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JULY 2009 | Vol JULY 2009 | Vol. 27, No. 7 | baptiststoday.org $3.95 Listening to Luther Veteran broadcaster creates community page 4 JULY 2009 | Vol. 27, No. 7 John D. Pierce Executive Editor Baptists Today serves churches by providing a reliable source of [email protected] Jackie B. Riley unrestricted news coverage, thoughtful analysis and inspiring Managing Editor features focusing on issues of importance to Baptist Christians. [email protected] An autonomous national Keithen M. Tucker Baptist news journal Development and Marketing Director [email protected] Tony W. Cartledge P E R S P E C T I V E Contributing Editor [email protected] > Dozing off in church . history ................................................7 Bruce T. Gourley By John Pierce Online Editor [email protected] > Street Question: ‘Why are Baptists against drinking ................8 Vickie Frayne and dancing (wink, wink)?’ Art Director By Bill J. Leonard Jannie T. Lister Connie Pursiful Office Assistant Office Assistant > A time for generosity ................................................................26 Lauryn C. Dant By Ruben Swint Circulation Assistant > When water flows freely ..........................................................31 Walker Knight Jack U. Harwell Publisher Emeritus Editor Emeritus By Bill Ross Board of Directors Gary F. Eubanks, Marietta, Ga. (chairman) Photo by John Pierce. Kelly L. Belcher, Spartanburg, S.C. I N T H E N E W S Chattanooga radio personality Luther (vice chair) Masingill is friend to the community Z. Allen Abbott, Peachtree City, Ga. > BJC seeking new space on Capitol Hill ....................................11 Jimmy R. Allen, Big Canoe, Ga. — including churches. Page 4 Nannette Avery, Signal Mountain, Tenn. > Review & Expositor bridging academy, church ......................12 Ann T. Beane, Richmond, Va. Thomas E. Boland, Alpharetta, Ga. Huey Bridgman, Columbus, Ga. > Benefits group studies clergy compensation ..........................13 Robert Cates, Rome, Ga. Anthony D. Clevenger, Pensacola, Fla. > Poll: Americans moving rightward on social issues ..............13 Gifts to Kenny Crump, Ruston, La. David Currie, San Angelo, Texas > Mainline clergy OK with gay rights; ........................................14 Baptists Today James M. Dunn, Winston-Salem, N.C. cautious on gay marriage James L. Evans, Auburn, Ala. have been received W.M. Gilbert Jr., Lavonia, Ga. > Home-school numbers on the rise ..........................................14 R. Kirby Godsey, Macon, Ga. William B. Greenhaw, Macon, Ga. > Religious leaders say time running out....................................17 In memory of Leslie D. Hill, Lexington, Ky. Jimmy Little, Hartselle, Ala. for Palestinian Christians Nathan C. Byrd Jr. Michael M. Massar, Tyler, Texas From his wife, J. Thomas McAfee, Macon, Ga. > Ethicists mark 75th anniversary of ..........................................23 William T. Neal, Stone Mountain, Ga. German ‘Confessing’ movement Frieda H. Byrd Ella Wall Prichard, Corpus Christi, Texas Michael G. Queen, Wilmington, N.C. > Hockey as religion? Many Canadians think so ........................27 Mary Etta Sanders, Dalton, Ga. In memory of Macon Sheppard, Folly Beach, S.C. Walter B. Shurden, Macon, Ga. > Wikipedia bans Scientology from editing entries....................27 J. Lauren Clark Charlotte Cook Smith, Raleigh, N.C. From Ed and Sarah David M. Smith, Houston, Texas > Twitter goes to church ..............................................................34 Leo Thorne, Valley Forge, Pa. Timmerman Sarah Timmerman, Cairo, Ga. > Priest’s conversion strains ecumenical ties ............................37 Clement H. White, St. Petersburg, Fla. In memory of Louis and Advocates Mary Jayne Allen, Chattanooga, Tenn. F E AT U R E S Gladys Hamilton Randy L. Hyde, Little Rock, Ark. From their children, Sherry McGlaughlin, Liberty, Mo. > Krumping gives movement to the Spirit’s call ........................15 David Woody, Daniel Island, S.C. Bill Hamilton and Baptists Today (ISSN 1072-7787) > Sanctuary for challenged children, parents ............................16 Charliene Hooker is published monthly by: Baptists Today > A bigger connection to Baptist life ..........................................32 P.O. Box 6318 In memory of Jim Lockhart Macon, GA 31208-6318 > Wayne Oates’ legacy of caring continues................................33 From his wife, To subscribe or place an advertisement, > ‘Lebanon 10’ serve as emissaries for peace ............................38 Nell Lockhart call 478-301-5655 or toll-free 1-877-752-5658. Subscription rates: 1 year, $20 2 years, $35 I N E V E R Y I S S U E 1 year groups of 25 or more, $15 1 year Canada, $35 1 year foreign, $50 Editorial 7 Readers’ Responses 24 Periodical postage paid at Macon, Ga. 31208 Quotation Remarks 10 In the Know 25 POSTMASTER: Resource Page 18 Lighter Side 28 Send address corrections to: Baptists Today P.O. Box 6318 Formations Commentary 19 Reblog 29 Macon, GA 31208-6318 Classifieds 23 Media Shelf 35 © 2009 Baptists Today. All rights reserved. July 2009 • Baptists Today | 3 F E A T U R E STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN PIERCE Listening Veteran broadcaster creates community to Luther For more than six decades, Luther Masingill has reported on everything from major news stories to lost puppies, winning the trust of his listeners. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Only one person is credited with reporting the technological changes in broadcasting over the decades, Luther does not care much for Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the assassination of President John F. change on a personal level. Kennedy and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the same radio station. He met his wife, Mary, at Avondale Baptist Church — just two houses down is name is Luther Masingill — of Georgia — keenly aware of everything from where he lived — and has not changed but in the hills and valleys from world news to a local church group’s wives or churches since. And he and Mary around Chattanooga, the last upcoming car wash. continue to live in the only home they have name is unnecessary. The affable ever owned despite changes in the commu- H STAYING PUT man with the familiar mellow voice is just nity and the relocation of their congregation. “Luther.” Though a recipient of the prestigious “I’m funny; I’m working for the same Every weekday morning, as he has done Marconi Award who was offered broadcasting company I started out with 63 or 64 years for more than six decades, Luther rises to a jobs in larger markets, Luther has stayed put ago — it’s changed hands once but is the 4:15 alarm and makes his way to the studios — “all 87 years of my life” — in his home- same station with the same call letters,” he of WDEF. There he keeps residents of the town except for a three-year stint in the said, spinning his chair away from the micro- Tennessee Valley — including the northeast military during World War II. phone during a taped commercial. “I don’t do corner of Alabama and the northwest corner While he has embraced the remarkable much changing.” 4 | Baptists Today • July 2009 I N F O RFMEAATTIUORNE QUIET SERVICE have to get in the lost dogs and cats and “You never know who you are going to “I’ve been a Baptist all my life,” said Luther of other announcements.” run into out there,” he said with a smile. “Somebody will come up and say, ‘You found his longtime involvement with Avondale ‘DOG GONE’ Baptist Church.” a dog for me — 25 years ago.’” Yet he does not use his local celebrity Luther is a one-man lost-and-found depart- On this day he reports on a lost black status for a bright religious spotlight. Rather ment. He is so well known for his faithful and brown Chihuahua north of town and a he has always preferred quieter contributions efforts to reconnect homeowners with their nursing female cat that jumped out of a car to kingdom work — like mowing the church pets, that he does a daily television segment and fled down Rossville Boulevard. lawn and caring for widows. on WDEF News 12 called “Dog Gone.” He even tried to help someone who lost When ice delivery stopped decades ago, When out and about, Luther hears a camera case — “not the camera, just the Luther discovered one elderly neighbor who gratitude for his compassion and concern. case” — in Ringgold. refused to buy a new-fangled refrigerator. So he would bring bags of ice for her cooler — Longtime radio personality Luther and, in the winter, coal to keep her warm. Masingill (right) with co-host James On the air Luther has long been a friend Howard outside the Chattanooga to churches and other religious groups seek- studios from which their show is broadcast on Sunny 92.3 every ing to spread the word about their work. weekday morning. Public service announcements (PSA’s) flood into the station — now by email, voice mail, fax and in stamped envelopes. “I’ve had (station) managers along the way who have said, ‘You talk about the church so much,’” Luther recalled. “Well, that’s the community.” CHURCH NEWS Some of the announcements making his “Community Calendar”— which he also shares on television — are typed out on an old Royal typewriter. On this day in early June, he tells of a gospel music benefit at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, a carwash the Silverdale Baptist youth are using to fund a mission trip to Peru, a community-wide baby dedication at a Church of God congregation, a flea mar- ket at First Centenary United Methodist Church and the 39th Annual Lutheran School Horseshow. “From the things people have said to me over the 60-plus years, you know they appreci- ate what the station does for churches, religion, and for keeping a good clean broadcast station,” he said. “It makes you feel good.” Concerts, revivals and other church- sponsored events — along with civic and personal interests — create a thick and ever- growing file on Luther’s desk. “The ratings are good; the (ad) sales are good,” said Luther of the Sunny 92.3 morn- ing show he co-hosts with news director James Howard. But he suspects the church news will be pared down a good bit “when I pass on.” “I try to get every (church announce- ment) — in an abbreviated version — on the air at least once,” said Luther.
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