” Jonathan the Kingdoms of Men (P&R, 2019), David Innes Baker’s The Antitrust Paradigm (Harvard, 2019) points out other ways. (Among them: family, favors governmental action to improve economic community, church.) Hervé Le Tellier’s All Happy competition. Smith saw the problem but would be Families (Other Press, 2019) is a memoir of a skeptical about Baker’s solution. John Tolan’s French writer who grew up in a dysfunctional family and Faces of Muhammad (Princeton, 2019) engagingly calls himself “a monster” because he never felt warmth shows how Europeans over the past millennium have or affection. Michael Winship’sHot Protestants (Yale, viewed Islam’s founder in a variety of ways: idol, trickster, 2019) is a critical but not crabby history of English and pseudo-prophet, revolutionary, reformer, lawgiver, American Puritans, who often had warm families. romantic hero. —M.O.
20 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Books about the past reviewed by Susan Olasky
THE SECRETS WE KEPT Lara Prescott Prescott’s highly publicized debut novel focuses on the CIA’s 1950s use of Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago, which Soviet leaders tried to suppress. The agency uses two former typists, now spies, to get its hands on the book, since women could go AFTERWORD where men couldn’t. Meanwhile in Russia, Pasternak labors Debra Moerke’s Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous away, sacrificing to get his novel published, and his mistress sac- Grace (Tyndale Momentum, rifices even more: She goes to the Gulag to protect his secrets. 2019) tells how the The story, improbable but based on historical fact, weaves back Moerkes fostered a and forth between Russia and the United States and includes a newborn who had nongraphic lesbian relationship between the two typists. cocaine in her sys- tem at birth. Before SOLD ON A MONDAY Kristina McMorris long the family was caring for the Ellis Reed, a Depression-era reporter, sees two young children on baby’s four siblings a porch with a sign reading “2 children for sale.” He snaps a from two different photo. But later, when the photo and negative become damaged, fathers. When the he stages another photo with different kids. That ethical shortcut authorities unexpectedly leads to a series of tragic events, which Reed tries to undo. returned the children to Spurring him on—and working with him—is Lily, the publisher’s their mother, one child died, secretary and an aspiring columnist. In this historical novel, though it took 10 months McMorris portrays desperate parents and those willing to take for the truth to come out. advantage of their desperation. Lily’s backstory, which includes This book tells an awful an unwed pregnancy, shows respect for unborn life. story of parental cruelty, forgiveness, and God’s grace displayed through the THE POPPY WIFE Caroline Scott Moerkes. Set in 1921, this novel follows Edie and her brother-in-law, Harry, In If You Lived Here as they pick up the pieces after the Great War. Harry lost two You’d Be Home by Now brothers in the fighting—one died and one is missing. Edie’s (Harper, 2019), Washington husband, Francis, is the missing one, and she believes he might Post data journalist be alive. Harry searches as he takes photos of gravesites for Christopher Ingraham tells how families back in Britain. Edie looks for the setting of her last he uprooted his photo of Francis. Though slow in parts, Scott’s novel, which family—his govern- releases Nov. 5, makes vivid the physical devastation caused by ment employee the war and the shattered lives left behind. wife and 2-year-old twins—from ONE DAY Gene Weingarten Baltimore to Red Lake County, Here’s the idea behind the book: “Select an ordinary day at Minn., a place he had writ- random, report it deeply, then tell it like it happened—from ten about as “the worst midnight to midnight.” The day turns out to be Dec. 28, 1986. place to live in America.” At Journalist Weingarten does a deep dive into events of the day: times funny in a fish-out-of- The research and writing took six years and more than 500 water way, the book is also interviews. The result is a series of compelling stories that show about the humbling of an human beings at their best and worst. It includes a ground East Coast elitist who comes breaking surgery, fire, murder, and ordinary moments in sad to appreciate elements of
HANDOUT and tragic lives. small-town life. —S.O.
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Now STAUER WATCHES… THE UNSUNG HERO OF BIRDSONG, USA Nazis’ pursuit of that the secret’s out, we Brenda Woods the perfect war- can’t guarantee this $29 êêêêê A near miss on his bicycle changes 12-year-old Gabriel’s whole horse, which chronograph will stick around “The quality of their summer. A stranger named Meriwether Hunter saves him from an paralleled their quest for a long. Don’t overpay to be watches is equal to many oncoming car, and the two become unlikely but close friends. The master human race. underwhelmed. Put a precision that can go for ten times story explores the little-understood experience of African Although classified as a chronograph on your wrist for the price or more.” just $29 and laugh all the way American soldiers returning from the battlefields of World War II to young readers edition, the — Jeff from McKinney, TX hometowns that did not always appreciate their service. It tackles book is heavy on historical to the bank. 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As she makes friends with the “math nerds” and learns to spirit of precision.” — AskMen.com® human life led to a warped organize and solve logic puzzles, she discovers her artistic creativity Stauer…Afford the Extraordinary.® isn’t so different from the talents of the Camp Archimedes students. worldview that eventually Although the book seems to take a dark turn, the conclusion is paved the way to genocide HANDOUT • Precision crystal movement • Stainless steel case back & bracelet with deployment buckle • 24 hour military time lighthearted and appropriate for middle graders. A great read for of the Jewish people. • Chronograph minute & small second subdials; seconds hand • Water resistant to 3 ATM • Fits wrists 7" to 9" kids who are interested in puzzles and codes. (Ages 8-12) —Kristin Chapman ® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. JCW185-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com Stauer † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code. 22 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 To see more book news and reviews, go to wng.org/books Secrets of a Billionaire Revealed Absolute best price “Price is what you pay; value is what you get. Absolute best price Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like for a fully-loaded buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” chronograph — wisdom from the most successful investor of all time with precision e’re going to let you in on a secret. Billionaires have billions accuracy... Wbecause they know value is not increased by an in ated price. ey avoid big name markups, and aren’t swayed by ashy ONLY advertising. When you look on their wrist you’ll nd a classic timepiece, not a cry for attention–– because they know true $29! value comes from keeping more money in their pocket. 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CHRIS ARNADE A back-row seat AN ATHEIST SAYS CLASS DIVISIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO DESPAIR— AND HE SEES SECULAR SOLUTIONS HAVE NOT WORKED by Emily Belz
Back in the 1990s, photographer row.” What’s your favorite item on the people on the bottom, R Chris Arnade worked as an menu? I always go for the dollar menus it’s implied that they analyst on Wall Street, and he would go because I’m cheap. I get my latte every lost. We pretend that on long walks to relieve his stress. The morning. Usually I go for the two- it’s a meritocracy, so walks got longer and longer, to the for-$5 special if they have it, and I’ll get it’s your fault if you point that he quit work and began two Big Macs. The key to McDonald’s don’t succeed. So it documenting the stories of the people is to get rid of the cheese. There’s makes the people at he met on his walks in New York’s something about fast-food cheese. the bottom not only downtrodden neighborhoods. How did your experience as a Wall frustrated but humil- He spent several years photograph- Street trader lead to this attention to iated. I don’t want to ing and interviewing residents of the the back row? I was shocked how be on record for saying Bronx neighborhood of Hunts Point provincial New York City is. I worked I understand why and then traveled elsewhere around the at Salomon Brothers, a high-end firm. people would kill country, turning his findings into a There were people in my office who themselves. But I book, Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back were worth X-million, who had spent understand why people Row America. His Jacob Riis–style all their life in New York City and never would kill themselves exposure of what he calls the “back been to Brooklyn. Even though my in that system. row” of America gives a record of those office was still dominated by lacrosse So you think the left out of the players from Harvard, there was a for- growing divide American dream: mer elevator repair guy who was really between front row the drug addicted, good with numbers. The dad of one of and back row has the homeless, the my bosses was a firefighter. By the end something to do with discouraged. of my time in Wall Street, people had the growing number Arnade and I the same resumé—a kid who was the of “deaths of despair” from suicide spoke at his home in valedictorian, went to Harvard or and overdose? It’s clear that something upstate New York, Princeton, and then did nonprofit work is very, very wrong. Life spans are going where he tends a for the summers. They’re good employ- down. Suicide is a stunning act. menagerie of animal ees, but it felt like paint-by-numbers. Animals don’t commit suicide. outcasts: a dog Did that change in what jobs were Addiction, to me, is a form of suicide. named Zumi, a cat from a crack available to those in the back row lead It’s not about lacking iPhones or lack- house, snapping turtles in the pond to some of the societal despair you ing cars. There’s a spiritual lacking who love chicken nuggets, and about 30 documented? It’s a system that makes there. And I say this as someone who is groundhogs who were attempting a nobody feel valued, because the system a self-described atheist. takeover of the area under his porch. says, We’re ranking people based on How do we change? I don’t think it’s What’s your quick definition for how intelligent you are, which we fixable by any policy, because we over- “front row” and “back row”? It’s, “Did translate into how much money you value rationality and material things. you go to an elite college or not?” I used have. On Wall Street, nobody was ever We’ve made meaning all about how to do the McDonald’s test: Is it an icky happy with their pay because they much you have. I feel like one of the place with unhealthy food? Or is it a always knew that someone made a little solutions is faith. One of the wonderful place where it’s wonderful and you like bit more, and they had gotten into this things about faith is you don’t have to to hang out? rat race of three homes. You can say, have much to have it. It’s free. HANDOUT You’ve spent a lot of time at That’s your own fault. But it’s what Are you calling for revival in the McDonald’s interviewing the “back society expects of people. And the United States? I suppose. Again, I’m
24 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 You started this project before President Donald Trump was in the picture. Did you see him coming? About halfway through my project, he announced his run for the presidency. I laughed. But five days later, I went on a two-month trip across the country, and within three days, I thought, This guy is gonna win. The people I was talking to wanted things changed. They also liked that he was a traitor to his class—making fun of the elites, even though he was wealthy. And he was doing it in crude language they understood. It was kind of like: You guys have been making fun of us for so long. We are fat slobs who eat in ugly res- taurants. And this guy’s making fun of you now. Did the people whom you interviewed vote? I think most of them didn’t. Some people have made fun of the book as being simply about Trump voters. I’d say 80 percent of the people in the book didn’t vote for Trump. And I’d say ‘On Wall Street, nobody was ever happy with roughly over half didn’t vote—they have their pay because they always knew that a felony charge, or lots of other issues. But also, I didn’t meet anybody who felt someone made a little bit more. And the people anything but disenfranchised. Your one on the bottom, it’s implied that they lost.’ vote’s not going to change anything. What’s your advice for the front row to engage the back row? Just talk not religious, but the secular shift has about theology, but for me religion is to people and listen. Some of them you not worked. And I don’t just see about being humble. One of the things are not going to like. Some of them are religion as having a utility. I learned that comes with privilege is hubris. So not nice people. But others may have through this project that maybe reli- in some sense, you’re removed from the shared interests. If your shared interest gion is just as right as sciences. Maybe humility that allows you to understand is the New York Giants, talk about the my privilege and the privilege of a lot of other things greater than we can Giants. In some ways, I understand people like me is obscuring the evi- understand. why people don’t engage. It’s like, once dence for religion. We’ve removed Were you ever tempted by the you know how your food is made, you ourselves so much from the messiness spiritual things you were exposed to in don’t eat. Once you realize how unjust of life that we don’t see the evidence the course of reporting? I don’t think the world is, it’s kind of hard to enjoy it. for faith as being true. I’m on unsolid I have the humbleness, to be honest. It’s partly why I haven’t looked at my ground here because I’m speaking But it’s very appealing to me. pictures in a long time. A
[email protected] @emlybelz October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 25 CULTURE Music
