VISIT US AT metro kansas city facebook/metrovoicenews Explore London EDITION or metrovoicenews.com Kansas City’s with Us! best calendar PAGE 11 of family events! Find concerts, conferences, and more! JASON CRABB – APR. 17 | SEE PAGE 14 CELEBRATING FAITH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IN KANSAS CITY VOLUME 25 • NUMBER 4 April 2014 FREE–TAKE ONE! G.O.D. KC Embracing ANALYSIS technology A “Wolf” in to save a sheep’s clothing? by Kharissa Forte U.S. Senate campaign “Everyone can reach someone, generation and together we can reach the raises big concerns world,” is the mission phrase behind Global Outreach Day celebrated on by John Altevogt June 14. The international event Twenty years ago Eudora insurance stems from the Global Day of Prayer agent David Miller started the revolution with the intent of inviting Christians that today dominates the Kansas political around the world to share the gospel landscape. He was on the same day, at the same time. joined by Tim Golba, This year, G.O.D. takes its efforts Kansans for Life’s locally. Instead of encouraging every leader; Mike Welton, Christian to share the gospel on the who organized the same day, G.O.D. now engages the Christian Coalition in city itself, through interactive events, ROBERTS Kansas; and a youthful to get people involved on every level. Kris Van Meteren who The pilot town: Kansas City. would later take the “In the past two years, we’ve had movement to another an estimated 25 million partici- level by transforming pants,” said Kevin Stark, G.O.D. KC the Kansas Republican director. “This year, we’re looking to Assembly into a domi- up that number to 40 million.” nant force. There are several types of “events” THE CHURCH, KIDS, AND Today, the Kansas WOLF or ways to get involved: Republican Assembly is 1-on-1 Events: These types of the Kansas Republican Party and Van Me- events involve Christians inviting teren is a political consultant of national someone to their home, going to a SMART PHONES stature. Every statewide office in Kansas is coffee shop or out for lunch in a held by a Republi- See G.O.D. KC page 21 Ginger Kolbaba | Pentecostal Evangel According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Re- can, most of them OPINION search Center, J J is probably right. The study, "Teens and conservative. Some, J. J. Shackelford loves his iPhone 5. He uses it to check Technology," found that 78 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds like Governor Brownback and Secretary sports stats, stay in contact with his parents, play video have a cellphone, and 37 percent have a smartphone. In of State Kris Kobach, have national repu- games, and connect with his friends. He keeps it with him addition, 95 percent of teens access the Internet via a tations. The state legislature is dominated and checks it multiple times throughout the day. J J is 11 phone and 1 in 4 is a "cell-mostly" Internet user. by conservatives in both houses, after a years old. And not only do young people use the Internet, accord- brutal primary season in 2012 when most "I need a phone," he says. "All my friends have one." See SMART PHONES page 23 See BIG CONCERNS page 22 6 ways to save Easter by Christa A. Banister of enthusiasm (and trust me, I start cranking up the holiday tunes earlier According to the New Oxford Amer- than most, too), we may even celebrate ican Dictionary, Easter is “the most im- an entire month in advance of the portant – and oldest – festival of the Christmas day. But Easter? Well, some- Christian Church, celebrating the resur- times I’m not even sure when it is – rection of Jesus Christ.” March or April, beginning or end of the Now I don’t know about you, but month. Then there’s Lent. It seems like So if Easter is considered the most with six ways to make this Easter mem- Easter sure doesn’t feel that way in the a meaningful activity, but my church important event on a believer’s calendar, orable. Who knows? You may even find ol’ celebration department. If anything, simply ignores it while deeply commit- how can we give the day – and all it sig- a few new traditions for future Easter Christmas still gets much, much higher nifies for mankind – its proper due? celebrations, too. Metro Voice Metro 1114 Box P.O. MO Summit, Lee’s 64063 ted Christians I know make it central to billing. Depending on someone’s level their remembrance of the risen Christ. Well, we got to thinking about just that See SAVE EASTER page 23 GET 50% OFF YOUR ADVERTISING! CALL 816-524-4522 OR EMAIL [email protected] 2 • April 2014 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––metrovoicenews.com I facebook.com/metrovoicenews ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Metro Voice At long last, consequences for Death penalty repeal gets attention by Dwight Widaman the cost of a comparable non-death penalty case. Death penalty case costs drugged-up Kansas lawmakers The issue of