Fast and Furious

Hong Kong on the brink / Refugees at the Rio Grande

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 FAST AND FURIOUS

MISSIONARY: Saving 100s of babies PITCHER: 51 wins in a row, then despair MARRIAGE: How to make it to 65 years Advertisement NOAH’S ARK AND PORN I had spent 8 years traveling the world filming Ark Hunter, a documentary on my search for Noah’s Ark, when I decided to put it on the shelf and shift my attention to porn. Yes, porn.

I was at church one Sunday morning when my pastor quoted a study that nearly 70% of Christian men are hooked on porn. I leaned over to my wife and said, “This is serious! We’ve got to do something about this.”

Over the next two years, my wife, Tiana, and I worked tirelessly on creating the Conquer Series - a cinematic small group study that we hoped would help men find freedom from pornography.

As I was filming the Conquer Series, I didn’t think men would watch it. Why would guys join a group in their church to talk about their porn problem?

I was wrong. Bryan handed me this card his wife, “For it is God’s will that you should be Today, the Conquer Series is helping Celia, had given him as he left for the sanctified.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:3 more than one million men in over 80 conference. I took a photo of it while countries find freedom from standing in the lobby. If you long for healing in your pornography. relationship or want to help couples Bryan’s testimony is why my team struggling with pornography then I I recently met one of these men, Bryan, and I come to work every day. We hope you’ll get the Conquer Series. at a conference for Conquer Series want to see that transformation Use it in your men’s group. If you Leaders. Less than two years ago his throughout the Church! The exciting decide not to use it, return the DVDs story was bleak. His struggle with thing is, that once these men find within 14 days and you’ll get your pornography was about to end his freedom, they don’t stop there. Bryan money back. There’s no risk. Doing marriage. Bryan explains, now leads 15+ men through the nothing is a far greater risk. Conquer Series every Thursday “I tell people that when I was in my evening. addiction, it was like I was drowning in a Jeremy Wiles is the CEO of pool surrounded by my friends and no He explains, “Some of these guys are KingdomWorks Studios and one even knew. I was helpless and fresh out of prison, some are in the Director of Conquer Series hopeless.” different levels of leadership, and both groups are really authentic and Thankfully God intervened, transparent. It is amazing!” ORDER TODAY AT “But God, in His mercy, let everything If you’re currently in the fight for your CONQUERSERIES.COM come to the surface so we could see relationship, know that God wants to CALL (561) 681-9990 how He could work a series of miracles.” do something amazing in your marriage, like he has done for Bryan Bryan told me the transformation that and Celia: “We now live the BEST RECEIVE 15% OFF they had seen in their marriage, LIFE we have had in ALL my life and YOUR DVD SET the 19 years we've been married. God Use coupon code: “I am now over 20 months 100% clean of is SOOO gracious and it's time I turn porn, sexual addiction and lust in this back on the devil in a BIG WAY.” WORLDOCT19 general. God rescued and redeemed me Expires: Dec 31, 2019 in November of 2017 but not until I had While I was traveling the world in utterly destroyed my wife and our life. search of a big wooden boat, God He miraculously turned me around and had other plans. He wanted me to go she saw what He has genuinely done on a quest deep inside the human and then He turned her heart.” soul, starting in my very own heart. CONTENTS | September 14, 2019 • Volume 34 • Number 17

36 21 42

48 52

FEATURES DISPATCHES 9 News Analysis • Human Race 36 Pitching to the left Quotables • Quick Takes Democratic candidates for president try to appeal to an ideological audience that pays attention to early campaigns, CULTURE but will that hurt the candidates in the longer term? 21 Movies & TV • Books Children’s Books • Q&A • Music

42 Midnight oil NOTEBOOK As protests in Hong Kong turn increasingly bloody, local pastors and churches consider how to support the democracy 57 Sports • Science • Medicine movement while working for peace Religion • Lifestyle 48 No safe haven VOICES Sending asylum-seekers to Mexico to await their court hearings 6 Joel Belz means sending them back to life-threatening conditions 18 Janie B. Cheaney 34 Mindy Belz 52 One woman’s legacy 65 Mailbag A 19th-century Scottish missionary helped to transform southeast Nigeria, and local groups are still emulating her 67 Andrée Seu Peterson efforts a century later 68 Marvin Olasky

ON THE COVER: Illustration by Krieg Barrie

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 Our local public radio station, a National Public Radio affiliate, is hosting INFORMS, EDUCATES, AND INSPIRES OCT 24-26 a forum next week titled “Public Media: Building Trust in an Age of R Chief Content Officer Nick Eicher Editor in Chief Marvin Olasky Mistrust.” They describe the event as “an evening of candid conversation and Senior Editor Mindy Belz behind-the-scenes glimpses into the role of ethics and rigorous journalism Deputy Editor Michael Reneau Deputy Chief Content Officer J.C. Derrick FOR standards in one of our country’s most respected newsrooms.” Magazine Editor Timothy Lamer National Editor Jamie Dean There’s no question that we live in an age of distrust, especially distrust of Digital Executive Editor Mickey McLean THE news media. They got that part right. And it’s appropriate for those of us in the Managing Editor Daniel James Devine news business to ask ourselves what we must do to build trust, because trust Senior Reporters Emily Belz, Angela Lu Fulton, HOPE Sophia Lee must be built, especially once it has been broken. Reporters Leah Hickman, Charissa Koh, Harvest Prude Trustworthy journalists accurately describe the reality they are reporting. Story Coach Susan Olasky Senior Writers Megan Basham, Janie B. Cheaney, That requires both a willingness to “call it as you see it,” and the ability to see Andrée Seu Peterson, Lynn Vincent Correspondents Julie Borg, June Cheng, John Dawson, Juliana Chan Erikson, properly. Charles Horton, Mary Jackson, Arsenio Orteza, Jenny Rough, We all know journalists who call it the way they want it to be. And as Jenny Lind Schmitt, Andrew FAMILY Shaughnessy, Laura G. Singleton, NAVIGATING THROUGH CULTURAL CHAOS journalists, like our reporters and editors at WORLD, it would be the kiss of Russell St. John, Jae Wasson Reviewers Sandy Barwick, Bob Brown, death for trust if we stopped calling it as we see it. Marty VanDriel Mailbag Editor Les Sillars ASHEVILLE, NC But there’s more to it than that. If our perspective is wrong, what we think Editorial Assistants Kristin Chapman, Amy Derrick, Mary Ruth Murdoch we see may not be real. So reporters may be entirely sincere in Art Director David Freeland Assistant Art Director Rachel Beatty their inaccurate reporting, because they’re seeing all wrong. I Illustrator Krieg Barrie Digital Production Assistants Arla Eicher, Dan Perkins think this happens even with serious news organizations,

because they don’t rely primarily on the Bible to tell Website wng.org Managing Editor Lynde Langdon them what’s real. Assistant Editor Rachel Lynn Aldrich Reporter Onize Ohikere WORLD’s journalists don’t always get it right, Correspondents Kiley Crossland, Anne Walters Custer, Laura Edghill, Samantha because we do have feet of clay, but our commitment is Gobba, Julia A. Seymour, Steve West to provide sound journalism, grounded in God’s Word. Editorial Assistant Whitney Williams Joel Beeke R. Albert Mohler Paul Washer Carlton McLeod Scott Brown Jeff Pollard Sam Waldron Jason Dohm That’s what we mean when we say we seek to practice Website wng.org/radio biblical objectivity. That kind of journalism is trustworthy Executive Producer/Cohost Nick Eicher Managing Editor J.C. Derrick journalism. 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, Clarence Simmons Pooyan Mehrshahi John Snyder Malamulo Anthony Mathenia Paul Carrington Mike Davenport Kevin Martin Trillia Newbell, Bonnie Pritchett, Chindongo Cal Thomas, Emily Whitten [email protected] Producers Johnny Franklin, Carl Peetz (technical), Kristen Flavin (field) Listening In Warren Cole Smith, Rich Roszel s there hope for your family? Yes there is, and we institutions God has established—the church and Iwant to describe it at this conference: the family. HOW TO CONTACT US To become a WORLD member, give a gift membership, change address, access other Chief Executive Officer Kevin Martin At this conference we will not only expose the chaos Founder Joel Belz • To inspire the rising generation to be hopeful for member account information, or for back issues and permission … Development Pierson Gerritsen, Debra Meissner, of rejecting God’s ways, we will reveal from Scripture Andrew Belz, Sandy Barwick what is ahead. Email [email protected] Administration Kerrie Edwards Online wng.org/account (members) or members.wng.org (to become a member) Marketing Jonathan Woods the pleasant and fruitful ways of God in a biblically Advertising Partnerships John Almaguer, Kyle Crimi, • To show how to fully enter into God’s plan for Phone 828.435.2981 within the U.S. or 800.951.6397 outside the U.S. Kelsey Sanders ordered family. Member Services Amanda Beddingfield the family. Monday–Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ET This conference is designed to draw you to fully Write WORLD, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-9998 GOD’S WORLD NEWS Website wng.org/children • To explain why this is the most exciting investment Back issues, reprints, and permissions 828.435.2981 or [email protected] Managing Editor Rich Bishop embrace Jesus Christ in all of His ways, rejecting the Design Director Rob Patete they can make.  Follow us on Twitter @WORLD_mag world’s wisdom, being filled with the Spirit.  Follow us on Facebook @WORLD.Magazine WORLD JOURNALISM INSTITUTE Website worldji.com • To encourage one another to make the biggest A consecrated life is the key to family life. WORLD occasionally rents subscriber names to carefully screened, like-minded organizations. If you would prefer Dean Marvin Olasky Associate Dean Edward Lee Pitts investment of our lives in the two most important 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 REGISTER TO ATTEND AT NCFIC.ORG/HOPE OCT 24-26 FOR HOPE THE FAMILY NAVIGATING THROUGH CULTURAL CHAOS ASHEVILLE, NC

Joel Beeke R. Albert Mohler Paul Washer Carlton McLeod Scott Brown Jeff Pollard Sam Waldron Jason Dohm

Clarence Simmons Pooyan Mehrshahi John Snyder Malamulo Anthony Mathenia Paul Carrington Mike Davenport Chindongo

s there hope for your family? Yes there is, and we institutions God has established—the church and Iwant to describe it at this conference: the family. • To inspire the rising generation to be hopeful for At this conference we will not only expose the chaos what is ahead. of rejecting God’s ways, we will reveal from Scripture the pleasant and fruitful ways of God in a biblically • To show how to fully enter into God’s plan for ordered family. the family. This conference is designed to draw you to fully • To explain why this is the most exciting investment embrace Jesus Christ in all of His ways, rejecting the they can make. world’s wisdom, being filled with the Spirit. • To encourage one another to make the biggest A consecrated life is the key to family life. investment of our lives in the two most important

VOICES Joel Belz

the Democrats not to give their rank-and-file membership a single opportunity to support a pro-life candidate seems incredible. (And maybe it’s not so astute politically. A pro-life Democrat just might provide the margin that party needs next year to unseat Donald Trump.) So let’s switch parties, even at this early date, and consider the view at the bottom of that Dilemma 2020 other barrel. Four years ago, there was a whole lot we didn’t know about Donald Trump, and CANDIDATES FROM THE BARREL BOTTOM some of what we did know was grievously dis- tressing. Somehow, though, we learned enough If most of us American evangelicals are to hand him a squeaker of a victory—and to R still flummoxed by the ethical dilemmas open the floodgates to learn a whole lot more. of the 2016 presidential election, we should be For many committed conservative evangelicals, studying hard and getting ready. Things could there’s been enough good stuff to accumulate be even more challenging in 2020. some pretty long lists of Trump’s positive The record shows that a significant majority accomplishments. Such achievements—usually of U.S. evangelical voters resorted to so-called focusing on personnel appointments (especially “lesser of two evils” thinking as they headed to judges), on religious liberty, and on undoing the polls in November 2016. Most of these folks years of silly and costly federal regulations— weren’t ready to anoint Donald Trump as their WORLD has duly reported here. choirboy conservative. But they were emphati- The great Way too often, however—like in his visit to cally convinced that Hillary Clinton—with her West Virginia just a few weeks ago—our presi- 30-year record of radically liberal alignments— God who dent also manages to cloud these good things was much more objectionable. rules sover- with behavior that is arrogant, untruthful, It’s a sorry way to elect your leaders. “Your eignly from divisive, and even blasphemous. I know I speak candidate is worse than mine!” is a pitifully for many WORLD readers when I say bluntly: bankrupt motto as we enter our nation’s 59th His heavenly If we had a choice in the matter, we’d take it. presidential election. But it’s pretty much where throne has But haven’t we just also said that all 21 of the evangelical Christians within WORLD’s reader- always Democratic candidates are also unfit—by their ship find themselves. It’s a race to the bottom. own testimony? (I know I said 26 earlier in this I share the anguish. I’ve edited this column worked with column, but some candidates have dropped for 33 years—and never found myself harder flawed out.) So I am simply reminding us that the pressed to suggest, “Here is a Biblically princi- leaders. choice apparently waiting for us as American pled path. Follow it.” voters next year will only minimally touch on Indeed, I’ve voted in 15 presidential elec- clear-cut moral differences. It will be a bottom- tions, and have to admit that in almost every of-the-barrel event. Everybody falls way short single contest there’s been some element of the of our ideal. “lesser of two evils” thinking in play. But never All of which is to say we should stop fussing in all those 59 years has it dominated the dis- so much about the “lesser of two evils” cussion the way it does right now. approach to our electoral process. The great I’ll admit as well that I’ve been a polling booth God who rules sovereignly from His heavenly partisan to the extent that only twice in those throne has always worked with flawed leaders. 15 elections did I wander across the line and Evangelicals might well decide through this vote for the Democratic candidate. (Yes, I felt a process that Trump is again the lesser of two little guilty about that when both of them won!) evils—or even the least of 26, plus or minus. But In recent years, though, the Democrats have that doesn’t mean they should try so frantically made my choices easier, not harder. When all to make him the hero he clearly isn’t. 26 of the originally registered Democratic My personal prayer is that a brand-new per- candidates this time around warmheartedly son might take the presidency a year and a half maintain their support for abortion on demand, from now. That might be someone who hasn’t there’s not much sorting or ranking for me to won the nation’s attention yet—from some do. Abortion may not be the “single-issue” unknown political background, or maybe an ISTOCK cause that evangelicals have often been known independent. But it could also be Trump himself, for. But it is certainly one of the top three. For humbled and renewed by a sovereign God. A

6 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019  [email protected]

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Powder keg Police and protesters clash in Hong Kong during escalating pro-democracy demonstrations on Aug. 25. Police used water cannons and tear gas against protesters, some of whom threw bricks and molotov cocktails. For more on Hong Kong, see p. 42. KIN CHEUNG/AP

Manage your membership: wng.org/membership September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 9 DISPATCHES News Analysis

Frederiksen said Greenland was not for sale, Trump canceled a Denmark trip scheduled for Sept. 2 and 3. Cucumber time It got worse. Frederiksen said COPING WITH WASHINGTON’S SILLY SEASON Trump’s idea was “absurd.” Trump, by Marvin Olasky showing again that hell hath no fury like a president scorned, said the prime minister was “nasty.” But Ambassador I read the news today, oh boy Sands looked as cool as a cucumber in a R / … I just had to laugh / I saw photo she posted of herself standing the photograph (the Beatles, 1967). next to Danish Minister of Foreign British and American journal- Affairs Jeppe Kofod. Sands tweeted, ists since the 19th century have “Denmark is an enduring friend and known August as “the silly important partner.” Kofod retweeted it. season,” the time when both That’s what diplomats do. People are Parliament and Congress are out crashing chairs on each other’s heads, of session: less political news, and diplomats report “a frank and open more opportunity to fill pages exchange of views.” with accounts of trivial or frivo- Joel Belz’s column four pages earlier lous matters. So we’ve had photos in this issue raises the right questions. of bare-chested Vladimir Putin, a I’ve always liked “The Emperor’s New dozen people squeezing into a Clothes,” that story by Denmark’s phone booth, massive vegetables, leading literary export, Hans Christian escaped cows, and dogs on Andersen. The key debate these days: surfboards. Is our president the naked emperor or This year, though, bad news the boy who blurts the truth? Søren abounded, and not just in big Kierkegaard, Denmark’s leading philo- news about Iran and North Korea. sophical export, once declared (maybe More than 20 local governments tongue-in-cheek) “boredom is the in Texas faced ransomware root of all evil.” If that’s true, we owe attacks. A Kansas University professor Hell. In 1990 you became a chiroprac- President Trump big time, because faced federal charges for working full tor and married a real estate mogul with his tweets Washington scribes time for a Chinese university while also who died in 2015. rarely have a dull day. doing U.S. government–funded research Why are you in Copenhagen? You On Aug. 21 our president not only on energy at KU. An Australian appeals poured yourself into fundraising for fought Denmark but took no issue with court upheld convictions against Donald Trump, most notably at a July some blasphemy when he tweeted, Cardinal George Pell for sexually abus- 2016 party for 200, each of whom “Thank you to Wayne Allyn Root for ing children. The Sun reported Nature donated thousands of dollars to attend. the very nice words.” Root had said Ecology & Evolution’s discovery that You contributed at least $250,000 your- “the Jewish people in Israel love “extreme weather conditions may be self plus a postelection $100,000 for [Trump]. They love him like he is the encouraging an increase in angry Trump’s inaugural committee. That second coming of God.” Jews, sad to spiders.” bought you the ambassadorship to a say, are unlikely to love him that way, Many other cultures refer to the small country whose innovators gave us since they don’t acknowledge the first silly season as “cucumber time,” after LEGO sets, insulin, wind turbines, loud- coming. But even if that were accurate, the vegetable harvested then that speakers, and Danish Modern furniture. wouldn’t it be better for Trump to say, doesn’t have much substance: It’s It was a pretty good gig with no as Paul (and Barnabas) spoke to sauregurkenzeit in German, okurková heavy lifting until Aug. 21. The prob- Ephesians about to worship them, “We sezóna in Czech, onat ha’melafefonim in lem: Our president had decided the also are men, of like nature with you”? Hebrew, and agurketid in Danish. So United States should buy Greenland, Still, it’s easy to become exasperated imagine you’re Carla Sands, sitting the icy island three times bigger than with our president and ignore some of pretty during cucumber time as the U.S. Texas but with 28 million fewer resi- his administration’s accomplishments: ambassador to Denmark. You were an dents. Greenland’s 57,000 seem content judges, pro-life policies, respect for actress in the 1980s on the TV soap under the rule of a country half the size religious liberty. Besides, as Joel writes, The Bold and the Beautiful and in of South Carolina, but news leaked that what’s the alternative? Tucker Carlson several trashy movies, most notably Trump wanted to make an offer. When with his move to Fox News has become Deathstalker and the Warriors From Danish Prime Minister Mette a flamethrower, but on Aug. 20 he

