While tens of thousands of kids head out to Christian camps, Camp Quest is offering an alternative for those who take their summer recreation without God. About 150 young people attend Camp Quest programs in Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, California, and Ontario, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune.

The founder, Edwin Kagin, is legal director for the group American Atheists. He said the atheist camp was founded after the Boy Scouts barred atheists and gays from leadership roles during the 1990s. "We wanted a camp not to preach there is no God," said Kagin, "but as a place where children could learn it's OK not to believe in God."

The Tribune interviewed several young campers in Ohio about their beliefs, or lack thereof. I don't think Christians have a lot to worry about. Here is a sampling:

"[Sophia] Riehemann notes that a secular perspective takes away childhood joys other kids have, such as Christmas. But that doesn't bother her. 'They have Santa Claus,' she said, 'and we have Isaac Newton.'"

Actually, Sophia, I hate to break this to you, but you have Santa Claus, and we have Isaac Newton.

Then there is Allison Page, who is described as a 9-year-old only child. Reflecting on the biblical story of Cain and Abel, Allison opines, "It just doesn't make sense. A brother wouldn't kill his brother."

Ah, the innocence of children. Just wait until you have siblings, Allison.

Posted by Stan Guthrie at June 29, 2007 12:25PM | Comments (57)

Conservative Episcopalians received some stunning news this week when a California appeals court ruled the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is within its legal rights in retaining ownership of church property.

The defendants, three dissident churches now linked to the Anglican Church in Uganda, expect to decide soon on whether to appeal to the California Supreme Court.

The worldwide Anglican Communion continues to grapple with the fallout from the consecration of Gene Robinson, an active homosexual, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. But increasingly, the civil courts in the US are being drawn into this fight as local, diocesan, and national leaders fight over real estate. It's no small dispute, potentially involving billions in real estate, related assets, and other property.

Of course, national church leaders are overjoyed by the court ruling:

John R. Shiner, Chancellor for the Diocese and its attorney in the litigation, called the ruling a "decisive decision" for the Episcopal Church. Shiner, a partner of Holme Roberts & Owen, LLP, noted, "Yesterday's decision contains the most thorough analysis yet of church property law in California, and should dispel any notion that local congregations of a hierarchical church may leave the larger church and take property with them."

On the conservative side, there are many more cases making their way through the courts. But conservatives, meanwhile, are somewhat encouraged that the Canadian branch of Anglicanism, meeting in General Synod, voted to forbid priests from blessing same-sex unions.

Posted by Tim Morgan at June 27, 2007 11:31AM | Comments (5)

In times past, we've written about "The Bono Effect" -- how megarock star Bono launched the DATA organization a few years back and then toured America, motivating Bono-loving evangelicals (and others) to jump into the global fight against crushing debt, HIV/AIDS, global poverty, and on behalf of fairer global trade with Africa.

Initially, I'll confess I had heavy skepticism about "the Bono effect" until it was staring at me across the table inside a Wheaton restaurant in 2005. I was having lunch with an local evangelical leader whose life was transformed by his personal activism against HIV in Africa. He dated that new commitment to Bono's high-profile visit to Wheaton College. Who knew?

Now for the update:

We need to take a look at "The Laura Bush effect" and how it's having influence on US policy, the American public, and our profile overseas. It's a no-brainer that Mrs. Bush is likely to retain her high approval ratings in opinion polls for years to come.

Recent opinion polls show that her ratings are about twice that of President Bush (unless, of course, you are polling Albanians). MSNBC's Chris Matthews explored the Laura Bush model in a recent program.

This week, First Lady Laura Bush will be in the headlines, especially in the foreign press, as she makes her third trip to Africa.

She's visiting the region the experts call SSA, or sub-Saharan Africa. She and daughter Jenna are stopping in Dakar, Senegal; Maputo, Mozambique; Lusaka, Zambia; and Bamako, Mali. The trip ends on Friday.

The focus is on HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR, anti-malaria efforts through the President's Malaria Intiative, and the Millennium Challenge campaign to reduce poverty.

If you're not overly familiar with these programs, welcome to the club. The amount of news media attention around these programs can be measured by an eye-dropper.

But the reality on the ground is that real money is saving real lives in some of the most desperate parts of Africa.

During my last trip to Rwanda, I visited a remote medical clinic on the shores of the stunningly beautiful Lake Kivu. During my previous visit to that same clinic more than one year earlier, there was a building, chronically ill patients, trained medical staff, but no ARV drugs, and precious little equipment.

The clinic operated on hope and prayer.

By the time I made my second visit, the situation had changed largely due to PEPFAR, faith-based organizations, and cooperative government leaders in Africa.

This regional success story of how faith-based groups partner with the Bush administration inside Africa has been spun beyond recognition. The programs are not perfect by any means. There are lots of frustrations on both sides, insiders tell me, but people living with HIV actually do take their meds and care for their kids.

So back to square one: What is the essence of "The Laura Bush Effect"?

Let me suggest three elements:

1. "Presidential Dog Whisperer." My three kids love that dude, Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. Could it be that Mrs. Bush is taking her cues from Cesar? That calm assertive stance works wonders even at the White House. Mrs. Bush's use of "soft power" on a focused agenda is impressive.

2. The Power of a Passionate Mom. There is a model that is emerging of an alpha couple who rule a nation state and govern its mood and culture by example. (JKF and Jackie were one manifestation of what I'm talking about.) This model seems particularly evident in the 2008 presidential election cycle, in which the candidates' spouses have the ability to move public opinion toward or away from a candidate.

Mrs. Bush has sharpened her public profile in recent months and the public likes what it is seeing. This trip may establish her credibility beyond 2008 as a passionate activist with a global focus.

3. First Lady as Educator in Chief. Education seems to be at the core of Mrs. Bush's competence as a leader. So not only does the public witness her engagement with educational issues, they also see a person who expresses her values.

En route to Senegal, a pool reporter shared this information about Mrs. Bush as she spoke to the news media aboard their 757 aircraft:

THE FIRST LADY TALKS:
Highlights of the first lady's talk, which lasted just under 10 minutes, standing in the aisle, speaking with reporters seated on either side toward the rear of the aircraft: (see White House transcript but these are taped remarks):

"I think we're going to have a very interesting trip. It's going to be a difficult trip, just because it's so much travel. We're going, obviously, from the west coast to the east coast and back to the west coast of Africa before we come home. And we're busy in every stop, with a lot of different programs that we want to see that both address AIDS, malaria, clean water, education. And so those will be the four focuses of this -- of the trip.

"I hope you have on your comfortable shoes,'' she said. "We'll work hard for the week.''

She said the purpose of her visit is to "let the American people know about what they're doing, through their taxpayers' money, to try to make a big difference in Africa, both in eradicating malaria, trying to reach and treat as many people as possible and avert as much infection as possible with HIV/AIDS.'' This includes a visit to a PlayPump in Zambia, a water-pump driven by children's playground equipment -- part of a project that the first lady had announced last year in conjunction with the Case Foundation, helping to pay for these pumps.

"It lets girls and boys go to school, because they're not having to spend all day walking to a water well a long way away and carrying water, sometimes contaminated water, back to their villages,'' she noted, calling this "a really fun part of the trip, to see these merry-go-rounds.''

What's the most challenging part of the trip?

"The most challenging part, really, is going to be this travel, I mean, the long distances for us to have to fly between places, and then to try to do as many things as we can possibly do in every stop... The schedule is filled, no down time, except for when we're on the plane.''

Asked about her confidence in the Senate approving the first year of the new series of global AIDS funding -- now that the House has approved the first stage of the new $30 billion commitment the president is seeking:

"Yes... I think that there is large bipartisan support for this, and that people on both sides of the aisle see it as beneficial, obviously, for the people in Africa, and the other countries -- Asia, Vietnam and Haiti that are also targeted with AIDS with PEPFAR funds.

"I think the Congress will support this for those two reasons -- first that it's an obligation, many people see it as a moral obligation for the United States because we are affluent... also as being beneficial for our country and letting people around the world know what Americans are really like.''

This is her third trip to Africa.

"This is an important piece of American foreign policy, frankly, the way we reach out to countries all over the world. Not just Africa but everywhere in the world we have very active programs going on in Central and South America, as well, and in Asia, as well.

"I think they represent not only the generosity of the American people, but also the efficiency and the accountability piece of the American government, as well, ways for us to be able to make sure our tax money is used in a way that helps the most people, that has the furthest reach, that's the most effective.''

At the White House summit on Malaria, she said, the U.N., UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, USAID and the World Bank had all come together, she noted. The Millenium Challenge Corporation has worked with governments, too -- infrastructure, roads, water, schools.

The African governments involved are working to "try to be the most effective, to try to stretch the money the furthest so that the most people get help,'' she said. "That's also an important piece -- and another reason that I think the Congress will support this funding, because they know that we're trying to be as efficient and effective as we possibly can with this funding.''