capital punishment is were counted through to execution bringing together unlikely allies in an (median cost $1.26 million). Non- Travis Perry | Kansas Watchdog ing, officials would receive no pay until effort to do away with what many see death penalty case costs were counted “Federal law, namely the they complete a substance-abuse pro- as a form of punishment that is bank- through to the end of incarceration It took the Kansas Legislature a grand Health Insurance gram. rupting the state’s prison system and (median cost $740,000). total of 336 days to go from the signing Afterward, lawmakers would be re- ending the life of some innocent indi- Senator Gina Walsh, D-St. Louis, of new drug-testing laws to the day law- Portability and quired to submit to further testing at viduals. wants to abolish the death penalty, makers actually implemented punishing various intervals. A second positive test The Senate Progress and Develop- which she calls “one of society’s most elected officials who test positive for an Accountability Act, would would mandate another round of sub- ment Committee has taken testimony polarizing topics.” Witnesses for her illegal substance. stance abuse treatment and denial of on an issue unlikely to get much trac- bill are familiar anti-death penalty or- Better late than prevent a lawmaker’s pay for a full year. At three strikes, law- tion in the current Missouri legislative ganizations: Missourians Against the never. positive drug test from makers will be financially cutoff. session. But as the Death Penalty, the American Civil Lib- Legislation intended There’s a catch: Federal law, namely public support for erties Union, Missouri Association for to enact punitive being revealed outright the Health Insurance Portability and the death penalty Social Welfare, and the Missouri measures for doped- Accountability Act, would prevent a continues to erode, Catholic Conference–represented by up lawmakers died a to voters.” lawmaker’s positive drug test from being death penalty oppo- lobbyist Rita Linhardt, who says about HENSLEY quick, quiet death existing legislation targeted at drug revealed outright to voters. nents are finding al- ten percent of those who have been nearly a month ago Senate Vice President Jeff King, R-In- lies in the pro-life sentenced to death are later exoner- screening for public educators. JUSTUS after GOP Senate lawmakers declined to The amendment closely mirrors dependence (KS), has been a vocal ad- community, as well ated, including a man last month, the boost the bill past the February turn- Hensley’s previous bill, which failed to vocate for full disclosure, describing as fiscal conservative who see the mil- 144th person facing execution who is around deadline. even land a hearing this year. Lawmak- such a revelation as “effectively job ter- lions spent on death row inmates, and now free. Number 143, exonerated last But Senate Minority Leader Anthony ers could be required to submit to a mination.” But in light of federal law, he what can be twenty-year-long appeal October, was Reginald Griffin, the Hensley, D-Topeka, changed all that by drug test on grounds of reasonable sus- called Hensley’s amendment the next processes, as a poor investment of fourth Missourian since 1997 exoner- tacking just such an amendment onto picion. In the event of a positive screen- best thing. dwindling state resources. ated after being sentenced. While drug test results aren’t public In Missouri, figures show it can Opponents of repeal have seen no record, Hensley said, payroll documents cost 50 percent more to institute the reason to testify. The chairman of the are. death penalty than the expense ofin- committee, Senate Minority Leader “The disclosure in all this is for the stituting a life sentence. In Kansas it’s Jolie Justus, Kansas City’s 10th District news media to check payroll,” Hensley a similar story. A 2003 legislative audit State Senator, has not been told when said. found that the estimated cost of a the committee might be able to send death penalty case was 70% more than the bill to the full Senate for debate. Metro Voice––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––metrovoicenews.com I facebook.com/metrovoicenews ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––April 2014 • 3 ART EVENT TO BENEFIT KC CHRISTIAN AND HOPE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY More than 30 artists will be exhibiting tion will go to Hope Leadership Acad- Brio, coffee concoctions from Espresso- and selling original works of art April emy. ah-la-cart, and “sweet somethings” by 25-26, at the third annual celebration of HLA is a neighborhood charter emerging pastry artist, Andrew Moore. “The Art Event at KCC”: Kansas City’s school that serves students in one of the Admission is $20 per person in ad- Premier Christian Festival of the Arts, at most disadvantaged and violent neigh- vance or $25 at the door.