10 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 rightly pointed out the embellishments BY THE NUMBERS in Joe Biden’s new autobiography: “Remember that this man, this former coal miner and civil rights leader, is the single sanest person running for president as a Democrat this year. Meditate $572 million on that for a minute.” The amount Oklahoma Judge Thad Balkman on Aug. 26 ordered The Christian necessity amid this Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries to pay for the drugmaker’s liability morass is to remain cool as a cucumber, in Oklahoma’s opioid drug crisis. and remember that no Washington intrigue keeps us from loving God and loving our neighbors. To quote another song that references journalism, here’s a line from Don McLean’s “American Pie” (1971): “Bad news on the doorstep / I couldn’t take one more step.” But step we must. Back to Kierkegaard, and a statement I apply both literally and metaphorically: “Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. … I have walked myself into my best thoughts. … The more one sits still, the closer one comes The portion of U.S. children ages 6 to 12 who regularly played team sports to feeling ill.” in 2018, down from 45 percent in 2008, according to the We must walk with Christ. Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Kierkegaard again, from his book 38% Provocations: “The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the $1.32 million minute we understand, we are obliged The sales price for a 125-year-old dime sold at auction in Chicago on Aug. 15. to act accordingly. Take any words in The 1894-S Barber Dime is one of only 24 ever made. the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? … Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful A to be alone with the New Testament.” $35,000The minimum amount guide companies must charge climbers at Mount Everest under newly proposed rules. Authorities in Nepal hope new regulations will cut the crowding on the world’s tallest peak Note to readers that contributed to 11 fatalities this year. Right now we’re working on stories not only for the next issue but also for our annual Roe v. Wade issue in January. One of the stories will be the gratifying but complicated tale of how buildings once devoted to killing unborn babies are now centers of pro-life activity. We’ve already identified 15 cities where that’s happened: If you know of others, please email [email protected]. The number of American high-school students vaping last year, 1 inup 78 percent from 2017 (see p. 12). 5

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 11 DISPATCHES Human Race

cancer research, medical servicemen of millions of centers, educational insti- dollars through an exten- tutions, and arts and cul- sive identity theft plot. tural centers. He ran as the Brown and four conspira- Libertarian Party’s nominee tors allegedly took pictures for vice president in 1980 of individuals’ information and, with his brother from a medical records Charles, donated to many system and passed this on to conservative or libertarian contacts who used the data THE BEST OF politicians and organiza- to break into the service- tions such as the Heritage men’s banking accounts. Foundation and the Cato They allegedly transferred CHRISTIANITY TODAY Institute. Koch had a net money from the accounts to worth of $50.5 billion. bank accounts run by hired associates. According to the Revealed court documents, the group Peruvian archaeologists targeted older and disabled have revealed a possibly veterans who were likely 3,800-year-old mural from to receive better benefits. one of the oldest civilization The five defendants are Mayra Rodriguez (right) poses with centers in the Americas. now in jail, and the Justice former Planned The wall was found in a Department says it is work- Parenthood President public ceremonial building ing to provide resources for Cecile Richards in from the Caral civilization, the plot’s victims. March 2017. once found in the Huaura province near Lima, Peru. Linked RODRIGUEZ: COURTESY OF AND THEN THERE WERE NONE • KOCH: DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY IMAGES FOR LINCOLN CENTER • PERU: EFE Awarded also hope my case is a lesson It shows what appear to be The Centers for Disease A jury in Maricopa County, to employers who abuse a humanoid frog and the Control and Prevention Ariz., awarded former their power: Sometimes figures of people as well as (CDC) says research sug- Planned Parenthood the underdog wins and four human heads with gests a link between vaping employee and whistle- justice will be done.” snakes around them and a habits and 153 cases of lung blower Mayra Rodriguez seed with a face. According disease in 16 states. The $3 million in a wrongful Died CDC said it needs more termination lawsuit. David H. Koch, chemical information before making Rodriguez said the clinic engineer, vice president of a definite statement about at which she worked Koch Industries, and the connection. The RELIGION / Christian Theology / History RELIGION / Christian Theology / Systematic RELIGION / Christian Theology / History failed to report an abortion billionaire known for his patients studied were 978-1-6835-9336-2, $23.99 978-1-6835-9338-6, $29.99 978-1-6835-9340-9, $21.99 performed on a minor staunch support of liber- primarily adolescents and Softcover (5.5x8.5), 432 pages Hardback (5.5x8.5), 384 pages Hardback (5x8), 384 pages impregnated by an adult as tarian politics, died on Aug. young adults with symp- required by state law and 23 at age 79. Koch toms that included fever, falsified the records and was one of four cough, vomiting, dizziness, charts of other patients. sons of Fred to interviews from the and chest pain. Many of She filed complaints, and Koch, who BBC, this could represent them had admitted to using the clinic then fired her, made a the tribe waiting for rain products with cannabis- claiming to have found fortune by during a famine. Experts related substances, includ- narcotics in her desk. setting up agree that the Caral civili- ing e-cigarettes. According Bringing the treasures of Rodriguez said the drugs oil refiner- zation began to decline to CNN, these cases can be were not narcotics but ies around around 1800 b.c. and hard to record properly medication she had not yet the world believe this mural might since it is not mandatory evangelicalism’s heritage transferred to the purchas- in the point to the reason why. for state health departing department for dis- 1930s. David ments to report vaping- posal, a common practice. Koch battled Accused related lung disease, to readers today. “I hope my case is a lesson prostate Federal prosecutors say though a few states have to other workers that shows cancer for 20 Fredrick Brown, a former begun issuing notices to them that the truth will years and military records technician, help doctors link symptoms prevail,” Rodriguez said. “I donated to cheated thousands of U.S. with their use. LexhamPress.com/Christianity-Today

12 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org THE BEST OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY

RELIGION / Christian Theology / History RELIGION / Christian Theology / Systematic RELIGION / Christian Theology / History 978-1-6835-9336-2, $23.99 978-1-6835-9338-6, $29.99 978-1-6835-9340-9, $21.99 Softcover (5.5x8.5), 432 pages Hardback (5.5x8.5), 384 pages Hardback (5x8), 384 pages

Bringing the treasures of evangelicalism’s heritage to readers today.

LexhamPress.com/Christianity-Today DISPATCHES Quotables

‘It’s complicated.’ U.S. Secretary of State MIKE POMPEO on reports that ISIS is gaining strength in Iraq and Syria. Pompeo told CBS News: ‘Of course.’ “There’s certainly places where Former Senate Majority Leader HARRY ISIS is more powerful today REID, D-Nev., to Vice News on whether than they were three or four years ago. But the caliphate is “Medicare for All” and decriminalizing gone, and their capacity to border crossings are bad ideas. Both have conduct external attacks has been made much more difficult.” become popular positions among REID: BILL CLARK/CQ ROLL CALL/AP • LUCK: MICHAEL CONROY/AP • TLAIB: ANDREW HARRER/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES • POMPEO: PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP • LAIDLAW: HANDOUT 2020 Democratic presidential candidates (see p. 36).

‘It’s taken my joy of this game away.’ ‘These are really Former Indianapolis Colts radical experi quarterback ANDREW LUCK on ments on human how multiple injuries have led to bodies such as his retirement at age 29. never has [been] done before in the history of ‘Her humankind.’ Endocrinologist MICHAEL LAIDLAW on giving puberty hatred for blockers and cross-sex hor mones Israel overcomes to transgender children. her love for her grandmother.’ Israel Interior Minister ARYEH DERI after U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., requested permission to visit her aging grandmother in Israel, then declined to come after Israel approved the humanitarian trip. “It turns out that it was a provocation to embarrass Israel,” Deri said.

14 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Give the gift of clarity: wng.org/giftofclarity

CATHEDRAL: HANDOUT • MARIJUANA: ISTOCK • ILLUSTRATION: KRIEG BARRIE • TV: WTVR SCREEN CAPTURE - A stinging pursuit where police caught up and arrested him. up and arrested caught police where According to police in Oldenburg, Germany, Germany, in Oldenburg, police to According the suspect briefly evaded officers, his leap left his officers, evaded briefly the suspect lost him when he jumped from a balcony. While a balcony. lost him when he jumped from him in a wasp nest. As he fled from the attacking the he fled from nest. As him in a wasp officers nearly arrested a 32-year-old suspect but suspect 32-year-old a nearly arrested officers insects, the suspect jumped into an inflatable pool jumped into the suspect insects, of wasps while apprehending a suspect on Aug. 12. on Aug. a suspect while apprehending of wasps Police in Germany received an assist from a swarm an assist from received in Germany Police Law and consequences Law legalize and temporarily Did Ohio accidentally Gov. Ohio On July 30, complicated. It’s marijuana? hemp in the legalizing a law signed DeWine Mike between distinguished The law State. Buckeye on levels marijuana based hemp and illegal legal in Ohio’s officials August, THC. In of psychoactive have didn’t said they capital city Columbus meaning THC levels, test could equipment that misde prosecute no longer could authorities not could they because marijuana cases meanor On hemp. not marijuana was that in court prove said his Yost Dave General Attorney 12, state Aug. lab testing private the bill for foot would agency merit would amounts that involving cases for outfit Ohio said he hopes to Yost charges. felony end. year’s equipment by cities with testing “Maybe TV man was just TV man was “Maybe and put a little strike to ready humor in our lives.” homeowner Jim Brooksbank Jim Brooksbank homeowner than WTVR. In all, more told sets television outdated 50 on Henrico discovered were For 11. on Aug. porches front the calling are police now, “It’s simply a prank. actions are and people summer, to back go to ready getting said. Brooksbank school,” in southern England may not hear the gospel, the gospel, hear not may England in southern Quick Takes

September 14, 2019 • Rochester Cathedral Rochester and leaves televisions on area front porches. In August, police released video released police In August, porches. front on area televisions and leaves off an older of the man dropping doorbell camera one homeowner’s from know,” I don’t Claus. as the TV Santa be known to “He wants television. 13-inch ‘The TV Santa Claus’ ‘The TV Santa in Henrico, Police property. ski masks and steal wear prowlers Some late-night on his head television a wears type: This one a different investigating are Va., Cathedral by 80 percent. by Cathedral attendance. The AFP news service reports that Norwich Cathedral has a helter- Norwich Cathedral that reports service The AFP news attendance. replica a turned its floor into Cathedral Lichfield and that ride in its nave skelter AFP canons, told Phillips, one of the cathedral Rachel surface. of the moon’s Rochester to number of visitors the has boosted course the mini-golf that but they can get in a round of golf. Officials at the 1,300-year-old cathedral cathedral 1,300-year-old at the Officials of golf. in a round can get but they families, attract in a bid to the nave in course golf installed a nine-hole miniature falling stem has tried to of England one of a number of gimmicks the Church Playing through Playing to Visitors DISPATCHES WORLD Magazine 16 TRIATHLETES: JAE C. HONG/AP • PORIRUA CITY: HANDOUT • ILLUSTRATION: KRIEG BARRIE • HORSE: DANDEE SHOTS • SEAGULLS: ISTOCK Manage your membership: wng.org/membership rebranding effort. city. Thecitysaidthenew logo isjust one partofthecity’s logo inorder to connect withtheyouthful population ofthe the cityspentabout$98,000 onacorporate branding exercise Citizens ofPorirua, New Zealand, were not feeling jovial after A $98,000 smile? Georgia Taylor-Brown qualification event in Tokyo. Approaching thefinishline, women ledthepack ofelite athletes duringanOlympic apparently inadisplay offriendshipinorder to share section from therulespublishedby theInternational create acontrived tiewillbedisqualified. As a result, both Taylor-Brown andLearmonth were disqualified Race officials have disqualified twotriathleteswho Triathlon Unionthat says athletes whoattempt to first place. But race officials found a seldom-cited crossed thefinishlineholdinghands. Two British and third-place finisherFlora DuffyofBermuda The first shallbelast that leftthecitywithasmiley face logo. The the cityclaimedcouncil needed anew New Zealand Taxpayers’ Unioncriticized was namedthewinner. in arelease. Inresponse, aspokesman for the Porirua CityCouncil logo, callingita ing exercises,” theTaxpayers Unionsaid “limp andchildlike smiley face,” and not need to engage incorporate brand questioned thenecessity ofthecity’s 5 percent rate tax increase. “Councils do and Jess Learmonth them from flying inthemaincabinwiththeir owners. in theAmericans withDisabilitiesAct asservice animals, airlines cannot prevent According to theDepartmentofTransportation, because miniature horses are listed riers hadprohibited miniature horses andother unusual service animalsfrom flights. trained asservice animalsfrom flights. Prior to the August ruling, some domesticcar Department ofTransportation, U.S. airlinesmay nolonger banminiature horses Move over dogs, now horses canfly too. According to a rule published by the U.S. Flying horses held hands, heldhands,

- than thewatched birds. french friesmuchquicker nearby humanstole the being directly watched by a the birds that were not for them.Ofthose that did, approach thefood leftout most seagulls would not author MadeleineGoumas, seconds. According to lead french friesby about21 from attackingaplate of helped delay theseagulls downstaring thebirds stare at thebirds. InanAug. 6release, researchers revealed that a new for tactic keeping seagulls away from tourists’ lunches: Scientists from theUniversity ofExeter inthe UK have developed The eyes have it they willwipeoutallbalances for Canadian Amazon- andMarriott- happy following adecision to forgive credit card debtsfor certain card holders. Inorder to speed theireffort to withdraw from the the CBCthat hehadowed more than$4,600 onhiscard: “Iwas branded Visacardholders. resident Ontario Douglas Turner told Canadian market, officialswiththe U.S.-based Chase Bank say Chase Bank ismakinganumberofCanadian customers very sort ofover themoonalllastnight, withasmileonmy face.” Balancing act September 14, 2019 14, September • WORLD Magazine WORLD - 17 VOICES Janie B. Cheaney

was discriminated against both in the Army and out, but proudly flew the stars and stripes in his segregated backyard. “He knew that our people’s contributions to building the richest and most powerful nation in the world were indelible, that the United States simply would not exist without us.” The only way Hannah-Jones then traces the black experience in the New World, with its many outrages and tragedies, concluding with, “Our founding forward fathers may not have actually believed in the ideals they espoused, but black people did.” THE SOLUTION IS SPIRITUAL IF THE GOAL The very concept of civil rights would be IS PEACE AND FELLOWSHIP unthinkable without them. The essay is worthwhile, though Does the date Aug. 20, 1619, mean any- flawed. While the history is largely R thing to you? It’s the day the first African true, it’s also selective. Those ideals, slaves were traded into North America. whether or not the founding fathers As recorded by Jamestown settler John believed them, provided the rationale Rolfe, a Dutch warship “brought not anything for emancipation and (much later) but 20 and odd Negroes, wch the Governor and full citizenship. But the 1619 Project Cape Marchant bought for victuale at the best as a whole is likely to harm, not help. and easyest rate they could.” Rolfe made an Racism, rooted in the African honest mistake, as the ship was armed under slave trade, is said to be “America’s Dutch colors. But current research identifies original sin.” An original sin is the the White Lion as a British privateer that had primary fault from which every confiscated the slaves from a Portuguese trader other fault stems. For that, we bound for the Indies. The stop at Jamestown should look to the misapplication of was perhaps an afterthought. The sailors American freedom, which translated needed provisions and the “20 and odd” bought into expanded opportunities to enough for them to get to Bermuda. America’s exploit as well as to succeed. Exploitation is not The human cargo hailed from Angola, a essentially racist. It is egotistic and acquisitive, Portuguese colony. Their countrymen had original sin and no one is exempt. America’s original sin is traded with Europeans for decades, and many is actually actually the Original Sin. Racism is an effect, were baptized Christians. Some earned their the Original not a cause. freedom after years of indentured servitude, on What to do? Proposed solutions are mostly the same terms as poor whites. But too soon the Sin. Racism about money. But the problem is spiritual not expedient hardened into an evil system is an effect, material, and so is the solution: forgiveness. whereby millions of Africans were kidnapped not a cause. Is forgiveness fair? No, but Someone who and carried across the Atlantic as chattel. The was owed a much greater debt showed us that system corrupted all it touched, kindling a slow forgiveness is the only way out of the bondage fire that blazed into our most costly war, and of sin. “For freedom Christ has set us free.” To haunts us still. forgive centuries of wrong, traces of which per- This month, on the 400th anniversary of the sist to this day, means to lay it down and walk White Lion’s arrival in Jamestown, The New away. The history still stings, but the farther HOWARD PYLE/LEBRECHT MUSIC & ARTS/ALAMY York Times Magazine introduced its “1619 you walk the less you will feel it, especially Project,” with the stated purpose of reframing when walking toward the light. American history. Everything wrong about What do we want—fellowship, or alien- America, from “the brutality of American ation? Peace, or warfare? Our Father desired capitalism” to “the sugar that saturates the peace and fellowship with us enough to pay American diet” can be traced to August 1619. dearly for it. Guilt must be borne, and the one The Times is planning further essays on this to bear it was His own Son. He considered the theme, plus development of a school curricu- gain worth the price. God willing, may my lum in cooperation with the Pulitzer Center. brothers and sisters, so long out of Africa, make Africans sold as slaves The keynote essay by Nikole Hannah-Jones to the colonists for the that reckoning. I can never compensate them, begins with her father, a WWII veteran who first time in 1619 but Christ can. A

18 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019  [email protected]  @jbcheaney

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TheOlaskyInterviewFP4_WORLD.indd 1 7/26/19 9:43 AM CULTURE Movies & TV / Books / Children’s Books / Q&A / Music

Movie pressed even to guess where he falls on the ideological spectrum, and Funny family man Gaffigan likes it that way, telling the Daily Beast JIM GAFFIGAN PROVES AGAIN HE’S A MASTER earlier this week, “I don’t by Megan Basham want to grab some soap box OF THE COMEDIC CRAFT on a certain issue if there might be nuances to it.” The man The Wall inclusiveness. That is, he jokes about his own Even though GQ head- R Street Journal dubbed makes the kind of self- extraordinary paleness lined a 2018 interview with the King of Clean Comedy deprecating jokes about his count). Nothing about a claim that the comedian is back with a new Amazon weight, his wife, and his divisive current events. didn’t vote for Trump, if special, Quality Time. And laid-back parenting style And certainly nothing you read carefully, he never fans will be glad to hear you might have heard on about politics. really says that. Instead, he that while the material is Johnny Carson back in the When it comes to his offers a hilarious descrip- all new, Jim Gaffigan hasn’t day. Only with a fresh spin. career, Gaffigan seems to tion of his fellow New changed his tune. Much. What you won’t hear harken back to the old Yorkers accosting him on Along with being clean, are the routines that have Michael Jordan observa- the street screaming, “You the famously Catholic come to characterize tion that Republicans (or did this!” until he finally father of five adheres to an modern late-night comedy. Democrats) buy sneakers wonders, “Did I do it?”