Tomorrow, Mrs. Bush arrives in Zambia. CT correspondent Isaac Phiri will be filing a report later in the week about her time there. It's a hot zone in the war against HIV, malaria, and chronic poverty.

Watch this space for Isaac's dispatch from Lusaka.

Posted by Tim Morgan at June 26, 2007 3:54PM | Comments (3)

Religious freedom in Iraq seems to be a low priority for both the Iraqi government and the US-led Coalition forces. But fortunately, the news below is basically positive.

...from Compass Direct News:

by Peter Lamprecht

ISTANBUL, June 22 (Compass Direct News) – Christian university students and faculty kidnapped two days ago on their way home from exams at Mosul University were released today, an Iraqi satellite TV channel reported.

According to Ashtar TV, two university teachers and six students from the predominantly Syrian Catholic village of Qaraqosh were released in Mosul city around noon today.

“We have received the good news of the release of the eight, and the people here are very happy,” a priest from Qaraqosh told Compass. He requested that Compass not publish the names of the eight people for security reasons.

Local sources said that family members retrieved the freed Christians from an undisclosed location in Mosul city at about 1 p.m. after a representative of all eight families had paid a ransom for their release earlier this morning.

According to one priest, the families gave a total of US$250,000 for the group, which he said consisted of only one teacher and seven students, several of whom were doing post-graduate work.

The kidnapping highlights the vulnerability of Iraq’s religious minorities, who, without militias of their own, often suffer at the hands of armed groups.

“First of all, they were kidnapped for money, and secondly, they were kidnapped because they are Christians,” the Qaraqosh priest said. “The minorities are vulnerable.”

The priest said that Christians’ vulnerability stemmed from the fact that they were called to live lives of peace. “That’s why we can’t arm ourselves,” he commented. According to the priest, the students and teacher had suffered from torture during their two day captivity.

On Wednesday, June 20, unidentified assailants stopped a bus carrying Christian students from Mosul University, where they had been taking exams, to their homes in Qaraqosh, 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast.

Local sources confirmed initial reports by Catholic news agency Asia News that armed men had boarded the bus and read a list of names of the people they wanted, checking identity cards when no one responded.

“They had some names written down, because there were some people who told them that they could have a big ransom from these [particular] families,” a source said.

The source also confirmed that the kidnapping had taken place in Hail Musena, near a police station, but that officials had failed to intervene.

In a June 21 article, police told Reuters that eight Christian university students had been snatched off a bus east of Mosul.

Battling Dangers

Located only a few miles from Mosul, where religiously-driven violence has killed two priests in the past year, Christians in Qaraqosh have been forced to adopt creative solutions to counter deteriorating security.

Syrian Catholic leaders have organized a volunteer-based village guard of approximately 1,200 men who patrol Qaraqosh’s perimeter around the clock in four six-hour shifts. Armed men check all traffic entering and leaving the village, at times accompanying unknown travelers on their personal visits.

During a visit to the village in November 2006, local clergy told Compass that they had temporarily opened their own seminary, the St. Ephraim Institute, because their young men were unable to attend classes in Baghdad. At that time, deteriorating security in Baghdad’s Dora district and a string of kidnappings had forced the Chaldean college and seminary, which served members of various churches, to close its doors.

Qaraqosh also has had to deal with an influx of some 1,500 refugee families from Baghdad and Mosul over the past three years. Its total population has now hit 35,000, up from 29,000 in 2003.

But the most recent kidnapping is halting one of the Syrian Catholic church’s most gutsy innovations, a daily caravan of buses to transport students to and from Mosul University. It was one of these buses from which gunmen snatched eight Christians on Wednesday.

“It tears us apart, the fear of even one bus being hit,” one Qaraqosh priest told Compass in November, referring to the possibility of an attack on the caravan.

“We are stopping the buses because it’s too dangerous,” a priest told Compass from Qaraqosh today, saying that the caravan created too big a target for Islamists and money-making gangs.

Mosul-based groups have increasingly begun to carry out violence in Christian villages outside the city. Two Christians were buried in Telskuf, 25 kilometers (16 miles) north of Mosul, on Tuesday (June 19) after a kidnapping gang returned the bodies to their families the previous day, Iraqi Christian website Ankawa.com reported.

Ramzi Yakou Shamasha, 50, and Ismael Azria Shamashal, 48, were kidnapped on June 11 and killed two days later, despite the fact that their families paid $20,000 for their release, Ankawa.com reported.

Before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Christians made up 3 percent of the country’s population. That number has dropped in the past four years as hundreds of thousands have fled Iraq due to the deteriorating security situation in which Christians and other minorities are often specifically targeted.

The US Commission for International Religious Freedom, striking a worrisome tone, recently reported that religious freedom in Iraq

was in jeopardy.

The Commission is giving consideration to a recommendation that the Bush administration designate Iraq as a "country of particular concern." That in part would mean increased focus at the diplomatic level on religious liberty.

On page 86, of the USCIRF's recent report, the commission notes:

This year the Commission added Iraq to its Watch List, due to the alarming and deteriorating situation for freedom of religion and belief. Despite ongoing efforts to stabilize the country, successive Iraqi governments have not adequately curbed the growing scope and severity of human rights abuses. Although non-state actors, particularly the Sunni-dominated insurgency, are responsible for a substantial proportion of the sectarian violence and associated human rights violations, the Iraqi government also bears responsibility. That responsibility takes two forms. First, the Iraqi government has engaged in human rights violations through its state security forces, including arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention without due process, extrajudicial executions, and torture. These violations affect suspected Sunni insurgents, but also ordinary Sunnis who are targeted on the basis of their religious identity.

Second, the Iraqi government tolerates religiously based attacks and other religious freedom abuses carried out by armed Shi’a factions including the Jaysh al-Mehdi (Mahdi Army) and the Badr Organization. These abuses include abductions, beatings, extrajudicial executions, torture and rape. Relationships between these para-state militias and leading Shi’a factions within Iraq’s ministries and governing coalition indicate that these groups operate with impunity and often, governmental complicity. Although many of these militia-related violations reveal the challenges evident in Iraq’s fragmented political system, they nonetheless reflect the Iraqi government’s tolerance—and in some instances commission—of egregious violations of religious freedom.

Finally, the Commission also noted the grave conditions for non-Muslims in Iraq, including ChaldoAssyrian Christians, Yazidis, and Sabean Mandaeans, who continue to suffer pervasive and severe violence and discrimination at the hands of both government and non-government actors. The Commission has added Iraq to its Watch List with the understanding that it may designate Iraq as a CPC next year if improvements are not made by the Iraqi government.

Posted by Tim Morgan at June 26, 2007 10:03AM | Comments (0)

Catholic Church leaders are expressing frustration with Republican presidential aspirant Rudy Giuliani's abortion position. Like many Democrats before him, the former New York mayor, a professing Roman Catholic, says that while he is personally opposed to abortion, he doesn't want to impose his personal religious views on others.

According to a report in today's New York Times:

"One American bishop, Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, R.I., recently wrote a caustic column for his Catholic newspaper calling Mr. Giuliani’s position 'pathetic,' 'confusing' and 'hypocritical.' Other bishops said that they would not criticize a candidate by name but would not hesitate to declare Mr. Giuliani’s stance contrary to Catholic teaching.

"Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark said: 'I think he’s being illogical, as are all of those who take the stand that "I’m personally opposed to abortion but this is my public responsibility to permit it." To violate human life is always and everywhere wrong. In fact, we don’t think it’s a matter of church teaching, but a matter of the way God made the world, and it applies to everyone.'"

Funny how pro-choice people (and that's the best way to characterize Giuliani) say they can't legislate their beliefs about abortion in our pluralistic society but have no problem when it comes to murder, theft, or even gasoline mileage standards. The fact is, someone's morality is being legislated all the time, so why not on the sanctity of human life?

For Giuliani to defy church teaching on so clear a matter brings to mind the old warning from James: "Faith without works is dead." At some point, you have to walk the talk.

His candidacy also places evangelicals who traditionally put life issues first when they go to the ballot box into a quandary. In these days when terrorism threatens the nation, Giuliani, for all his sins, knows what evil is, and he looks like the kind of person who has the guts and experience to stand up to it. These are dangerous times, and this country needs a tough leader to defend it.

But if conservarive Christians vote for Giuliani, then what does that say about our commitment to the sanctity of human life? As I said, it's a tough question. Prayers for wisdom and guidance are definitely in order.

Posted by Stan Guthrie at June 25, 2007 10:16AM | Comments (24)

Yesterday the Senate passed an energy bill mandating stricter fuel economy standards for autos and more production of ethanol. As someone who grumbles every time I drive past a gas pump (much less when I shell out $50 to fill my tank), who worries that U.S. dependence on oil from overseas is not in the national interest, who loves the outdoors, and who believes that human beings are to be good stewards of God's creation, I've got to say that the tank is half-empty on this thing.

