Faith, Love, and Hope
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metro kansas city VISIT US AT facebook/metrovoicenews DAY TRIPPING EDITION or metrovoicenews.com There are lots Skylar Kaylyn at of options Smithville Christian close to KC Family Day for getting July 30 away just for the day PAGE Concerts & Events | PAGE 14 12 CELEBRATING FAITH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IN KANSAS CITY VOLUME 27 • NUMBER 7 July 2016 FREE– TAKE ONE! Sixty seconds to FAITH, LOVE, AND HOPE change the world A year after the shootings at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel Israeli inventions Church, one woman continues to call for racial unity improving quality of Alana Simmons didn’t intend to speak to Dylann Roof at his bond hear - watching the proceedings quickly picked up life for billions ing, two days after he shot and killed nine members of Emanuel AME on her words and created a hashtag that Church in Charleston, S.C. But as others began to speak forgiveness, she went viral. felt the need to tell about the legacy of love her grandfather, Rev. Daniel Tech savvy and well aware of the Simmons, 74, left behind. The experience changed the direction of power social media could wield for her life. Story by both good and bad, Simmons, 25 Now, a year after the June 17 massacre, Simmons heads a grow - at the time, used the impromptu ing non-profit organization that promotes acts of forgiveness and Dick platform in the interview that fol - gives voice to the message that love is stronger than hate. Peterson lowed to issue a challenge: “Use Tel Aviv has more tech start-ups “The families [at the bond hearing] were forgiving him for all the hashtag. Go and show some - than Silicon Valley. Here, the first the terror he had caused,” Simmons recalled. “I had this humbling one who is different than you an act of 3-D printed car. epiphany of how love conquers all, so when I got the chance to speak, I love. If you really want to help, post that Leading Israeli entrepreneurs had said, ‘Although my grandfather died in the hands of hate, he lived in love to a social media account. Everyone 60 seconds to pitch their business and preached love, so his legacy will be love. And hate won’t win.’” has one. Use yours for good.” At the Alana ideas this summer. What they came Cameras were rolling, but Simmons thought they were there to video - very least, get the imagery out there Simmons up with may change the world. conference the hearing. She didn’t know they were broadcasting live. Those See SHOOTINGS page 22 It’s not surprising, though. Israel comes in second, behind the U.S., in yearly tech startups and inventions. Israel’s 8 million people and its in - ventions even outpace China which has one billion citizens and the combined effort of the 1.7 billion people in Muslim countries –com - bined! Tech Crunch, a top tech com - pany, went to Tel Aviv, Israel, to scout out the best Israeli minds in the busi - Casting Crowns ness. They hosted a competition in See ENTREPRENEURS page 22 headlines Faith and Family Day at Kauffman Stadium this year 3 6 0 4 6 O M , t 4 i SPECIAL EVENT GUIDE BEGINS ON PAGE 6! 1 e m 1 c 1 i m o u X V S O o s ’ r B t e e O e M P L GET 50% OFF YOUR ADVERTISING! CALL 816-524-4522 OR EMAIL [email protected] 2 • July 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– metrovoicenews.com n facebook.com/metrovoicenews –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Metro Voice Is Trump truly a changed man after accepting Christ? news briefs Few Syrian Christians get Black pastor says his attitude changed on asylum in U.S., despite Donald Trump after meeting with 1,000 genocide declaration (WNS)--Two months after the Obama Christian leaders but others still doubt administration called out militant terror group Islamic State (ISIS) for committing Conservative evangelical bishop E.W. nonprofit S.T.A.N.D., said in a confer - genocide against Christians in Iraq and Jackson says that his attitude about ence call during the meeting that he can Syria, refugee data show those finding a Donald Trump changed as a result of now back the presumptive Republican safe haven in the United States are not the the June meeting between Trump and nominee instead of just preferring him ones suffering the most persecution. Last hundreds of America’s top Christian over presumptive Democratic nominee year, President Barack Obama set the goal leaders in New York City. Hillary Clinton. of bringing 10,000 Syrian refugees to the Jackson, who is the founder of the “What I am hoping we will see is the Bishop E.W. Jackson Donald Trump Dr. James Dobson United States in fiscal year 2016. So