COMEDY DYNAMICS COMEDY old-school definition of Nothing about race (unless too. Fans would be hard- It’s a typical wily Gaffigan

 [email protected]  @megbasham September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 21 Movie CULTURE Movies & TV Overcomer sidestep to the media’s per- of Jesus once. But it’s while Overcomer, the matic elements) notably petual drive to force every praying for rescue during a R Kendrick Brothers’ frames the plot on four public figure to carry a bear attack. So if we’re new release, is billed vital African American party banner. giving him the benefit of “from the creators of characters, including that His approach seems to the doubt, it’s not a taking- War Room.” That 2015 of a delightful Wright- be working. In spades. This the-Lord’s-name-in-vain film reached No. 1 in its Thompson, who makes year he’s ranked No. 3 on situation. second week at the box her acting debut. The office. But look for the light humor goes over Forbes’ list of highest-earn- What fans will really next movie that Alex and well except for some of ing comedians, just behind notice is that Gaffigan Stephen make to be the recurring bits with a his friend Jerry Seinfeld. seems to be getting com- marketed as “from the drama teacher, the film’s However, while the fun- fortable moving further creators of Overcomer.” only awkward spots. damentals of his style are afield from the old “fat dad, Genuine and compelling, The most moving holding strong, that doesn’t lazy dad” bits he’s best Overcomer is the scene arrives not at a mean his comedy hasn’t known for. The new mate- Kendricks’ best effort yet. finish line but when a evolved over time. His last rial might be a little racier At a Christian school, character comes to faith special, Noble Ape, dealt than the old hot pocket bits, basketball coach with a particularly tough but it’s all within the con- John Harrison blow his family suffered in text of married fatherhood. (Alex Kendrick) 2017: his wife Jeannie’s And that is what really finds himself brain tumor. With Jeannie’s makes this special, like his coaching a cross- help (she’s his writing part- previous ones, special. It’s country team with ner), he developed a set not that he doesn’t swear. As only one partici- pant, Hannah that was surprisingly ten- Gaffigan quipped to Stephen (Aryn Wright- der, hilarious, and yet Colbert, nobody pays to Thompson), who classic Gaffigan. hear someone not curse for has asthma. Things seemed to have an hour. It’s because he Hannah has lived settled down in Gaffigan finds the funny in those with her grand- world, because if the new experiences—family, mar- mother (Denise special feels a little less spe- riage, parenthood, and, yes, Armstrong) since infancy, and discovers, while cific to experiences in his good old-fashioned and she hides a sinful reading Ephesians 1 and and Jeannie’s household, American overeating—we secret. Other characters 2, a liberating new iden- it’s also a little looser. It still hold in common. A also struggle with grief tity in Christ. So, you’ll feels as if he’s gaining con- and sin. John priori- read critics pounding fidence that he can take tizes sports success “Preachy!” from their the audience to weirder, over everything else. newspaper pulpits. less tried-and-true places, BOX OFFICE TOP 10 Thomas (Cameron Sure, there are some as with an extended FOR THE WEEKEND OF AUG. 23-25 Arnett), hospitalized “smoothly engineered according to Box Office Mojo and dying, regrets epiphanies,” as one sequence about horses. selfish choices that reviewer snickered. The more digressive and CAUTIONS: Quantity of sexual (S), violent (V), and foul-language (L) content on a 0-10 scale, have hurt many Believers agree, in fact, random the equine jokes with 10 high, from kids-in-mind.com people. although we use terms become (and they become S V L Overcomer like providence and highly digressive and ran- `1 Angel Has Fallen R ...... 1 7 10 doesn’t feel grace. Another naysayer dom indeed), the funnier `2 Good Boys R...... 6 5 10 stretched thin, balked at the way the they grow. It’s the mark of `3 Overcomer* PG...... 1 3 1 though, but ably han- film “overtly expounds on a master of the craft when `4 Fast & Furious Presents: dles the overlapping God’s love and Jesus’ the awkward and even Hobbs & Shaw PG-13...... 3 6 5 stories. Characters sacrifice.” Warmly and `5 PG...... nonsensical content feels The Lion King* 1 3 1 begin to confront authentically, but indeed `6 R...... 3 8 10 AFFIRM FILMS AND PROVIDENT FILMS intentional. Ready or Not their own shortcom- it does. `7 The Angry Birds ings in the light of So listen up! That Despite the Wall Street Movie 2 PG...... 1 3 2 Biblical truth and Hollywood’s reviewers, Journal billing, Quality `8 Scary Stories to Tell with prayer. John patrons, or celebrities Time contains a bit of in the Dark PG-13...... 2 6 5 and his wife Amy would be better off run- mildly bad language. As his `9 Dora and the Lost City ...... (Shari Rigby) often ning life’s race without previous shows did. Think of Gold PG 2 3 1 `10 fall on their knees. Jesus is a misjudgment the kind of thing you’d hear Once Upon a Time in Hollywood R...... 4 7 10 Overcomer some folks need to over- on any prime-time sitcom. *Reviewed by WORLD (rated PG for the- come. —by BOB BROWN And he calls out the name

22 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Movie at the top of their game. It centers on people with cultured, urban lives. It depicts two women grappling with a An A without an R charged, unspoken rivalry. And these days, an A-list release like that—about AFTER THE WEDDING IS A WELL-CRAFTED, A-LIST marriage, money, and ambition— DRAMA WITHOUT THE EXPECTED SEX SCENES without significant R content is almost by Megan Basham unheard of. If the film’s PG-13 rating didn’t also come with a fair amount of profanity, it would be quite the unicorn It’s strange when you realize just a seemingly impulsive act like inviting indeed. R how much the ever-increasing Isobel to Grace’s wedding. When Isobel Along with being brilliantly acted, levels of sex, violence, and ugliness in arrives and realizes she knows well-paced, and intelligently crafted, modern entertainment have altered our Theresa’s husband, Oscar (Billy After the Wedding is the rare film that experience of watching adult-targeted Crudup), a renowned sculptor, we start explores tricky topics like class differ- dramas. Take, for instance, the new to suspect what it might be, though the ences and femininity without feeling indie, After the Wedding. knowing makes the revelation no less like it’s pandering. At first it seems the A gender-reversed version of a 2006 riveting. The two women circle one filmmakers want us to envy and resent Danish film, it weaves an intriguing mystery around two powerful, dynamic women, each alpha females of a sort, though in different spheres. Isobel (Michelle Williams) runs an orphanage in India. In a certain respect, she’s exactly what we picture when we imagine people who give their lives serving in impoverished regions. Her flowing palazzo pants, low-maintenance locks, and zen medi- tation practices give off a distinct air of Earth Mama. Yet she’s so much more than the cliché, chatting up corporate boards for “suitcases of money” and roaring, “I’m not here to teach you compassion!” like a mother bear when arrogant donors try to come between her and her children. Which is exactly Michelle Williams (left) what she thinks wealthy Theresa and Julianne Moore (Julianne Moore) is doing after she summons Isobel to New York and another, each subtly trying to indict the Theresa’s 1 percenter status (playing strong-arms her into staying until she’s other with suggestions that their life with those conditioned expectations ready to decide how much funding she choices make them the more ideal again!). But as we come to know her wants to give Isobel’s charity. version of womanhood. better, we remember that God blesses Theresa, too, is no easy caricature. I won’t spoil the mystery, except to some with the ability to make wealth. Her high-powered, demanding pro- say that as it unspools, creating gut- And that wealth creates jobs and funds fessional life doesn’t stop her from wrenching emotional stakes for all the charities. being a loving, engaged mom. Sure, characters, After the Wedding is as sur- Further, we see a depiction of she drives brutal bargains and snaps prising as much for what isn’t there as unplanned pregnancy where the only at her assistant, but she also reads her for what is. Namely, no sex scenes, save choice is how best to give the child life. children bedtime stories, worries her Oscar sweetly romancing his wife when “I just knew I couldn’t take care of sons are playing violent video games, he finds her in the bathtub (no nudity you,” one character says of her choice and gets teary thinking about her or anything inappropriate is shown). not to be a mother, “and bringing you beautiful daughter Grace’s upcoming So why did I keep steeling myself to into the world was the best that I could marriage. see them? Because After the Wedding is do.” The frequent bad language not- Still, Theresa isn’t the type to do clearly meant to be a prestige drama. It withstanding, those are expectations

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE SUNDANCE anything without a purpose, especially stars two critically acclaimed actresses upended in the most wonderful way. A

See all our movie reviews at wng.org/movies September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 23 CULTURE Books Trends and patterns THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY by Marvin Olasky against the secularization One other factor is signif- hypothesis, which suggests icant: “Protestantism’s stress Glenn Stanton’s The balloons of the Rob Bells that increases in income, on individual reading of the R Myth of the Dying who further “an age of education, urbanization, Bible led to higher literacy Church (Worthy, 2019) autonomy” by abandoning and life expectancy lead to and, thereby, promoted eco- points out that, contrary to Biblical teaching. Messer less religious belief. That’s nomic development.” But, numerous big-media proc- rightly says “the real not true historically in as the Bible shows regard- lamations, atheism and adventurers are those who Western culture: For a ing ancient Israel, over agnosticism are not growing set sail for the risky land of time, more wealth led to several generations people wildly, and more young Christian orthodoxy, … who more time and resources to start saying “We built it” adults are attending subject their thoughts, pour into religious study, rather than “God built it.” Biblically faithful churches behaviors, and passions to and more belief led to more The result can be increased than attended a half-century an exclusive Sovereign.” long-term thinking rather self-satisfaction and less ago. Liberal churches, In The Wealth of than immediate gratifica- prayer and worship. It’s not though, are hemorrhaging, Religions (Princeton, 2019), tion. In a virtuous spiral, clear whether America is and formerly evangelical Rachel McCleary and that resulted in more work still spiraling upward or churches that embrace Robert Barro push back effort and thrift. heading rapidly downward. homosexuality—Seattle’s EastLake is one example— often lose members. You Found Me (IVP, 2019) goes over the same BOOKMARKS Charles Darwin and the Hindu ground Stanton does: Harvey Klehr’s The Millionaire Scriptures.” Author Rick Richardson’s Was a Soviet Mole: The Twisted In The Drama of Celebrity Life of David Karr (Encounter, subtitle is New Research on (Princeton, 2019) Sharon 2019) tells the surprising story Marcus tells of well-known How Unchurched Nones, of a man who moved from people, starting with actress Millennials, and Irreligious Communist journalist to muck Sarah Bernhardt in the late Are Surprisingly Open to raking columnist to public relations 19th century, who became Christian Faith. But while counsel to corporate executive, but objects of mass fascination but could Stanton emphasizes the remained throughout an egotistical liar not cheat death. Human Liberty 2.0 importance of sticking who left behind four wives. Klehr (Post Hill, 2019) by Matthew Daniels with Biblical doctrine, believes David Karr was a Soviet agent emphasizes noncelebrities. He tells Richardson prioritizes social who created such a tangle that the KGB stories of little-known people who have outreach. His example in a eventually killed him. used the internet to promote the dignity “Hope for the Future” sec- Joel Beeke and Christopher Bogosh’s of humans created in God’s image. tion is a Colorado church Dying and Death (Reformation Carles Boix’s Democratic Capitalism that provides thousands of Heritage, 2018) is a succinct and solidly at the Crossroads (Princeton, 2019) kids with school supplies, Biblical summary of how to prepare sees technological change increasing free clothes, and free hair- rightly for what’s inevitable. William inequality and notes the inadequacy of a Boekestein’s The Future of Everything: cuts and takes 140 bags of universal basic income (UBI) that would Essential Truths About the End Times deliver dollars without dignity. Boix food to an elementary (Reformation Heritage, 2019) briefly points out that a UBI could reduce work school every Wednesday. describes our own personal ends and incentives, keep structures of inequality Dustin Messer’s Secular what the Bible says about the world’s unchanged, and erode motivations of Sacraments: Finding end and redemption. Boekestein favors individuals to school themselves and Grace in the World and burial, not cremation: He notes how the develop character: “Working confers a Sin in the Church (Center first cremation in America came in 1876 dignity that the reception of a public for Cultural Leadership, and was “accompanied by readings from handout does not.” —M.O. 2019) punctures the

24 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Recent nonfiction reviewed by Susan Olasky

BAD BLOOD: SECRETS AND LIES IN A SILICON VALLEY STARTUP John Carreyrou Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou covered Elizabeth Holmes and her Silicon Valley startup, Theranos. Here he tells the story of a charismatic and attractive female CEO who raised piles AFTERWORD of money, attracted prominent supporters like former Defense Who Loves? by Jami Kaeb Secretary James Mattis and former Secretary of State George Shultz, and sold her idea to companies like Walgreens. One prob- (The Forgotten Initiative, lem: Her product—a blood testing method requiring tiny bits of 2018) is a series of three blood—didn’t work. Carreyrou shows how Theranos began with a books dealing in age- promising idea that proved hard to execute, which allegedly led the appropriate ways with company to embark upon a massive fraud. how it feels to be in foster care. Who Loves Baby? is THE PIONEERS: THE HEROIC STORY OF THE a board book with illus- SETTLERS WHO BROUGHT THE AMERICAN trations showing “Judge IDEAL WEST David McCullough loves Baby” and Drawing from diaries and other primary documents, McCullough takes the reader back to the 18th and 19th centuries when the U.S. “Community Workers opened the Northwest Territory to settlement. Through the lives of love Baby.” Though sad, it’s colorful individuals—including Manasseh Cutler, a congregational good to know that resources minister and scientist from Massachusetts—he tells about the exist to help children talk settlement of Marietta, Ohio. Christian belief motivated many of about their hard reality. the settlers, and McCullough shows how these beliefs led to a ban Who Loves Me? offers on slavery and support for public education. Critics note that McCullough skips the Native American perspective, but this settler story highlights other slightly more information underreported aspects of history. for a pre-K or kindergarten- age child. I Am Loved offers BILLION DOLLAR WHALE: THE MAN WHO short chapters and more FOOLED WALL STREET, HOLLYWOOD, AND detail, especially about THE WORLD Tom Wright & Bradley Hope emotions, for Two Wall Street Journal reporters tell the stranger-than-fiction elementary- story of Malaysian Jho Low and how he pulled off one of the big- aged children. gest heists in history, siphoning $5 billion from Malaysia’s state- Our Baby owned investment fund, 1MDB. With the help of Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions, Low funneled money into private Will Be Swiss bank accounts and used it to party with celebrities like Different by Leonardo DiCaprio, buy properties in New York and Los Angeles, Beverly and finance movies likeThe Wolf of Wall Street. The book follows Jacobson his meteoric rise and then rapid descent as scrappy investigative journalists unraveled the (CreateSpace, con. To this date, Low is still on the run. —reviewed by Angela Lu Fulton 2017) is a ONE LIFE AT A TIME: AN AMERICAN DOCTOR’S hopeful book MEMOIR OF AIDS IN BOTSWANA Daniel Baxter for preparing children for Daniel Baxter has spent his medical career caring for people with the birth of a baby with AIDS, first in New York and for two periods in Botswana. When he disabilities. “Most babies first went to Africa in 2002, the epidemic was in full swing. He left have busy little hands that in 2008 but returned in 2013, with many sufferers receiving anti- open and close. … Our baby viral drugs. With sensitivity and a fine eye Baxter paints a ground- will be different. … But after level picture of AIDS, focusing on individual stories. The book recounts his changing perspective as he cares for patients and she is born we can still hold families with attitudes and beliefs far different from those of his her hands and kiss her patients in the U.S. fingers.” —S.O.

To see more book news and reviews, go to wng.org/books September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 25 CULTURE Children’s Books Show me the way BOOKS FOR TEENAGE GIRLS reviewed by Mary Jackson

CHOOSING LOVE IN A BROKEN WORLD Heidi Johnston Johnston understands that today’s teenage girls daily encounter distorted ideas about love, sex, and marriage and it takes courage to pursue the love God outlines in the Bible. The book will help them see how God’s plan for relationships is far greater than what the world conveys and how broken relationships stem from turning love into something so much smaller than it is intended. Johnston writes with honesty, clarity, and respect, AFTERWORD differentiating between feelings and covenantal love and In Between Us Guys (New addressing common myths about sex. Each chapter ends with Growth Press, 2019), Joel talking points that parents can use to open communication with Fitzpatrick offers fathers their daughters. (Ages 13-16) and sons a guide for talking about what it means to be a SEX, PURITY, AND THE LONGINGS OF A man in light of the gospel. GIRL’S HEART Kristen Clark & Bethany Beal Fitzpatrick avoids moralis- Sisters Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal open this book by telling tic messages and macho of their first exposure to pornography as young girls. They write candidly about their resulting questions and struggles with sexu- stereotypes and ality. The book addresses the world’s distorted and confusing addresses topics messages about sex and purity, but instead of offering a formula like girls, sex, for dating and relationships, Clark and Beal draw from Scripture money, strength, and anecdotes that point girls to the gospel. They emphasize and failure with “we’re all sexually broken” and carefully address topics like porn, a clear emphasis lust, erotica, masturbation, and same-sex attraction, concluding with discussion questions and an appendix on sexual abuse. (Ages 15-18) on creation, fall, redemption, and In a world of distractions, CONFIDENT MOMS, CONFIDENT DAUGHTERS restoration. Maria Furlough Geared for boys we must remember that which is The pressure to look perfect keeps increasing, and Furlough ages 6-12, the book’s short believes mothers play a key role in enabling their daughters to walk chapters are arranged for “of irst importance.” securely and confidently in Christ. She shares openly about her fathers and sons to read struggles with body issues, dieting, and social media and incorpo- aloud together and include rates interviews with a pediatrician, nutritionist, and a Christian Scriptures, discussion counselor who offer practical tips. The book also addresses worldly questions, and suggested lies about appearance while admonishing moms and daughters activities. A follow-up to to prioritize godliness over physical goals and praise God for their bodies as His “wonderfully made” temple. (Ages 15-18) Trish Donohue’s Between Us Girls (New Growth Press, PRICELESS Jen Barrick with Linda Barrick 2016), this book counters current cultural beliefs Jen Barrick begins this book by sharing how her life changed at age 15 when a drunk driver struck her family’s van, injuring about manhood and pro- Dever Mohler Duncan DeYoung Chin Moore Charles Gilbert Platt Piper Lee everyone. She spent five weeks in a coma and suffered a serious vides a starting point for brain injury that changed everything, except her love for Jesus. fathers who struggle with One consequence of Barrick’s injury is she “feels aloud,” and the talking to their sons about Together for the Gospel book resulted from her and her mother Linda’s interactions about important topics. Fitzpatrick her emotional struggles. Formatted as a 30-day devotional, writes, “If we fail to ground A Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders Priceless tackles common “roller coaster” emotions teenage our sons in the finished HANDOUT girls face with corresponding Psalms, recitation prayers, and April 14-16, 2020 | Louisville, Kentucky encouraging truths. Teen girls will appreciate Barrick’s honesty work of Jesus for them, we and relatability. (Ages 13-16) will miss the point.” —M. J.

26 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 To see more book news and reviews, go to wng.org/books Register by October 31 to Save: T4G.org In a world of distractions, we must remember that which is “of irst importance.”