The Associated Press notes:

"The legislation would require ethanol production for motor fuels to grow to at least 36 billion gallons a year by 2022, a sevenfold increase over the amount of ethanol processed last year.

"And it calls for boosting auto fuel economy to a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, a 40 percent increase over current requirements for cars, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks.

"The legislation also calls for:

"Price gouging provisions that make it unlawful to charge an 'unconscionably excessive' price for oil products, including gasoline. It also gives the federal government new authority to investigate oil industry market manipulation."

I'm no expert on these issues, but it seems to me we have a long way to go--Democrats and Republicans--before we have a realistic energy policy. A few random thoughts:

-- Why is there no talk of increasing our national commitment to nuclear power, which, compared to foreign oil, is clean, efficient, and carries no risk of stirring up the bin Ladens of the world?

-- Do the senators know that our already massive commitment to producing ethanol for gasoline contributes to inflation for the many food products made with corn, and that the resulting corn shortages hurt the poor in the developing world?

-- Why is there no discussion of increasing the number of oil refineries in the U.S. as a way to increase the supply of available gasoline? The system that we now have is stretched to the limit and is extremely vulnerable to events that swiftly drive up the price of oil, such as refinery fires.

-- Why don't legislators ever talk about giving back some of their own record "windfall profits" from taxes, which go up proportionately with the cost of a gallon of gas?

-- Why don't politicians come up with new and creative ways to encourage mass transit? Where I live and want to go there are virtually no transportation options except for the automobile.

-- While increased auto fuel economy would be helpful (at least for those with the means to buy new cars), are they willing to acknowledge that this will inevitably lead to more highway deaths as people drive smaller vehicles?

Yes, go after the oil companies if they are breaking the law. But remember that without the profit incentive, there would be no oil wells. We can't simply respond to the demand for oil. Let's also work on the supply side. Allow the laws of supply and demand to work. If demand is sufficient, new supplies should eventually drive down the price of oil.

Unless we simply don't want people to drive automobiles at all. For senators who get chauffered everywhere, that may not be a problem. For the rest of us, however, affordable gasoline is a moral issue.

Posted by Stan Guthrie at June 22, 2007 11:33AM | Comments (11)

In its September 2005 cover story, Christianity Today introduced Shane Claiborne and the Philadelphia intentional community, the Simple Way as models of what is being called the "new monasticism."

The daughter of friends of mine has worked with the Simple Way in its Yes! And afterschool program. They've kept me informed today via e-mail of the effects of a horrendous 7-alarm fire on the Simple Way community. As a result of the fire, eight neighboring families have lost their homes, the Simple Way has lost its community center, and Simple Way members Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all their possessions. Fortunately, no community members were seriously injured or lost their lives.

"This fire will forever change the fabric of our community," says the Simple Way website. Check there for further updates, for fire photos, and for information on giving to help the Simple Way and the displaced families.

[uncredited photo from thesimpleway.org]

Posted by David Neff at June 20, 2007 9:29PM | Comments (5)

Debates rarely shed fresh light on their subject, but they are nevertheless diverting. Last night's debate between Tom Flint and William Hasker ("Does God Know the Future?") was no exception to this rule. Flint earned high marks for coming to a setting in which almost everyone in attendance disagreed with him--and keeping his equilibrium and his sense of humor. Hasker delivered the best line of the night, which came near the very end of the question period. Flint had objected that God as depicted by open theists might end up with a world in which the uncoerced choices of his creatures reached a sort of critical mass of darkness and despair. Hasker's riposte was to wonder if what Flint had in mind was a world almost in as bad shape as the world really is. Round two of the Melee at ENC will take place next Tuesday night when Karen Winslow and Randall Tan debate the same question from the perspective of biblical studies rather than philosophy. Meanwhile, in the ongoing seminar, Philip Clayton will speak later this morning on "Where It All Begins: Cosmology, Creation, and Open Theism."

Posted by John Wilson at June 20, 2007 5:56AM | Comments (2)

I wish that many of the combatants in the open theology wars could be sitting in on this conversation at Eastern Nazarene College, which started this week and will run until July 6. Of course, some of them ARE here, not least John Sanders and Greg Boyd, along with a nicely varied group of theologians and philosophers and odds and ends (myself included), invited by Tom Oord of Northwest Nazarene University. It's a conversation mostly between people who to some degree or another are sympathetic to the open view, with some guests who hold other views. Today, for instance, Tom Flint from Notre Dame presented the Molinist ("middle knowledge") position with clarity, humor, and a fine sense of proportion. After all, what we share as believers is more important than what divides us. Tonight he'll debate Bill Hasker on the subject, "Does God Know the Future?" Clark Pinnock (whom I first read when I was in high school) is a participant as well, and it has been a pleasure to meet him and his wife Dorothy. If most of the participants share some affinity with the open view, they nevertheless differ in many other ways. Some are quite sympathetic to--but not uncritical of--process thought. Others--I am one--are allergic to that movement. Vocabularies are quite different too. Can the analytic philosopher and the Wesleyan theologian and the philosopher of science find a lingua franca? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. There is no mushniness--disagreements may be quite sharp--but neither is there any huffing and puffing. Altogether this is--so far--a model conversation.

Posted by John Wilson at June 19, 2007 1:57PM | Comments (9)

In an article in Foreign Policy, Philip Jenkins, the redoubtable distinguished professor of history and religious studies at Penn State University and author of The Next Christendom and The New Faces of Christianity, promotes his latest book, God's Continent: Christianity, Islam, and Europe's Religious Crisis. Jenkins says the widely expected Islamization of a secularized and increasingly enfeebled continent has been greatly exaggerated. Jenkins notes:

"The result has been a rediscovery of the continent’s Christian roots, even among those who have long disregarded it, and a renewed sense of European cultural Christianity. Jürgen Habermas, a veteran leftist German philosopher stunned his admirers not long ago by proclaiming, 'Christianity, and nothing else, is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of Western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [than Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter.' Europe may be confronting the dilemmas of a truly multifaith society, but with Christianity poised for a comeback, it is hardly on the verge of becoming an Islamic colony."

Can the faith founded by the Prince of Peace prevail over the self-proclaimed "religion of peace" on the spiritually arid battlefield of Europe? My guess is that increasingly worried Europeans fervently hope so.

Posted by Stan Guthrie at June 18, 2007 12:31PM | Comments (18)

Christians remain at risk inside Gaza, not to mention the other 1 milion plus Gazans, due to renewed violence between Hamas and Fatah. The situation is being likened to a 'civil war.'

Until recently, it was not clear if militants were targeting Christians or churches. But the Jerusalem Post is reporting that a Roman Catholic church was desecrated and a Catholic school damaged late last week. A Catholic priest is calling for better protection for Gaza's Christians, who number about 3-7,000 people.

Overnight update:

Jerusalem Post has updated their story on the church attack with a report that Hamas has condemned the attack and placed the blame on a local criminal gang.

Christianity Today has heard more from an Egyptian-German Christian leader still inside Gaza. He has been living in Gaza since 2004 for Christian mission and ministry.

Here is his personal account:

On Friday people in the Gaza Strip awoke to a new reality.

Over the previous few days Hamas, an Islamic party had routed the opposition Fatah forces, a secular-nationalist movement, and Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip.

What led to these sudden events?

In February 2006, Hamas was voted into power in democratic elections that were largely imposed by the U.S. and its policy of democratic reform in the Middle East, yet the unexpected outcome seemed to have thrown a monkey wrench in the U.S.’s reform plans.

By March of this year the U.S. and Western countries still had not recognized the Palestinian unity government containing both Fatah and Hamas representatives. An economic embargo stifled not only the government but it also collectively punished the entire people. This economic stranglehold was felt especially in the Gaza Strip, which is enclosed from all sides.

Israel, in one form or another, controls all its borders.

Trade was brought to a slow trickle, after what the World Bank reported to be an economic decline greater than America’s experience during the Great Depression.

Soon Hamas became fed up with not being recognized and being economically crippled despite having come to power through a fair democratic process. Furthermore, with U.S. funding entering Gaza to strengthen Fatah, the election loser, Hamas got impatient and decided to take control of the territory.

The ensuing military takeover of the Gaza Strip that took 80 lives, was bloody and dreadful for many. It took only five days before all opposition headquarters were taken and control was fully in Hamas’ hands.

After the fighting ended I made a trip to the Gaza Baptist Church building with my hosts and the pastor. Minimal damage had been done to the building structure and some equipment, including a laptop used for Sunday worship had been stolen from the building.

A clampdown on lawlessness, which has been widespread in recent months, is one of the few positive prospects of the new political reality in Gaza. With the world not recognizing the Hamas government, the former political power, Fatah, stayed in control in many areas of government. The result had been two parallel government structures in Gaza, one democratically elected by the people, the other voted out by the people and yet only the latter was accepted and recognized by world leaders.