Restoration Project and a contributor to the album’s liner notes, agrees. Honest, soulful “There will always be a market for honest, soulful expression,” he said. “And some of these tracks are as raw as it gets. They’re not highly processed, expression not filtered through the hands of a NEW BLACK-GOSPEL ALBUM IS ‘AS RAW dozen producers, and not calculated AS IT GETS’ by Arsenio Orteza in any way. “They’re the opposite of corporate music making.” The differences resulting R from the “in the world” R If The Time for Peace Is Now emphases of the “Social Gospel” and represents a microcosmic view of an the “but not of the world” emphases underappreciated genre, Legacy of the other kind (the “Private Recordings’ 105-song soundtrack Gospel”? the “Great-Commission to Ken Burns’ new eight-part Gospel”?) have long exacerbated documentary Country Music does frictions between liberal-leaning and the opposite, surveying from as conservative-leaning Christians. great a height as possible one of But one faith-based sector that has American music’s richest strains. proved particularly immune to the The set includes, as one repercussions of that rift is black- might expect, dozens of the gospel music. The Time for Peace Is genre’s most Now: Gospel Music About Us—a new seminal and compilation on the Luaka Bop label iconic showcasing obscure ’70s singles by tracks. But various and equally obscure artists— accompanied in this demonstrates something of both the bass figure atop regard how and the why. which, ironi- they’re not The “how” has to do with lyrics cally enough, all that dif- that directly address social dysfunction Mick Jagger ferent from, from an unapologetically Biblical could’ve say, Time point of view. chanted Life’s Country Both the Little Shadows–sung “Sympathy for Jukebox “Time for Peace” and the Soul Stirrers– the Devil.” And Collection. sung “I’m Trying to Be Your Friend” if “Peace in the What sets quote directly from the Beatitudes. The Land” suggests Country Music Staple Jr. Singers’ “We Got a Race to that the apart is its Run” refers to the story of Lazarus and Gospel I.Q.’s chronological Dives. Willie Scott & the Birmingham dug Clarence sequencing Spirituals’ “Keep Your Faith to the Sky” Carter (it does), the melody of “Don’t (which makes the holds up as an exemplar the woman Give Up” suggests that the William music’s sometimes complicated evolu- with the issue of blood from Mark 5 Singers harbored a fondness for tion easy to follow) and its willingness (and Luke 8). And James Bynum’s “We “House of the Rising Sun.” to defy egalitarianism and grant more Are in Need” weaves 1 Corinthians 13:11 As for the “why” of the project, space to more-deserving artists. into a deeply soulful plea for men to Luaka Bop’s president Yale Evelev The proportions sometimes feel step up and be strong. says that it has mainly to do with the off—three Emmylou Harris songs to One might almost conclude from lyrics’ timeliness. “Many of these one from Buck Owens, one Johnny such Scripturally based exhortations songs were really an outgrowth of the Rodriguez song to zero from Billy Joe to brotherhood and to keeping hope civil rights movement,” Evelev told Shaver. And “Will the Circle Be alive that in Christ there is no left or me. “However, I felt [their message] Unbroken” fore, middle, and aft risks right. was so connected to what is going on overstating the obvious. The music reflects a similar indif- in the world now.” But there’s also subtlety galore. ference to categories. “Time for Peace” Bob Darden, the head of Baylor And what the soundtrack hasn’t proceeds along a descending, bongos- University’s Black Gospel Music squeezed in it points to. A
26 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 [email protected] @ArsenioOrteza Notable new albums reviewed by Arsenio Orteza
TURN OFF THE NEWS, BUILD A GARDEN Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real This album starts out shuffling the country-rock deck with so much aplomb, skill, and imagination that its utter col- ENCORE lapse somewhere around the three-quarter mark comes For a Grammy-winning more as a shock than a disappointment, though it’s that producer and a singer- too. Neither the shock nor the disappointment, incidentally, songwriter-musician whose has anything to do with how seldom Lukas sounds anything solo career turns 35 this year, Charlie Peacock seems like his famous father Willie (two songs tops). It has to do surprisingly blasé about with how precisely the last five songs sound like the work publicity. If not for of five different and not particularly skillful or imaginative bands. Facebook, you might never know that so far this year he RIDE ME BACK HOME Willie Nelson has released two excellent, On his last several releases, Nelson has included at least MP3-only EPs (well, sort one song about death or its approach, and this album—his of ), the 23-minute Souled- best of the 2010s, its cover of Billy Joel’s “Just the Way Out Fellowship of Friends & You Are” notwithstanding—has two, “One More Song to Funk and the 31-minute Lil’ Willie. They’re as different Write” and “Come On Time” (which should be punctuated from each other as both are “Come On, Time”). The former may be a standard some- from his 40-minute 2018 day. It’s the latter, however, that feels alive right now. Who jazz outing When Light else but an ornery old cuss would dare Time to hurry up Flashes Help and get things over with? Is on the Way. On Souled- BEYOND THE DOOR Redd Kross Out, Peacock Nearly 40 years after their debut, Jeff and Steve McDonald alternates have hit upon the perfect Redd Kross theme song: “The between sleek R&B balladry Party Underground.” The underground, after all, is where and crisp they remain despite their best efforts to break out, and a Minneapolis party is what they sound like, especially with drummers like funk, solicit- their current one, Dale Crover (think Keith Moon meets ing vocals Glen Sobel), to galvanize their demolition-derby guitars from such and power-pop hooks. Undeniable and irresistible proof “friends” as that they know they’re not getting any younger: “When Do his son Sam I Get to Sing ‘My Way’?” Ashworth, his daughter-in- OH BY THE WAY … IT’S NATALIE SWEET law Ruby Amanfu, Jason Natalie Sweet Eskridge, and Jonathan Winstead. On Lil’ Willie, Natalie Sweet has done Ramones fans a big favor. As a Peacock marries gentle, singer she’s no Joey, and as a guitarist Morten Henriksen’s Americana-based pop to no Johnny, but the lyrics are right up at least one of Joey’s terse, relationship-based and Dee Dee’s alleys (the one not leading to the psycho lyrics. “You’re like a movie ward), and the sped-up-bubblegum-as-battering-ram done right—you never go on attack that facilitates the squeezing of 13 songs into 31 too long” is a perfect simile minutes definitely has the spirit. It’s just too bad that, for for the era of overstuffed reasons entirely beyond Sweet’s control, Tommy Erdelyi Hollywood blockbusters.
HANDOUT couldn’t have done the final mix. —A.O.
To see more music news and reviews, go to wng.org/music October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 27 VOICES Mindy Belz
years (see “Help is [still, maybe] on the way,” Sept. 28), lowering refugee returns. Most refugees would welcome opportunities to remain in or near their homeland in safety, where language and food are familiar and friends aren’t far away. By definition they cannot go back without facing grave danger. That’s no justification for dismantling refugee admissions. BIBLICALLY A new low Inevitably someone will respond, “We can’t take everyone.” That’s also a nonargument. At U.S. REFUGEE TURNABOUT IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL 95,000 the United States accepted at most .37 percent of the world’s 26 million refu- The Trump administration has announced gees, a drop in the bucket. At 18,000 it R a new ceiling for refugees admitted to the will accept .07 percent, a swipe at a United States, starting with the new fiscal year problem so faint as to be cruel. It Oct. 1. For 2020 the maximum number allowed ensures the United States no serious FAITHFUL will be 18,000 refugees, slashing a ceiling that place at any table where the problems for 40 years has averaged 95,000. of mass migration are debated. Historically the United States does not meet The trend set by the Trump admin- its own admissions ceiling, and it’s hard to see istration already has compounded the Trump administration reaching even this hardships. Numbers have fallen so low new low. In 2018 with a ceiling of 45,000 refu- it’s forced key U.S. groups working gees, admissions stood at 22,500, and admissions with refugees—like World Relief and in 2019 will number about the same. Numbers Catholic Relief Services—to dismantle offices The new ceiling can only mean further cuts and let go expert workers. to a program where radical decreases already have fallen so Families at refugee camps around the world have proved harsh. The number of Iranian low it’s have been stopped in process. Bethany Christian Christians resettled in the United States has forced key Service’s Nate Bult reported families who “slept fallen from 2,086 in 2016 to 66 in 2019. Religious outside the office that was going to bring them minorities whose persecution qualifies them U.S. groups to the airport the next day and when workers as refugees see their chance of winning U.S. working with arrived, they had to tell them that their flights protection fall anywhere from 60 percent to 95 refugees to were canceled.” percent. For Yazidis from Syria it’s been 100 World Relief’s Matthew Soerens argues also percent—from 26 admitted in 2017 to 0 in each dismantle that “by further restricting refugee resettle- of the last two years. offices and ment, the administration is exacerbating the To justify so radical a departure, the Trump let go expert humanitarian nightmare along our border.” administration says it will pursue “a new, prac- Acting director of U.S. Citizenship and tical focus on assisting refugees where they are workers. Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli confirmed concentrated” and will work harder using for- that the United States would turn away perse- eign assistance and other tools “to resolve the cuted Christians who, denied entry as refugees, crisis points that drive displacement in the first try to seek asylum at the border: “We’ll turn place.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told them back,” he said. me in July, “Our mission set has been to drive That’s actually a violation of U.S. laws and better outcomes for them where they are.” treaties on asylum. But it underscores how Yet it’s hard to see where the Trump admin- Trump policy is a break from precedent, from istration is fully engaged diplomatically and law, and from an American system once infused militarily to carry out that new strategy. Troop with compassion rooted in Christian and withdrawals from Afghanistan and Syria are Jewish teaching. likely to spike—rather than ease—an exodus of The Trump administration advertises its civilians. commitment to religious freedom, hosting State U.S. diplomats rarely visit hot spots where Department ministerials and chastising foreign refugees flee. And a business-as-usual bureau- leaders who oppress religious minorities. But EMRE TAZEGUL/AP cracy in Washington isn’t primed for the when it shuts the door to those most endan- Pompeo mission set. Our reporting in Iraq has gered for their faith, America looks to the rest Migrants arrive at shown how U.S. aid to restore communities the Port of Piraeus, of the world like the religious freedom it touts devastated by ISIS has stalled now for two near Athens. is for Western believers who live in safety. A bju.edu 28 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 [email protected] @mcbelz © 2019 Bob Jones University. All rights reserved. BJU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, national or ethnic origin, protected disability or veteran status. (22331) age, sex, national or ethnic origin, protected BJU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, All rights reserved. © 2019 Bob Jones University. BIBLICALLY FAITHFUL
bju.edu © 2019 Bob Jones University. All rights reserved. BJU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, national or ethnic origin, protected disability or veteran status. (22331) age, sex, national or ethnic origin, protected BJU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, All rights reserved. © 2019 Bob Jones University. FEATURES
As violent demonstrations roil Hong Kong, a bold group of volunteers is providing moral support and physical protection for young protesters STEPPING INTO
30 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019THE FRAY A pastor volunteering with Protect the Children walks among protesters during pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.
STEPPING INTO
by JUNE CHENG in Hong Kong THE FRAY photo by KIRAN RIDLEY connect them with legal counsel, but the police urged him back to the sidewalk, pointing a can of pepper spray at his face. Wong had no choice but to comply. “The heavens can see what you’re doing, the heavens are watching. Please, have some humanity!” Wong wailed at the dozens of riot police that had gathered around him, their faces hidden behind reflective helmet visors. “Why don’t you just beat me to death here? I can’t tolerate this. This isn’t Hong Kong, this is hell.” Fellow volunteers with Protect the Children eventually led the visibly shaken Wong away from the police. Made up of mostly middle-aged and elderly volunteers, On the road in front of the luxury mall Pacific Place in the Protect the Children is a church-run group that tries to medi- central business district of Hong Kong, hundreds of young ate between police and protesters, sometimes by physically pro-democracy protesters, wearing hard hats and gas standing between the two. At other times, they distract police masks, began to yell and run in retreat. Behind them, tear to help protesters evade capture, provide protesters with aid gas canisters arched through the sky, leaving trails of white and supplies, or offer emotional support. Roy Chan, the smoke. As police fired rounds of the acrid gas, members of founder of the group and the pastor of Good Neighbor North an elite police squad known as raptors suddenly charged at District Church, said that although the group’s membership protesters from both the main and side roads. Groups of is not limited to Christians, it’s goal is to care for the young half a dozen officers, covered head to toe in protective gear, protesters and to love them sacrificially as Jesus does. targeted individual protesters, beating them with batons The protests began as opposition to an extradition bill the and roughly pinning them to the ground. Hong Kong government has since withdrawn. Protesters In minutes, the road was cleared of most protesters and are now focused on calling for an investigation into police occupied by hundreds of riot police and subdued demon- brutality, fighting the Chinese Communist Party’s encroach- strators. From the sidewalk, an 82-year-old man with gray ment on Hong Kong’s autonomy, and demanding direct hair, a cane, and a yellow “Protect the Children” vest strode elections in Hong Kong. As the mass protests entered their over to the police waving his cane, scolding officers for fifth month, violence had escalated on both sides: Some treating the protesters so violently. Known to protesters as protesters threw bricks and Molotov cocktails at police, Uncle Wong, he begged to get the protesters’ names to while police shot an 18-year-old protester in the chest on Oct. 1, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The violence increases the risks for Protect the Children, which has between 40 and 80 volunteers at each protest. But Wong believes it’s a job he must do. “[The protesters] are fighting for freedom, human rights, and democracy— it’s not for their own self-interest,” Wong said. “They’re giving up their time, their blood, and their lives. … If we don’t help them, there will be no Hong Kong left.”
n the morning of Sunday, Sept. 29, Chan started his day lead- ing a church worship service in Oa cramped walk-up apartment in Sheung Shui, a neighborhood near the Chinese border. He strummed a guitar and led
20 church attendees in the worship song KIRAN RIDLEY
Uncle Wong acknowledges protesters.