Dever Mohler Duncan DeYoung Chin Moore Charles Gilbert Platt Piper Lee

Together for the Gospel A Conference for Pastors and Church Leaders April 14-16, 2020 | Louisville, Kentucky

KARL ZINSMEISTER Creative philanthropy LOOKING FOR NEW SOLUTIONS TO OLD PROBLEMS by Marvin Olasky

Karl Zinsmeister, vice president place children than the rest of us. Who meeting in schools; they’re meeting in R of publications for the runs homeless shelters? Religiously shopping centers; they’re orphaned Philanthropy Roundtable, was editor in inspired groups now provide 6 out of 10 congregations that meet Saturday chief of The American Enterprise from beds for homeless people in major nights in somebody else’s church. 1994 to 2006, and then George W. urban areas. A predominance of the Not bogged down with bricks and Bush’s chief domestic policy adviser. selfless work in our society today mortar? I understand buildings can Earlier, he was a history major and a comes out of religious motivation. become a terrible distraction, but for national champion rower at Yale. He Without that we have a much colder, thousands of years, human beings has written 13 books, including The much more selfish, much more heart- sacrificed to have sacred structures. Almanac of American Philanthropy, less society. Our current spatial mismatch is weird, and now lives on a houseboat with his The giving patterns reflect that. and we need to solve it. Many of the big wife: They have three children and People who attend weekly religious churches in big cities are empty or three grandchildren. services most of the time contribute attended by 15 little white-haired ladies Tell us about the houseboat. four times as much as nonattenders. on Sundays. Maybe we could do a Washington is a wonderful city in many And yet, 57 percent of Americans say swap: Those white-haired ladies could ways, but it’s button-down and staid. that if those religious folks weren’t get a nice intimate little church where Very interested in success and power. I active, these charitable works would they can meet and have fellowship feel privileged and blessed that I can happen anyway. Communication gap? rather than rattling around in a huge work with my brain for much of the day, There sure is. Many feel that religion is stone cathedral they can’t even heat but I often want to do something more not only unnecessary but negative. I properly. Then, we get those big, concrete. Living on a boat is part of that. would hope those who don’t have a booming churches out of the strip malls And you built houses, right? I was a personal faith would at least see that and into the space that was built to freelance writer, and it was the best religious people act very differently make you feel you’re in heaven for an way to establish my career. I was able than others. Different priorities. hour and a half. to write on exactly what I wanted to Different principles. In most cases, Often the people who own those write about. I didn’t have a steady pro-social as opposed to antisocial churches are hostile to evangelicals. income, so I also worked as a carpenter, behaviors, but that reality is increas- Some people are so stubborn, they’d buying old junk houses nobody else ingly lost in public debates. rather have the church desacralized wanted in Washington, camping out in Yep. Your book has fun facts like and turned into a condominium or them before I got married, fixing them this: 14,000 Starbucks outlets in the a bar. This is happening in up, and selling them. It was a bit of a U.S., 350,000 religious congregations. large numbers. But death wish, but I did that eight times, We probably hear more about churches are the including when my family started to Starbucks than churches. We do. places arrive. It kept us in groceries and When I go to a city, I love to go to local where diapers in those lean years. churches and see what I can learn AA On to your work in philanthropy: about local culture by attending Surveys show many Americans believe services. I attended a service in a drab, the charitable service that happens 1950s-style public high school in Santa across America just happens, and Monica. It was a wonderful service would happen even if religious people helped by people spending a lot of and organizations weren’t doing it. energy to transform the auditorium You’ve learned that’s not true. I’ve interior into a semi-sacred space in walked through the data and asked short order—and then breaking it all specific questions: Who, for instance, down when they’re done. All kinds of adopts children? Christians are 2½ churches all over the country go times more likely to adopt hard-to- through this every weekend. They’re

28 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 HANDOUT meetings get held. Churches are where D.C., you never have a similarly available pastors? That’s hard to do today. If you the art fairs take place. Churches have public space. had night classes, if seminaries were day cares. That doesn’t happen any- So, philanthropy has a role here: more open to video instruction, you more when the building becomes a res- Donors can help churches outbid the could train more second-career people. taurant, a condo, or a bar. Once you’ve condominium folks. Yeah. And it isn’t Can churches help people get jobs? lost these big, open, communal spaces just the physical vessel. The burgeon- A lot of people don’t know how to get in the middle of a New York City or San ing churches, almost by definition, tend that first step on the employment Francisco or to have good leaders with a more ladder, and we also have many small orthodox theology. They have energy. businesses desperate for welders, truck They make demands on people. Many drivers, nurses, or day care workers. growing churches are like the One Florida nonprofit uses churches Marine Corps: The harder you as venues to match employers and make it, the more people love employees. People walk out the door it and want to be part of it. with an offer after sitting down for That’s important in theology mini-interviews. And, once they’ve as well. Leaders need train- gone to church and gotten a job, it’s ing, but the average person easy to invite them back for worship. coming out of seminary What about college students who today comes out with want to work with charities and phi- about $50,000 worth of lanthropies: Any career opportunities debt. That’s a big, heavy there? It’s wide open, a green pasture. stone. What if they Philanthropy is a really exciting and didn’t come out with important part of American culture debt, if we could give with all kinds of room for social inven- them continuing education. If you’re able to find new solutions tion to freshen their skills to old problems, it is tremendously sat- without having to aban- isfying. The downside is you don’t have don their congregations? a boss, a road plan, or a clear recipe What if we could have paths book. You have to be self-sufficient, for second-career pastors, those improvisational, thinking on your feet. who had a career in business, or But if you have any of those qualities, academia, and suddenly felt the and you want to make your world call, and would like to become better, and you’re not focused on the

‘Donors give away $410 billion every single year in this country, voluntarily, without anybody asking or pushing it.’

almighty dollar in the short term, there are tremendous opportunities. Donors give away $410 billion every single year in this country, voluntarily, without anybody asking or pushing it. Sometimes people are pushing. A little pushing is good. But nobody has legal power to coerce you. Philanthropy provides social venture capital that does things we can’t do with government or corporate money. There is all kinds of room for people with entrepreneurial ideas about how to start job fairs at churches or so much else. A

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 29 CULTURE Music

dropping hippy ex-con and aspiring singer-songwriter named Charles Nostalgic glow Manson. It was Melcher’s former house on ONCE UPON A TIME’S SOUNDTRACK IS A TRIBUTE Cielo Drive in which four of Manson’s TO GENRE-FREE ’60S POP by Arsenio Orteza followers murdered Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski, and It has become a Abigail Folger on Aug. 8 and 9, 1969, R cliché to refer to allegedly as payback for Melcher’s Quentin Tarantino’s refusal to land Manson a recording Once Upon a Time in deal. Hollywood as a “love Melcher died in 2004, having letter”—to Tinseltown, unwaveringly maintained that his to Tarantino’s youth, to dealings with Manson were strictly 1969 itself (just in time business. It’s a claim of which some for the year’s 50th anni- observers have been skeptical (for versary!). But even with reasons made clear in the new book its smattering of gratu- by the investigative journalist Tom itous violence, the film O’Neill, Chaos: Charles Manson, the is better described as a CIA, and the Secret History of the fairy tale (hence its Sixties). title’s first four words). Whatever the truth, Melcher has What is a love letter long symbolized the good-vibrations- is the film’s meticu- vs.-hearts-of-darkness dualism at the lously textured core of the ’60s pop-music scene. And Columbia Records his association with music fea- soundtrack. And what tured in Once Upon a Time in it’s a love letter to is the era in which Hollywood, tenuous though that the thrilling combustibility of genre- association may be, casts a pall free 1960s pop was accessible to over the soundtrack’s otherwise anyone within earshot of AM radio. almost too heartwarmingly Interspersed among high-energy, nostalgic glow. period-piece hits by Neil Diamond, the Bob Seger System, Chad & Jeremy, R Exactly one week after the Roy Head & the Traits, Mitch Ryder & Tate murders, Creedence the Detroit Wheels, the Box Tops, and Clearwater Revival took the the Rod Evans–era Deep Purple stage at Woodstock and turned (twice) are ’60s air checks—in appro- in a performance that by all priately tinny mono and replete with reliable accounts was one of the ads—from “Humble” Harve Miller and tightest and hardest hitting of the Real Don Steele, DJs on what was the entire festival. from 1965 to 1980 one of Los Angeles’ The band’s just-released, hottest Top 40 stations, KHJ (“Boss complete-and-unabridged Live Radio”). are represented by “Hungry” and at Woodstock (Craft) confirms that Miller shills for Mug root beer then “Good Thing” (both Top 10 hits) and assessment. spins “Hector” by the Village Callers. “Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon” (which only The set kicks off with “Born on the “The Real” Don Steele hawks Tanya made the Top 20 but enjoyed a kind of Bayou” and, in keeping with the title tanning butter; spins Simon & parallel-universe popularity when of the penultimate number, keeps on Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson,” Los rewritten as the Swingy Doll theme). chooglin’ for almost an hour, gradually Bravos’ “Bring a Little Lovin’,” and More importantly where both winning over a crowd that, in his auto- Dee Clark’s “Hey Little Girl”; reads a Tarantino’s film and the year 1969 are biography, John Fogerty describes as weather report; and ad-libs an concerned, both “Hungry” and “Good having just been “put to sleep” by the announcement for an upcoming Class Thing” were produced by Terry Grateful Dead. of ’58 high-school reunion. Melcher, the son of Doris Day and, The group’s secret? Playing sober, The soundtrack’s tone, however, is along with the Beach Boys’ Dennis a footnote that may be the biggest set by Paul Revere & the Raiders, who Wilson, an acquaintance of an LSD- wake-up call of all. A

30 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019  [email protected]  @ArsenioOrteza New or recent CDs reviewed by Arsenio Orteza

LOVE WILL FIND A WAY Philip Bailey The soft-focus production stands in stark contrast to the clean, crisp edges of Bailey’s hit-making days with Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins. The falsetto, however, remains recognizable if not quite the same, as do the Curtis Mayfield covers (anachronisms no matter what ENCORE Bailey thinks) and Marvin Gaye’s “Just to Keep You When the Call burst onto Satisfied.” Recognizable but better than the original is the the scene in 1982, its combi- nation of whomping beats, Return to Forever cover. Recognizable but weirder is prophetic lyrics, and the Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Coming from a late Michael Been’s rock- Gospel-Grammy winner, it may be profounder too. operatic vocals earned the group comparisons with U2. SEEDS OF CHANGE (EXPANDED EDITION) And while the similarities Kerry Livgren made the Call a hit among If Epic/Legacy had waited one more year, they could’ve Christians whose tastes touted this expanded, MP3-only edition of the best album exceeded the boundaries of by anyone associated with Kansas (Kansas included) as a CCM, it also gave short shrift to what made the Call 40th-anniversary treat. But better early than never. What’s unique (its intensity for one doing the expanding? Horns-boosting and occasionally thing) and probably didn’t measure-adding remixes of all seven songs. What’s the help the group to win over reward of listening closely enough to notice such negligi- radio-station programmers ble differences? Getting to hear Ronnie James Dio, Steve either. Walsh, LeRoux’s Jeff Pollard, and Ambrosia’s David Pack give thrilling voice to Livgren’s Collected (Universal), a newfound Christian faith twice. new three-disc compilation, features LATE NIGHT FEELINGS Mark Ronson tracks not only from The failure of the Miley Cyrus collaboration “Nothing every Call Breaks Like a Heart” to approach the popularity of album Ronson’s 2015 Bruno Mars collaboration “Uptown Funk” but also isn’t exactly inexplicable. Four years is a long time for the from attention-deficit generation to stick with a DJ who isn’t Michael Avicii, and Cyrus is nothing if not divisive. Still, it’s not only Been’s Cyrus’ finest 3½ minutes but also the best song that Stevie solo work, making it the Nicks never recorded. Consider it the cake of an album most comprehensive Call a-swirl with delectable pop-soul icing. anthology to date. Listeners whose familiarity with the HOTEL LAST RESORT Violent Femmes band starts with the first of its two Hot 100 singles “The obvious, the silly, and the true,” wrote Orwell in (“The Walls Came Down”) Nineteen Eighty-Four, “had got to be defended,” and and ends with the second Gordon Gano’s just the man for the job. Cases in point: the (“Let the Day Begin”) will obvious “I’m Nothing” (a ramshackle reminder that square be pleased to discover deep pegs despise round holes), the silly “Sleepin’ at the cuts that cut deeper. “Walk Meetin’” (aka “Way That I Creep,” disinterred from Gano’s Walk” is one, “You Run” Under the Sun), and the true “Adam Was a Man” (a folk- another. Progressing pil- punk exposition of Genesis 2 and 3). As for the minor-key grims have rarely rocked

HANDOUT “God Bless America,” it combines all three. harder. —A.O.

To see more music news and reviews, go to wng.org/music September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 31 My Father’s world® S E E T H E WO R LD T H R O UG H G O D’S E Y ES

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ME7JLL2_World.indd 1 8/26/19 3:13 PM FEATURES PITCHING TO THE LEFT Democratic candidates for president try to appeal to an ideological audience that pays attention to early campaigns, but will that hurt the candidates in the longer term?

BY JAMIE DEAN in Hartsville, S.C.

Elizabeth Warren (facing page) speaks during a candidate forum at Georgia International Convention Center on Aug. 17; Pete Buttigieg (above, left) and Bernie Sanders participate in the first of two Democratic presidential primary debates hosted by CNN on July 30 in Detroit.

WARREN: PARAS GRIFFIN/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES • BUTTIGIEG AND SANDERS: PAUL SANCYA/AP September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 37 position next fall: Will the same positions that woo hard- core supporters in a primary race win swing voters in a general election? Do those positions gel with most Democratic voters? And as some Democratic candidates emphasize faith, what does that mean for religious voters who don’t agree with them on certain core issues? Will candidates calling for toleration offer toleration themselves? The starting gates are just opening in the 2020 contest— and anything could happen—but the Democratic candidates mounting a challenge to President Donald Trump are on their marks, they’re set—and they’re already going.

uring the first lap of a presidential primary race, an early test of a candidate’s views on thorny D issues often comes via televised moments that some must dread—a debate moderator’s command to “raise your hand” if you support a certain position. It doesn’t leave much room for nuance. The moment came quickly on the second night of the One of the more awkward moments at a recent Christian Democratic primary debates in June. (With so many conference in Atlanta came when an announcer enthusi- candidates, the debates spanned two separate nights on astically introduced Elizabeth Warren as the senator prime-time television.) “from the great state of New Hampshire.” The night before, a candidate near the back of the Warren is from Massachusetts. pack had vaulted to front-page attention with an The senator is also a frontrunner in the early stages of eye-popping proposal: Former Housing and Urban the Democratic presidential primary race, but the mistake Development Secretary Julián Castro called for is understandable: With more than a dozen Democratic decriminalizing illegal entry into the United States. candidates in the 2020 field, it’s easy to confuse the The next evening, NBC debate moderator José Díaz- details. Balart told the second round of candidates, “Raise your Warren bounded onto the stage at the August candi- hand if you think it should be a civil offense, rather than date forum sponsored by the Black Church PAC, but she a crime, to cross the border without documentation.” didn’t correct the announcer’s error. Instead, she raised Eight out of the 10 candidates raised their hands. her hands and proclaimed, “This is the day that the Lord But in that moment, current Democratic frontrunner has made, let us rejoice!” Joe Biden crystallized the primary dilemma with a A day later, another awkward dynamic unfolded at gesture of his own: The former vice president raised his Jerusalem Baptist Church in Hartsville, S.C., where finger instead of his hand, asking the moderator for a Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg was giving his own chance to explain his hesitation. stump speech: In a packed fellowship hall at the historic By mid-August, more than a dozen candidates had black church, the overflowing crowd was overwhelmingly supported decriminalizing illegal border crossings, white. including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie That’s especially problematic in an early primary state Sanders, I-Vt.—the two candidates ranking just behind where black voters are crucial for Democratic hopefuls. Biden in national polls. Buttigieg didn’t mention crowd composition, but he Several second-tier candidates joined them, including quickly mentioned faith. “It’s time to assert once and for Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., all that God doesn’t belong to a political party,” he and Pete Buttigieg (the mayor of South Bend, Ind.). declared. Buttigieg, who is gay and Episcopalian, talks Texan Beto O’Rourke was among only a few candidates openly about his religious beliefs, and he told the crowd opposing the move. he would run a campaign based on values: “And those val- In a later interview with CNN, Biden clarified he ues are going to take us in a pretty progressive direction.” believes migrants seeking asylum should have an opportu- Even some Democrats might call that an understate- nity to present their cases, but he stood by his opposition ment. Indeed, the early stages of the Democratic presi- to dropping the current criminal statute against illegal dential primary have been marked by candidates making entry. hard turns to the hard left on some big policy questions. The whole flash point befuddled at least one Democrat That might be a way to advance in a primary, but it with some experience in national politics: Former Senate could leave the Democratic nominee in an awkward Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Vice News in

38 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 PAUL SANCYA/AP moderate positionsonhot-button issueshaven’t broken Clinton in2016. sidered unworkable by Democratic nomineeHillary Act) andhasbecomeanoutlieronapositiononcecon opposes themove favors (he keeping theAffordable Care a planthatwould abolishprivate healthinsurance. Biden Sanders andWarren are amongthecandidates endorsing for All—aproposal hethinkswon’t passCongress. Still, over aslateofDemocratic candidatespushingMedicare invitation foreverybody tocomeatonce.”open-door a fairimmigration system,” hesaid.“Theydon’t want an problem forDemocrats inageneral election.“People want late August thatdecriminalizingillegal entrywould bea devoted fans follow the teams closely. the ‘spring training phase,’ when only the most unexpectedlots ways of the as race moves beyond The poll positions of candidates could in shift Other Democratic candidatestakingmore centrist or Reid, whoretired in2017, alsoexpressed frustration - munications director forJeb Bush, offered hisanalysis to knock offafrontrunner, but TimMiller, theformercom making theircaseagainst President Trump. policiesthan Biden andhistiestosomeObama-era some Democratic candidatesspendmore timeattacking according toaCBSpollinJuly. option butthatdoesn’t eliminateprivate insurance, voters favor a healthcare plan thatmightincludeapublic United States, 66-27 percent. Two-thirds ofDemocratic voters opposedecriminalizingillegalentryintothe might bemore inlinewithmore voters. out ofthepackyet insubstantial ways, thoughtheirviews It makes sense thatBiden’s opponentswould tryto Also notable:Somepoliticalobservers have noticed In July, anNPR/PBS/Marist pollfoundthatAmerican September 14, 2019 14, September • WORLD Magazine WORLD

Cory Booker, Harris atthe second CNN and Kamala Joe Biden, From left: debate - 39 Tim Beto Ryan Steve Bernie O’Rourke John Pete Elizabeth John Bullock Marianne Amy Sanders Hickenlooper Buttigieg Warren Delaney Williamson Klobuchar

