Early word on “Billy: The Early Years”
I’m predicting that this time next week many in the Oklahoma Christian faith community will flock to theaters to see the new film “Billy: The Early Years.”
The movie starring actor Armie Hammer (who also had roles in the TV show “Veronica Mars” and the feature film “Flicka”) premieres on Oct. 10.
So many Oklahomans love and respect Billy Graham — that much I know from covering the evangelist’s successful Oklahoma City mission effort several years ago.
In the months before the mission event, I had an opportunity to do some research on Graham and I learned quite a few things about him.
The upcoming movie is another opportunity to learn even more about the renowned preacher.
How much do you know about him?
Here’s a little quiz, based on trivia found on the official “Billy” movie site at www.billytheearlyyears.com and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Web site:
1. What year was Billy Graham born?
2. He was born on a dairy farm in what state?
3. How many times has Graham appeared on the Gallup organization’s “Top Ten List of Most Admired Men in the World”?
4. What year did Graham and his beloved wife Ruth (now deceased) receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5. What year did he found his evangelistic association?
6. Name Graham’s five children.
7. In what country did Ruth Bell Graham, spend her childhood?
8. In 1934 at age 16, Graham made a personal commitment to Christ through the ministry of what traveling evangelist?
9. What are the names of the two men who have traveled with Graham for most of his evangelistic crusades and missions?
10. What nickname was Graham given by students at Wheaton College, where he met and fell in love with Ruth McCue Bell?
Check back later today for the answers.
Incidentally, ever want to drop Billy Graham a line, perhaps send him your best wishes? You can do it online by visiting the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Web site at http://www.billygraham.com/
Click on a link to wish the evangelist a happy birthday (which he celebrates on Nov. 7).
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Promise Keepers’ leader returns
After attending a Promise Keepers men’s conference a few years ago at the Ford Center, I know one thing for certain: Many Christian men in Oklahoma love the Promise Keepers organization and its mission to help them continue their Christian journey as husbands, fathers, church members …
Now comes news of interest regarding Promise Keepers.
Religion News Service reports that Bill McCartney, the former college football coach who helped found Promise Keepers, has come out of retirement to lead the evangelical Christian group.
McCartney, 68, has returned as chief executive officer and chairman of the ministry. McCartney replaces Tom Fortson, who resigned voluntarily, Promise Keepers general counsel Ed O’Brien told the RNS.
The Religion News Service reports that in 1996, the group drew 1.1 million men to 22 stadium conferences; 10 years later, 18 conferences attracted some 132,000. Also, according to the RNS, the Denver-based group has dealt with a decline in gifts, grants and contributions.
McCartney, former coach of the
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Palin bio book race
An earlier posting included information about Zondervan’s plans to publish a biography about GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in October.
Well it seems there is a race between Zondervan and another evangelical publishing house, Tynedale House Publishers, to be the first to offer Palin’s bio.
Religion News Service recently reported that Tyndale House has begun distributing a paperback edition of a new book “Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Alaska Political Establishment Upside Down” by Alaska freelance writer Kaylene Johnson.
That book first came out in April as a release from Epicenter Press, according to the RNS, and Tyndale is now printing 250,000 copies.
Meanwhile, Joe Hilley’s book “Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader,” will be released Oct. 10 by Zondervan.
The RNS reports that both biographies highlight Palin’s Christian faith as a formative force.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
‘Faith moms’ for Palin
The Christian Defense Coalition is reminding folks to remember that key demographic groups in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections were “soccer and security moms.”
Today the coalition, in a Christian Newswire statement, says that “faith moms” will play a key role in deciding who goes to the White House.
“Faith moms,” the coalition said, represent ”millions of women who attend weekly Bible studies; volunteer for and coordinate church activates and are the foundation of thousands of churches across America.”
These faith moms have been energized by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain’s running mate, ”like no other national candidate in history.”
The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, the coalition’s director said Palin has energized faith moms just like Democrat Barack Obama has galvanized American blacks.
“Governor Palin has motivated these ‘Faith Moms’ in a way that no politician has ever done before,” Mahoney said in his statement.
“In fact, many of the women that I have talked with over the past week have been disillusioned with the political process because they felt that their political leaders in Washington have been out of touch with their concerns and values. That has all changed now that ‘one of them’ has been nominated for Vice- President of the United States.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Evangelicals: Love ‘em or leave ‘em?
There’s been a lot of talk this election season about evangelicals. As Americans prepare to head to the voting booths, we’ve all seen the headlines: Evangelicals are for McCain, Evangelicals get behind Palin, Evangelicals sceptical of Obama.