32 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 “I Sing Praises to Your Name.” Around him were piles of A demonstrator is detained by police. storage bags full of gas masks, helmets, and goggles for protesters. As Chan prayed for God to bring justice and hope amid Another, clearer video revealed it was really a man on Hong Kong’s dark days, several church members cried the ground. Chan said the Protect the Children volunteer softly, dabbing their eyes with tissues. had bleeding gums and dizziness from the encounter. Many The morning’s sermon looked at the story of Lazarus decried the police force’s dehumanization of protesters and and the rich man from Luke Chapter 16, as Chan asked, aid workers. “What is the difference between a person and an object?” In the sermon, Chan pointed out that the rich man The topic was pertinent to the church: A week earlier, a ignored Lazarus’ needs, treating him more like an object member of Protect the Children became separated from the than a human. He also warned pro-democracy supporters group and was surrounded by police in an alley. A blurry against turning their anger at injustice into hatred of people video showed police swarming and kicking him as he lay on on the other side. the ground. But police official Vasco Williams, when asked Afterward, one middle-aged congregant said he found it about the incident, said that the video appeared to show “an challenging to be a Christian, since he didn’t see justice and officer kicking a yellow object on the ground” and that he felt hopeless. Another attendee, a woman wearing a Protect
ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/GETTY wasn’t sure what the object was. the Children shirt, responded that Christians need to hope
October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 33 Roy Chan leads a worship service at his church, then suits up to attend the day’s big demonstration (left); protesters face off with police (right).
shelter for the homeless and to advocate for impoverished street cleaners and farmers illegally evicted from their land. During this summer’s pro-democracy protests, Chan and about 10 others went on a hunger strike starting July 3 after seeing the despair among young protesters, many in their teens or 20s, as the government repeatedly ignored their demands. Chan believed this des- peration would lead young people to commit acts of violence or even suicide. He wanted to show young people a more positive way to channel their energy, and to show them that the older generation cared for them and was willing to suffer for them. They held a hunger strike for 19 days, urging the government to agree to Hong Kong citizens’ democratic demands, including universal suffrage and an independent investigation into police actions. As the days wore on, they decided that rather than just sitting there on a hunger strike, they could do more good reach- ing out to the protesters with love and warmth and trying to ensure that no one got hurt. Chan issued an open call to anyone inter- ested in joining, and 200 people showed up on July 21. Afterward their numbers dropped as the danger increased. At first, the police largely in God’s sovereign will and His control of the future. She treated them with respect—the volunteers admitted she also faced moments of discouragement and would reason with the police, hand them flowers, and ask depression, “but we must find time to pray, read the Bible, them not to attack. Police responded politely, saying, “Old sing hymns, and hold on to God tightly.” man, go home before things get dangerous.” As parishioners trickled out the door, Chan dressed him- But as the protests became increasingly violent, police self in body armor and strapped on packs full of gear for started treating the volunteers roughly, calling them that afternoon’s protest. That weekend proved a busy one: cockroaches, pointing guns at them, and pushing and On Saturday activists held a rally marking the fifth anniver- kicking them. sary of the Umbrella Movement; on Sunday protesters held an anti-totalitarianism march; and on Tuesday, China’s fter Sunday’s service, Chan scarfed down a pastry National Day, protesters held six different rallies in various before hopping on a van headed to Hong Kong Hong Kong districts. That meant Chan and the Protect the Island, where the anti-totalitarianism march was Children volunteers had little rest between protests. Aplanned. Police had announced a ban on the event, and Chan founded Good Neighbor Church in 2014 after along the road they had formed checkpoints to try to stop leaving his position at a megachurch in the nearby city of protesters from reaching the site. Fanling and feeling that the church wasn’t doing enough to At Admiralty subway station, about 60 Protect the help the poor and the marginalized. As he examined issues Children volunteers assembled. After a pastor led them in of poverty, he concluded that the root cause was often prayer, they split up into groups of seven, each with a team KIRAN RIDLEY unfair policies that stemmed from Hong Kong’s undemo- leader who wore an earpiece to receive directions from the cratic government system and ultimately benefited the rich. group’s control center. Volunteers at the control center would With a background in social work, Chan began to provide follow social media and local livestream feeds to inform
34 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 leaders where police were positioned, where protesters were middle of the protest. (Buses had stopped running, and headed, and where the volunteers could be the most help. many shops and certain subway stations were closed.) Some of the teams typically head to sensitive areas, such Protect the Children volunteers directed the family members as police headquarters, to watch and see if police stationed to areas of safety. When a young woman approached the on footbridges decide to fire tear gas on peaceful protesters. group crying in distress, one of the middle-aged female If anything does happen, they’ll use microphones to direct volunteers pulled her in for a hug. demonstrators out of the line of fire and help wash their With a handheld microphone, the team leader, a petite eyes with saline solution. Other teams head directly to the woman with glasses and a ponytail, informed protesters of front lines, where police and protesters clash. what was happening farther down the road, urging those On that day, Uncle Wong’s group first headed out onto without protective gear to head back. Soon after, the tear the roads where protesters were peacefully marching. The gas descended, the raptors charged at protesters, and Wong team handed out water, drink coupons, and supplies like took his stand. gloves or arm sleeves. Many of the young protesters That afternoon, another Protect the Children team stood approached Wong and the group to thank them for their holding hands in between police and protesters. Tear gas service. As the team moved closer to the front lines, where and water cannons had cornered protesters into a space police had already fired tear gas, the leader instructed the next to a subway station, and the closed metal gates blocked volunteers to put on their hard hats, goggles, and gas masks. their way out. With the volunteers blocking police, some of As Uncle Wong walked in the front of the group, protesters the protesters were able to secretly escape by lifting a gate on either side of the road applauded and cheered. and crawling under it. The team came across a panicking European family that Later that night Wong met up with another Protect the
VINCENT THIAN/AP had come to Hong Kong on vacation and gotten stuck in the Children volunteer, 72-year-old Chan Ki-kau, known as
October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 35 Uncle Chan (left) marches with protesters; riot police beat a demonstrator (right).
Through his battle to main- tain his farmland, he got to know Pastor Roy Chan, and this year he joined the hunger strikers and decided to become involved with Protect the Children. “I don’t know about politics, but when there’s injustice, I step up,” he said. Currently he’s upset to see the Hong Kong government and its “big boss” in Beijing using the police to subdue the people and strip away their rights. On the night of Sept. Uncle Chan. Chan, too, is a fixture at the protests, often 29, he confronted a group of wearing a red hat bearing the name of his town, Ma Shi Po. police who were arresting A week earlier, he had tried negotiating with police, asking two teenage protesters. Uncle for the name of an arrested protester so volunteers could Chan and other Protect the provide a social worker to follow up. But according to Chan, Children volunteers asked for another group of police came over and pepper-sprayed their names, and one of the Chan in the face and shoved him so that he fell to the boys responded. Chan then ground. “I haven’t thanked the police for the pepper spray asked the police for their ID yet,” he said with a cheeky smile that exposed missing teeth. numbers, which are supposed “I usually don’t eat spicy, but that night I did.” to be visible on their uniforms Uncle Chan (no relation to Roy Chan) was born in Hong for civilians to file complaints. Kong before moving as a toddler to Guangzhou in mainland But the police refused to China. He recalls his family’s poverty during the Great Leap answer, and the ID numbers Forward, a time in which tens of millions of Chinese people were nowhere to be seen. starved to death. Because his father ran a small business “There’s no one for me to selling rice, his family was deemed capitalist and authorities report you to,” Chan said as tortured his father to death while Chan was in elementary he filmed the police on his school. phone. “Hong Kongers are suffering. Who can we go to?” “At that time who could speak out?” Chan asked, tears falling at the thought of his father’s death. “You couldn’t astors wearing orange vests with Jesus fish on the resist it, no matter how much you suffer, you couldn’t speak back have also joined Protect the Children. Gary out. All you can do is to keep suffering.” Lau, a Lutheran pastor, said he volunteers because After his father died, Chan worked odd jobs to provide Pthe Bible teaches that Christians should go to where injured for the family, working in construction and loading cargo people are. Through Protect the Children, he helps protesters onto trains. Once China began opening to the outside world get out of dangerous situations and also provides emotional in the 1980s, he moved back to Hong Kong, working at a support: Some youth are traumatized by the violence, dried seafood store then renting land to farm in Hong others have been disowned by their parents because of their Kong’s north district. Chan liked Hong Kong: There, he no involvement, and others struggle with depression. longer felt constrained and could enjoy freedoms. Most Hong Kong churches are passive in the protest
Yet for the past 20 years, Chan has been fighting land movement, but Lau says, “If we view the current situation KIRAN RIDLEY battles in Ma Shi Po, where the government plans to take as a war, then we need to reflect on the role pastors should farmland to develop high rises. The development project play during wartime.” He points to the Good Samaritan, would displace 1,500 households, including Chan’s. who disregarded his status and position in order to help a
36 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 person who hated him. “That’s why we think the church Oct. 1 protests, his phone received four calls in five minutes should be the Good Samaritan, this is a position of faith, not as he scarfed down a KFC dinner while speaking with politics.” me. At one point during the interview, he looked at his Some churches that spoke out at the beginning of the ringing phone and apologized that he needed to answer protests grew quieter as the violence escalated, according to the call. Roy Chan. He admitted that some face internal disagree- The caller was a young protester asking Chan to pray for ments about the protests and feel constraints about how him. The youth planned to go out as a front-line protester they can help, but he feels many churches are overly the next day and was overwhelmed with fear that he would concerned about their safety. be killed by police. After chatting and praying for him, Chan “If everyone is afraid, then no one has any voice to tell hung up the phone and cried. He said it was difficult to deal the government that they are doing something wrong,” with the suffering of these young people and know he was Chan said. “I don’t want Hong Kong to become North Korea so limited in how he could help. or mainland China. In the Bible it says that perfect love But he also acknowledged that some moments make him drives out fear. What we need to fear is God.” realize the work is worthwhile: After helping the marchers As the protests have increased in frequency, Roy Chan’s on Sunday, a young protester turned to him and said, “When days have become increasingly hectic. The day before the I see you, I see Jesus.” A
[email protected] @WORLD_mag October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 37 FEATURES
A CLIMATE OF INSECURITY
38 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Turkey is deporting Christian workers and church leaders, despite bowing to U.S. pressure one year ago in releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson
BY MINDY BELZ
n his 20s, a man we shall call Bill read that Turkey was the largest least-evangelized country in the world. He thought about Paul, the disciple of Jesus Christ, who described in Romans 15 a vision of seeing the entire Mediterranean world—“from Jerusalem to Illyricum”— evangelized. And he adopted it as his own calling, to go where “those who have never been told of Him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” More than 30 years ago, Bill with his wife and young child left America and moved to Turkey. They took up a variety of day jobs Iwhile working alongside Turkey’s fledgling Protestant community, teaching, planting churches, and translating Bible texts. They put down roots, learning the language, making friends, and having more children. They became legal residents with valid visas renewed periodically, most recently in March this year. “There was never any question about our status or work,” he said. That changed this summer. As Bill and his wife left the country to meet their now-adult children for a family vacation, a border official processing his passport (Turkey requires an exit stamp for those departing) set down her tea and called a supervisor. “He has an N-82 that is active,” she said. “What should I do?” The N-82 code meant Bill’s visa to live in Turkey was voided because he could be a threat to national security. It meant he’d be deported or banned from reentry. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, such measures have been adopted to punish residents ever since he declared a state of emergency in 2016 following an attempted coup. The government A CLIMATE OF lifted the state of emergency in July 2018, but continues to deploy extrajudicial measures—even though the constitution provides for freedom of belief and prohibits religious discrimination. Bill’s departure means, most likely, he won’t return.