Politico after the July Democratic debate: “It’s mind- emocratic candidates might avoid that wide- boggling that there would be several candidates taking open lane in the primary race, but some are shots at Barack Obama when he’s broadly popular, D veering onto another part of the track: They’re Trump isn’t, and the whole point of this enterprise is talking about religion. beating Trump.” In some cases, it hasn’t been a major push: Kamala So why the hard-left turns? Harris has talked about attending both a Hindu temple Henry Olsen, a political analyst and senior fellow at and a Baptist church when she was growing up. (Her the Ethics and Public Policy Center, notes that in the husband is Jewish.) early stages of a Democratic primary, moderate or Bernie Sanders has long said he’s not actively religious, independent voters aren’t typically the ones paying the but he has referenced his Jewish background and the closest attention. need to fight white nationalism. Party activists and more liberal party members tend Biden has discussed his Catholicism and says it helped to follow campaigns, donate money, and volunteer time him through his son’s death. Julián Castro has also talked earlier in the process: “So they [the candidates] are about his Catholic background. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, leaning left in a logical way because you have to build a D-Minn., says Christian faith helped her deal with her base before you build a majority.” father’s addiction. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, was the That gives Biden some leeway to position himself as first Hindu ever elected to Congress in 2012. a moderate who could woo critical swing voters in a Others speak about religion more often on the cam- general election, but the former vice president already paign trail: When addressing church crowds, Elizabeth has shown the power of the leftward pull during the Warren talks about her background in the United primary. Methodist Church, and she’s invoked Matthew 25 when A major example: While Biden has long supported talking about policies to help the poor. legalized abortion, he also supported the Hyde Cory Booker’s campaign has hired a South Carolina Amendment for decades. The legislative provision bars pastor to reach out to churches in the early primary state, the use of federal funds to pay directly for abortions in and he delivered an August address at Mother Emanuel most cases. As late as May, Biden’s campaign confirmed AME—the Charleston church that endured a mass shoot- he still supported the ban. But after withering criticism ing and nine deaths at the hand of white supremacist JIM WATSON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES from his Democratic opponents, Biden caved. He said he Dylann Roof. now opposes Hyde. None of the Democratic candidates Booker seems at ease talking to church audiences, but embrace a pro-life position. he has also sometimes used Scripture for unsettling ends. Kristen Day of Democrats for Life of America Last summer he decried Trump’s nomination of Brett expressed her group’s “extreme disappointment” at Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, warning how the justice Biden’s move: “With all the major candidates fighting to would rule on “a woman’s right to control her own body.” be the most extreme on abortion, there is a wide-open The senator invoked Psalm 23 to condemn approving lane for a candidate to bring an alternative position.” a presumably pro-life and conservative appointment to

40 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Bill de Jay Blasio Inslee Cory Joe Andrew Tulsi Michael Julián Booker Biden Kamala Yang Gabbard Bennet Kirsten Castro Harris Gillibrand

the high court: “We are walking through the valley of the Act, a measure that has passed the House but likely won’t shadow of death.” gain traction in the Senate—unless the Senate unexpect- New Age guru Marianne Williamson has cast the edly flips to Democratic control next year. election in spiritual terms, speaking less about specific The bill would essentially prohibit any form of policy plans and more about how the “wonkiness” of perceived LGBTQ discrimination in public spaces and other candidates won’t deal with “the dark psychic doesn’t include any religious exceptions. Religious force” she says Trump has brought to the country. freedom advocates say such a measure could threaten Williamson says “only love can cast that out.” Christian colleges, adoption agencies, and perhaps other Some have laughed off Williamson’s unusual candi- religious institutions seeking to operate according to dacy, but Google searches about the candidate soared Biblical convictions. during the debate. Even if Williamson (who has been Michael Wear, an evangelical and the faith outreach polling at less than 1 percent) doesn’t make it much director for President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2012, farther in the race, she’s likely piqued the interest of says the Equality Act and the issues surrounding it raise plenty of Americans concerned about a divisive and ugly major questions the Democratic candidates must face: moment in American politics. “What is their vision for how religious groups hold onto Meanwhile, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg was the historical traditional sexual ethic? What is their vision first candidate to hire a faith outreach director for his for how they fit into society?” campaign. Some pundits were surprised when Broadly speaking, Wear says the Equality Act “suggests Buttigieg’s campaign announced it had hired a Unitarian that LGBT rights should win out every time … and that’s Universalist for the job: Shawna Foster said her job just not a responsible approach.” would be to reach out to all faith groups. Buttigieg has spoken openly about his same-sex or now, political analyst Henry Olsen emphasizes marriage and his membership in an Episcopal church. that, despite months of activity, the real action in He rejects historic, Biblical teaching about homosexual- F the primary race is only beginning. ity, and he’s attacked Vice President Mike Pence for his The candidates will spend months parsing through traditional views on sexuality. dozens of issues that haven’t gained as much attention “That’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world yet, and potentially clashing with the president they would understand,” Buttigieg told a group at an LGBTQ hope to get a chance to run against next year. Victory Fund event. “That if you got a problem with who Olsen says the poll positions of candidates could shift I am, your problem is not with me—your quarrel, sir, is in lots of unexpected ways as more voters begin to pay with my creator.” attention and the race moves beyond the “spring training Buttigieg’s quarrel goes beyond theological debates to phase,” when only the most devoted fans follow the how religious Americans should be able to practice their teams closely. Now it’s time to start watching the regular theological convictions in public spaces. Indeed, nearly all season, but “there’s just a lot of time to come,” he says.

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GETTY BRENDAN the Democratic candidates have endorsed the Equality “Loads of time.” A

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 41 FEATURES

MIDNIGHT OIL As protests in Hong Kong turn increasingly bloody, local pastors and churches consider how to support the democracy movement while working for peace BY JUNE CHENG in Hong Kong PHOTOS BY KIRAN RIDLEY

n a stiflingly hot August night, about 100 Christians gathered outside the Government House, the official residence of Hong Kong’s chief executive. Holding plastic LED candles and led by a youthful worship band, they sang a Cantonese hymn based on Amos 5:24. “Let righteousness run down like a never-failing stream / OJustice like a river / God does not only reside in the Temple / He shows compassion to the oppressed / God’s tabernacle is among the people.” Rather than facing an altar, the worshippers faced a chain- link fence topped with barbed wire. Behind it, Chief Executive Carrie Lam may or may not have been listening. Around the tree-covered Government Hill, police officers watched over the quarters. The event organizers did not know if Lam was at home that night, but they hoped the professing Catholic would hear their songs. The worshippers prayed for peace in Hong Kong, for the injustices in society, for injured and arrested protesters, and for the country’s leaders to walk in wisdom and God’s will. Around 9:30 p.m. they walked down the hill singing “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord,” an unofficial anthem of the city’s ongoing pro- democracy protests. This was the sixth Saturday the group had worshipped outside the Government House. They planned one last worship session the following week. As Hong Kong citizens lead what has become a monthslong protest for greater freedom and democracy in the region, Christians are navigating their role in a politically fraught movement. During the earlier, more peaceful protests, some pastors took a prominent place in the front lines, standing between protesters and police to defuse tensions. But as demonstrations have turned increasingly violent, with protesters defacing government property and police striking back with anti-riot measures, many churches have moved to the sidelines, playing supportive but peaceful roles: Churches have opened their doors to provide sanctuary for protesters, spoken out against police brutality, and held worship and prayer nights. Some churches with closer ties to the government are reti- MIDNIGHT OIL cent to speak out, and others have tried to stay neutral in the belief that Christianity and politics shouldn’t mix. Views on the

A Christian group sings and marches through the streets of Hong Kong on Aug. 17, calling for peace.

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 43 `1

protests are also split between generations—older people suspended it), the withdrawal of the “riot” label for the tend to be more pro-establishment—and some pastors June 12 protests, the release of all arrested protesters, an worry about offending congregants. independent investigation into police actions, and universal The protests have broad support in Hong Kong, with suffrage. more than a quarter of Hong Kong’s total population com- The Hong Kong government has responded to the ing out for a massive protest on June 16. At stake is Hong protests with heavy-handedness rather than dialogue, Kong’s future: In the Sino-British Joint Declaration, China propelling even more people to take to the streets. Police promised that after it reacquired Hong Kong in 1997, it have fired 1,800 rounds of tear gas and beaten unarmed would give the region a high degree of autonomy for 50 protesters. One officer shot a beanbag round that severely years. But year after year, China refused to let Hong Kong injured a woman’s right eye. Protesters have also escalated citizens vote for their own leaders. Today citizens can only the violence, throwing bricks and gasoline bombs and vote for half of the seats in the legislature, while the other setting fires outside police stations. half and the chief executive are chosen by pro-Beijing inter- The Aug. 18 march remained peaceful, however. est groups. Hong Kongers of all stripes believe their govern- Protesters of all ages marched through the wet streets ment is increasingly beholden to Communist interests in chanting, “Five demands, not one less!” and “Hong Kong Beijing, and worry about a full-scale Communist takeover. people, add oil!” (The latter phrase is an idiom that means, If that happens, Christians in particular have much to “Keep going!”) Organizers estimated 1.7 million people lose. In mainland China, churches are enduring a fierce turned out to the march. crackdown on their freedom to organize and worship Along the protest route about a mile from Victoria Park openly. A similar fate could befall churches in Hong Kong stood Chinese Methodist Church, a large, triangular build- should the Chinese Communist Party decide to strip the ing whose doors were open to allow protesters a respite international financial hub of its autonomy and make it just from the rain. The building buzzed with activity: Volunteers another Chinese city. ushered people upstairs to use restrooms, and protesters sat on benches or on the floor, sometimes taking off their wet ark clouds rolled over Hong Kong on Sunday, Aug. shoes to dry their feet. First aid medics set up a station at a 18, as thousands upon thousands of people dressed in table. black streamed into Victoria Park for a demonstra- Yuen Tin-Yau, the church’s former pastor, said that for Dtion organized by the Civil Human Rights Front. As rain the past 15 years the church has opened its doors during began pouring down in torrents, umbrellas popped open, large protests. He first got the idea in 2003 when he partici- transforming the park and the surrounding streets into a pated in a protest against a controversial anti-subversion patchwork of color. law. The protesters came unprepared, and many hadn’t Hong Kong’s protests originally centered on a proposed brought water, underestimating how long it would take for extradition law that would see Hong Kong citizens sent to 500,000 people to exit Victoria Park. As Yuen marched past China to face trial. Today, protesters have five demands: the Methodist church, he wished he could unlock the the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill (Lam only building and provide a place of rest for the protesters.

44 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 he day before the large rally in Victoria Park, thousands of marchers flooded the streets of Hong Hum, a working-class neighborhood in Kowloon where TYoungman Chan has pastored Abundant Life Christian Church for more than 30 years. The event organizers had received permission to hold a march until 5:30 p.m., and as the end time approached, a crowd of noisy protesters and media remained around Whampoa Station. Some waved British colonial flags while others waved blue flags promoting Hong Kong independence (only a minor subsection of protesters support independence). Someone from the window of an apartment building threw a water balloon at the protesters, who responded by shining laser pointers at the window. Chan, dressed in black, urged the crowd to disperse. “I belong to this community,” he yelled from the middle of the road. “I am a pastor of this community for over 30 years, and I don’t want to see any tear gas in my community tonight.” He then turned to the reporters: “Please, reporters, go! If you go, then the people will go.” Instead, reporters turned their cameras to Chan. `2 The pastor took off at a quick pace to his church, stopping on the way to tell protesters with riot gear to go home and (1) Protesters gather for a rally in Victoria Park and (2) march keep things peaceful. Eggshells lay in front of a pro-Beijing in the pouring rain to protest against the extradition bill. lawmaker’s office where protesters had thrown eggs at a sign. (3) Yuen Tin-Yau inside Chinese Methodist Church. At the entrance of a tea shop, owners had set a cardboard box full of free water bottles and energy drinks. The box came with a handwritten sign: “Five demands, not one less!” “The role of the Christian is to maintain peace and do justice,” Chan said. “We try to love everyone; we don’t want to see anyone hurt by violence. Of course, we also want to say whoever has power must not abuse it, and the police so far have not been doing the right thing.” Reaching his church, Chan strode upstairs to preach at the evening service. Chan is part of the Pastoral Care Group, a network of pastors from various churches and denominations. The group formed during the Umbrella Movement protests to provide support and act as a peacemaker during tense demonstrations. During the June 12 protest, about 35 pastors in their clerical collars stood on the front lines, placing themselves between police in riot gear and angry protesters. `3 The clergy tried to reason with both sides, asking everyone to refrain from violence. To de-escalate the tension, So at the next protest in 2004, Yuen was ready. The they sang “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord.” Pastor Wu Chi-wai, church started opening its doors to let protesters use the another member of the group, said Christians gained the restroom, drink water, or just sit inside the air-conditioned respect of people who had previously considered churches building. The church held prayer meetings and provided too otherworldly to care about their community. spiritual care for protesters who came in. When police fired “In Hong Kong when the people are oppressed, what is tear gas during the 2014 demonstrations known as the the spiritual response?” asked Pastor Wong Siu-yung, the Umbrella Movement, Yuen opened the church and invited head of the group. “We don’t think it’s just holding prayer in first aid medics, who helped protesters wash the chemi- meetings. We need to go to where the oppressed are and be cals out of their eyes. Other times, the church provided with them. Their demands are also our demands.” sanctuary for protesters at pro-government marches. Yet as the violence has escalated since July, pastors see Now about 50 other churches in Hong Kong are also less space for them on the front lines: Angry protesters are opening their doors. On Facebook pages and WhatsApp less willing to listen to reason, and police respond more group chats before protests, activists share lists of churches aggressively, indiscriminately firing tear gas at close range. that plan to be open. So they have taken a step back, opening their churches to

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 45 ‘THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN IS TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND DO JUSTICE.’ —YOUNGMAN CHAN

`1 provide sanctuary and finding alternative ways to protest (1) Youngman Chan on the streets of his neighborhood, peacefully. Kowloon. (2) Wong Siu-yung at his church in Mong Kok. (3) Wu Chi-wai walks among protesters. (4) Francis Yip at After a violent day of protests on Aug. 11, the Pastoral the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s divinity school. Care Group sent out a message the next morning asking for pastors to convene. At a noon meeting at Chinese Methodist Church, 350 Hong Kong pastors showed up. At 3 p.m. they said. “Will Hong Kong seminaries need to have their curric- held a press conference denouncing police brutality and ulum approved by Chinese government? Will we need to then marched to police headquarters, where they held a have our sermons censored before we preach?” 48-hour vigil with prayer and worship. Wu said some of the police staffers encouraged them, while others called them ome churches have taken a more pro-establishment “cockroaches” and “rubbish.” stance. They stress that violence on both sides should Wong believes Hong Kong churches are undergoing a be condemned, and they believe the protesters’ spiritual awakening as they’ve shifted their focus from Sactions have disrupted Hong Kong’s stability and economic church growth and programs to what is happening in Hong prosperity. They point to Romans 13, which tells Christians Kong society. The future of Hong Kong will affect churches to obey authorities, and Matthew 5:44, which tells them to as much as anyone. Before this year’s protests began, Ying love their enemies. Fuk-tsang, director of the divinity school at Chinese One example: the Anglican Church. Historically, it has University of Hong Kong, wrote about the dangers of the run many of the schools and social services in Hong Kong. proposed extradition law: Even though the government said That has led to a close relationship between the church and Hong Kong citizens would not be extradited for religious the Hong Kong government. During the Umbrella crimes, Chinese authorities have often used trumped-up Movement, Archbishop Paul Kwong caught flak for preach- economic crimes to arrest Christians. ing that pro-democracy advocates should stay silent the This means that a Hong Kong Christian could be sent to way Jesus remained silent before His crucifixion. Kwong is stand trial in China for taking a short-term mission trip to a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative mainland China or just for tithing at a mainland church. Conference, China’s top political advisory body. The extradition bill would be used to control and restrict The Anglican Church had previously stated its support of religious liberties. the extradition bill, saying that offenders must be brought to “You can see that the situation of the mainland Chinese justice by whatever means necessary. Kwong later issued a church will become Hong Kong’s in the near future,” Wong letter criticizing the government for “ignoring the real wor-

46 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019  [email protected]  @WORLD_mag ries and fears among citizens.” More recently, Kwong called “We just want the church to allow for political subjects on both sides to stay calm and not defy the law. to be discussed,” Ng said. “The church hasn’t responded to Yet Kenny Ng, a member of the Anglican Church who is society well: It’s not just a matter of being pro-democracy or in his 30s, said the church’s statements are worded just like not, it’s about your conscience, what you feel is right.” the government’s official statements. He and a group of other young Anglicans organized meetings for members of ow the protests will end is unclear. Yang Guang, a the church to pray and air their grievances. spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs On a recent Friday night, about 50 Anglican Church Office, claimed the violent acts of “Hong Kong’s radi- members sat in a circle inside a church on Hong Kong Hcal demonstrators” show “signs of terrorism.” Chinese offi- Island to share their thoughts about the Anglican Church’s cials claim the United States and other Western countries response to the protests. Some lifelong churchgoers cried as are behind the protests, and official media show video clips they described their feelings of hurt and betrayal. Some said of the People’s Armed Police performing drills and exercises they were thinking of leaving the church. in the neighboring city of Shenzhen. Many believe Chinese leaders will take some sort of action before Oct. 1, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. `2 Francis Yip, an associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s divinity school, doesn’t think a Tiananmen Square–style military takeover of Hong Kong is likely: Unlike in 1989, today’s world is highly interconnected, with cell phone videos able to quickly broadcast to the world what is happening. When unrest hits regions inside mainland China, the government typically shuts down the internet—but that is unlikely to happen in an international financial hub like Hong Kong. What’s more probable, Yip said, is an escalation of government-sanctioned violence meant to create an atmosphere of fear. He pointed to the July 21 attack at the Yuen Long subway station, where a mob of suspected triad gang members in white shirts beat protesters and bystanders while police looked the other way. Yip believes the goal was to “terrify people so they will say, ‘Let’s calm down and not go out on the streets.’” `3 (Yip also mentioned that Beijing could resort to a legal maneuver: The Basic Law, Hong Kong’s governing document, states that if the Hong Kong government is facing political turmoil it cannot contain, China can apply its own laws in Hong Kong.) Most Hong Kong citizens I spoke to viewed the future pessimistically. One theology student involved in the protests said, “I would rather die as a Hong Konger with freedom than become a submissive [Chinese] citizen.” Where can the Hong Kong people find hope? Wong, the Pastoral Care Group leader, has been preaching about hope from the pulpit. But for the past few weeks, he’s first had to ask whether he has hope himself. Recently he’s been preaching from the book of Ezra, and said he’s found comfort in the Word of God: Even though God planned to rebuild the Temple, in the book of Ezra, Chapter 4, opposition caused construction to stall for 17 years. Yet `4 God remained in control, even if things didn’t happen within man’s time frame. Wong related that story to Hong Kong’s struggles. Even though man may view the Chinese Communist Party as an unstoppable force, God is still in control. The Communist Party can’t stop God’s will for Hong Kong: “We can wait a minute or 17 years, but it’s just a yellow light. Afterward will come a green light when we see God’s will come to pass. This is our greatest hope.” A

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 47 FEATURES NO SAFE HAVEN NO SAFE HAVEN SENDING ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO MEXICO TO AWAIT THEIR COURT HEARINGS MEANS SENDING THEM BACK TO LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS BY SOPHIA LEE in Juárez, Mexico photo by Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters/Newscom

arlos Benjamin Dubon-Moro says that when someone seekers placed under a new U.S. policy called the Migrant shot his brother multiple times, he had no idea if those Protection Protocols (MPP), better known as “Remain in C bullets were meant for him or if it was a random act of Mexico.” This policy, which currently faces lawsuits challeng- violence. The 27-year-old Guatemalan father of three said he ing it, radically changes the way the U.S. asylum system has had been receiving threats after campaigning for a political historically worked and is part of the Trump administration’s candidate before the shooting. That’s the problem in Guatemala, continued effort to make it harder for Central American he told me: You just never know—and you better get out before migrants to gain asylum in the United States. you find out. Under MPP, the government now sends asylum-seekers from So Dubon-Moro fled Guatemala for the United States. He Spanish-speaking countries back to Mexico for the duration of knew that, by doing so, he was taking a gamble—a gamble that their court proceedings instead of letting them wait in the he would make the dangerous journey to the United States United States with a sponsor. Since April 16, officials have sent safely, that the government wouldn’t deport him, that an about 9,000 migrants back to Ciudad Juárez, about 6,000 American judge would people to Tijuana, and about 4,000 people to Garita Mexicali grant him asylum. What he according to a Mexican government report. didn’t expect was for the Pre-MPP, immigration officers would interview asylum- U.S. government to send seekers about their fears, then release them on bond to sponsors him right back to Mexico. based in the United States, who promise to make sure they show Dubon-Moro is one of up to court. Officials would track them via a GPS ankle bracelet. about 20,000 asylum- Churches all across the U.S. border cities have been temporarily sheltering and helping these people until they reach their sponsors (see “Offering the love of Jesus,” Aug. 31, 2019). Post-MPP, those responsibilities have shifted heavily toward A Honduran migrant walks with his son (left) churches and shelters in Mexican border cities—except they after they returned to aren’t sheltering these asylum-seekers for a night or two, but for Juárez from the U.S. weeks and months with no end in sight. Taking care of these under the MPP to wait migrants has been extremely straining on Mexican churches for their court hearing for asylum-seekers; and shelters, which have significantly fewer resources and

DUBON-MORO: SOPHIA LEE SOPHIA DUBON-MORO: Dubon-Moro (right). funds than U.S. churches.

