It is the Day of Atonement in the Jewish community, a day of fasting, prayer and repentance. 

In addition to fasting, I learned several years ago that Jewish congregations revisit the book of Jonah on Yom Kippur.

The story of the reluctant prophet Jonah and his unsuccessful attempt to flee from God and God’s assignment is meaningful, bringing up themes of hope, repentence, forgiveness and responsibility.

Yom Kippur is a time to ask God’s foregiveness and to ask the forgiveness of those one has wronged. It is also a time to forgive others.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

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

Carey Casey, (Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman)

Carey Casey said he is living out his dream to transform America.

Casey, chief executive officer of the National Center for Fathering, believes the nation’s transformation will come when fathers become the leaders they were destined to be.

In Oklahoma City May 16-17 for a “Championship Fathering” conference, Casey contends that fathers simply need encouragement and the right tools to lead their families and help shape future generations.

“Fathers can really be that voice and really speak into their children’s lives instead of running (away),” Casey said. “I have to be one of the voices to cut off the curse in America.” 

The “curse” Casey refers to is what he calls “fatherlessness in America.” He said a large percentage of children, particularly black children, live in homes where the father is not present.

“When daddy’s not there” statistics show that boys are more likely to drop out of school and become involved in crime and girls are more likely to get pregnant, he said.

“You’re almost behind the eight ball right of the bat, but all that can be turned around if the dad is simply there,” he added.

That’s where Casey the dreamer comes in.

As CEO of the Kansas City-based center on fathering, he travels around the country speaking to dads of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Casey, married with children himself, said he tells fathers that people are all the same — “they desire to see a sermon, rather than just someone preaching.

“Preaching is important but our lives need to be examples.”

Casey said many dads think they need to be perfect to be good role models for their kids, but there is no perfect father except “the heavenly Father.”

After meeting fathers at the recent conference at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Casey said “Oklahoma City has a date with destiny.

“If we’re going to cut off the curse of the violence, the struggles in the education system, the economics, the healthcare issues, we’re going to cut it off with the fathers.”