Andrew Brunson, in red tie and glasses, upon his release from two years’ detention in Turkey INSECURITY EMRE TAZEGUL/AP
October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 39 TRUMP: EVAN VUCCI/AP • LOUVENS: HANDOUT - - - foreigners has meant foreigners A report from the from A report The ones who spoke to The ones who spoke Churches notes that “a notes that “a Churches climate of insecurity has churches. At Christmastime, Christmastime, At churches. carried anti- billboards slogans. Christian Association of Protestant they’ve no formal received tors or lay leaders who work leaders who work tors or lay within the as volunteers community. Protestant not named are WORLD due to their ongoing cases and because some have family members remain they All say ing in Turkey. had not encountered with Turkish problems And, authorities before. to despite requests of Ministry Turkey’s Interior and to consular United officials in the and other countries, States
ruling in his case could be years away, he learned. away, ruling in his case could be years “We had not the best family vacation,” Bill told me. After Bill told me. family vacation,” had not the best “We Like Brunson, who served with his wife Norine in Turkey in Turkey with his wife Norine Brunson, who served Like Trump speaks at an event at an event speaks Trump during freedom on religious General Nations the United Hans- (left); Assembly with his wife Louven Jürgen (above). and daughter notification for their forced departures. notification for their forced reinstate to request he contacted a lawyer departing Turkey, Bill’s pending. permit, a case that’s ment of his residence packed Turkey, flew back to valid, visa remained whose wife, She settled finances, and closed their home. their belongings, Bill in the United and rejoined to friends, said goodbye A States. reigned in the small Protestant community” in the small Protestant of thereigned as a result of Brunson case and that the expulsion a loss of leadership and training. months in recent been expelled those who’ve for 23 years, in many They lived in Turkey. decades of experience have prospering and some managed parts of the country, different pas are Most property. A number of them own businesses. - served as pastor of of asserved pastor The leaders of of leaders four The in Izmir—where Brunson Protestant congregations been forced out of Turkey since Brunson’s case ended. Brunson’s since Resurrection Church—have - - October 26, 2019 • Turkish pastors attended Brunson’s trial, and some were trial, and some were attended Brunson’s pastors Turkish Since that time, Turkey’s Turkey’s Since that time, Brunson, who attended the New York event, was jailed was event, York Brunson, who attended the New Despite the crackdown, at last month’s UN General month’s at last Despite the crackdown, This year authorities have slapped N-82s on dozens of on dozens slapped N-82s authorities have This year outspoken in support of his innocence. Afterward, state- Afterward, in support of his innocence. outspoken their campaigns against media carried propagandistic owned against churches. Perhaps unbeknownst to the White House, to the White House, unbeknownst Perhaps churches. against in Izmir—where congregations the leaders of four Protestant Church—have of Resurrection as pastor Brunson served case ended. since Brunson’s out of Turkey been forced about 6,000 mostly Muslim Muslim mostly about 6,000 who Christianity to converts of crimes an increase reported meet in 150 fellowships—has sanctions and tariffs sent down. spiraling lira Turkey’s community— Protestant Force Base last October. October. last Base Force Diplomatic negotiations succeeded only after U.S. panel convicted Brunson of panel convicted was He aiding terrorism. authorities to U.S. released Air to Andrews and flown ated charges in highly publi ated charges year. last cized proceedings In the end, a three-judge under Turkey’s emergency laws in a two-year ordeal starting ordeal in a two-year laws emergency under Turkey’s court A Turkish in 2016. tried him on unsubstanti become a friend of mine” and highlighted his role in “a very in “a his role become a friend of mine” and highlighted of American negotiation” for the release short and respectful Brunson. Andrew Pastor organized by the United States. Flanked by UN Secretary- by Flanked States. the United by organized and Pence, Mike President Vice António Guterres, General “has said Erdogan Trump Pompeo, Mike of State Secretary been forcibly expelled, including several dozen Americans. including several expelled, been forcibly praised Trump Donald President York, Assembly in New freedom at a summit on religious Erdogan President foreigners, revoking valid visas without warning and ban without warning visas valid revoking foreigners, have 50 Protestants An estimated Turkey. ning them from WORLD Magazine 40 Meanwhile, he told me, “Our 34 years in Turkey have come to close to half the churches in a city of 4 million,” he told the an abrupt end.” commission. The expulsions affect not only Americans. At least three of those expelled are Germans, and others include citizens from ince the Ottoman era, Turkey has formally recog- Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, South Korea, Finland, nized Orthodox, Catholic, and other traditional and Iran, according to interviews and a report from World faiths, but it controls and limits their practice. The Watch Monitor. Armenian Apostolic Church, for instance, has been German Hans-Jürgen Louven, 58, moved to Turkey 21 years unable to elect a new patriarch since 2010 because ago and settled with his wife and infant daughter in the resort Interior Ministry officials won’t approve it. town of Mugla on the Aegean Sea. In August without warning Protestants do not have the same standing. They normally can- he learned a routine application to renew his residency visa Snot receive religious worker visas and are barred from running had been denied. Officials ordered him to leave Turkey within their own educational programs. Most Protestant training is 10 days. led by foreign workers on long-term residence visas. For decades Louven has worked as a tour agent, hosting Many of those being deported arrived in Turkey at a time international groups and restoring historic homes for guests. when it actively sought favor from the West. In the 1990s the He worked with local officials to developculture “ and faith” government lobbied hard to join the European Union, tourism trips, promoting Biblical sites like Ephesus, Laodicea, strengthened its standing in NATO, and endorsed many and Hierapolis (current-day Pamukkale). All along, he told Western activities. Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry World Watch Monitor, he asked for permission and obeyed encouraged Christian tourism, even sponsoring a series of local laws and customs. His office displays framed commen tours promoting Turkey as the “other Holy Land.” (I attended dations from Turkish officials, including for his “valuable one such tour in 1995.) contributions” to the community. Since Erdogan founded the AKP Party in 2001, became Besides owning his home, Louven runs a farm in Mugla. prime minister in 2003, and was elected president in 2014, the There he even has prepared his own gravesite because he government increasingly has become more anti-Western, expected to die and be buried in Turkey. nationalistic, and strictly Islamic. “We are living here as Christians,” Louven Forcing out Christians once welcomed in said in a YouTube video about his deporta- Turkey is “part of a systematic attempt to tion, “and I suppose it’s for our witness of eradicate this group of Christian workers,” living for the Lord.” said Aykan Erdemir, senior fellow at the Louven mounted a campaign against the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a order, hiring a Turkish lawyer, filing a peti- former member of Turkey’s parliament. tion in local courts, and collecting 1,330 Erdemir believes the campaign is rooted in “a signatures at Change.org challenging his toxic mix” of ultra-nationalism and Islamist- ouster. Already his wife had traveled to led conspiracies about the “Christian West.” Austria to care for her hospitalized mother. Beyond the well-being of Turkey’s His departure would mean leaving alone his Protestant Church, there’s also concern about daughter, a university student and English Christian refugees in Turkey. About 10,000 teacher. “I need to stand up against this,” he Iranian Christians live as refugees in Turkey, said. estimates Rob Duncan, regional director of As the deadline for Louven’s departure Middle East Concern, along with thousands came and went while awaiting word on his of Iraqi, Syrian, and other Christians. As case, police showed up unexpectedly to Western interface with these groups becomes search his home and property. In the end, more risky, their plight becomes more vulner- authorities refused his petition, though the case remains open. able. Plus, deportation for them could equal a death sentence. His forced departure took place on Sept. 12. Protestants continue to learn of new ousters. Duncan said “These are targeted deportations,” said Andrew Brunson, at least 15 cases have come to his attention in recent weeks. now living in the United States. Brunson sees it as part of a “It’s important to address this as a legal situation, and to have trend starting in 2016 when he was ordered out of the country Turkish authorities explain how these Christians are a threat,” then jailed, along with deportations of American Christians he said. “There is a vague notion that Christians are a threat to Ryan Keating and David Byle. “Authorities pick some senior national security. Why so suddenly are Protestants a threat to foreign leaders, people who had been long-term residents and Turkish society? What have they done?” in some cases involved in refugee work,” he said. Brunson—whose book on his experience, God’s Hostage, is In June Brunson ended a long seclusion that followed his due out in October—expects “very dark times to come” release last October and testified before the U.S. Commission because Turkey “is careening in the wrong direction.” Brunson on International Religious Freedom—in large part, he said, due acknowledges, though, that his own imprisonment unleashed to his growing concern over the deportations. Brunson gave a prayer movement around the world focused on Turkey. commissioners a list of deportees, including from the five “Millions of people were praying for me, and those prayers churches in Izmir (including his own) that have lost senior served a greater purpose. That purpose is something far leaders because foreign pastors have been kicked out. “This is beyond setting me free, and it will continue.” A
[email protected] @mcbelz October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 41
FEATURES Silence of the sheep Christian nonprofits and churches have adopted practices from the for-profit world of avoiding liability, sometimes leading to devastating outcomes
BY EMILY BELZ / illustration by Krieg Barrie
b When staff members join Christ the King Community women signed confidentiality agreements as a condition 3 Church in Burlington, Wash., one of the largest of their settlements. And this practice from corporate churches in the United States, they sign onto the employee America is now common among religious nonprofits. handbook, which has a tightly definedconfidentiality Done right, confidentiality agreements help institu- clause. By signing, staffers agree never to discuss infor- tions protect members’ privacy and can fend off ruinous mation “designated as confidential” such as “sensitive litigation. But NDAs can also mask institutional disease information regarding members” or donation records or and leader misconduct. And even when an institution discipline issues. The handbook is publicly available. doesn’t enforce its NDA, the widespread institutional fear Makes sense, right? That is among the most mild, of liability can lead to unintended, devastating outcomes. logical, and tailored of confidentiality agreements in the One employee at a Christian radio station showed me Christian ministry world—and unlike most confidential- his non-disclosure agreement, which included a clause ity agreements, which often forbid employees from forbidding him from communicating “any information of divulging their very existence, Christ the King members any kind” relating to the radio station regardless of whether can read the agreement. Typically employees conform to it is deemed confidential or important. The agreement these agreements on pain of loss of employment or also included a non-compete clause (see sidebar) forbid- severance, though employment laws and enforcement of ding him from working for another station within 30 non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) vary by state. miles during his employment and for six months after. NDAs appear to have started as a way to protect trade Open Doors USA used an NDA as a condition of three secrets in the tech industry in the mid-20th century, months’ severance for one of its employees, according to according to a Columbia Journalism Review history of the a document WORLD received. The NDA required the term, but companies quickly began using them to protect employee to promise not to make civil claims against the all sorts of information. NDAs were the reason the organization and included a non-disparagement clause Harvey Weinstein scandals remained secret, because forbidding both the employer and employee from making
October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 43 ISTOCK - - - - . “The investigation investigation Chronicle —ED SULLIVAN Houston Chronicle Houston “We know of churches and institutions that have writ that have and institutions of churches know “We The USCCB officially banned confidentiality agree banned confidentiality officially The USCCB evangelical slamming now are liability problems Such conduct in Southern Baptist churches over the last 20 the last over churches conduct in Southern Baptist church from freely abusers went how and showed years to church. for a termination to disclose the reason ten policies never a Cedar Ben Wright, a job reference,” seeking to anyone and an official with the Southern pastor Park–based told the Convention, of Texas Baptists to sole purpose of these policies is to minimize exposure We businesses. not ordinary are we But civil liability. churches. A devastating A devastating churches. mis than 700 victims of sexual more unveiled this year remained in the priesthood,” Sullivan wrote DiNardo. “It “It DiNardo. wrote Sullivan priesthood,” in the remained hide her to of the church interest in the best is no longer dirty laundry.” the felt but Sullivan settlements in 2002, ments in abuse ban could be manipulated tooriginal language of the And post-2002, ban seem “discretionary.” the make some settlements undisclosed, like left still dioceses have spokes the When I asked cases. some of the McCarrick to have he said I would this, about person for the USCCB The current for an explanation. ask individual dioceses written. tightly of the ban is more version the core of who they are as an are of who they the core settlements public. settlements ‘These [abuse] lawsuits strike to strike lawsuits [abuse] ‘These institution. … It’d be better for the for better be … It’d institution. - institution in the long run’ to make make to institution in the long run’ - - October 26, 2019 • “If the [Cardinal Theodore] McCarrick settlements McCarrick Theodore] the [Cardinal “If Every settlement, he wrote, must be public and put on must he wrote, settlement, Every One night last year, Sullivan was sitting on was Sullivan year, One night last “But religious institutions—they’re religious “But “If you didn’t have confidentiality in have didn’t you “If The employee signing the agreement felt little choice felt little the agreement signing The employee a living off who make lawyers some employment Even the allegation. He thinks if the amount is published, rea the allegation. He serious how sonable people will be able to distinguish the case was. that disclosed to the public, then it is inconceivable were or to the position of cardinal been elevated have he would a pique, he wrote a letter to Cardinal Daniel Daniel a letter to Cardinal wrote he a pique, of Catholic Conference of the U.S. the head DiNardo, in him to ban confidentiality agreements urging Bishops, it. unless the victim requested abuse cases, with the name of the offending website the USCCB the amount of the settlement, and the date of clergyman, limitations. “These [abuse] lawsuits strike to strike “These [abuse] lawsuits limitations. as an institution. … of who they are the core in the long be better for the institution It’d settlements public. run” to make mad” “got smoking a cigar and just his porch Inthinking about the Catholic abuse cases. different,” said Sullivan, who has watched who has Sullivan, said different,” as settle what has happened in his church, of billions of the church drained ments have filed N.Y., The diocese of Rochester, dollars. for bankruptcy in September after the state for abuse look-back a one-year approved of passed the statute have cases that may fielding infinite cases brought against them.brought against fielding infinite cases if small settlements are In other words, to an incentive employees public, it gives for of those settlements are if most even sue, simply meritless claims that the company to spend money litigating. does not want non-functioning legal system in the United in the United legal system non-functioning that liti explained He said Sullivan. States,” $50,000 gation is so expensive—estimating sort of employment end for any on the low six into the with cases often stretching case, the only settlements are private figures—that in business without companies can stay way such agreements think the religious nonprofit world nonprofit religious think the such agreements is an used. Ed Sullivan they are how needs to weigh both in and Catholic, and practices lawyer employment up thousands of confidentiality has drawn He Houston. for companies. agreements a have would you settlements of lawsuits, agreement. we accept the agreement, I didn’t in the matter: “If Open Doors our bills.” been able to pay have wouldn’t policy. on its NDA declined to comment disparaging comments “verbally or in writing, or mak[ing] or in writing, “verbally comments disparaging The party.” third or to any the press to statements any of the existence forbade disclosing the also agreement WORLD Magazine 44 Brothers or