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 49 Currently, about 10,000 Mirna Esperanza Martinez, or walking into shelters. Kidnappers know that most have loved migrants are stuck in Juárez, from El Salvador, rests ones in the United States, which makes them lucrative hostages. where people are capping out with family members at Legally, those who fear returning to Mexico can request an the Buen Pastor migrant shelters and hotel rooms, shelter in Juárez. interview with an asylum officer. But the standards for renting basements and lots, or “reasonable fear” are nearly impossible to meet: Ninety-nine sleeping on the streets. These percent of interviewees are sent back. Taylor Levy, a pro bono asylum-seekers have family members, relatives, or friends who immigration attorney in El Paso, said one client and her children can take care of them in the United States—but very few have had been kidnapped twice in Juárez. The woman managed to connections in Mexico. When the U.S. government sends them pay both ransoms, and though she showed asylum officers back to Mexico, these people wander out into the streets with evidences of the ransom payments, the government still sent no money, no food, no place to sleep, and no social network. her back, saying just because she’d been kidnapped twice in the Some lawyers and advocates say MPP fails to comply with past does not mean she’s likely to be kidnapped again. the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980, which allows asylum-seekers to Levy said she once watched a group of men snatch a family fairly exercise their right to seek asylum and protects them right before her eyes. When she tried to intervene, the kidnap- from returning to countries where they would face “danger of pers threatened her as well. So Levy thought of her two adopted torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punish- daughters and stood, helpless and devastated, as the kidnappers ment.” They also say that MPP has resulted in more family dragged the family away: “I can’t stop thinking about them, separations—in several cases, a father and children older than ever. There’s just rampant, rampant amounts of kidnapping [in 18 were sent back to Mexico, while the mother and younger Juárez]. I know my life is in danger every time I go over there.” children were allowed to stay in the United States. In other cases, children who crossed the border with an adult who’s not their parent or legal guardian—typically grandparents, older siblings, or another relative—were also separated. ‘There’s just rampant, Meanwhile, thousands of people are now stranded in border rampant amounts of cities rife with kidnappings, murder, robbery, trafficking, and extortion. These are cities that the U.S. State Department itself kidnapping [in Juárez]. is recommending Americans avoid due to extreme violence. There, migrants are particularly easy and obvious targets—they I know my life is in danger have darker skin, distinct facial features, foreign mannerisms, and strange accents. Even without those detectable traits, every time I go over there.’ they’re easy to spot when lining up at the port of entry for court —IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY TAYLOR LEVY

50 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 FAMILY: CEDAR ATTANASIO/AP • LUX: SOPHIA LEE 10,000 asylum-seekers. Given how complicatedimmigration lawyers are willingtotravel frequently toJuárez, acitywith are outofthecountry. Currently, onlyaboutfive immigration travel across theborder, andmost refuse toacceptclientswho matter how strong his case. Very fewU.S. lawyers are willing to immigration officialsmonitorthemviaaGPS ankle bracelet. and are currently waiting fortheircourthearinginSeattlewhile join hisfamilymembers, whocrossed before MPPtookfulleffect doesn’t know whenhe’llbeableto for reasons hedoesnotknow. He federal officialstookhisID away, work permitinMexico because all hismoney. He says hecan’t geta faces adismalfuture: He hasspent sent himbacktoJuárez, where Lux “like adog.” Thegovernment then watched anagentkickonemigrant from thebathroom sink,and freezing temperatures, drank water detention, where heshivered under him. He saidhespentamonthin an injured leg. keep upwiththegroup becauseof cross thedesert, buthecouldn’t he paidacoyote $4,000 tohelphim “Men don’t cross by portofentry. They cross by thedesert.” So officers turnedhim away.him, Hesaidonefemaleofficertold the portofentryinJuárez, Customs andBorder Protection tion inU.S. custody. Whenhetriedtoapplyforasylumthrough bad decision:Singlemalemigrants have very littlelegalprotec first in February. He stayed behindto wait foraloan.That was $390 every two die. weeks—or Hiswife, son,anddaughterleft to runasmallcafeteria,butlocalgangsdemandedhepay them and hisfamilyleftGuatemalabecauseofgangthreats. He used early—some peoplehave courtdatesasfaroutJune 2020. city where they feelunsafe. But thosedatesare still relatively a finalruling—that’s many, many more monthsofa waiting in gotatleast twothey’ve more courtdatesbefore thejudgemakes “Nov. 6.” “Nov. 13.” Thoseare just thepreliminary hearings— implemented inElPaso inMarch. unit hadbeensentbacktoJuárez underMPP, whichwas first and two girlsfrom GuatemalaandHonduras. Everyone inthat shares oneofthoseunitswitheightmen,woman, oneboy, units surrounding adusty, sun-fried courtyard. Dubon-Moro asylum-seekers live inPan deVida’s tiny, bare-bones housing officials were sendingpeople over by vans. Today, about240 asking forshelter, thenanother, andanother, andsoonMexican family sleepingonthestreets. Thentwo more familiescame migrant murder intheneighborhood. Sometimes theyheargunshotsoutsideorrumorsofanother Ciudad Juárez. Very fewdare toventure outsidethecompound: kids andsinglemothersinapoverty-stricken neighborhoodin I MPP drastically lowers hischances ofwinningasylum,no U.S. Border Patrol agentsfound One 32-year-old man,MiguelAngelVentura Lux, saidhe I asked themfortheirfirst court dates: “Aug. 26.” “Sept. 30.” Pan deVida first openeditsdoorsin March toone Honduran  staying atPan deVida, aministry thatserves at-risk When Ilast saw himinlateJuly, Dubon-Moro was saw thesamefearamong migrants inMexico. [email protected]  @sophialeehyun Miguel Angel Ventura Lux - newborn through WhatsApp. He saidhedreams ofreuniting his wifegave birthtoababy girlandsenthimpictures ofhis stayed behindwithhistwo boys. Three days before Imethim, Moro’s wifewas pregnant whenhedecidedtoflee, soshe for seekingasylum. their lives, MPPwon’t deterthem—butinstead punishesthem are takingthebusbackhome. Asforthosewhotrulyfear starvation, violence, anddeathinMexico, asignificantnumber they don’t stand any chanceofasylum.Faced with threats of (which doesn’t meetasylumqualifications) are realizing that Many migrants whocametotheborder duetoeconomicreasons will discourage falseasylumclaims—andthatmay beworking: those whohave attorneysshow up. DHShasstated thatMPP for theirinitialcourthearing, andmore than99percent of studies show theopposite:Almost 6outof7familiesshow up because most asylum-seekers failtoappearatcourt—but than a10percent likelihood ofsucceeding. law is, asylum-seekers withoutlegalrepresentation have less sends goodnews, everyone rejoices. abuzz withgoodwishesandanticipation. Whentheperson someone leaves theshelterforacourt hearing, everyone is thustheyhope.faith inGodandtheBible—and Whenever asylum-seekers identifyasevangelicals: Theysay theyhave asylum-seekers, Isaw people still cling tohope. Most ofthese safest place forme.” months-pregnant girlfriend,thenchoppingherintopiecesin the cartelexacted revenge by gang-raping histhen-seven- who prompted aninvestigation onalocaldrugcartel.He said him. Back home, hehadworked asasecurityguard foraman said hefled Honduras afterdrugcartelmemberstriedtokill asked metouseonlyhisfirst(he nameforfearofhislife),who countries. InJuárez Imet21-year-old Manuel from Honduras back toGuatemala.” with hisfamily, butonethingisclear:“There’s noway Icango H The Trump administration claimsthatMPPisnecessary It gives themonemore day’s strength tohope. Despite allthegoryandtragic stories Iheard amongthe Other folksalsotoldmetheycannotreturn totheirhome planned toseekasylum,“buttheU.S. istheclosest and MS-13 inhisneighborhood,hesaid.He toosaidhenever from chest tobellybutton. That’s the handiwork of for hislife),liftedshirttoshow mescarsstretching also asked metousehis first nameonlybecausehefears see anything like thatanywhere elseintheworld.” It was notachoice. TheviolenceinHonduras—you don’t with emotion:“Ididn’t choosethislifeofseekingasylum. in theUnited States. Ashetoldhisstory, hisvoice rose even safeinMexico, hecametotheborder toseekasylum eral otherHondurans onthebus. Realizing thathewasn’t in Mexican militaryuniformstriedtokidnaphimandsev a busridefrom Oaxaca toPuebla,agroup of men dressed he said,was abletoescapeintothemountains. mouth. Thankstosomefriendswhocamehisrescue, front ofhimand stuffing her eyeballs andtongueintohis United States, despiteallthehardships. Dubon- the asylum-seekers’ resolve totrygetintothe ere inPan deVida, MPPdoesn’t seemtohave drained Another Salvadoran man,42-year-old William (who Manuel triedto seekasyluminMexico, buthesaid,on September 14, 2019 14, September • WORLD Magazine WORLD A 51 - ONE WOMAN’S LEGACY

A 19th-century Scottish missionary helped to transform southeast Nigeria, and local groups are still emulating her efforts a century later / BY ONIZE OHIKERE IN CALABAR AND AKPAP, NIGERIA

On a Tuesday morning, a loud bell echoed across centers that honor her work to this day. Her courage in k Mary Slessor Academy in Calabar, the capital city of doing gospel ministry and culture-shaping work, often Cross River state in southern Nigeria. Students wearing navy in the face of threats and opposition, remains an exam- blue and green uniforms scurried to line up for morning ple for others following in her footsteps. devotions and announcements. Slessor was born in 1848 in Aberdeen but grew up in On the fenced property sat different classroom blocks for the slums of Dundee. When her father, an alcoholic, nursery to high-school students. In front of the high-school died of pneumonia, she worked 12-hour shifts at a jute block, students sang praise songs and hymns. One teacher led mill to assist her family. a Scripture reading and shared words of encouragement. The Slessors attended the Wishart Church in “You should not try to compare yourselves to anybody,” Dundee, under the United Presbyterian Church. The she told the students before they marched off to classrooms Presbyterian Church established its Calabar mission in for the day. “Be the best you can be in your academics, in 1846 when Hope Masterton Waddell, an Irish clergy- whatever you do.” man serving in Jamaica, led a team to the region. The academy is one of several institutions and monuments The denomination published a monthly magazine, in Calabar named after Mary Mitchell Slessor, a 19th-century Missionary Record, which chronicled mission efforts Scottish missionary whose influence on the region was across Africa, China, and Jamaica. Slessor was already profound. Slessor surpassed the expectations of female teaching Sunday school and worked with a youth club. missionaries at the time by carrying the gospel and promoting But copies of her mother’s magazines fueled her development in a territory previously considered too danger- desire for overseas missions. ous, even for her male counterparts. In 1876, the 28-year-old redhead boarded the SS At the Mary Slessor Roundabout in the center of Calabar Ethiopia in Liverpool. She sailed for about five weeks stands a tall bronze statue of the missionary carrying two to the Calabar port city of Duke Town. She remained babies. It’s a record of how she confronted traditional beliefs stationed in the town, which had become an active by stopping the killing of twins. Today, some twins in the base for the growing number of missionaries. region are named after Slessor in a gesture of gratitude. Slessor easily picked up the local Efik language. In Her sincere desire to improve the community more than 100 Mary Slessor—Everybody’s Mother, Jeanette Hardage years ago left a trail of schools, hospitals, and empowerment writes that she abandoned her Victorian-style

52 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 SLESSOR: WORLD HISTORY ARCHIVE/ALAMY • MAP: ANTIQUA PRINT GALLERY/ALAMY Calabar

ONE WOMAN’S LEGACY

Mary Slessor and her children dresses, which were uncomfortable for the tropical climate, 1890: “Having work, they have for simple cotton ones. She also began to eat the local food, fewer palavers, and such as allowing her to send more money back home to support her they have, they have begun to family. settle by arbitration instead of Slessor worked as a teacher and served at a dispensary, but by the sword.” she longed to extend her mission to unreached communities farther away. In the territory’s village She took her first furlough in 1879 after coming down with k of Akpap, Slessor’s a case of malaria. When she returned, she was reassigned to two-story mission home is Old Town, where she enjoyed more freedom working as the deteriorating but still stands on village’s only missionary. She traveled to nearby villages, a hill, open to tourists. Inside working alongside residents and dispensing medicines while the home, her living room has sharing the gospel. stayed intact. Two cots for some 1 In 1883, she left again for Scotland on another sick leave. of the children she adopted Upon her return, she urged the mission to send her into the remain in the bedroom. Okoyong territory. Mission leaders were hesitant, since villagers Portraits of her hometown of Dundee still hang on the in the region had previously rejected and killed some male walls. A short distance away, the community’s historic missionaries. But they ultimately approved her request. Presbyterian church is named “Mary Slessor’s Parish.” She settled into the Okoyong community in 1888 and Outside the church stands another statue of Slessor holding a remained there for about 15 years. There she learned about set of twins. the prevalence of witchcraft, drunkenness, and superstition. Slessor became the vice consul of Okoyong under the One traditional practice she helped to end was the sacrificing British protectorate that began in 1891. She presided over a of wives and slaves whenever a local chief died. native court and helped to settle local disputes, a role she In one instance Etim, the son of a local already played informally. chief, died after being crushed by a log, The formation of an industrial training and the witch doctor blamed another center in the region was also Slessor’s village for the bad fortune. After the local ACADEMICS AND idea. In 1894, the mission launched the chief took several captives from the DEVOTIONS Hope Waddell Training Institution, village, intending to kill them, Slessor where students learned printing, tailoring, kept two of the prisoners hidden in her In Akpap village, educators still and carpentry, among other trades. home for at least two weeks. “The chief’s testify to the influence of The institution is still active to this day son was buried, and not one life was Scottish missionaries. as a high school, with its 19th-century sacrificed,” noted Charles Ovens, a mis- On a recent sunny afternoon, British brick-and-stone architecture. It sionary carpenter who witnessed the elementary-grade students at has several notable alumni, including ordeal. “Such a thing was never known in Akpap’s EFACON School noisily Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president. Okoyong before.” ran about as they prepared for Akpap remained Slessor’s home even She also fought vehemently against their final devotion before the as she extended her mission to regions the killing of twins. Locals at the time end of the school day. within Cross River state and into other believed one child out of every set of The school’s 69-year-old neighboring states, including Abia and twins or multiple births harbored an evil founder, Okon Ayi, grew up in Akwa Ibom. As she traveled with the spirit. They abandoned the children, the community and attended gospel, she continued to set up schools, sometimes in clay pots, in the bushes. the Akpap Church of Scotland’s vocational centers for women, and hospi- They also banished the mothers from the mission school, next to the tals in the communities she visited. community. Presbyterian church. Despite her sick leaves, Slessor contin- Slessor rescued hundreds of the Ayi said his school is not tied ued to have bouts with fever and malaria children left to die and adopted several of to any denomination but tries and suffered from boils, blood poisoning, them, bringing them into her home. to teach the children about and other health problems. She died in “Ma was the ideal mother,” one of her Christianity. Students engage in 1915 at the age of 66, having never adoptive sons, Dan Slessor, wrote of her two daily devotions and enjoy married. in 1948. “With us she was not the mistress song sessions each Friday. At that time, word of her work had or the missionary worker, she was our Ayi acknowledges his experi- already spread, earning her the title of mother and the home our family.” ence growing up at the mission “White Queen of Okoyong.” At her death, Mary Slessor introduced trade school has shaped his work flags flew at half-mast in her honor, and between the territory and the rest of the today. He recalls the rigorous she was buried at a cemetery for whites in state—a move that further endeared her religious teaching and the choir Duke Town. to the community, where local trade practices that were compulsory In 1997, the Scotland-based Clydesdale disputes often ended in bloodshed. (A for grades three to six and Bank printed Slessor’s portrait on the palaver, or trading conference, ultimately concludes, “Those things are 10-pound note. Three years later, Cross became a synonym for idle talk.) Slessor meant for future use.” —O.O. River state named her one of its 100 noted in one of her letters back home in “millennium persons.”