During the past two years I have lived here I have found that it is this meddling of outside powers in Palestinian affairs that has over and over again caused so much suffering for a people so desperately seeking to live a normal life in peace.

Generally people are very concerned about what the near future holds. Despite the Hamas amnesty of Fatah activists, many of them remain scared and are staying home or are in hiding.

By Saturday the streets were relatively back to normal until reports started to spread that Israel was closing the borders and people started scrambling for their basic needs, bread, sugar, flour, and gas. Cars are moving about, people are walking the streets, talking and laughing.

Along the walls of the main hospital in town [Gaza City] I saw old men sitting in the shade playing backgammon. The combination of the normalcy of life and fear of the unknown of the future makes for a strange atmosphere.

Posted by Tim Morgan at June 18, 2007 11:58AM | Comments (9)

Here's the press release regarding the funeral:

Ruth Graham's Life Celebrated by Husband, Children, and Community of Friends

All Five Graham Siblings Participate in Funeral Program and Greet the Public At Close Of Service; All 19 Grandchildren Serve as Pallbearers.

With her husband, Billy Graham, her older sister and five children participating in the program, and all 19 of her grandchildren serving as pallbearers or honorary pallbearers, Ruth Graham’s life was celebrated at her public funeral today in the 2,000-seat Anderson Auditorium at the Montreat Conference Center filled to capacity with family members and friends from the local community.

The day began with a procession from the funeral home, where hundreds of local residents – from families with little children to the frail and elderly – lined the route to pay their respects to Mrs. Graham. Some stood with hands on hearts; others, including ranks of law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel, gave crisp salutes.

The funeral service began with a song by a special Memorial Chorale, swelled to a total of 70 local volunteers from the 20-member Montreat College choir, which honored Mrs. Graham’s memory with several musical selections. Afterward, Dr. Richard White, Mrs. Graham’s long-time pastor at Montreat Presbyterian Church, welcomed attendees.

“We gather today to say good-bye to truly a good servant, Ruth Bell Graham, but we also gather to say we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,” he said before praying, “Our hearts are heavy with loss, yet we dare rejoice, for she is with You.”.

All of the Graham children participated in the funeral, with eldest daughter Virginia “Gigi” reading one of the family’s favorite selections from Mrs. Graham’s poetry, appropriate to her death, which begins, “And when I die, I hope my soul ascends slowly, so that I may watch the earth receding out of sight, its vastness growing smaller as I rise, savoring its recession with delight.”

Mrs. Graham’s daughter, Ruth, referenced her mother’s childhood in China as preparation for the ministry she would have as the wife of a globe-trotting evangelist and mother of their five children. Their youngest son, Ned, read a selection favored by Mrs. Graham from a book of Puritan prayers, and his brother Franklin recalled some special memories of his mother.

“Mama was a lot of fun, but she also believed the Bible, lived the Bible and taught the Bible,” Franklin said. “She believed Jesus Christ died for our sins, that He is in Heaven and will come back some day.

“Mama lived what she believed,” he continued. “The mama we saw at home was the one the world saw -- there weren’t two Ruth Grahams. Mama, thank you for your example, your love, your wit, your humor, your craziness – I love you for all of it and I’m going to miss you terribly.”

Daughter Anne spoke of her mother’s love for their father and how she taught the children to love him, despite his long absences. “She loved our Daddy, but greater was her love for God. She taught us to love our Daddy and to love Jesus.”

Anne then read a portion of Scripture from Romans chapter eight, prefaced by a note she found written by her mother and taped in that place in her mother’s Bible, “Perhaps today some word will reach us that prepares us for our tomorrow,” she read. “Let’s not miss that word.”

Mrs. Graham’s older sister Rosa Montgomery also shared family memories, bringing a chuckle to the crowd as she stated that she and Ruth were both “made in China.” Rosa had spent much of the last six months with Ruth reminiscing about their happy childhood. “Weren’t we lucky to have such good parents?” she said they agreed, and spoke as well of Ruth’s adventurous spirit, “If there was ever any damage done anywhere, you could be sure that Ruth was in the middle of it.”

As his children finished speaking, Mr. Graham rose from his seat in the front row to bring an unscheduled greeting to the crowd. “I want to welcome all of you and thank you for coming,” he said. “Ruth was an incredible woman; I wish you could look in her casket because she is so beautiful. I sat there a long time last night looking at her, and I prayed, because I knew she had a great reception in heaven.

“I wish I could stay and visit with each of you but I’ve got to go to Charlotte, where we will bury Ruth at the Library, and my own strength is limited,” Mr. Graham added before joking, “God bless all these grandchildren – some of them I haven’t seen in a long time and some I’ve never seen.”

Upon leaving the service Mr. Graham said his sense of loss is beginning to sink in. He commented on the beauty of the service and the flowers, and said that he was pleased with the outpouring of public love and support and has been encouraged by the presence of his family at this time.

In his meditation, Dr. White spoke about sharing communion with the Graham family last January when Mrs. Graham was gravely ill, after which one of the children remarked how wonderful it was they could have this last time of communion together. He said that later Ruth sat up in her bed and said, “What is this, some kind of last rights?” and went on to live five more months. “That was classic Ruth Graham,” he said.

“If you’re here today and say, ‘Ruth Graham was a great woman’, you’ve missed the point of her life,” Dr. White added. “The reason Ruth Graham was a great woman is because she had a great savior and a great love for Jesus Christ.”

Dr. White spoke on Jesus’ strikingly odd response of tears and anger at the funeral of his friend, Lazarus. “The tears were the tears of God for us -- your sadness touches Jesus; He knows your sorrows,” he said, further explaining Jesus’ anger was directed at death. “Jesus knows we were created to live, not die. Though we are powerless, He is able to do something about it.”

Toward the end of the service, Franklin thanked the local volunteers for all their hard work in preparation for the service, adding that his father wanted him to thank his staff, who had worked so many months taking care of Mama. “They loved her, stayed up with her and helped her so many times,” he said. “Thank you for the love you showed my mother.”

Following the service, the five Graham siblings and their spouses remained behind to greet the public, before accompanying the funeral coach to Charlotte. Mrs. Graham’s remains will lie in repose overnight at the newly dedicated Billy Graham Library, before being buried at a private, family-only interment ceremony Sunday at the foot of a cross-shaped walkway in the adjacent Prayer Garden.

An earlier press release noted that Graham's coffin was simple plywood, and was constructed by prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 17, 2007 10:57AM | Comments (15)

The Grahams' hometown newspaper, the Asheville Citizen-Times, has several articles on Ruth today, along with video, audio, and photos.

The paper's editorial today ends by noting the epitaph Ruth herself proposed in Celebrating an Extraordinary Life: "End of Construction: Thank You for Your Patience."

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 15, 2007 8:04AM | Comments (26)

From a Saddleback Church press release:

It is bittersweet to get the news about Ruth Bell Graham’s passing. However, as Christians we rejoice knowing that she has gone home to her Heavenly Father and that this day is the one that she lived her entire life for. I have admired her all my life, and particularly as a pastor’s wife, there was a great deal to glean from how she supported her husband’s ministry. She lived a life of servanthood, and in doing so was a leader and a role model to so many others. Rick and I extend our deepest sympathies to the entire Graham family as they mourn the passing of their wife and mother.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 10:04PM | Comments (4)

The Graham children have much to say about their mother. We've already posted one item from Anne Graham Lotz. The Charlotte Observer has items from Franklin and Ruth. These quotes, distributed by Graham's spokesman and publicist, differ slightly in style and substance, but not in sentiment:

Gigi Graham, eldest daughter
“Mother stood waiting outside the doorway…We would back away and watch as Daddy took Mother in his arms, kissing her warmly and firmly, knowing it would be some time before he would hold her again.

“Then Daddy was whisked away in the car, around the curves and down the steep mountain drive. We listened to the retreating sound of the engine and waited for the final “toot” of the horn as he reached the gate. Another plane to catch, another city, another Crusade, another period of weeks before we would be together as a family once more.

“I turned to look at Mother, sensing her feeling of loss and loneliness. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but there was a beautiful smile on her face as she said, “OK, let’s clean the attic! Then we’ll have Lao Niang and Lao I up for supper!” (That’s Chinese for maternal grandmother and grandfather.)

“Not once did my mother make us feel that by staying behind she was sacrificing her life for us children. By her sweet, positive example, her consistently unselfish spirit, and her total reliance upon the Person of Jesus Christ, we were kept from becoming bitter or resentful. Instead, we learned to look for ways to keep busy and prepare for Daddy’s homecoming.”

Anne Graham Lotz, second daughter
“I would go down to my mother’s room early in the morning. Her light would be on, and I would find her at her big, flat-top desk. She would be reading and studying her Bible, with about 14 different translations spread out around her.