competitors? The Texas law only shields organizations in Texas. An Non-compete clauses, forbidding staff from employee reference from out of state, responding to a going to work for other churches or ministries in Texas church’s call, would not have the legal protection the area, seem to be a particular sign of ill-health to share such information. in a Christian organization. Former megachurch Mars Hill Church had required pastors to sign b The same culture of confidentiality in churches non-compete forms. Harvest Bible Chapel had a 3 about staff issues may have helped an alleged pred- non-compete agreement for pastors, forbidding ator in South Carolina slink from one church to another. them from being part of another “church minis- This instance underlined how difficult it is for ministries try” within 50 miles of any Harvest campus. to prevent abuse when there is no criminal history to Willow Creek Community Church said in a check and little information sharing between organiza- statement that it had used NDAs and non-compete tions because of fear of liability. agreements “on occasion” in the past, but that NewSpring Church, part of the Southern Baptist such agreements were no longer a practice to Convention, is one of the fastest-growing churches in the use for staff or congregants: “We believe in the country with 15 campuses across South Carolina and local church and want the church, at large, to about 23,000 in weekly attendance. It’s now facing law- thrive. We know God calls people to different suits regarding its vetting of volunteer Jacop Hazlett, congregations at different times and we support who worked in the church’s children’s ministry where he staff who transition to lead and serve elsewhere.” allegedly sexually abused children. South Carolina police WORLD repeatedly contacted the 25 largest say they have now identified 15 alleged victims of Hazlett, megachurches in the country about their use of although it’s unclear if all of those victims are from non-compete clauses; a few agreed to respond. Many reported that they do not use non- NewSpring. competes, but self-reporting on such policies is NewSpring said he passed the criminal background difficult to assess because churches might have a check that the church ran on him, as well as an in-person small non-compete clause slipped into a larger interview. The lawsuits say Cove Church and Elevation contract or particular severance agreement. Church in North Carolina had turned him out of their A number said they do not use non-compete children’s ministries out of concern for his behavior. forms: NewSpring Church in South Carolina; Since 2016, NewSpring has had three other men accused Southeast Christian Church in Kentucky; of sexual misconduct with children. Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas; Calvary Neither NewSpring, Elevation, nor Cove Church Chapel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Saddleback responded to requests for comment on the Hazlett case. Church in Lake Forest, Calif. Though NDAs don’t appear to have played a role in this “We believe that our competition is not other case involving a volunteer, NewSpring uses NDAs, and churches, but rather the world, the flesh, and the Elevation also uses NDAs for staff and volunteers. devil,” said Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren. “Our NewSpring’s spokesperson Suzanne Swift initially had philosophy has always been that we want as told WORLD that the church does not use NDAs, but a many churches as possible in our area, because no former employee sent a copy of a NewSpring NDA he single church could possibly appeal to and reach was required to sign as a condition of receiving severance. everybody.” —E.B., with reporting from Alyssa Jackson This particular agreement mentions Swift by name. Asked about the discrepancy, Swift wrote back saying, “We don’t require staff to sign a specific NDA,” but said believe that it rests on us a moral obligation that demands employees when they join must sign the employee hand- more.” book that includes “the expectation of confidentiality in In response to the Chronicle’s revelations, Texas some situations.” passed a law (composed with the help of the Southern The former employee said he was presented with the Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission) allowing NDA and severance agreement two days before the end nonprofits to disclose accusations of sexual misconduct of the month, when his family’s health insurance would of former employees or volunteers in “good faith” to expire, so he felt he had no choice but to sign. The current or prospective employers without fear of liability. NewSpring NDA included a non-disparagement clause, Someone who makes a bad faith or malicious accusa- that he would not disparage or “complain about” church tion does not have protection from civil or criminal liabil- staff and church members. ity. In other words, if you intentionally slander someone, In his letter to Cardinal DiNardo about ending confi- you could be criminally charged or civilly liable. Sullivan dential settlements, Sullivan concluded: “If you wish the thought those were good safeguards: “Granting immunity public to once again hold priests in high esteem, then from civil liability should be rarely done, and when it is dioceses should start by being 100 percent transparent done it should never be absolute, because that only serves with the public and 100 percent committed to letting to encourage reckless behavior.” justice prevail.” A
[email protected] @emlybelz October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 45 FEATURES Fatherless and homeless Too many kids in the foster system end up on the streets once they reach adulthood BY SOPHIA LEE photo by Greg Schneider/Genesis
Keanakay Scott
46 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019
hen Keanakay Scott moved into her first apartment after aging out of foster care, nobody had taught her that she needed substance abuse, crime, or to pay rent every month. She imprisonment. Scott’s story intersects assumed her first check would with most of these statistics. cover that expense. Less than She was 4 years old when social workers removed her two months later, she received and her four siblings from an an eviction notice. 4 Scott could abusive, drug-addicted mother and placed them in have paid her rent. She worked two jobs, cleaning foster care. For the next 14 years, she bounced from rooms at a Holiday Inn during the day and working home to home, getting kicked nights in a Target stockroom. But nobody had ever out repeatedly for behavioral outbursts that she later linked taught her how to manage her finances. She didn’t to her trauma from past abuse, abandonment, and save money and had stacked utility and credit card sexual assault. At one point at bills in a pile because she didn’t know what they age 11, she returned to her mother, who, Scott said, con- were. “I know that sounds so ridiculous, but I was 18, tinued to physically abuse her. and I just didn’t know,” Scott recalled. One day, Scott said, she couldn’t take it anymore. She hit her mother back. She says In the eyes of the court, she was a full-grown, her mother called the police and later told the independent adult. But practically speaking, she court she never wanted her daughter back again. was still a kid, alone and unprepared for the real The county sent Scott to a group home, where world—and her ignorant mistake led to severe she stayed for five years until she aged out. That consequences: With an eviction and bad credit institutionalized setting didn’t prepare her for record (she thought credit cards were “free adulthood, Scott said: “I call it baby jail. It’s like money”), she couldn’t find a landlord willing to mentally preparing you to be homeless. They tell take a chance on her. For the next 11 years, she you what to do, when to do it. It’s like jail!” She was homeless. found a staff member she liked, but when Scott Scott is just one of thousands of foster kids called that woman for help one evening, she said, who fall into homelessness each year. According the staffer told her not to call her after hours to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and again. Reporting System, more than 20,000 youths age At age 13, Scott began drinking. She was still out of foster care each year, losing access to the drinking at 18 when she aged out of foster care. At support they’ve relied on through the child wel- work, she carried around a water bottle filled fare system. Studies show that within a year of with gin that she sipped all day. For several years, emancipation, about a quarter of these youths will she survived as a functioning alcoholic. One experience homelessness. Within about four morning, she was too drunk to get up for work. years, around half will become homeless. The next morning, she was hungover again … then Other statistics help explain why: Only half of again, and again. One day, she just stopped going aged-out foster youth find some kind of stable to work. employment by the age of 24, and only half gradu- As tough and steely as she appeared to others, ate from high school by age 18. Less than 10 per- Scott ached for love. When a man first paid atten- cent of former foster youth earn a college degree. tion to her, she thought she’d found it: This man Young women who experience foster care are gave her physical touch and paid for her alcohol. twice as likely to become pregnant by age 19. Foster After him came others: Whenever a man hit her kids are highly susceptible to predators: About 60 or cheated on her, she thought, “Even my mom percent of child sex trafficking victims have been hit me. This man gives me something my mom in the child welfare system. Many others fall into can’t, so I’ll just deal with this.”
48 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 GREG SCHNEIDER/GENESIS PHOTOS daughters with two different fathers. man againandagain,givingbirth totwo more again. Meanwhile, shefellinlove withthewrong then toAlabama,Texas, andbacktoCalifornia She flewto Washington, D.C., tolookforjobs, couches. Sheknocked onthedoorsofshelters. She lived inavan. Shecrashed onstrangers’ hours aweek. Shebegged peopleforchildcare. taurants anddrove cabs, sometimesupto100 living onthestreets. Sheworked invarious res she couldtokeep afloat: Shepanhandledwhile landed onSkidRow inLosAngeles. her mother’s houseforthethird time—Scott daughter’s birth—andaftergettingkicked outof was outofthepicture, andsixmonthsafterher from badthingsinlife.” anything Ihadtogothrough. … Iwillprotect you promised herbaby, “You willnever gothrough For thenext several years, Scottdideverything It was easiersaidthandone. Thebaby’s father At 19, shegave birthtoherfirst daughter. Scott - T Angeles. “We’re notusing itasatemporary Appointed SpecialAdvocates (CASA) ofLos Julien, afoster parent andCEOoftheCourt safe placeforchildren,” saidWende Nichols- relationship withany adult. system foryears andhave nohealthy, trusting have that“someone.” Many have beeninthe weather theunpredictable moments oflife. community tostay housed,findajob, and many young adultsstill rely ontheirparents or port, andteacheslifeskills. Even aftergraduation, helps himapplyforcollege, provides moral sup hand. choices, meetacrisis, orsimplyneedaguiding and lackofsupportwhentheymake wrong “Foster care issupposedtobeatemporary, Most foster youths like aged-out Scottdon’t In most families, ateenager hassomeonewho it always starts withanunstable family messy andcomplicated.For foster youth, he lifestory ofahomelessindividualis October 26, 2019 26, October - when shewas achild. a photo of herself Keanakay Scott holds • WORLD Magazine WORLD 49 system. … We as a community have a moral built an online business that earns him $880 a responsibility to make sure they have safe families month. to live with. That’s how we avoid homelessness.” Bill Bedrossian, CEO of Covenant House Yet even as the number of children in foster care California, said he and his team use these young increases each year to more than 440,000 today, adults’ dreams as leverage to motivate them into between 30 percent to 50 percent of foster parents independence. The longer they work with these drop out of fostering each year. youths, the more likelihood of success: Ninety At Covenant House California (CHC), a non- percent of youths who go through CHC’s two- profit in Los Angeles and Oakland that serves year transitional living programs are able to main- homeless and trafficked youth ages 18 to 24, about tain their independence permanently. That’s why half of the young adults it serves are former foster the outreach teams continue to hit the streets and youth. Every weekday, an outreach team from talk to the same kids every day: It’s a way to show CHC visits with homeless youth on the streets. them that someone consistently cares for them, I followed one team to Hollywood one day after day, even if they might not be ready for a evening. We stocked a van full of peanut butter change yet. and jelly sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, bags of The child welfare system has improved over chips, bottled water, blankets, donated clothes, the years: The number of kids staying in care for and hygiene kits, then drove out to a small home- more than five years has dropped. More foster less encampment minutes away from the kids end up in adoption. Today, many states allow Hollywood Walk of Fame. foster youth to continue in foster care until age 21, As our van pulled up to the curb, young faces giving young adults more time to prepare for popped out of tents with eager smiles. “We emancipation. Many child welfare agencies are missed you!” cheered one 18-year-old woman also required to develop transition plans and named Destiny. A few minutes later, more young provide “Independent Living Skills” classes that adults appeared on their skateboards and bikes. teach skills such as riding the bus, conflict resolu- They grabbed sandwiches, pulled out clothes, and tion, and cooking. tried on sunglasses, chatting away like gossipy But foster youth workers tell me those steps teenagers. Out of the six people I talked to, three are not enough, and foster youth are still falling told me they were former foster kids. One woman into homelessness. In Los Angeles, there aren’t enough transitional living programs, and foster youths tell me the county-sponsored independent living skills classes aren’t very helpful. Instead of using the extended support to prepare them for ‘Even if everything in my independence, some programs merely prolong state custody. Perhaps that’s because no program or apartment can replace the role of a loving life happened just to parental figure. Roxana Cadenas, a 21-year-old woman who recently aged out of foster care, told me that bring me to knowledge of when she turned 19 the county moved her from a group home to transitional housing. Ideally, that should have helped her save money for future who He is, it’s worth it.’ housing and provided a less-restrictive environ- ment for her to learn real-life skills. But when she turned 21 and had to leave foster care for good, —Keanakay Scott she still didn’t know how to budget, build a credit score, or look for a job. When Cadenas applied for various apartments, suffers from epilepsy, and another told me she none of the landlords accepted her because she sees and hears things and struggles with thoughts had no credit score. She crashed at a friend’s of suicide. house for a few days, then landed at CHC. When I But they also have talents and dreams and met her, she had been living at CHC for eight something else rare among homeless adults: months. (She’ll have to move out by age 24.) hope and optimism. One 27-year-old man from Outside of CHC, Cadenas has no social support: Minnesota showed me his sketchbook filled with Her mother and stepfather are dead, and her drawings and paintings, telling me he was going father has been deported to Mexico. Her other to be an artist one day. Another guy told me he relatives are also in Mexico. makes music, mostly R&B, and believes his talent Cadenas entered foster care at age 15 because will gain him eventual fame and success. Another of medical neglect: While living with her now- boasted that he was a dancer. Another said he deceased mother, she had been visiting the
50 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 GREG SCHNEIDER/GENESIS PHOTOS S “I didn’t know thatGod already loves me, that to herselfandothersthatshewas worthy oflove: gradually realized shehadbeentryingtoprove she hadsomany needs. was ahumanbeingwithneeds. Shehatedthat angry: Thegiftwas anotherreminder thatshe of shoesthatsheneededforwork, shebecame with otherpeople. Whensomeonegave herapair room withherdaughtersandrefused toengage care. At shelters, shelocked herselfupinher thoughts andfeelings, thinkingnoonewould things alsomadeherfeelgood. food andstopped working out,knowing those to have goodskin.Shestopped eatinghealthy to wash herface, tellingherselfshedidn’t deserve money forfood,shepunishedherselfby refusing myself. … My momdidn’t care, soIdidn’t care.” wasn’t caring, andIwasn’t doinganything for relieved: “IknewIneededhelp, but my mom When state officialsintervened, Cadenasfelt enough tocatchtheattentionofsocialworkers. hospital fordiabetes-related healthissuesoften With years of therapy andprayers, Scott For alongtime, shedidn’t tellanyone her her disabilityinsurance anddidn’t have neglect andabandonment.Whenshelost cott, now 29, still fights a similarspiritof [email protected] @sophialeehyun have Me.’” ent from whatyou’re usedto. Becausenow you God isshowing me, ‘Things are going tobediffer receptive tothepeopleGodhasalready sentme. quick andgenuinegrace: “I’mlearningtobe Scott burst intotears. Shehadn’t expected such convicted hertocallfriend. nursed agrudge. But asermonabout humility she would have bottledupherfeelingsand friend whohadhurthereightmonthsago. Before, written onthewhiteboard. kind toyourself andthehealingprocess,” she’d sessions, andweekly Biblestudy meetings. “Be she needstopay, herworkout regimen, therapy hanging inherkitchenreminds herofthebills hitting thegymregularly again.Awhiteboard room apartmentinLosAngeles, shehadbegun of whoHe is, it’s worth it.” my lifehappened just tobringmeknowledge everywhere: “It’s amazing. Even ifeverything in she begandiscovering God’s love andblessings on thecross out ofself-sacrificiallove forher— truly madesensetoher—that Jesus Christ died I’m worth loving allalong.” Oncethegospel He’s beenshowing methatHe loves me, that When that friend immediately apologized, When thatfriendimmediately apologized, Just aday before, she’d finallyconfronteda The last timeIvisitedScottatherone-bed A October 26, 2019 26, October - - Caroline grandmother, Karley, andher 6-year-old daughter, Scott withher • WORLD Magazine WORLD 51 Fully Prepared. For His Purpose. MAKE THE MOST OF THE GIFTS YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN.