54 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 ONIZE OHIKERE k adopted Slessor’s nameasasignofpersonal gratitude. village. Someothermembersofhismaternalfamilyalso Akiba, lives withhisgrandmother inasmallmudhome inthe to Slessor’s legacy. One, 20-year-old Bassey Dan-Slessor be more progress thanthis.” business. “IhopethatifImanagetheplace[well], there will now training three peopleinthesmallspacetohelp grow his and openedhisown shop inthevillagetwo years later. He is obtained atailoringcertificatefrom thefoundationin2015 processing unit,andamedicalclinic.EnoIdopise Atakpa Christianity. work intheterritory, althoughshenever converted to Eme Ete, was afriendofSlessor’s. Ma EmeaidedSlessor’s with herhusbandin2002. Her great-great-grandmother, Ma descendant ofthetown’s localchief, launchedthe foundation more than10years inthecommunity. Eme Mitchell,a dent Mary SlessorFoundation shutdown afteroperating for close toSlessor’s housesitsabandoned.In2016, anindepen development. years, butthecommunityhasstruggled tomaintain Different groups emulatingher work have sprungup over the remains asmall communitywithnarrow tarred roads. (4) (2) (1) Second-generation twinDan-Slessor Bassey Akiba. Mary Slessor’s Parish. Mary Slessor Academy inCalabar. Some ofthetwinslivingin community are atestament The foundationran askill-training center, anagricultural A past government project tosetupaclay-kilning factory 

attraction because ofSlessor’s missionhome. It The villageofAkpapinOkoyong hasbecome atourist [email protected] (3) 2 James Bassey andhis wife.  @onize_ohiks 4 - k students gathered inaphysics lab, practicing atdrawing a in 2005, andnow hasmore than1,000 students enrolled. International School.It relaunched asMary SlessorAcademy beginning operations astheCalabarPreparatory Nigeria, andtheschoolmoved toitscurrent locationin1963, sionaries willedtheschoolover tothe Presbyterian Church of missionaries ledonHawkings Street inOldCalabar. Themis cial becauseshe tookthatwhichconcernsGod personally.” about everything thatconcernshumanity. Slessor was sospe continent, suchashumantrafficking andillegal migration. to involve youths infighting someoftheills still facingthe launch aprogram hecallsReal Tour Africa,whichwould seek the stories ofpeopleshehelpedtosave. Thisyear, hehopes to with acelebration thatfeatured donationstoorphanagesand warring factions, shesaved twinslabeledasevil,” hesaid. back tohersingleactofadoptinghisrelative. preserve Slessor’s legacywhenherealized hislineagetraces wedding. He still hasasteel bedhesaidSlessorgave toAliceather Slessor, whoadoptedhismaternalgreat-grandmother, Alice. home.with hiswifeinatwo-story legacy eachyear. club, where twinsmeetmonthlyandcelebrate Slessor’s the misconductcontinues, headded. teacher, apastor, andacounselor. Theyare expelled onlyif must first sitin withacommitteethatincludestheclass nothing orbeyond rehabilitation.” principal. “We strongly believe thatnochildisgoodfor because theyare borntwins,” saidEdetInyang, theschool’s shall benocondemnationfortheywhoare inChrist.” and onanexcerpt from Romans Chapter8:“Therefore, there rectangular prism. Ahead offinalterm exams in July, someofthehigh-school Bassey tiestheproject toSlessor’s initialmission:“God is In 2015, hemarked thecentenaryanniversary ofherdeath “She went aheadandstopped wars, shejudgedbetween Bassey, achurch deacon,saidhedeterminedtowork to The 55-year-old Cross River native traces hisroots backto The schoolalsoserves astheheadquartersforatwins Inyang saidchildren whodisobeytheschool’s policies “Her ideawas atwinbaby shouldnotbecondemnedjust The academy built itsmissionstatement onSlessor’s work

Abuja, Nigeria’s capitalcity. There, James Bassey lives Slessor’s legacyiseven evident 400milesaway in 3 school gatheringtheScottishPresbyterian traces itsbeginningsbacktoaSunday works asabarber’s apprentice inthevillage. schooling. To make endsmeet,henow he’s beenunabletoafford continuinghis hoped tostudy electricalengineering, but the killingoftwins.” him: “It was by God’s willshecametostop the killingoftwins. their familysinceSlessorhelpedtoend are thesecondgeneration of twins bornin Back inCalabar, Mary SlessorAcademy Akiba finishedhighschoolin2017and It’s astory hismotherrepeatedly tells Akiba andhistwinsister, Mary-Slessor, September 14, 2019 14, September • WORLD Magazine WORLD 55 A - - _

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AllBrands_fp_WORLD.indd 2 7/29/19 3:24 PM NOTEBOOK Sports / Science / Medicine / Religion Lifestyle

Sports Crushing expectations A FORMER HIGH-SCHOOL PITCHER WHO COULDN’T SEEM TO LOSE FINALLY FINDS LASTING VICTORY by Leah Hickman & Hannah Harris

Jon Peters, who in 1989 set the Jesus for real. Here’s his story of high- Jon Peters at wins. Peters walked R record for the most consecutive school pitching with national news Fireman’s Park to the mound with wins of any high-school baseball outlets filming, a life crumbling, and in Brenham his green cap pulled pitcher—51—gave pesky reporters a lot hope returning. low over his eyes. of God talk: “Anytime I felt that the He wore No. 21 on his dark green media were getting too close … all I R It was April 28, 1989. Five thousand baseball jersey—the number of the had to do was mention God, and you people packed the stands inside seven-time Cy Young Award winner could see them step back.” Peters reg- Fireman’s Park, home of the Brenham Roger Clemens. ularly thanked God during interviews, Cubs. Outside the right field fence, “Is this going to be the game I because he didn’t want the world to high schoolers sat in lawn chairs atop lose?” Peters thought as he readied to know that he was full of fears and had a plywood platform rigged up on a throw the first pitch. He threw a fast- even attempted suicide. forklift. Networks ABC, NBC, CBS, ball. Strike. After that, he was in the Thirty years later we spoke with and ESPN waited on top of the first zone. Baseball was his “happy place.” Peters at Fireman’s Park in Brenham, base dugout, ready to watch Jon Peters By the fifth inning Brenham led Texas, where he set the record. He make baseball history. 9-0, one run short of the 10-run mercy talked about his years of alcoholism and The 6-foot-2-inch right-handed rule. Peters had done his job from the his divorce—but also explained how pitcher needed one more victory to mound, garnering 12 strikeouts and

LEAH HICKMAN eight years ago he started believing in trump the record of 50 consecutive allowing no hits. With two outs, the

Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 57 NOTEBOOK

talented pitcher stepped into the batter’s box. Peters drove in the clinching run, and his team went crazy. Journalists rushed the field with cameras clicking and lights flashing. “I didn’t want all this hoopla,” Peters remembers. He had the record, but he was most excited for the nosy reporters to leave. The day before he’d been in a big fight with his girlfriend and tried to commit suicide by swal- lowing three-fourths of a bottle of Tylenol. He was terrified reporters would find out who he really was. So he mentioned God, and they backed off. Peters craved affirmation but knew from his childhood baseball years that sometimes attention brought shame. He remembers when his pants unsnapped as he struck out trying to hit a ball on a tee and fell into the dusty dirt. Try as he might, the chubby Peters couldn’t refasten them. Dejected, he walked back to the dugout amid his teammates’ laughter. In high school he sought affirmation from his girlfriend. He was insecure prospects of a professional baseball In January 2011 a friend from and often told her they should break up career. He saw his injured arm as a Alcoholics Anonymous invited Peters and date other people. He hoped she’d relief and an excuse to leave baseball. to a Christian men’s retreat. Although say no and tell him how much she loved He would never again have to face the hesitant to accept, Peters remembered him. One time she took his suggestion possibility of losing a game: “I was his counselor’s advice to “be open, be and went on a date with one of his relieved because I didn’t have to prove honest, and be willing.” He went but friends. The day before his record- anything.” He hoped this quiet depar- almost left during a small-group session breaking game, Peters found out and ture from the field would cement his when he felt judged for his alcoholism attempted suicide. His big win brought status as the high-school phenom and divorce. He stayed because of his them back together but only for a week. rather than the college failure. But his counselor’s advice. That summer Peters turned to alcohol high-school reputation faded, and his At an evening chapel he heard about to fuel his waning confidence. drinking habit escalated. human brokenness and the need for a Even after high school the Brenham Savior. Peters says that during a visual community gave Peters some of the R At 2:30 a.m. on March 27, 2010, exercise he closed his eyes and imag- affirmation he wanted, but not always Peters woke up alone and alive. Newly ined Jesus with open arms telling him for the best. Peters was 19 when a police divorced and living away from his wife to jump. In that moment, he felt he officer pulled him over for drinking and and two children, he had tried for 16 finally understood God’s unconditional driving. He was a freshman at Texas hours to drink himself to death. He love, despite his brokenness: “It was A&M, back in Brenham with his room- knew he needed to ask for help, so he like hope turned on.” mate, driving 86 miles per hour. The started making phone calls. Most went His ex-wife noticed a change in him. officer checked his driver’s license and unanswered, but Wes Weatherred, his After their daughter’s soccer game, she asked, “Are you the baseball pitcher?” boss from the insurance agency, was frustrated with the coach and asked When Peters said yes, the officer picked up. Peters broke down in tears Peters if she should email him. He told wished him a safe trip and let him go. and said he wanted to die. Weatherred her to think about it and suggested talk- “I should have been in jail,” says Peters. sped to his house; listened as Peters ing to the coach in person. His ex was Despite the high expectations of spoke of his insecurity, pride, and surprised: “What in the world has come people in his hometown, Peters never alcoholism; and promised to help him over you?” He was the one who had LEAH HICKMAN made it through another full baseball find a rehab center. Two rehab centers filed for divorce in 2010 and been too season. At A&M he fought a cycle of and one relapse later, Peters was free prideful to reconcile. Suddenly, he was arm injuries and recoveries that ended from his addiction. recommending humility and restraint.

58 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Give the gift of clarity: wng.org/giftofclarity Jon Peters is now remarried and lives in Houston, where he works as a business development manager. He coached baseball for a few years after college but hasn’t coached recently: He prefers to watch. Neither of his children has taken up their dad’s sport, but both are athletic: His 16-year-old daughter Science Kylie swims competitively, and his 12-year-old son Jake has played basketball and soccer. Jake played baseball for one year but told his Some like it hot dad it was “just too slow.” Peters JULY WAS HOT, BUT A NOTED CLIMATE SCIENTIST says this doesn’t bother him: His QUESTIONS HOW HOT by Julie Borg & Marvin Olasky main concern is for his kids’ salva- tion. He wants to support them in whatever sports they choose and July was the hottest month ever his motorbike and wearing only a love them regardless of their athletic R recorded according to a National helmet. Two drug dealers in Belgium success. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra stuck in a cocaine-filled container and Peters attends four or five AA tion (NOAA) report. The scientists calling police to get meetings each week and speaks at said July’s sizzling heat wave soared them out before they Brighton churches and schools not about his to an average global temperature 1.71 roasted to death. But Beach in former glory but about God rescu- degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th- critical thinking from Brooklyn ing him from alcoholism and century average. The previous hottest Spencer received nary despair. month on record was July 2016. a mention. Occasionally, Peters makes the But Roy Spencer, a meteorologist That’s not fair. Spencer has a Ph.D. 75-mile trip back to Brenham to and principal research scientist at the from the University of Wisconsin, was watch his old high-school team take University of Alabama in Huntsville, a senior scientist for climate studies the field. On some days, he spends a said NOAA’s analysis is wrong, because at NASA, and received NASA’s whole game catching up with it’s based on a Exceptional Scientific Achievement Brenham friends. When he’s not in limited and Medal for global temperature moni- a talkative mood, he sits alone in the “error-prone” toring work with satellites. He should upper deck so he can focus on the collection of not be excommunicated from national game. He says he likes to watch the mostly ground- media just because his books, includ- pitchers’ mechanics and sequencing. level thermome- ing Climate Confusion, have criticized On this day, Peters stands in the ters. His own “global warming hysteria.” shade of the first base dugout at website chart, That’s especially so because much Fireman’s Park. The number 21, based on satel- of the alarm about climate change once printed on his green Cubs lite recording of temperatures in the packs a big political punch. As jersey, is now retired on the green lower atmosphere, shows the July Secretary-General Taalas put it, the outfield wall. The teenager who increase as only two-thirds of a degree climate “will worsen in the future mentioned God to scare away the Fahrenheit: “not terribly alarming.” without urgent climate action.” media now cries as he talks about Google “July heat record,” though, Translation: more central governmen- God’s unconditional love. He’s the and it’s clear that every major network tal power. The claim of climate change same guy who used to think, “Men and newspaper is mega-alarmed. activists that life will become harder if are tough. Men don’t cry.” The Washington Post was typical in our days become hotter may be true. Peters walks through the hot ignoring Spencer and quoting Petteri But history shows that governmental Texas morning to the pitcher’s Taalas, secretary-general of the World control over all aspects of our lives will mound, his head glowing red Meteorological Organization: “July certainly give us great grief. through thinning hair. Sweating has re-written climate history. … This The Bible tells us that God created slightly in his long gray pants and is not science fiction. It is the reality climates and created humans to be His royal blue polo, he winds up and of climate change.” designated gardeners. The Bible does throws the baseball toward home. A The Post included in its coverage not take a position on this current —Leah Hickman and Hannah Harris some almost-stranger-than-fiction debate. WORLD will try to report both

BEACH: SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES • SPENCER: FOX NEWS SCREEN CAPTURE SCREEN NEWS • SPENCER: FOX IMAGES SPENCER PLATT/GETTY BEACH: are completing WORLD internships stories: An overheated German riding sides of this issue. A

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 59 NOTEBOOK

awake for the entire surgery, violin and Frisch bow in hand. The surgical team planned to measure precisely Frisch’s tremors while he played by using an oscilloscope attached to a first-ever “accelerometer” that Mayo engineers had innovatively created from inner workings of a Wii game accessory toggled to a $75 violin from eBay. Lee drilled a small hole in Frisch’s skull and manipulated a lead with an electrode down into the correct region of the thalamus. He directed Frisch to draw his bow across the strings. Frisch complied, trembling noticeably less, but not enough to play smoothly. Medicine After checking with Frisch, Lee in a surgical first inserted a second electrode on the same side of his brain. Frisch again drew his bow and pulled a A steady hand long, steady, beautiful note, and then INNOVATIVE SURGERY STOPPED A VIOLINIST’S another. The tremor had disappeared. TREMOR, ALLOWING HIM TO CONTINUE IN HIS CALLING Michele Frisch recalls that day: “We had a huge prayer team all over, but I by Sharon Dierberger had lots of time to think about what could go wrong.” Roger Frisch had it all. A lengthy The revolutionary sur- R career as violinist and associate gery included implanting a concert master of the acclaimed controllable pulse genera- Minnesota Orchestra. A supportive, tor under his collarbone. It talented wife, Michele, principal flutist allowed Frisch to play nine of the Minnesota Opera. Three adult more years with the orches- children successfully launched. A ful- tra. He and Michele have filling teaching post at a local Christian taken numerous overseas college. ministry trips, especially to But in 2007, at age 56, Frisch’s right Ukraine, performing and arm started involuntarily quivering on sharing their faith.

a music ministry trip to China. He Frisch says, “Performing FRISCH: CHRISTOPHER LOREN EWERS/PBS • SURGERY: MAYO CLINIC VIDEO recalls, “It came on quickly. It pro- gives us credibility to gressed quickly. Real panic set in.” Frisch plays through his brain surgery. speak.” He paraphrases what Itzhak Two years of deteriorating steadi- Perlman said: “‘I’m just a dumb violin- ness and more than a dozen doctors ist. If I want people to listen to me, I later culminated in a visit to neurologist Kendall Lee, told me he’d been in Asia have to play first.’” Frisch considers Joseph Matsumoto at the Mayo Clinic and saw a Japanese surgeon stop a playing beautiful music his spiritual in Rochester, Minn. Within 30 minutes, patient’s tremors by lesioning, or calling card to share Christ. Matsumoto diagnosed him with essen- damaging, part of the brain. Lee Last August, after 44 years with the tial tremor, a benign but progressive wanted to stop Frisch’s shaking by Minnesota Orchestra, the same length neurological disorder that could even- implanting electrodes to interrupt the as his marriage, Frisch retired. He antici- tually render professional performing tremor-causing impulses without pates God presenting more music min- impossible. harming tissue, a technique called deep istry opportunities overseas and perhaps When medication didn’t work, brain stimulation. in the Twin Cities. Michele likes to cite Frisch knew any hope to extend his Frisch recounts how in December Olympic runner Eric Liddell’s quote: “‘I career entailed the radical next step: 2009 he lay strapped to the operating feel God’s pleasure when I run.’ That’s brain surgery. table, his head propped up and immobi- how Roger and I feel. … We feel God’s Renowned Mayo neurosurgeon, Dr. lized by a bolted-on halo. He remained pleasure when we play.” A

60 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Manage your membership: wng.org/membership Religion A condo constructed in a former church building located in Washington, D.C.

Room to share Matthew 21 tells the story of how Jesus NONPROFIT HELPS CONGREGATIONS RENT THEIR cleansed the Temple area in Jerusalem by Jenny Rough because merchants turned a house of BUILDINGS FOR GOOD PURPOSES prayer into a robbers’ den (making money the priority). In some parts of When flames engulfed Notre look the same, the interior differs in the country, megachurches are flour- R Dame Cathedral last April, people form and purpose. Buildings once ishing, and streaming technology around the world mourned the intended for religious and social bene- allows people to watch services destruction of France’s national sym- fits (whether a wedding, the Lord’s without even getting out of bed. bol. The greater tragedy, wrote Pastor Supper, or a 12-step meeting) are now Attendance at mainline denomina- René Breuel for The Washington Post, is limited to private use. It’s happening in tions is on the decline: The 2018 that a church was on fire. “More than a cities such as Boston, Chicago, Denver, General Social Survey says the trend national icon or a touristic spot, cathe- and San Francisco, as well as in smaller has been going on for 20 years. A 2015 drals such as Notre Dame reveal their towns. study by LifeWay Research estimated soul when they house singing and bap- The word church in the Bible refers that 3,700 Protestant churches closed tisms, confession and pardon, preach- to a body of believers, not a building, so in 2014. But that study also found that ing and prayer,” he said. In America, the the church-to-condo movement raises new church plants, often Biblically most iconic landmark is the Statue of the question: Does it matter when a oriented, outpaced the closures: 4,000 Liberty, not a church. But church build- neighborhood loses the physical space opened their doors that same year. New ings have long served as sacred spaces where worshippers gather? Pastor church plants often forgo owning a in the country. And America is losing John Slye of Grace Community Church building and meet in places like them, one by one. in Arlington, Va., thinks it does: “These schools, movie theaters, and coffee Real estate developers are snatching are sacred spaces that were prayed shops. up the properties and converting them over, labored over, and dedicated to the When Liz Laird moved to into luxury condos. The developers work of Christ in that particular Washington in 2005, a city she’d lived often incorporate the church’s features, community.” in before, she started working for vari- like the stained glass windows or the Although each property has its ous Christian ministries and became bell tower, into the hip new home unique story, churches sometimes concerned that many of the newer designs rather than demolishing the decide to sell because of the pressure congregations didn’t have a long-term, structure in favor of cookie-cutter from the denomination’s governing physical space. She saw them searching

WAINGER GROUP WAINGER housing. But while the exterior may body that wants the financial benefit. for temporary space every few years in