“When I would go down to her room late at night, I would see the light on underneath the door and I’d go in, and she would be on her knees in prayer.

“As I look back on my childhood, I cannot remember any impression whatsoever that my mother was ever lonely. She may have been lonely, but I never saw it.

“I believe that our heavenly Father, our Savior, saved my mother from loneliness because of her daily walk with the Lord Jesus, He was the love of her life. I saw that in her life. It was her love for the Lord Jesus, with whom she walks every day, that made me want to love Him and walk with Him like that.”

Ruth Graham, namesake daughter
“I cannot recall my earliest memory of my mother, but I am quite sure it is associated with joy. I now understand that her joy did not stem from perfect or ideal circumstances, but from a deep, abiding love affair with the Lord Jesus.

“Life was not easy for mother. With five children to raise; a home to run; a husband rarely at home and usually far away; and the world watching for any flaws and expecting her to be perfect, she experienced her share of sorrows, burdens, injustice, confusion, pressure, and hurt. However, I would not say I ever saw mother display anger or doubt.

“Mother’s parents exercised a profound effect upon the development of her character and laid the foundations for who she was. What she witnessed in her family home, she practiced for herself – dependence on God in every circumstance, love for His Word, concern for others above self and an indomitable spirit – displayed with a smile. For her, self-sacrifice was a way of life.

“How does one live with one of the world’s most famous men? God prepared my mother for this position years ago in China. Although she was never ‘trained’ for her role, Mother maintained her perspective and had the heart of an evangelist.

“Though often her gift was overshadowed by that of my father’s, hers was exercised more effectively on behalf of individuals. At her deepest core was the desire for individuals to know Christ in a personal and intimate way. My mother talked to individuals, loving them one-by-one, showing her love and concern for them as people.

“It was far from easy. But she had a tender and yielded heart. Her happiness and fulfillment did not depend on her circumstances. She was a lovely, beautiful and wise woman because early in life, she made Christ her home, her purpose, her center, her confidant and her vision.”

Franklin Graham, eldest son
“My mama loved the scriptures, she was a student of the scriptures, but she also had a great sense of humor. She loved to play jokes on people and she played them on daddy, she played them on daddy’s staff, and she always, right up until the day she went to heaven, had a twinkle in her eye—a mischievous twinkle that was almost like she was sitting there thinking about what she could do to get one up on you. Mama was just always a lot of fun.”

“For my mother, right was right and wrong was wrong, she never compromised on anything. She stood strong for what was biblically correct and accurate. She would help my father prepare his messages, listening with an attentive ear, and if she saw something that wasn’t right or heard something that she felt wasn’t as strong as it could be, she was a voice to strengthen this or eliminate that. Every person needs that kind of input in their life and she was that to my father. My father would not have been what he is today if it wasn’t for my mother. Ruth Graham was that rock in my father’s life.”

Ned Graham, youngest son
“That mountain home was Mother’s nest. Back in her bedroom, she had her own study desk—a big, wide, flatboard table that she had gotten from an old mountain cabin and restored. She had it pushed up against the wall, and stacked on top were her study Bibles, commentaries and concordance. I can remember as a boy getting up early and going into her room, where she would be sipping coffee while quietly studying.

“As I grew older, my parents were pretty good about giving me liberty to come and go as I pleased. But my mother, like most mothers, had her own way of getting her point across. She always sat up and waited until I got home—no matter what time it was. It really bugged me, because it made me feel guilty. I don’t know how many times I tried to slip in late. There she would be, dressed in her robe, sitting in her rocker with a book or a Bible on her lap. “Thank God you’re all right,” she’d say.

“You don’t need to wait up for me,” I’d say sheepishly. Mama would just smile, say goodnight and go to her room. As intent as I was on showing my independence and partying late if I wanted to, after awhile Mama’s night watchman routine got to me, although these confrontations weren’t mean or bitter.

“Mother has always offered so much love and she always enjoyed learning about something new.”

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 8:33PM | Comments (23)

The Billy Graham Center Archives in Wheaton, Illinois, (not to be confused with the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C.) has a wonderful collection of photos, recordings, and documents.

Among the recordings is a brief testimony Ruth gave at Billy Graham's 1949 Los Angeles crusade. It's brief, but her humor, passion for Christ, and her own love of evangelism comes through clearly. (Okay, maybe the audio quality makes it come through slightly less clear on some computers, but the Billy Graham Center Archives does offer a transcript, too.)

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 8:13PM | Comments (2)

From the White House:

Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Ruth Bell Graham, a remarkable woman of faith whose life was defined by her belief in a personal, loving, and gracious God. She was an encouraging friend, accomplished poet, and devoted mother of five and grandmother of 19.

Ruth's marriage to her husband Billy was a true and loving partnership. As the wife of the world's most beloved evangelist, she inspired people around the world with her humor, intelligence, elegance, and kindness. Laura and I offer our prayers and condolences to Billy and the Graham family.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 7:45PM | Comments (6)

Press release:

Public Invited to Attend Funeral Service for Ruth Bell Graham, Late Wife of Billy Graham

Mrs. Graham to be Honored by Friends and Family in Montreat, N.C., Followed by a Private Family-Only Interment in Charlotte

ASHEVILLE, June 14 – Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham, beloved wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died in her home at 5:05 p.m. today from complications of pneumonia, surrounded by her husband and five children. Though her health became increasingly unstable in recent days, she was very peaceful at the end and simply stopped breathing.

A public funeral service to honor Mrs. Graham, has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 16 in Anderson Auditorium at the Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, N.C.

Mr. Graham and his family have extended an invitation for the public to join them in honoring the life and memory of their wife and mother at this event. Anderson Auditorium's seating capacity is limited to 2,000, on a first come basis, after which guests will be directed to additional overflow seating at three closed-circuit video venues, including Chapel of the Prodigal and Gaither Chapel in Montreat. As security precautions will be in effect, no large bags, backpacks or coolers will be allowed into the auditorium.

This will, in essence, be Mrs. Graham's only funeral. A private, family-only, interment service will be held the following day at her final resting place in the Prayer Garden on the grounds of the recently-dedicated Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., which is closed on Sundays, with no events for the public at that location on the day of her burial.

During the height of the summer conference season, access to Anderson Auditorium is limited, so a shuttle service has been arranged to accommodate public attendance at the service. Because of the absolute unavailability of parking in Montreat, anyone interested in attending the funeral must use public shuttles, which will begin operating at 11 a.m. on the day of the service. Shuttle pick-up points for the public will be in Black Mountain at the following locations, in order of pick-up: the old Food Lion, 408 U.S. 70 Highway; the Ingles Market parking lot at 2913 U.S. Highway 70 West (southeast corner of the Campfire Restaurant); and the BI-LO grocery store at 205 N.C. Highway 9, Black Mountain.

Additional information on Mrs. Graham's life and memorial events is available online at www.billygraham.org/ruthgraham; individuals can also send condolences and reflect on her unique ministry impact. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that tax deductible contributions be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) General Fund, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201.

Arrangements have also been made for the public to place memorials at two remembrance locations, where BGEA staff will be on hand to receive flowers and condolences. The first site is located at Chatlos Chapel on the grounds of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, in Asheville, N.C., which will open at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 15. A second location is at the "rock" entrance to the Charlotte headquarters of the BGEA, located off Billy Graham Parkway at 4350 Westmont Drive, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday June 15 to Sunday June 17.

Members of the public desiring to pay their respects to Mrs. Graham are also welcome to position themselves along the processional route the morning of the service. The cortege will depart Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Ave. in Asheville, and proceed east on Route 70 to Anderson Auditorium.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 7:38PM | Comments (21)

From the Religion News Service obituary:

Despite her wish to keep religion and politics separate, she, like her husband, developed a fondness for President Richard Nixon. When Nixon was hospitalized following his resignation, she paid to fly a banner outside the hospital that read: "Nixon we love you. So does God."

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 7:30PM | Comments (2)

(I'll try to keep this one updated as I find items.)

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has a memorial site for Ruth.

A. Larry Ross and Associates, Billy's longtime personal publicist and spokesman, has photos, video, and more information.

RuthBellGraham.com expired in 2005 and is now a cybersquatter's site, but its content is still available at the Internet Archive.

The Billy Graham Center Archives in Wheaton, Illinois, (not to be confused with the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C.) has wonderful photos, recordings, and documents.

Obituaries on Ruth Bell Graham include those from the Associated Press, Asheville Citizen-Times, Charlotte Observer, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, News14 Charlotte, and other sources.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 7:25PM | Comments (0)

"We don't see many examples of couples who made it through that many decades of marriage with all the lamps still blazing. Leave it to Ruth Bell Graham to show us, brilliantly, how it is done."