M.B.A. M.MIN. PHARM.D. M.DIV. M.S.N.
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Law Hannah Strege (right) stands next to U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany at A chance at life a news conference in 2006. parents would typically choose to EMBRYO ADOPTIONS ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR implant, discard, or donate the THANKS IN PART TO A GOVERNMENT GRANT embryos to stem cell research. CREATED BY AN UNLIKELY SENATOR by Charissa Koh When Hannah was born, embry- onic stem cell research was a hot topic in Washington. Advocates anticipated The first “snowflake baby” was embryo with the help of Nightlight cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s, but R born in 1998. Hannah Strege, Christian Adoptions, a group that opponents argued that if life begins at conceived in a petri dish and placed coined the term “snowflake babies” to conception, research that destroys into frozen storage for two years, had describe the more than 100,000 frozen human embryos should be off limits. been implanted as an embryo into the embryos then stored at fertility clinics Debate raged in Congress, and in womb of Marlene Strege. The two across the United States. American August 2001 President George W. were not biologically related, but couples had created the embryos with Bush said federally funded researchers
CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY Marlene had chosen to adopt this the help of in vitro fertilization: Those could use existing embryonic stem cell
Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 53 NOTEBOOK
lines but not new ones. The 9/11 attacks government funds let Nightlight hire a ment money usually comes with strings soon tore the country’s focus away public relations firm to get stories of attached. from stem cell research. their families into several publications. “You definitely have guidelines and In December 2001, Pennsylvania Over 650 babies have been born so far rules that you have to follow, but Sen. Arlen Specter, a pro-abortion through Nightlight’s adoption program. Nightlight hasn’t had any issues follow- Republican at the time, created a $1 Bethany Christian Services applied ing those rules,” said Kimberly Tyson. million grant to raise public awareness for and received the grant from 2006 to “You have to tone down the religious of embryo adoption. He added the 2009. In 2011, Bethany created a sepa- aspect of it.” For example, she runs an funding to a Department of Health and rate embryo adoption entity called the embryo adoption website that uses grant Human Services (HHS) spending bill at National Fertility Support Center money but is separate from Nightlight’s the last minute, after months of loudly (NFSC), which received the grant from main website: “We’re not ashamed of supporting research using embryos. “He 2014 until the present. CEO Debra Christ on our Nightlight website. It’s was an unlikely person to be adding [the Peters said that thanks to the money, not funded by the federal government.” grant],” former Nightlight President Ron increasing numbers of clients have come The National Embryo Donation Stoddart recalled. But pro-life groups for counseling. NFSC used the funds to Center (NEDC) received the grant were arguing more people would donate educate fertility clinics, doctors, and between 2008 and 2013. Mark their embryos to adoption if they only patients about embryo adoption, as well Mellinger, marketing and development knew they could. Specter told the as to raise awareness through advertising director, said the money allowed the organization to advertise and send staffers out to teach fertility doctors about embryo adoption. The NEDC applied for the grant multiple times after 2013, but the rules changed: The 2015 grant announcement contained a new section that said “grantees must treat same-sex spouses, mar- riages, and households on the same terms as oppo- site-sex spouses, mar- riages, and households.” NEDC requires couples who use its program to be heterosexual and married SPECTER: LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE/AP • LANCASTER: CQ ROLL CALL/AP IMAGES Associated Press the grant would be a and women’s health fairs. Arlen Specter (left); at least three years. The test: “Let us try to find people who will “The grant has been pretty Elisha Lancaster, 3, organization has facili- adopt embryos and take the necessary integral to us building our at a news conference tated the births of 868 in 2006; Elisha is a steps.” Stoddart said he suspected that program,” Peters said. snowflake baby. children so far through if interested families did not come for- Another recipient is the embryo adoption. ward, Specter would have kept pushing National Registry for Today many groups, for embryonic stem cell research. Adoption (NRFA), launched in 2014. In Christian and other, offer embryo adop- HHS first awarded the grant in 2017, the organization used grant funds tion. Records from the U.S. Centers for 2002, and it has done so every two to to advertise its services, run focus Disease Control and Prevention show three years since. Almost all recipients groups, and conduct a survey. Over the that the number of transfers of donated are Christian organizations. As pro- next two years, the NRFA counseled a frozen embryos increased from 5,250 in lifers predicted, interest in embryo total of 1,200 families. Co-founder 2007 to 13,460 in 2016, the most recent adoption has grown along with aware- Charis Johnson said the survey year in which figures are available. But ness, from that first birth in 1998 to revealed “a significant increase in the same data show increasing numbers thousands today. embryo donation awareness, and of IVF procedures as well: Though Nightlight received the grant from people ... going all the way through the more people are adopting them than the beginning. In 2007, Kimberly Tyson process” by donating or adopting. ever, between 600,000 and 1 million came on staff to manage the embryo The grant to raise awareness of embryos are still frozen in the United adoption program grants. She said the embryo adoption worked. But govern- States, waiting to be born. A
54 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Manage your membership: wng.org/membership hoarders yet. Other libraries generally report that removing fines actually increases circulation. Their position: People recognize the value of a library, are responsible, and understand they are borrowing. Phoenix Public Library spokes- woman Lee Franklin says fines dispro- portionately affect low-income households and those without books. She has seen parents who bring chil- dren to the library to read but tell them, “We can’t take that home.” She hopes removing a potential financial barrier will make books more accessible. Yolanda J., who works at a Phoenix branch in a low-income area, agrees: Patrons approach her desk to ask what fines they owe. Often when they hear their balance, they turn around and leave. But patron Doyle Magouirk, who wears a gray beard, has a different Law perspective: When he goes overdue, he keeps the book until he accrues a large fine. When he gets his monthly pay- check, he pays his fines: “That’s how I Library fines—gone donate to the library.” Right now he owes $11.50 and intends to pay before the fine is forgiven. with the wind? Carol Romanchuk is happy to see MANY LIBRARIES HAVE STOPPED CHARGING FOR fines disappear because she’s always by Victoria Johnson in Phoenix late, and the money doesn’t directly OVERDUE BOOKS benefit the library: “I used to think it went toward new books, but then I The antechamber of the Mesquite and forgive existing balances. Patrons learned it just went to the general fund, R Library in Phoenix, Ariz., is full of still have to pay a replacement fee after so what’s the point?” natural light and potted palms. Sporting 50 days, but if they return the book, the Romanchuk is right. Phoenix Public a ball cap, Valerie Jones strides through, fee is waived. Library currently collects about but turns back to give her opinion on Phoenix isn’t the first city to end $200,000 a year for overdue books, library fines. Would a library without library fines, but it is the biggest so far. money that goes into the city’s general overdue book fines help her? “Yes!” About 200 other library systems in the fund. The Maricopa County library Jones has a 6-year-old son who United States have become fine-free. system, funded by property taxes, checks out 20 to 30 books at a time. She In January, the American Library already has a program to help munici- encourages his appetite, but when it’s Association passed a resolution encour- pal libraries. When Phoenix joins the time to return the books, it’s impossible aging all libraries to do so. fine-free movement, the county will to find them all. Whatever she doesn’t Eliminating fines evokes a mixed supply the city’s libraries an additional return incurs a fine. The fines build up, response from patrons. Some, like $170,000. So, since money in the city her library account is blocked, and she Jones, welcome the idea. Others, general fund may not return to the can only afford to pay in installments. mostly older patrons, worry people will library system, the new policy might The result: Her son stops checking out become irresponsible and stop return- help it financially. books. ing books. (Nobody seems to anticipate Still, the next time politicians Starting in November, this will no personally becoming the problem.) propose raising taxes to help libraries, longer be a problem. The “All Fines Phoenix is the county seat of voters will know they’ve already given Forgiven” initiative at Phoenix Public Maricopa County, and the county up one revenue source. A Library branches such as Mesquite will library system, which went fine-free in —Victoria Johnson is a graduate of the World
KIREG BARRIE KIREG remove daily fines for overdue books May, reports no problems with book Journalism Institute mid-career course
October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 55 NOTEBOOK
Health see a doctor, who diagnosed him with major depressive disorder. He started treatment and therapy and began to recover, but decided he wanted more Maladies of the mind than just his own healing. NONPROFITS IN NIGERIA ARE WORKING TO COMBAT “If I could go through this, then SUICIDE AND MENTAL ILLNESS, ESPECIALLY AMONG what about everyone else who didn’t by Onize Ohikere in Abuja, Nigeria have the same access or friends that I THE NATION’S YOUTH had?” According to government officials, 3 On a cloudy Saturday morning who separately committed suicide one in 10 Nigerians suffer from a mental R here in May, around 30 young day apart in May. health disorder. The World Health people in matching T-shirts gathered The cases are among a rising num- Organization says Nigeria has the 15th- under a bridge, armed with posters on ber of publicized suicide attempts highest number of reported suicide cases mental health. They walked across the across the country. Groups like MANI in the world, in an age-standardized city for more than an hour, backed by are stepping in to combat stereotypes tally. music from two loudspeakers. The surrounding mental health and to inform Ugo launched the nonprofit with a group handed out emergency contact people about available assistance. focus on young people. It has so far cards to passersby and occasionally Victor Ugo founded MANI in 2016 offered as many as 10,000 suicide inter- chanted, “Speak your mind!” and out of his own personal struggles. Two ventions. Trained counselors on call “Better health for all!” years earlier, he was a medical student provide five free sessions to people who A local nonprofit, Mentally Aware at a Nigerian university when he request help on the organization’s web- Nigeria Initiative, or MANI, organized started to feel dispirited and unmoti- site. Offline, MANI hosts events, like its the march across seven of Nigeria’s 36 vated. “I wasn’t reading. I wasn’t “conversation cafés” across 10 states. states. In Abuja, the movement was sleeping. I lost interest in everything.” Those events involve difficult conversa- timely: Stories were making the rounds His friends and some of his profes- tions with participants on issues such on social media about two young men sors intervened and encouraged him to as mental health stigmas.
56 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Clockwise from lower left: Activists in Abuja encourage open dialogue about mental health issues; young people march to end the silence on mental health; Bitrus Luka.