September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 61 NOTEBOOK

a rapidly changing city with rising rents. It ate up resources, exhausted pastors, and saddled churches with a sense of rootlessness. With so many old beautiful church buildings in prime locations sitting empty much of the week, Laird knew the big gathering places could be put to good use. In 2017, she co-founded Sacred Spaces Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to help congregations with buildings preserve their physical spaces and use them for the good of the city. For example, Laird hopes to pair a Syrian refugee ministry that doesn’t have office space with a mainline congregation that is thinking about Lifestyle renting out its building for financial reasons. Laird says church buildings could be rented out for all sorts of Love in the oven purposes, religious or non: day care TRY PIE BAKERY TEACHES JOB SKILLS IN A DIVERSE centers, soup kitchens, art and thea IOWA COMMUNITY by Charissa Koh in Waterloo, Iowa ter programs, and classroom space. A church with a Sunday morning service could share its building with Last year the financial website take up two of the kitchen’s walls, so one that worships on Saturdays or R 24/7 Wall St. declared the people passing on the street can see the Waterloo–Cedar Falls, Iowa, area girls starting to bake. America’s worst place for African Inside, all smells like flour and Americans to live. White people there crust, and the counters and floor are have higher employment and earn spotted with flour almost twice as much as blacks, who and squished blue- have less education and higher arrest Employees at berries. The girls Try Pie create rates. Sarah Helleso, 25, is a member of delicious laugh and chat as Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls. desserts. they work, mixing She said residents have noticed the ingredients or rolling divide for a long time: “There are out dough on the people in Cedar Falls who won’t go to stainless steel counters. They develop Waterloo, and then people in Waterloo friendships, learn about financial who have no interest in going to Cedar responsibility, and gain job skills. Falls.” One of the first bakers was Aquayla This Lancaster, Pa., loft home was In 2013, Orchard Hill Church part- Lumpkin. She worked there for a year constructed in a space that was nered with Harvest Vineyard Church and a half while learning budgeting originally a Gothic Revival church in Waterloo to create a community skills with her mentor. She set up a LOFT HOME: ZILLOW.COM • TRY PIE: HANDOUT erected in 1893. development organization to serve savings account before she left for col- downtown Waterloo. Out of that came lege to study criminal justice. When Wednesday nights. Sharing a space a social enterprise, Try Pie. It’s a bakery her car later broke down, she was able can be touchy, but it can also bring that employs 13 high-school girls— to pay for the repairs because of her together people with different back- some black, some white, some Asian— savings account. Now Lumpkin is a grounds, economics, and races: “The from Waterloo and Cedar Falls. After Try Pie staff member. She helps the kingdom of God is actually greatly school the girls come to the downtown girls participate in community projects improved when I’m worshipping Waterloo bakery, leave their stuff in like planting flowers—a simple act but with people who don’t look like me cubbies, and gather by the office to read a symbol of hope. The same goes for and whose life experience isn’t like a Bible verse and pray. They then put baking pies: no advanced degrees mine.” A on hairnets and aprons. Large windows required. A

62 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019 Lifestyle first time, they saw smoke going out that chimney instead of filling the house!” The work was tedious and slow: Dick translated a Bible passage, then Gained in translation paused to teach it to the newly THE GRIFFITHSES OVERCAME CHALLENGES TO BUILD Christian natives. Meanwhile, by Charissa Koh Charlotte cared for their home and A MARRIAGE IN THE MISSION FIELD growing family. The Griffithses taught their four children to enjoy the jungle (Second in a series on long marriages) get each passage perfectly right. This but dress up for dinner and remember eased the process and a point of tension their manners in case they one day Two years after they married in in their marriage. returned to the United States. Charlotte R 1954, Charlotte and Dick Griffiths When their first daughter was remembers bonfires in the cool moun- moved to the jungle of Indonesia to young, Charlotte remembers, she felt tain air and the family eating home- translate the Bible into the Hatam lan- jealous of how happy the baby made made pizza and singing as one of the guage. Living among the isolated tribe Dick. She said he confronted her about children played the guitar. On Fridays intensified normal marriage stresses this, and she saw her sin and repented. the family hosted game nights and but also brought them closer to each On Charlotte’s first birthday overseas, invited the station’s other missionaries: other and to God. Dick, now 90, has her frugal husband gave her a plastic “Our house would rock with laughter.” dementia, but Charlotte remembers garbage disposal instead of the perfume But missionary life was not easy. both hard times and good times. she wanted. She got over her disap- Charlotte said she and Dick had Difficulties came early. Charlotte pointment by “considering what he was strained communication and conflicts had scored higher in their translation thinking: keeping within our budget that forced them to keep close accounts school, so at first she tried to handle the carefully and realizing I was going to with God and each other: “These project while her husband worked on need one.” ‘rocks’ became the things that drove us their hut and the airstrip. But the On other occasions, she appreciated together, not apart.” The Hatam demands of caring for their home and his thoughtfulness: Dick arranged for noticed: One man asked Dick to “train” child made her progress on the Bible the missions plane to bring a wood stove his wife so they too could have a happy painfully slow. Eventually, they realized from the Sears catalog so Charlotte marriage. One woman told Charlotte, Dick needed to take over. He made the could bake bread. She said, “Hatamers “Your husband treats you like a translation his sole focus, working to began dancing in our yard when, for the brother,” meaning her husband cared for and defended her as a brother would a sister in that culture. Charlotte and Dick Griffiths Dick turned 70 in 1998 and had to retire, with the translation still unfinished after 42 years of work. Dick was devastated to leave his life’s work unfinished, but Indonesian believers continued the work: By 2009 the translation was done. Dick and Charlotte, back in the USA, now have four children, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great- grandchildren. One of their sons lives with them and helps Charlotte care for Dick. She says she is still learning to fight her selfishness and bring to God even routine matters like planning a menu to please both men (one raised in Asia, one in Philadelphia). Charlotte said Dick still has a sense of humor at age 90 and loves to hold her hand. She is thankful that God pre- served her marriage as she learned to be “continually going to God privately with these things that were bothering

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Scheming for God [ Aug. 3, p. 42 ] I got to the description of 20schemes’ “Ragged School of Theology” and tears started flowing. I love the Hope Awards and am so glad 20schemes won the International category. —REBECCA PEARCE on Facebook

Thank you for reporting on events presence was evident, but it was not around the world from a Christian easy watching him die slowly. The worldview, especially Marvin Olasky’s Lord mercifully drew my husband recent reports on Scotland. Your in- into His arms on Christmas Eve 2018. any “belief.” Jesus died to purchase depth and analytical stories are a Christmas Day in Paradise—who could our lives with His life. He died for breath of fresh air. We in the U.K. don’t ask for a better gift? people. I would die for Him, but not have any news sources that challenge —DELORES TULFO / Tacoma, Wash. for a mere belief. us to consider the impact of our behav- —FRANCES BENNETT / Quarryville, Pa. ior, and we are worse off as a result. A hearty amen to this column. We —CHRIS JOHNSON / Huddersfield, England need to have honest conversations Play like a genius about end-of-life issues, for they are [ Aug. 3, p. 19 ] I loved this review of Forge fires and watered becoming more complex every day. Yesterday, about the only man who gardens —B. THOMAS HAYGOOD / Lindale, Texas remembers the Beatles. It captures [ Aug. 3, p. 46 ] The Forge Center for this delightful film so well! Virtue and Work is in my backyard, Oberlin’s fervor —VIRGINIA CROOK SCHOFIELD on Facebook and I hear about it often. The process [ Aug. 3, p. 16 ] The specifics of the is slow and the numbers are low, but college’s actions seemed at first so A man over the moon real change is happening. I like to sup- outlandish that I did some online [ July 20, p. 50 ] Your article about the port ministries that try to move people research. It confirmed the worst and faith journey of Apollo astronaut and into a better life rather than just subsi- more. The moral fallout and Oberlin’s moon walker Charlie Duke was dize the destructive life they have. complicity should shock us all—or not, wonderful. —TONY McCORD on wng.org given that higher education no longer —ED LABELLE on Facebook seeks to discover truth regardless of I am touched by WORLD’s annual political implications. This was a great but somewhat sad Hope Awards. I often find myself —CECILIA MERZ / Boise, Idaho time in American history. In 1969 I wondering, “Why aren’t ministries like joined the Air Force. I wasn’t a these central to our churches?” Seeing eye to eye Christian then, and my life drifted —STEPHEN KEMP / Ames, Iowa [ Aug. 3, p. 26 ] I am thankful for arti- down wrong paths; but, somewhat like cles like this that give hope and doable Duke, Jesus found me in the quagmire Stranger danger examples of how to be united as and pulled me out. [ Aug. 3, p. 8 ] To be fair, Trump’s Americans and human beings. Simon —MARK J. ANTHONY / Monument, Colo. tweets telling those four Democratic Tam has great wisdom for such a representatives to “go back” to their young man. Almighty science? countries of origin have a very tongue- —HOLLY McMILLAN on wng.org [ July 20, p. 5 ] Claims that science in-cheek tone, and they were often provides all knowledge, wisdom, and reported out of context. A religious place understanding reflect scientism, not —KEN ISGRIGG on wng.org [ Aug. 3, p. 30 ] Mindy Belz’s short science, and should be rejected. column about coverage of religious Christian faith does not conflict with On ending well persecution is quite the exposé. science, but science and faith enhance [ Aug. 3, p. 5 ] I first read Bill Davis’ —JOHN MOERMAN on Facebook our understanding of the world in book, Departing in Peace, when my complimentary ways. May we husband was suffering from a very The pull-out quotation caught my approach both with humility. rare form of Parkinson’s disease. God’s attention. I am not willing to die for —MICHELLE OLS / Northborough, Mass.

Visit WORLD Digital: wng.org September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 65 VOICES Mailbag

God has spread all of creation before cities and countries for generations her placard said, “I don’t regret killing us to inspire us to study it, and given afterward. Thank the Lord for those my baby.” us enormous curiosity about it. We willing to invest in those who other- —SANDRA BLANCHARD / Zeeland, Mich. must continue to study and explore wise would be trapped in a hellish evil. the universe through science. —JOSEPH BADGER on wng.org I was going through boxes and came —MARTHA BALL / Pittsburgh, Pa. across “must save” back issues. It Reading for refreshment reminded me how much I love Glorious by design [ June 29, p. 34 ] I am always so grate- WORLD! I’d like to read the articles [ July 20, p. 16 ] Wonderful column ful for your book reviews. I picked up online, but instead I just read the head- about some of the most glorious of Herman Wouk’s Winds of War, think- lines online and wait patiently for my God’s little creatures. The flagrant ing I might be bored, but I was so beloved magazine to arrive in the mail. beauty of hummingbirds, sunsets over wrong! I laughed, I cried, and now I’m —JANET PICCIONE KLEPPER on Facebook the ocean, and wildflowers in the enjoying the miniseries. And your desert have always seemed to me a interview with Rosaria Butterfield Read more Mailbag letters at wng.org conclusive argument against a mind- prompted me to pick up The Gospel less, accidental nature. Comes With a House Key. I am enjoy- LETTERS and COMMENTS —JIM STEWART / Camptonville, Calif. ing it immensely. Email [email protected] —LAURRYN McDANIEL / Sellersburg, Ind. Mail WORLD Mailbag, PO Box 20002, Career and calling Asheville, NC 28802-9998 Website wng.org [ July 20, p. 57 ] There are so many A ‘positive good’? Facebook facebook.com/WORLD.magazine stories of how people loved in places [ June 29, p. 16 ] Perhaps the woman Twitter @WORLD_mag like Kingdom Home in Uganda grew holding the sign, “I don’t regret my Please include full name and address. Letters up and became leaders in their own abortion,” wouldn’t be so proud had may be edited to yield brevity and clarity.

Worldviews change. October 3 Cultures change. God’s Word stands forever.

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My Great Depression–scarred maternal grandmother was a world-class money worrier and had amassed a fortune in nickels and dimes by her nineties, only to be pressured into hand- ing the whole caboodle over to my father’s failing furniture business, which tanked anyway. How many needs and pleasures did she deny herself and others to make that fortune Easy come, that took wing in a moment? When I was a widow (that was a 14-year stretch), and totally unemployable except for easy go writing, for some reason I wasn’t worried about SERVE GOD, AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT MONEY money. And it’s a good thing too, because it would have been a waste of perfectly good brain cells: A total stranger In the same month of August, these two from Texas phoned and said R things happened to me: I paid $239 to a the Lord had put it on his New Jersey court for the dubious pleasure of heart to buy me a car. No holding my cell phone in hand while driving in thank you, I have a car, I said. plain sight of a cruiser. Second, a Korean woman Hmm, he said, then I’ll send I don’t even remember who knew my late you a check. The next week husband and happened to dine with a distant I got $25,000 in the mail. I acquaintance, asked said acquaintance about wasn’t aware I would need it, me, and ended up writing me a check for $200. but God was. So it was kind of a wash, financially speaking. We may take these boons If you are of a mind to do any thinking about when Heaven grants them, God’s working in your life, what conclusion and be grateful. My brother would you draw? Partly that depends on where Jesus spoke and his wife were subsisting on bread and yogurt you put the “but” in the sentence, right? I mean, and faith during seminary and missionary you can say, “I got a windfall 200 smackers one of the fickle- support-raising days. Then his father-in-law day in summer—but lost it all on a traffic viola- ness of Lady uncharacteristically phoned to say he bought tion.” Or you can say, “I lost a couple hundred Lucre this them a Citroën CX, which unbeknownst to my dollars on a traffic ticket—but got it mostly back brother was in 1983 one of Citroën’s most in the form of an out-of-the-blue gift!” It’s all in way: “moth expensive models (copied by Rolls Royce). the way you look at things, I guess. and rust Later, at a café in Ales, France, the father-in-law But the “wash” thing keeps bugging me in destroy … joked with a couple of his buddies: “So how do some fundamental philosophical way—the way you like that? I bust my butt all year working at that through six-plus decades it seems that thieves break the restaurant, yet I drive that crummy little monetary gains and losses have cancelled each in and steal.” jalopy, whereas my son-in-law here, the prayer other out on balance. Nothing went quite the merchant, drives that big fancy Citroën! There’s way I envisioned: I made sizable stupid money something wrong here!” blunders, and sizeable unexpected gains. Some “Not at all,” said my brother. “It’s quite of those losses were for innocent mistakes, and normal.” almost all the augmentations were unmerited. “What do you mean, it’s normal?” the elder There has been no closely correlated one-to- asked. one correspondence between my wits and my “I reached into my handbag and pulled out money. The old adage has borne out: “Easy my pocket Bible and turned to the book of come, easy go.” Ecclesiastes. … I read out loud: ‘To the man who Ben Shapiro chides cultural snowflakes: pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and “Facts don’t care about your feelings.” I propose happiness; but to the sinner he gives the task of a similar axiom: “Cash doesn’t care about your gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over deservingness.” Don’t worry about money, to the one who pleases God’” (Ecclesiastes 2:26). because money isn’t worried about you. Jesus (Marc Mailloux, God Still Loves the French). spoke of the fickleness of Lady Lucre this way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and He will “moth and rust destroy … thieves break in and take care of you. It’s the only thing you can rely

KRIEG BARRIE KRIEG steal.” on. A

 [email protected] September 14, 2019 • WORLD Magazine 67 VOICES Marvin Olasky

Eventually Becker required emergency hospitalization. Doctors never determined a physical cause, but after her hospital stay she still fainted regularly and vomited after every meal. She notes how “my peers shared my obsession with the scale.” They received good grades and gained acceptance to elite colleges, Parsing privilege but did their “years of binging and purging and shame” show privilege or misery? BEYOND ONE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS Becker has cared for a young daughter with Down syndrome and a middle-aged This fall brings the 50th anniversary of a mother-in-law with liver cancer. R guest lecture I attended while in college. Becker was privileged to hold a trash The speaker was Herbert Marcuse, known in can while her mother-in-law “vom- 1969 as chief theorist for the Marxist new left. ited, draining her tubes of blood and Marcuse’s most famous book, One-Dimensional bile after her surgery,” and to spend Man, argued that capitalism exploits people and “the night by her side to make sure nature and turns art and culture into commodi- she didn’t lurch from bed.” ties. I applauded, not knowing then the universal- Happily, Chapter 9 of Becker’s ity of sin and the historical fact that socialism is book takes a gospel turn. Without even more prone to lead to dictatorship and war. the hardships of her mother-in-law’s Marcuse’s analysis was one-dimensional, as death and her child’s unanticipated is one outgrowth of Marxist analysis, the “privi- difficulties, her future might have lege walk” exercise now standard at many U.S. ‘The real left her like Matthew in one of Caravaggio’s colleges, including Christian ones. Amy Julia paintings, “counting the coins of my existence, Becker, author of White Picket Fences (NavPress, privilege of unable or unwilling to look up into the light. … 2018), describes what she went through at my life has The real privilege of my life has come in learn- Princeton along with 60 other students. “If your come in ing what it means to love others, that love ancestors came to the United States by force, involves suffering and sacrifice and sleepless take one step back. … If your parents or guardians learning nights and tears and heartache and great gifts.” attended college take one step forward.” what it Marcuse’s One-Dimensional Man introduced “At Southern, we strive to develop If you know Becker is white, you can guess means to to Americans a concept now fashionable: “inter- the rest of the story: “With every step forward, I love others.’ sectionality,” the idea that to get a whole look at feel my heart thump a little harder. … All of us unfairness we have to add up the influence of men and women of God by who advance to the front of the room have —Becker race, class, and sex. But those still leave us in white skin.” Becker is right to report that some only one dimension based on externals. We structural injustice based on race is real. I’ve should at least add on a second dimension that grounding them in a distinctively witnessed white police differently treating takes note of other factors, such as growing up groups of white and black teens. So it’s impor- with two loving parents rather than with a sin- tant to understand the importance of privilege— gle mom or with parents who are cold or absent. biblical spirituality.” but the privilege issue is complicated. Oct. 10-13 brings the eighth biennial I’ll pick on White Picket Fences not because International Herbert Marcuse Society it’s a bad book—to the contrary, it’s well-written Conference. Tenured Marxists will converge at DONALD S. WHITNEY and well-intentioned—but because Becker at the University of California Santa Barbara to first accepts today’s one-dimensional clichés. present academic papers on topics such as “the Professor of Biblical Spirituality And yet, her own story of upper-class privilege dialectics of resistance today” and “Can violence shows elements of the opposite. It came with a play a role … for precipitating system change?” JUNG/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES dad who commuted from Connecticut into Conference organizers recommend lodging Manhattan on weekdays, ran long distances on on the UCSB campus at the Club & Guest House weekends, and essentially ignored her. In high for $199 per night. Backup is a nearby hotel for school she felt his absence “in my gut” and $139 or $159 per night (“includes hot breakfast “started involuntarily vomiting my food after buffet”). every meal.” Furthermore, “the pressure I had Crucial question: Will any of the participants internalized from teachers and coaches and have perceived God’s love, and thus moved into friends overwhelmed my system so much that it Marcuse lectures at a third dimension based on the privilege of simply ceased to function.” an event in 1967. loving others because God first loved us?A Explore degrees at sbts.edu/TrustedforTruth

68 WORLD Magazine • September 14, 2019  [email protected]  @MarvinOlasky

World Ad - Schreiner T4T.indd 1 8/27/19 3:35 PM “At Southern, we strive to develop men and women of God by grounding them in a distinctively biblical spirituality.”

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Professor of Biblical Spirituality

Explore degrees at sbts.edu/TrustedforTruth

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