A new study by the Barna Group takes a look at what Americans think about evangelicals — what non-evangelicals think about this group and what evangelicals think about themselves.
According to the Barna survey, evangelicals are “perceived with a mix of skepticism and respect.
“Americans are not always sure what to make of evangelicals, but they believe the voting bloc has significant influence.”
Barna took a look at eight perceptions of evangelical voters and four of the statements represented the most widely held views:
- That evangelicals will have a significant influence effect on the election outcome (59 percent of American adults said this was either “very” or “somewhat accurate” regarding evangelical voters);
- That evangelicals will cause the political conversation to be more conservative (59 percent;
- That they will be spend too much time complaining and not enough time solving problems (59 percent);
- And that they will be misunderstood and unfairly described by news media (56 percent).
Barna found this to be surprising: Only half of Americans (52 percent) felt that evangelical voters would focus primarily on homosexuality and abortion.
Meanwhile, roughly half said that evangelicals will minimize social justice issues (47 percent) and another 47 percent felt they believe that evangelicals will vote overwhelmingly Republican. Roughly two out of every five Americans (44 percent) believed evangelicals will not approach the election with an open mind.
On the other end of this survey are the self perception of evangelicals.
According to the Barna survey, ”in many ways, they exude both confidence and concern.”
The survey said evangelicals widely contend that they will have a significant influence on the election (84 percent), yet the also firmly believe that they will be misunderstood and unfairly depicted by media (81 percent).
Three-quarters of evangelicals believe their peers will cause the conversation to be more conservative (75 percent). A similar proportion indicates their fellow believers will vote overwhelmingly with the Republican Party (74 percent).
Barna leaders found these statistics intriguing: In all, 48 percent of evangelicals believe it is accurate that their voting peers will focus primarily on abortion and homosexuality, while 45 percent reject this characterization. Also, just 28 percent of evangelicals contend that their tribe will minimize social justice issues, like poverty and immigration; 69 percent of evangelicals disagreed.
Interesting survey, don’t you think?
We are sure to hear more about the influence of evangelicals as the presidential election draws near.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Bio on Palin coming up
Zondervan will release a biography on vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, as early as October.
Zondervan, which describes itself as the world’s leading Christian publishers of books, said the new biography “Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader,” will be written by author Joe Hilley.
The book will explore themes from her career in politics, her life as a hockey mom, and her strongly held Christian faith, explaining how they influence her new style of leadership and align with our changing economy in the information age.
“Regardless of your political persuasion, it is clear that Sarah Palin has quickly electrified the 2008 election and sparked a nationwide dialogue and debate,” Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan, said in the publishing company’s statement.
“We are honored to publish this book that will provide readers with a comprehensive look into the life and rising political career of Sarah Palin.”
Hilley, of Alabama, said he will explore the leadership principles that have jettisoned Alaska Gov. Palin into the national spotlight.
“We live in an age that values relationship over authority and instant information over accuracy, so breadth of knowledge and depth of conviction are the most prized commodities for our leaders,” Hilley said in Zondervan’s statement.
“Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin brings both of these qualities and more to her new role as John McCain’s running mate and I’m eager for readers to have the opportunity to know her and her brand of leadership more thoroughly.”
(AP Photo above: Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is joined by her daughter Piper as she waves to the crowed at the end of Sen. John McCain’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday.)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Palin packs positive punch for McCain, evangelical says
With all the stories and comments about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin these days, I wondered what Southern Baptist Convention leader Richard Land had to say about the vice presidential nominee.
Turns out Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, shared his views of Palin’s impact on Sen. John McCain’s presidential bid on CNN’s The Situation Room just a few hours ago.
According to the transcript of the show, available on CNN.com, Land said he thinks the addition of Palin is a positive for McCain as he seek’s the nation’s highest office with her as his running mate.
“It looks like, when they picked her, that they put the whole base on Red Bull. Yes, it is amazing how it has energized the base,” Land is reportedly said on the cable TV news show.
Land visited Oklahoma City on Aug. 19 at the request of the Capital Baptist Association of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. During my interview with him, he predicted that McCain has particularly gained support from evangelicals because of his pro-life stance.
Land has never been one to mince words so I could easily see him likening Palin’s impact on McCain’s evangelical support base to a surge of a high profile energy drink.
That’s got to be good news to McCain’s camp.
(Photo above, David McDaniel/The Oklahoman: Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, talk about religion and politics during an August interview in Oklahoma City.
Religion Editor
Carla Hinton