Islamic clerics, depending on their background. Yet he noted the need for balance. “If you are sick, you need medical atten- tion and prayers,” he said. “I believe you going for tests to know exactly what’s wrong would help you pray better.” Last year, the group tracked down that flooded several of Akachi’s posts In Abuja’s Mpape district, Bitrus and stopped someone from committing on his Facebook page. Luka first started to receive treatment suicide at a beach in Lagos just as he “People’s responses would make and counseling for epilepsy three years was walking into the water. anyone going through the same thing ago. His family had tried different tra- “We got him out, then he snatched think twice, like ‘Why would I seek for ditional medicines that failed to work. the gun from a policeman,” Ugo help if they’re talking to somebody People avoided him because of his recalled. “I had to go get it from him. It that’s asking for help this way?’” seizures, fearing he was possessed or was such a scary moment.” The foundation hopes to change contagious. “I would feel depressed,” On May 13, Chukwuemeka that trend and has partnered with U.K.- he said. Akachi—a college senior—committed based Basic Needs to educate Nigerians Luka now belongs to one of several suicide following months of dark on mental health disorders. Gede has local support groups Gede has created, Facebook posts that documented his also worked with local and religious and shares his story with other group struggle with depression. The next day, authorities and health- members. The partici-
ONIZE OHIKERE Michael Arowosaiye, a worship leader care providers to pants educate their at a church in Abuja, hung identify patients and community and con- himself. provide treatment. tribute money each In January, a Lagos-based DJ Thole-Okpo said month to assist each poisoned himself with insecticide such partnerships have other with subsidized after posting a suicide message on proven essential, espe- medication Instagram. The Police Rapid cially in cases where prescriptions. Response Squad in Lagos has misguided religious As more suicide increased its patrol along the Third beliefs contribute to cases get attention Mainland Bridge over the past year the stigma. “We had a online, Ugo said, people due to multiple suicide attempts. case where a woman need accurate informa- In most cases, the suicidal ide- was tied to a pole tion beyond the initial ation seems to stem from psychi- inside a church for over three years buzz of hashtags that spring up and atric conditions like depression because she was schizophrenic, and quickly die down with each incident. and anxiety, as well as alcohol and they were just praying for her, thinking He hopes for mental health lessons to drug abuse. Environmental factors she had demons.” be included in school curricula and for such as rising urbanization, eco- After losing a friend to suicide in advocacy groups at universities. nomic uncertainty, and unemploy- 2013, Christian Pastor Smart Chongo “What we really need to increase is ment also add to the mix, Ugo started to organize campaigns and not mental health awareness,” he said. said. With more suicide stories received training in professional coun- “We need to increase mental health publicized on social media, copy- seling. Three years later, he launched a literacy.” cat incidents are on the rise, with hotline service under the Smart Suicide Thole-Okpo noted it’s also impor- many cases involving an insecti- Prevention Initiative. tant to push out hotlines for help when cide called “Sniper.” Today, he said, the group receives people discuss mental health or share Zunzika Thole-Okpo with the more than 5,000 calls nationwide each stories online. In the comment section Abuja-based Gede Foundation month. As a pastor, Chongo acknowl- on Akachi’s page, she noticed one said many suicidal people remain edges the link between mental health person asking for help. quiet due to the social stigma concerns and religion. When people “Maybe they were just trolling, but surrounding mental illness. She call in, he connects them with psycho- I shared some help lines. I hope they pointed to the negative comments logical centers, prayer groups, or take them seriously.” A
Give the gift of clarity: wng.org/giftofclarity October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 57 NOTEBOOK
Religion work and problems. He joined them for lunch, learning about their culture and the shamanistic animism practiced mainly by the older generation. He Strangers no more observed weddings and funerals. He A CUSTODIAN FINDS HIS CALLING TO HELP THREE discerned that though many attended GENERATIONS OF HMONG IN MINNESOTA mainline churches that sponsored by Sharon Dierberger them, few knew Christ. Leclair taught himself to read and write Hmong, a language whose written Evenings find Paul Leclair clean- perished. The CIA didn’t acknowledge component began in the 1950s by mis- R ing the university campus in his this 11-year “Secret War” until 1994. sionaries in Laos. custodian job in Bloomington, Minn. Even today, few Americans know of it. He struggled to speak this tonal lan- But Leclair, age 55, has another voca- After the United States pulled out of guage, and demonstrated for me one syl- tion: reaching the Hmong for Jesus. Laos, it airlifted top Hmong military lable that has eight meanings depending He’d never heard of the Hmong officials to safety in Thailand. The on inflection. Providentially, he met a until 1996, when he spoke to a co- remaining Hmong fled on foot as young Hmong student who agreed to worker from a group of foreigners Laotian communists tried to extermi- teach him to speak Hmong if Leclair whose home country he couldn’t place. nate them. would teach him to read and write it. He’d noticed how diligently and quietly Many starved, died from diseases in A Hmong professor at the University they worked, but how lively they acted jungles, or drowned crossing the of Minnesota also volunteered to tutor together at lunch. Leclair bluntly asked, Mekong River. Survivors escaped to him. During the two-year process “Who are you? Where are you from? refugee camps in Thailand where non- Leclair taught her about Christianity. Why are you here?” governmental organizations cared for Students at work asked him to be The man replied, “My name is Shua. and helped relocate thousands. In 1975, their Hmong language club adviser. We are Hmong. We are from Laos. And churches in Minnesota started spon- He continues to help this new genera- we are here because of the war.” soring Hmong refugees. tion read and write their grandparents’ When Leclair queried, “What war?” When Leclair learned all this, he was mother tongue. After one student the man just stared at him with hurt and devastated: “I was working with these graduated recently, she went through anger, turned, and walked away. Stunned people who seemed happy, but many … the Gospel of John with Leclair, by his response, Leclair determined to had experienced horrific things.” He confessed Christ, and now attends a research all he could about these says God developed in him great affec- Hmong Bible church. people. tion for the Hmong. Today Leclair teaches Historians trace the Hmong to Over time he Bible classes at this same ancient China. After centuries of con- befriended his Hmong church, Redeeming Grace, Paul Leclair (left) talks flict with Chinese imperialism, many co-workers, helping with a member of that meets afternoons in migrated into mountainous, rugged them navigate paper- Redeeming Grace Church. the building his former regions of nearby coun- church worships in on tries, including Laos. Sunday mornings. Fast-forward to the Redeeming Grace strives to 20th century: In the unite three generations of early 1960s, the Central Hmong by preaching and Intelligence Agency teaching sound doctrine in began covertly recruit- both English and Hmong. ing Laotian Hmong to Leclair cites Leviticus fight the spread of 19:34: “You shall treat the Vietnamese commu- stranger who sojourns nism in Laos. with you as the native By 1973 communists among you, and … love had killed nearly 40,000 him.” More than 250,000 Hmong soldiers—an Hmong live in the United
estimated quarter of States. With the greatest MAI CHONG YANG Hmong males, includ- Hmong metro population— ing boys as young as 9. about 80,000—living in the Tens of thousands of Twin Cities, Leclair sees Hmong civilians also many to love. A
58 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org money. The Shepherds raised financial support as missionaries but were underfunded when they arrived in Japan. Rhonda worked to stay within their limited income, but some- times her purchases upset the extremely frugal Lauris. Eventually, they created a budget, and their communi- cation about finances became smoother. Lauris loved ministry but now admits he did not “know the language of com- Lifestyle passion.” The Shepherds had eight kids, and he won- dered why their six daugh- ters told him their problems Learning the language if he couldn’t fix them. Once, Lauris decided their of compassion oldest girl should attend an eight-week piano camp. The LAURIS SHEPHERD DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO DISCIPLING MEN, daughter pleaded not to go, BUT COMPASSIONATELY LEADING HIS FAMILY WAS A but Lauris did not listen. DIFFERENT CHALLENGE by Charissa Koh The night before she left, Rhonda asked him if he was sufficiently sure of the Lauris Shepherd was they’d met previously, California, San Diego. In decision to risk his daughter R serving in the Army Rhonda started noticing November, Lauris told resenting him. Her words and stationed at Fort Lauris’ spiritual maturity Rhonda that she was the made him think. A week Benning in Georgia when and “handsome features.” one for him—if he was sup- into the camp, he spoke he first discovered the They spent time together posed to get married. He with their daughter on the Navigators, an interdenomi- through the church’s singles asked if she was OK with phone to repair their national Christian disciple- group: “I would come up that, and she replied that relationship. ship ministry. Later he with suggestions on how to she didn’t know but thought Over time, his lack of reconnected with the group get the group together so I she could trust God. Lauris’ compassion convicted him, after moving to San Diego to could be around her,” Lauris decision came quickly: He and he thought, “Wow, teach math at Point Loma says. One night in September proposed soon after, and that’s nothing like Jesus.” Nazarene University. He 1976, Lauris’ car pulled up they married in April 1977. He apologized to each of his realized, “Even though I’d next to Rhonda’s at a stop- Eight years and four daughters for ways he grown up in the church and light (“answer to prayer,” daughters later, the might have hurt them. In had a great foundation, it Lauris jokes), and he Shepherds moved to Japan parenting, he says, he’s was the Navigators that motioned for her to pull with the Navigators to disci- relied heavily on Rhonda to really helped me get on a into the nearby McDonald’s. ple members of the U.S. understand the girls. steady growth.” He decided The couple dubbed that Navy. Not knowing the His efforts seem to be he wanted to be involved in night their first date. language, they faced culture paying off: Recently, Lauris men’s ministry and began to Lauris was 28 when he shock and medical scares: took the StrengthsFinder work as an administrative and Rhonda began dating. They planned to have a personal assessment test assistant to the Navigators’ Previously, his parents and baby at home with a and was surprised to see area director to get some friends had expressed con- Japanese midwife, but “empathy” as one of his top training. cern at his singleness, but complications forced them strengths. He says, “I just Around the same time, he was content focusing on to rush to a hospital to save think that’s been learned, Rhonda came to the church the Navigators ministry he the baby’s life. In their because God’s really work-
HANDOUT Lauris attended. Though led at the University of marriage, tension arose over ing on me.” A
October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 59 Life-Transforming Conversations with God Interactive Daily Bible Engagement Understand the big Enjoy conversations with Know God better. story of the Bible. God through prayer.
Join us at: JourneyEveryday.com VOICES Mailbag No safe haven [ Sept. 14, p. 48 ] Thanks to Sophia Lee for reporting the other side of the story. Certainly we should try to catch those abusing the immigration system, but that’s not a reason to shut it all down. People really are in grave danger, and we have a legal mechanism to help them. I only wish it were functioning. —LAURA WEIENETH on wng.org
Heartbreaking stories are not unique like Tyndale, pleading, “Lord, open to Hondurans or Guatemalans, and the the president’s eyes.” stand it. Who else will throw CNN out U.S. government cannot help them all. —TOM HANRAHAN / Lexington Park, Md. of press briefings? Let’s uphold the law. —DEBORAH WINTER / Wayland, Mich. —MAILA SOONG on Facebook The 2020 election is not a choice between the “lesser of two evils.” I I too am praying for someone better, Great reporting. Thank you for didn’t vote for a butterfly. I voted for a but I think better candidates will only remaining a compassionate conserva- honey badger. This president has arise and be electable when we have a tive voice in this harsh political delivered. better electorate. Our nation needs environment. —KATHY CONNORS / Medina, Wash. revival more than anything else. —JARRETT MEEK on Facebook —DAVID MADIO on wng.org Yes, he’s arrogant, and I wish he were The majority of asylum-seekers come a little more delicate in how he says The only way forward for a better life, not because they are things. But hold my nose to vote? No [ Sept. 14, p. 18 ] Janie B. Cheaney’s threatened. I don’t have an answer for way! I will run to the polls and encour- observation that “racism is an effect, the people who really need asylum, age others to do the same. The alterna- not a cause” is exactly right. Racism in and I am frustrated by the whole tive is unthinkable. every form is tragic and debilitating, immigration policy dysfunction. —EB PREUNINGER / Asheville, N.C. but it did not begin when that slave —PAUL HERVEY on wng.org ship arrived on this continent in 1619. Thank you for taking an unpopular but It still exists in every country and I think most Americans are willing to honest stance. The hero worship of culture today because of the “god of help immigrants, even if they are here the president I have witnessed among this world.” illegally. But just secure the border. evangelicals sickens me so much I —RON E. TARLTON / Marietta, Ga. Please. won’t call myself an evangelical —BETH YOUNG / Herndon, Ky. anymore. Cheaney offers the standard white —GAYLE ANNA JOHNSON on Facebook people’s solution: Black people should I ache over the injustice and hardship get their spiritual house in order and many suffer in other countries, but I am beginning to develop an affection just forgive 400 years of injustice and articles sympathetic to the plight of for Trump in spite of his abrasiveness. disparities. Imagine Zacchaeus, when these people just play into the hands When others tried to disparage Christ called him, saying, “Let me call of those who would destroy our nation Ulysses Grant because of his drinking, together my neighbors whom I have with open borders. Lincoln said, “I can’t spare this man, exploited so they can forgive me, then —KATHRYN LYDEN / Medical Lake, Wash. he fights.” I guess that assessment all will be well.” Our black brothers and works for me. sisters are right to call us to account. Dilemma 2020 —NOLAN NELSON / Eugene, Ore. —KRISTEN D. MEYER / Grand Rapids, Mich. [ Sept. 14, p. 6 ] Joel Belz poignantly expressed the flummoxing many of us The “brand-new person” Belz hopes I so agree that the answer to the racial endured and may endure again at the for probably wouldn’t last a year under divide is spiritual. Surely it is time for ballot box. The Lord could humble not the onslaught Trump has endured. us all to move forward in forgiveness only Trump, but Warren, or Biden, or The qualities some so dislike in Trump and peace. Sanders. Until then, I should be more might be what has helped him with- —ANN WESTERMAN / Vienna, Va.
Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 61 VOICES Mailbag Statement of Ownership, Parsing privilege Because of it, the United States is a Management, and [ Sept. 14, p. 68 ] I agree that we should member of the Arctic Council and Circulation not assume a “privileged” person is controls critical stretches of the happy and healthy because of economic Northwest Passage. It is a formidable Date of filing: Sept. 30, 2019 advantage; some of the most affluent buffer between Russia, China, and the Title of publication: WORLD people have broken lives. We need to go United States and home to important Publication no.: 763-010 deeper and see all people as individuals. military facilities. America needs not Frequency of publication: biweekly —CAROLE JOHANSEN on Facebook more polar holdings, but greater appreciation of its Arctic role and No. of issues published annually: 24 Too often wealthy or successful people responsibilities. Annual subscription price: $69.99 believe that their position is the result of —EMILY GEBEL / Juneau, Alaska Complete mailing address of known hard work or sacrifice and others don’t office of publication: WORLD deserve success. While it is a blessing Cucumber time Magazine, P.O. Box 20002, Asheville, to live in a society that resembles a [ Sept. 14, p. 10 ] I loved the NC 28802-8202 meritocracy in some ways, our context Kierkegaard quotes. He was pretty Mailing address of the headquarters growing up makes a massive difference big on Christian individualism, and or general business office of the to the likelihood of our success. I can’t imagine him subscribing to publisher: WORLD Magazine, —SIMEON ANDREWS on wng.org the modern political ethos that 12 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, NC insists we pick a team. 28803-2625 “Privilege” is based on the false —NATHAN CARPENTER on Facebook Mailing address of publisher, editor, premise that taking one group down a managing editor: Publisher: notch necessarily brings other One woman’s legacy Kevin Martin, P.O. Box 20002, “underprivileged” groups up a notch. [ Sept. 14, p. 52 ] I loved this article. Asheville, NC 28802-8202; Editor: Timothy Lamer, P.O. Box 20002, But Christ taught against envy and I’ve seen the bronze statue in Calabar, Asheville, NC 28802-8202; Managing jealousy. Our progress should be Nigeria, of Mary Slessor holding twins. Editor: Daniel James Devine, P.O. Box measured in relation to what we’ve She continues to inspire missionaries 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-8202
been given. and Nigerians to do what’s right in Owner: God’s World Publications, Inc., —DAVE RISSLER on Facebook God’s sight. 12 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, NC —LOWELL A. WHITE on Facebook 28803-2625
Will the International Herbert Known bondholders, mortgagees, Marcuse Society Conference have a Each month in our children’s ministry and other security holders owning breakout session on how to create I introduce missionaries from the past or holding 1 percent or more of total mass gravesites with bulldozers and who suffered greatly but were still amount of bonds, mortgages, or machine guns? obedient to God’s calling. I will be other securities: None —GREG BROWNING on wng.org using this wonderful article. If you had Total number of copies printed only included coloring sheets, my (net press run): average for last year: Emerging frontier work would be complete! 79,808; last issue: 88,999 [ Sept. 14, p. 34 ] I read the column —GLORIA WATSON / Willow Springs, Mo. Paid circulation: Mail subscription: about the United States possibly average for last year: 65,014; buying Greenland with dismay. Surely Funny family man last issue: 63,999 the country whose Declaration of [ Sept. 14, p. 21 ] We watched the Jim Sales through dealers and carriers, Independence insists that people have Gaffigan special recently, and it is street vendors, and counter sales: a right to choose their own form of hilarious! average for last year: 0; last issue: 0 government should respect the sover- —NORM EDDY on Facebook Free distribution by mail and other eignty of another nation, however means: average for last year: 19,000; small in population. Greenland’s Read more Mailbag letters at wng.org last issue: 25,000 60,000 inhabitants, mostly Inuit and Total distribution: average for last Christian, should not be subjected to LETTERS and COMMENTS year: 79,808 for last issue: 88,999 the whims and Arctic ambitions of a Email [email protected] Copies not distributed: average for larger and more powerful nation. Mail WORLD Mailbag, PO Box 20002, last year: 0; last issue: 0 Asheville, NC 28802-9998 —HOLLY JOHNSON / Valentia, Ontario Website wng.org I certify that the statements made by Facebook facebook.com/WORLD.magazine me above are correct and complete. I was glad to see Mindy Belz’s column Twitter @WORLD_mag —Kevin Martin, publisher but disagree that Greenland is situated Please include full name and address. Letters more strategically than Alaska. may be edited to yield brevity and clarity.
62 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 VOICES Andrée Seu Peterson
In the past, lifting the receiver and dialing 10 slow consecutive circular or semi-circular motions on a heavy stationary German coiled phone entailed more of a physical commitment— as well as more of a face-saving feature for the recipient, who could ignore you without hurting your feelings. He was plausibly away from the The burden of house, after all. I was the last person I know to get a cell phone. I purchased my first on April 28, 2012, the pioneer which I remember because I got married on STAYING IN TOUCH WITH CHILDREN April 21, 2012. Before I owned it, I used to ask people why they texted when they could call IN THE CELL PHONE AGE and speak to a live human. I learned the answer quickly: so as to not speak to a live When I was in child-raising mode, my human. Life is busy; texting is R mother phoned periodically. I never efficient. phoned her. God has given us sure principles to A couple of years ago I inquired live by, and one of them is “with the measure gingerly of one of my grown progeny: you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke “In your opinion, do parents of adult 6:38). Now it’s my turn to hear crickets, and to children tend to overdo it or underdo feel that each contact of mine is an interruption. it in terms of texting their children?” Last Easter dinner I made them all watch a “Overdo it,” she said. Then we both comedy skit called “Mother” by Nichols and pretended the question had been May. An excerpt: hypothetical, and moved on. “Hello, Arthur? This is your mother. … The “group text” is an instructive Remember me?” phenomenon. On the occasions that I “Mom, I was just going to call you! Is that a The intro- have been included in such a thread, in which funny thing? Do you know that I had my hand the other participants are my children, I have on the phone and …” duction of noticed that text comments made by any one of “Arthur, you were supposed to call me last the cell phone them are instantly responded to by all of the Friday. …” has added a other siblings. My text comments, on the other “I know, I just didn’t have a second. …” hand, though as amusing as the others, languish “Arthur, I sat by that phone all day Friday. …” layer of com- in silence till I grow as embarrassed as Eglon’s “I was working. …” plexity not servant in Judges 3:24. Which I think I am “And all day Saturday …” experienced meant to take note of. But I could just be “I was in the lab and …” paranoid. “And all day Sunday. And your father finally by pre–baby I know a woman who for decades thought said to me, ‘Phyliss, eat something or you’ll boomers. she was “a bother.” That identity affected every faint.’ I said, ‘No, Harry, no. I don’t want my action of her day, including phone conversations mouth to be full when my son calls me.’ And with her children, which she always cut short you never called.” before the other person had a chance to do so: “Mom, I was sending up a rocket! I didn’t “Jump before you’re pushed.” Then she went to have a second!” Christian counseling and changed her mantra “Well, it’s always something, isn’t it?” from “I’m a bother” to “I’m a blessing,” on the I thought it was hilarious. I turned around rightly reasoned notion that a Christian is not and nobody was laughing. an annoyance but an ambassador of light. The introduction of the cell phone has I’m glad it worked for Michelle, but I might added a layer of complexity not experienced by still be lying low in cyberspace for the most pre–baby boomers. I feel that gives my age part till I get more positive feedback. This is not group the burden of the pioneer, hacking our so much self-protective as respectful of another way through the thicket of new philosophical Bible verse that comes into play past a certain parenting issues like George Washington at point in parent-child relations: “a man shall Valley Forge, to blaze a path for future genera- leave his father and mother …” (Genesis 2:24). I tions. Contact is easier than ever, and there’s wonder how Moses got on with Gershom and
ISTOCK the rub. Eliezer. A
[email protected] October 26, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 63 VOICES Marvin Olasky
Cut to October 1984. I was 34. He was 67— and dying of bladder cancer. I lived 2,000 miles away and flew to Boston with the public goal of providing some comfort and help, but my pri- vate motive was selfish: to learn why he had moved from brilliant youth just before World War II to postwar failure, at least in the eyes of my mother, decade after decade. That was a Never a catch mystery. One evening we sat on a Danish modern SEIZE THE MOMENT … WHILE YOU STILL CAN couch in their apartment. After some perfunc- tory remarks I Two months ago the announcement threw him a R brought back many memories. Next Aug. question about 13 in Dyersville, Iowa, the Chicago White Sox his dropping out and the New York Yankees will play a regular of graduate season game at a most irregular place: the site school. The where Kevin Costner starred in Field of Dreams question was (1989). harder and cur- I’ve watched it many times. If asked to name vier than a polite my favorite movie, I might say The Great inquiry should Escape or The Right Stuff, but my wife tells me have been. He to fess up: It’s Field of Dreams. Flawed though got up and the movie is in many ways, it always chokes me walked away, up. Although called “a baseball flick,” the saying over his underlying motif is father-son relationships. shoulder some- At the end, Costner’s character asks his dad, thing like, “Why “You wanna have a catch?” Talk with don’t you mind your own business?” My lifetime catches with my father: zero. He I put away the conversational ball and went had no interest in baseball. I never played until each other to sleep. The next day I asked no more ques- I was 11. At that point I was a fat kid with a lazy while you tions. My father and mother drove me to left eye, so my batting average during one year still can, and Boston’s Logan Airport. He wore a baseball cap of Little League was .182, if I generously count because chemotherapy had left him bald. I as hits what were probably errors. thank God pulled my suitcase out of the trunk, shook his Still, I wanted to be at least a decent fielder, for wiping hand, leaned over, and whispered in his ear, “I so I nagged my father to come out on the street away tears. love you,” because that seemed the right thing and throw me some ground balls. I said “street” to say to a dying parent. because we lived in urban Massachusetts and I never saw him again. I wish I had persisted had no backyard or nearby green space, which in my questioning. I should not have so readily meant a missed ball would go rolling and given up, both for true love and to gain true rolling—and that contributed to the missed family history. opportunity. This month of October is the 35th anniver- One day, finally, my father agreed. We stood sary of our nonconversation. Several years ago I in front of the house in which we had an apart- interrogated surviving relatives and obtained ment. I walked 20 yards away. He threw me a some old records, so now I have a theory about ball that bounced twice before it should have my father’s change, but the mind-witness is hit my glove—and I missed it. Embarrassed, and long gone. In the magic of Field of Dreams, the blaming my father rather than myself, I ran son and the dad finally have a catch. That after it and yelled over my shoulder something catches my tears, every time. like, “Why didn’t you throw it straight?” What’s the takeaway for parents and When I picked up the ball and turned children, as they anticipate get-togethers at Pastors need more theology, not less. In a culture that’s more antag onistic to around, he was walking up the steps to our Thanksgiving next month? Have a catch, or a GORDON COMPANY historic Christianity than ever, pastors don’t need less theologi cal training — they front door. He went inside. That was it. We family touch football game. (Or tackle, if you need more. That’s why Southern Seminary remains committed to offer ing programs never again even started at catch. Nor did we must.) And at Christmas? Talk with each other Kevin Costner (left) like the doctor of ministry (D.Mi n.), which gives pastors and mini stry leaders practical talk much—and once I became a teenager, we and Dwier Brown in while you still can, and thank God for wiping training rooted in the theological depth demanded by ministry in a complex world. spoke hardly at all. Field of Dreams away tears. A
Strengthen your ministry without leaving your current one. SBTS.EDU/DMIN 64 WORLD Magazine • October 26, 2019 [email protected] @MarvinOlasky
World Ad DMin.indd 5 9/27/19 2:53 PM Pastors need more theology, not less. In a culture that’s more antag onistic to historic Christianity than ever, pastors don’t need less theologi cal training — they need more. That’s why Southern Seminary remains committed to offer ing programs like the doctor of ministry (D.Mi n.), which gives pastors and mini stry leaders practical training rooted in the theological depth demanded by ministry in a complex world.
Strengthen your ministry without leaving your current one. SBTS.EDU/DMIN
World Ad DMin.indd 5 9/27/19 2:53 PM