Her full tribute is at Beliefnet.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 7:21PM | Comments (3)

Statement by Anne Graham Lotz in regard to the death of her mother, Ruth Bell Graham:

My Mother’s legacy in my life runs very deep … and wide. When I think of my Mother, I think of…

… her sparkling eyes--she just loved life. She was full of fun, opinions, and a zest for living that was evident until her last breath.

…her arms always outstretched to welcome me into her presence with unconditional love.

…her quips and quotes, such as:

Anne, make the most of all that comes, and the least of all that goes.
A good marriage is made up of two good forgivers.
Every cat knows some things need to be covered.
It takes two to make a fight.
God called you not to make your husband good, but to make him happy.
You can’t teach your kids to like spinach if every time they see you eating yours, you gag.

But two things stand out above all the rest. My Mother was in love with Jesus…and that love was contagious. She wasn’t caught up in religion or tradition or rituals-- she was caught up in a personal relationship with Jesus.
And she developed that relationship through hours spent reading and studying her Bible, hours spent on her knees in prayer.

Growing up, my bedroom was situated directly over hers. It didn’t matter what time I went to bed at night--I could see the light from her window reflected on the trees outside and I knew she was up. If I slipped down to her room, I would find her on her knees in prayer beside her bed. Regardless of what time I got up in the morning, I would find her at her big flat top desk, reading her Bible.

She taught me by her example that Jesus is everything. He was the wellspring of her love and joy and peace that overflowed into our home. His presence was enough to ease the pain of her loneliness without Daddy. His power was enough to get her through the day, for all practical purposes, as a single parent.

I have no doubt that the reason I love Jesus and I love my Bible is because she did…and she planted those seeds in my heart long ago.

I have been asked what I will miss most about my Mother. The answer is simple: Everything!

If I could have seen the other side of the Pearly Gates when she entered, I believe I would have seen millions of angels standing to applaud Jesus … giving Him all the glory and praise for the life of Ruth Bell Graham.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 6:59PM | Comments (13)

Here's the press release. Christianity Today will be offering original full coverage on the main site shortly.

RUTH BELL GRAHAM DIES: Wife of Billy Graham Succumbs to Lingering Illness, Surrounded by Loved Ones at Her Deathbed

MONTREAT, N.C., June 14 – Mrs. Ruth Bell Graham, beloved wife of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham, died at 5:05 p.m. today, at her home at Little Piney Cove in Montreat, N.C., surrounded by her husband and all five children. She was 87. Dates and times for a family-only interment ceremony and a public memorial service will be released when available.

“Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team,” Mr. Graham said of his life-long marriage and ministry partner. “No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.

“I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together,” Mr. Graham continued. “We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”

Mr. Graham confirmed today that his wife's final resting place will be at the foot of a cross-shaped walkway in the Prayer Garden on the grounds of the recently dedicated Library bearing his name adjacent to his ministry headquarters in Charlotte. Earlier this year the Grahams agreed together that they would be buried side-by-side at the Library, a decision made by the two of them alone.

Ruth Bell was born June 10, 1920, in Qingjiang, Kiangsu, China, the daughter of medical missionaries L. Nelson and Virginia Leftwich Bell. She attended high school in Pyongyang, (now North) Korea. She first came to the United States at the age of 7, while her parents were on furlough. She returned to the US at the age of 17 to attend Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. Shortly after his arrival on campus, she was introduced to “Preacher,” the nickname other students gave the strapping Billy Graham from Charlotte, North Carolina. They were married in August, 1943, following their graduating together that June.

Between 1945 and 1958, Mrs. Graham gave birth to five children, whom she raised – sometimes single-handedly – while her husband was away on extended national and international evangelistic crusades. The three daughters and two sons who survive her are all actively involved in ministry, including eldest son Franklin, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) founded by his father.

"My father would not have been what he is today if it wasn’t for my mother,” Franklin said. ” She stood strong for what was biblically correct and accurate. She would help my father prepare his messages, listening with an attentive ear, and if she saw something that wasn’t right or heard something that she felt wasn’t as strong as it could be, she was a voice to strengthen this or eliminate that. Every person needs that kind of input in their life and she was that to my father.”

In 1959, Mrs. Graham published her first book, “Our Christmas Story,” an illustrated volume for children. She went on to write or co-author 13 other books, many of them works of poetry she wrote as an emotional release while her husband was so often on the road through the years.

“I don’t believe Mother has adequately been recognized and honored for what she had done; because, without her, Daddy’s ministry would not have been possible,” said Ruth Graham, youngest daughter – and namesake – regarding her mother’s influence and partnership in her father’s ministry.

“How does one live with one of the world’s most famous men?,” daughter Ruth continued. “God began training my mother for this position years ago in China. Her parents exercised a profound effect upon the development of her character, and laid the foundations for who she was. What she witnessed in her family home, she practiced for herself – dependence on God in every circumstance, love for His Word, concern for others above self, and an indomitable spirit displayed with a smile.

“Her happiness and fulfillment did not depend on her circumstances,” the younger Ruth concluded. “She was a lovely, beautiful and wise woman, because early in life she made Christ her home, her purpose, her center, her confidant, and her vision.”

Mrs. Graham’s significant role in Mr. Graham’s ministry was recognized in 1996, when they were jointly awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in a special ceremony in the Capital Rotunda in Washington, which reflected a consensus of love and support from all branches of government in attendance.

Ruth Graham was always a vital part of Mr. Graham’s evangelistic career, and he turned to her for advice and input about many ministry decisions. One of the early uses of media by the BGEA was the “Hour of Decision” radio program begun in 1950, which she named. After her upbringing in China and high school experience in Korea, she continued to have a burden for the people of Asia. She encouraged her husband to visit and later accompanied him during his historic visits to the People’s Republic of China.

Ruth Graham has been in frail health since suffering spinal meningitis in 1995. That was exacerbated by a degenerative back condition that began with a fall out of a tree while helping a grandchild fix a swing in 1974 that resulted in chronic back pain for many years. Bedridden or wheelchair-bound since the late 1990s, Mrs. Graham wasn’t able to accompany her husband during his last few years of ministry, but was always a continued source of inspiration and support for her him through her prayers and wise biblical counsel.

Mrs. Graham is survived by her husband Billy: daughters, Virginia, Anne Morrow, and Ruth Bell; sons William Franklin, III, and Nelson Edman; 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association also has a memorial site for Ruth. The press release above is from A. Larry Ross and Associates, Billy's longtime personal publicist and spokesman. Ross's site has photos, video, and more information.

Obituaries on Ruth Bell Graham include those from the Associated Press, Asheville Citizen-Times, Charlotte Observer, Time, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and other sources.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 14, 2007 5:22PM | Comments (31)

Don Lattin is right. In the introduction to his forthcoming book on the Children of God cult led by David “Mo” Berg, Lattin says, “Some Christians may take issue with the title of this book, Jesus Freaks: A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge.” He then defends the title and subtitle by pointing out that Berg was “deeply rooted in the Christian tradition” and that he “came straight out of American evangelicalism.”

Ah, well, the key word is “out.” Berg was not “in” American evangelicalism, but rather “came ... out.” He wasn’t even close to “the Evangelical Edge.”

So yes, I’m one of those Christians who will take issue with the title of Lattin’s book (due out from the newly rechristened HarperOne in October.) The copy is designed to sell the book to those who think of "evangelicals" as dangerous and deluded. And while the term "freak" wasn't at all pejorative at the time of the Jesus movement, it's combination with "murder," "madness," and "evangelical edge" reinforces its more current and decidedly more lurid usage.

Nevertheless, the topic of the book and Lattin’s reputation as a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle make me want to spend more time with the uncorrected proof we received in today's mail.

I encountered the Children of God in ’74 or ’75 in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Fortunately, they did not try out their “flirty fishing” free-love recruitment techniques on me. (I probably didn’t look like a good candidate since I was with my wife and two preschoolers.) So they just gave me some of their free literature. But even that was scary stuff. It reeked of the paranoid and delusional.

By the way, there is one erratum to watch out for in the book’s introduction.

Lattin says that Berg was trained as an itinerant evangelist and began his “late-blooming ministry” in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which he identifies as “one of the nation’s earliest networks of Pentecostal churches.” But the C&MA is not Pentecostal. Classical Pentecostalism teaches the gift of tongues as the “initial evidence” of the reception of the Holy Spirit. The C&MA explicitly denies this, while allowing for members to speak in tongues if they are so moved by the Spirit.

The C&MA should instead be classified as a Holiness denomination. It teaches entire sanctification—though it understands that as a combination of crisis moment and ongoing process.

Posted by David Neff at June 14, 2007 1:27PM | Comments (8)

Ever since last October’s special series titled “In God’s Name,” the New York Times has increased its reporting on what it sees as the excessive entanglement of government and religion. The first article in that series complained, for example, that a retirement home near the University of Notre Dame for aging Catholic priests (who, let us be clear, worked for a pittance and never built up equity in a home) receives property-tax breaks that an architecturally similar retirement complex across town doesn’t.