far, the State Department is on track to fall well evangelical community unify around turn out in the general election. In the short of that number, with only about Donald Trump, because we just don’t primaries, many evangelical voters pre - 2,700 successfully resettled. State Depart - have any choice,” Jackson said. “I hope ferred Ted Cruz or Ben Carson. ment figures show 499 Syrian refugees that there will be a strong enough state - “I’ve been a Christian, and I love have resettled in America in May, but not ment coming out of this … so that Christianity and evangelicals have been a single one was a Christian or member of evangelicals around the country start to so incredibly supportive,” Trump said in another religious minority group targeted feel a bit of comfort.” the private session with leaders at the for genocide, according to CNSNews re - One of the first statements from a re - meeting, according to audio obtained ports. “For me, that has got to change,” spected source may be that of Dr. James by POLITICO. said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., at a House Dobson, who in an interview with Of the meeting, Dobson — who was Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing. “I POLITICO, said Trump has accepted previously critical of Trump — said, “I mean that is unconscionable.” Of the 2,705 Christ as his per - “I believe he really certainly liked Syrian refugees who came to the United sonal savior. what I saw today.” States this fiscal year, 97 percent are Sunni Dobson, a made a commitment, As Trump re - Muslims, and zero percent Christian. Christian psy - but he’s a baby sponded to ques - chologist and tions from a Calls for democracy ring founder of Focus Christian.” number of on the Family, prominent evan - at Tiananmen events said he knows Dr. James Dobson gelical leaders, he (WNS)--Twenty-seven years after Chi - “the person who led [Trump] to Christ.” vowed to appoint only pro-life Supreme nese soldiers cracked down on student “I don’t know when it was, but it has Court justices and protect the religious protests at Tiananmen Square, mainland not been long,” Dobson said in an inter - freedoms of Christians and religious China continues to actively squelch any view with Pennsylvania megachurch groups. He also addressed questions on mention of the massacre and arrest sen - pastor Michael Anthony following that race, poverty and job growth. sitive figures on the June 4 anniversary. meeting in New York. “I believe he really “Look, I think my attitude has been But in Hong Kong and Taiwan, where made a commitment, but he’s a baby changed by this meeting,” Jackson events are held annually, the tone is Christian.” added. “You all know that I have been changing as the years go by. Today’s stu - Trump’s born-again experience may sitting here expressing some skepticism. dents were not yet born when the tank already be having an affect on his ac - For me, it is ‘I am against Hillary, there - rolled down Chang’an Blvd., and they don’t tions, both personally and politically. He fore I am for Donald Trump.’ I think see how the events of so long ago affect recently fired campaign manager Corey coming out of this meeting there are their lives today. On June 4, 1989, the Chi - Lewandowski, who had orchestrated the going to be a lot of people saying ‘I am nese government sent troops to attack tone of the camapaign that turned not only against Hillary but I am for student protesters who had gathered at many middle-of-the-road voters off. Donald Trump now and I feel like I got Tiananmen Square in Beijing, calling for While Trump is in a virtual dead heat reasons to support him.’” greater reform in China. nationally, he currently is ahead or tied In talking with other pastors and at - in states that previously voted Democrat tendees of the meeting, Jackson said that Fallujah fallout in 2012, including Ohio. the consensus is that Trump has “moved Evangelicals are a key part of the Re - the needle” when it comes to support publican base that Trump will need to from evangelicals. “People who came and weren’t sure they could vote for him walked out, I think, feeling like ‘I can vote for Donald Trump in good conscience, and I don’t have to feel like I am betraying myself to (WNS)--The first residents from Fallujah vote for him,’” Jackson said. “He made to greet humanitarian aid workers were some progress today.” mostly in tears. “They were absolutely Jackson said he was especially thrilled traumatized, absolutely fearful,” said Je - to hear Donald Trump address ques - remy Courtney, president of the Preemp - tions of poverty and violence, issues that tive Love Coalition.