Well, the Times is back today, with an article complaining that the Justice Department defends the free exercise of religion too much—and doesn't pursue as many race-related cases as it did in the past.

The increase in the Justice Department’s attention to religious-freedom cases is hardly news. On February 20, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez gave a widely reported speech to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, in which he “unveil[ed] a new Department of Justice initiative aimed at educating Americans about their religious liberties and to ask for the Southern Baptist Convention’s help in identifying and reporting abuses of those liberties.” (See the Baptist Press account here.)

The same day, Justice released a “Report on Enforcement of Laws Protecting Religious Freedom: Fiscal Years 2001-2006.” Clearly, the Justice Department was seeking publicity for its new focus on religious freedom cases.

Nevertheless, the Times manages to completely avoid references to the Justice Department’s report and offer only oblique references to speeches by the AG. The paper appears to pretend that it is digging up buried information.

The article's main complaints seem to be that:

* under the Bush Administration, Justice is pursuing fewer race-related and hate-crime cases. (The article offers no quantifiable evidence.)

* new entry-level hires at Justice are increasingly coming from faith-based law schools like Ave Maria and Regent. (An accompanying chart, however, shows more hires of Harvard Law grads in the last three years than there were in the preceding three years. Indeed, of the “liberal” law schools on the chart, only Cal Berkely seems to be suffering.)

* vigorously enforcing existing legislation that protects churches against zoning discrimination.

Efforts to combat sex-trafficking also come in for criticism because it is “a favored issue of the religious right.” Sex trafficking—forcing people into sexual slavery—is a civil- and human-rights violation. It is an essential tenet of liberalism that we do not enslave people to do degrading work like this. Even the proponents of the sexual revolution of the sixties built their erotic insurgency around individual autonomy. Why does it matter to the Times that the “religious right” favors this issue?

The story’s final insult to the reader’s intelligence is it’s inclusion of a quote from Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches. While Edgar agreed that it was important for Justice to pursue religious freedom and human trafficking cases, there was still a need for race and poverty to get “the highest caliber of attention.” His evidence? The “flawed government response to New Orleans and its mostly poor, black population after Hurricane Katrina.” Wait a minute. Was that the Justice Department responding to Katrina? Was that Alberto Gonzalez running FEMA?

Posted by David Neff at June 14, 2007 12:15PM | Comments (1)

New fighting inside Gaza is creating a lawless situation that reminds me of Somalia and other fearful and bloody places around the globe.

Tragically, Gaza does not even arise to the level of being a "failed state." There's just failure, no state.

Open Doors is one of the few Christian ministries still committed to working inside Gaza, supporting the local Christians there, especially at Gaza Baptist church in Gaza City. Open Doors released this information on Thursday, June 14:

Threats by Islamic militants
Islamic militants are creating a situation that verges on anarchy. They are targeting everything that is against their view of Islam. The group “the Sword of Islam” has sent death threat letters to female broadcasters on Palestine television. “We will cut throats, and from vein to vein, if needed, to protect the spirit and morals of this nation," the group said in a statement emailed to news agencies on June 1. Recently the shop of the Bible Society was bombed by the same group. Every Christian organization is a possible target for this group. It has become clear that they are searching actively for churches and believers in Gaza and harassing them. The same kinds of groups are also active in the West Bank.

Fear Is in Control
Several sources have confirmed the firm grip of fear created by Muslims militants over the society. They say that especially believers from a Muslim background are afraid to be discovered and killed by militant forces. Not many have the courage to have contact with other Christians. Fear is trying to creep in everywhere.

Prayer Requests
Pray for the suffering Christians in Gaza, that the Lord protects them and gives them wisdom and encouragement. Pray that they will not be controlled by fear, but by a love for God and their neighbors. Pray that the political tension will cease and that Gaza will get a government that enables the whole church to prosper. Pray especially for the children.

Early this morning, I received a forwarded email from a Christian leader currently inside Gaza, he writes:

Gaza streets are again under the control of gunmen as the violence spirals out of control. Security forces loyal to different factions took up positions at major intersections in the early hours of the morning and Gaza awoke to the sounds of war. The route to --- this morning took me past numerous gunmen and a detour into an area I would have rather not gone. Arriving later than normal I was happy and surprised to see that most of the staff had already arrived.

These leaders call on Christians worldwide to uphold them in prayer.

NEWS UPDATE:
Thursday, June 14, 2007, 17:44 CDT. Comments from inside Gaza Thursday midnight....

CT reaches influential Christian leader inside Gaza.

Christianity Today senior writer Deann Alford spoke this afternoon (about Thursday midnight local time) with an expatriate evangelical missions leader who has been doing ministry and living in the Gaza Strip, where the Islamic party Hamas has taken control. We are not releasing his name or exact location.

Are you in a safe place for now?
I'm safe and doing OK, waiting to see what happens with the new government. My building is in a really bad location right now. I'm staying with some people from the church. In this area it’s been very quiet for the last few days. Everybody [in Gaza’s Baptist church] seems to be out of harm’s way. I'm not concerned for my safety.

What's the situation for Gaza and Gazan evangelicals?
I've seen in the last few hours that although people are cautious, they’re going out without so much fear. Christians, I think, are in the same situation. There's the added uncertainty of being Christian and not knowing if that will change anything in the equation. Families I've spoken with today are not overly worried about how a Hamas government will treat them. Hamas has always treated them and taken care of them very well. I haven't seen any fear or concern of a takeover. But there's uncertainty. Nobody knows exactly what the next few days and weeks will hold.

How are church members communicating with each other?
That's become more difficult. Often it’s through landline. Cell phone signals are very, very weak. Power is out in some areas.

What has the church been able to do ministry-wise?
Nothing. Every one I know from the church has stayed home.

What’s the status of the church’s building, which is across the street from the police station?
The security situation in some ways is safer. One party is now in complete control of the Gaza Strip. I imagine the security part could mean positive things for the church building.

How do Christians there anticipate this will play out?
We’re wondering what the physical reality will be. Nobody really knows what will happen in the next few weeks. I don't imagine Israel will be too keen to allow a lot of foreigners in now. There is fear Gaza will become one big concentration camp, partly because it already is. It’s very unlikely there will be any contact between Hamas government and Israel. The fear is that the humanitarian situation will go completely out of control. The common man on the street will suffer the most.

What are your plans?
I’ll probably leave for the West Bank whenever there's a way out for internationals. There's only a handful of internationals in the Gaza Strip at the moment. I was planning to leave by the middle of July. I tried to leave yesterday and talked to UN security. They recommended I stay in my apartment. Today there's no way out. The border is closed.

Posted by Tim Morgan at June 14, 2007 9:38AM | Comments (11)

From the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association comes word that Ruth is near death, and that she changed her mind about where she wants to be buried:

Earlier this spring, after much prayer and discussion, Ruth and I made the decision to be buried beside each other at the Billy Graham Library in my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

We have held this decision privately and only decided to announce it now that she is close to going home to Heaven.

Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side. I am more in love with her today than when we first met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College.

Ruth and I appreciate, more than we can express, the prayers and letters of encouragement we have received from people across the country and around the world. Our entire family has been home in recent days and it has meant so much to have them at our side during this time. We love each one of them dearly and thank God for them.

Graham spokesman A. Larry Ross told reporters that Ruth's health had rallied after she was treated for pneumonia two weeks ago, but later deteriorated. Graham, 87, slipped into a coma this morning. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that four of the couple's five children are at the Grahams' home in Montreat now, with the fifth, Ned, en route.

Update (6/14, 8:18 a.m.) after the jump

The Washington Post's Laura Sessions Stepp, who in December broke the story about the Graham family dispute over Billy and Ruth's burial site, has several details today.

[Though Ruth had earlier signed a document saying she wanted to be buried at The Cove and that "under no circumstances am I to be buried in Charlotte, N.C.,"] in March, Ruth and Billy signed another document saying they wanted to be buried in Charlotte, according to BGEA spokesman Larry Ross. Ross said the paper was signed in the presence of an attorney and a doctor. ...

After the Post story ran, Billy said he and Ruth would be buried at the Cove. In early January, David Bruce, Billy Graham's executive assistant, circulated among the family a tentative plan for Ruth's burial at the Cove. Asked two days ago whether that plan was still in place, Bruce said it was, as far as he knew.

Ned Graham said yesterday that when he visited his mother a week and a half ago, she told him she still intended to be buried at the Cove. He said he and his sister Anne first learned of the change last night.

"I know this goes against my mother's wishes," he said. ...

According to Ross, Ruth Graham has been alternately conscious and unconscious for a while. Earlier this week, with a doctor's approval, Billy and several of the children, including Franklin, decided to withdraw the solids and liquids from her feeding tube, Ross said.

Earlier in the week, she was talking and asking for Coca-Cola, chocolate and gravy, Ned said, and staff members occasionally slipped a bit onto her tongue.

It's ironic that Ruth's final moments are concurrent with this public family dispute. Ruth worked very hard to protect her family from public scrutiny, and to keep family tensions quiet.

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 13, 2007 1:55PM | Comments (24)

The Field Museum hopes a new Darwin exhibit will strike a blow against creationism, so writes the Chicago Tribune. The report by William Mullen expresses some disgust that anyone could still doubt Darwin's account of evolution. Mullen offers a brief primer on the life and work of Charles Darwin, whose theories published in the 1859 book On the Origin of Species, Mullen says, became the "foundation of all biological thinking."

I appreciated the reporter's Darwin recap. The article read a little bit like what Christianity Today tries to do in many of our stories with historical and theological context. That's when I realized what Mullen had done. He used the Field Museum exhibit as a news hook to catechize his readers about Darwin's theories. It's enough to make you wonder where science ends and dogma begins.

Posted by Collin Hansen at June 13, 2007 9:32AM | Comments (3)

James Forbes is a powerful preacher, with a well-deserved reputation. But now that he’s retiring, some of the tensions that his 18-years of ministry have brought to Manhattan’s famous Riverside are surfacing in the media. On Sunday, the New York Times covered last week’s colorful celebration of Forbes’s ministry, and surfaced some of the critics as well. (See “With an Exit, a Historic Church at a Crossroads.” )

Their complaint? According to the Times, “Dr. Forbes’s detractors, most of whom have histories at the church that predate him, accuse him of softening Riverside’s political involvement and abandoning his predecessors’ intellectual approach for something more evangelical. At times, he has shown a fondness for altar calls during services, and his sermons can be long and emotional.”

The Times story makes it clear: Forbes has been no slouch at social activism—he was arrested during the Haitian refugee crisis and hosted Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison. But like many African-American preachers, he has blended liberal social activisim with a biblically-based piety. No, he has reinforced social activism with biblical piety.

He told the Times:

“People thought they were getting Bible Belt values as well as my Bible Belt style,” he said. “There were meetings questioning my commitment to social justice. I believe in people anchoring their faith to a more personal relationship with God. But there’s plenty of room at the Riverside Church for people to feel uncomfortable.

“There was a time when the church was viewed in terms of its commentary on social events,” he went on. “I felt that having a biblical foundation actually strengthens that,” he said of his sermons.

Ah. There’s the rub. Some of Riverside Church’s old guard want their social gospel unadulterated by ... um ... the gospel.

Related: Following the September 11 attacks, Leadership, CT’s sister publication for pastors, interviewed Forbes about ministry after such a disaster. That conversation is available to members in our paid archive.

Posted by David Neff at June 11, 2007 10:09AM | Comments (2)

Prickly Theologian
stackblog.wordpress.com
Friends of historian and theologian John Stackhouse (Regent College) know how sharp-tongued and entertaining he can be. Recently, in blogging about the termination of a female professor of Hebrew at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Stackhouse called the school’s president a “wuss” for not sticking to principle and barring all female influence on future pastors. Prickly, prickly. But that’s the blogosphere.

Stackhouse responds:
I am delighted that my long-time friend David Neff noted my blog as one of his favorites.I regret, however, that he happened to single out the one blog entry I have yanked! Gender issues, which were at issue there, provoke pain, sadness, and anger from many, and I remain unhappy about the subject of my post. But I also am unhappy with myself for aggravating the situation by writing as I did. The blogosphere certainly doesn't need my little quotient of intemperance! I trust that visitors to my blog now will find it--well, perhaps not Happy Valley, but also not as "prickly" as David found it.

Quirky Scholar
netbloghost.com/mouw
Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, interacts with currents in theology and society, but his take is often quirky. Consider, for example, his recent claim that anyone who believes in the God of the Bible is a theocrat. (Saying you’re a theocrat, according to Mouw, sounds almost like admitting you’re a pervert.) Since Mouw speaks and writes so prolifically, you wonder how he has time for blog entries. Well, these are sometimes outtakes: He recently had to shorten a lecture on Abraham Kuyper, for instance, and turned the leftovers into a commentary on the difference between Anabaptist and Dutch Calvinist thinking on politics. Anabaptist thought predates democracy, so its stance is mainly cautionary. Today, Anabaptists are part of the body politic, and some have asked the Calvinist Mouw how to engage at the local level.

Blogger With Bite
generousorthodoxy.org/blog
Fleming Rutledge is an Episcopal priest, an itinerant preacher, a wife of 45 years, and a grandmother. She is also a blogger with bite, who regularly responds to the mainstream media from the perspective of a rock-ribbed orthodoxy. Recent posts have noted how the overly violent Pan’s Labyrinth beat the movie The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at evoking a parallel reality, why liberals are wrong to resist the idea of a “judgmental” God, and the irony of evangelical enthusiasm for Wilberforce when we can’t quite manage good race relations ourselves.

(This originally appeared on p. 75 of the June 2007 issue of Christianity Today.)

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 11, 2007 8:53AM | Comments (3)

The streets of Sao Paulo are packed with demonstrators. Why are they there?

The Associated Press headlines its coverage of Brazil's March for Jesus with "Evangelicals pack Sao Paulo despite arrest of church founders."

AFP doesn't mention those church founders, Estevam Hernandes Filho and Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes (who, by the way, pleaded guilty today to charges of money smuggling) in its coverage of the March for Jesus. It's headline: "One million anti-gay evangelicals march in Brazil. The Associated Press coverage didn't mention anything about homosexuality.

The Christian Post suggests that the march is largely aimed not at homosexuality but at Catholicism -- or that it is at least an indication of a "flood of [Catholic] believers in Latin America turning to evangelical churches."

So are these three news services seeing different rallies, or are they casting about for what "the real story" is behind the March for Jesus? Here's a tip for next year's coverage: Not every story needs a conflict angle. Sometimes rallies aren't negative. Want to know what the March for Jesus is about? There's a clue in the last two words of its title.

Addendum: The aimless news coverage of March for Jesus reminds me of this wonderful Onion video satire:

Breaking News: Something Happening In Haiti

Posted by Ted Olsen at June 8, 2007 2:12PM | Comments (2)

By inserting genes into the skin cell of a mouse, scientists have been able to create embryonic stem cells. "The technique, if adaptable to human cells, is much easier to apply than nuclear transfer, would not involve the expensive and controversial use of human eggs, and should avoid all or almost all of the ethical criticism directed at the use of embryonic stem cells," reports The New York Times.

Scientists are elated by the new technique: “From the point of view of moving biomedicine and regenerative medicine faster, this is about as big a deal as you could imagine,” said Irving Weissman, a leading stem cell biologist at Stanford University, who was not involved in the new research.

And so are pro-life Christians:

It “raises no serious moral problem, because it creates embryoniclike stem cells without creating, harming or destroying human lives at any stage,” said Richard Doerflinger, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ spokesman on stem cell issues. In themselves, embryonic stem cells “have no moral status,” and the bishops’ objections to embryonic stem cell research rest solely on the fact that human embryos must be harmed or destroyed to obtain them, Mr. Doerflinger said.

Posted by Rob Moll at June 7, 2007 9:48AM | Comments (3)

This week on ABC7Chicago we learned about eye-poppingly high dropout rates among boys in Chicago public high schools.

Blacks: 61 percent;

Latinos: 49 percent;

Whites: 42 percent;

Asians: 24 percent.

"It is a huge loss of human potential," Waldo Johnson of the University of Chicago told reporter Charles Thomas. Indeed. And it is a huge gain for the criminal element on the streets of the Windy City.

Thankfully, there is hope, and Christians are at the forefront. From the report:

"Building trust, as well as faith, is part of the House Covenant Church's mission on Chicago's West Side. Here, the hymns are hip-hop and the sermon is likely to be rapped and rhymed. The pastor is ordained Minister Phil Jackson, who says all institutions trying to reach urban young people should try new approaches during these desperate times.

"'It's rough to do work with young people. It is hard to get a young man to look back at you to consider another way of life,' said Rev. Jackson. 'Churches have to get more grittier. There should be no reason that churches are not seeking to be as creative as they can be and to have that kind of impact.'

"Jackson says the House Covenant reached about 9,000 young people last year. "

I would like to know what the term "reached" means here, but it's clearly a promising start.

Posted by Stan Guthrie at June 7, 2007 8:39AM | Comments (5)

It's evident from Francis Beckwith's Ignatius Press interview that the former Evangelical Theological Society president has spent the last few weeks thinking about how to articulate his journey back to Rome. He explains the decision by appealing to one typical reason for why some Protestants find refuge in the Roman Catholic Church. "I thought to myself that if sola scriptura can result in everything fr