Kirk Franklin heading to OKC
It’s official: Gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin is bringing his “Fight of Our Life Health Tour” to Oklahoma City on Nov. 22. 
Franklin’s concert will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7. The concert is free and will feature guest appearances by local Gospel artist Sean Johnson and Wings of Harmony, a performing arts ensemble.
The tour is in partnership with the American Heart Assocation’s Power to End Stroke initiative. Franklin performed in concert in Tulsa over the summer. An Oklahoma City concert was planned, but officials were working with Franklin’s busy schedule and trying to find an Oklahoma City location to host the event. Many people had been asking me if a date had been set for the Oklahoma City concert so I’m glad that I can finally give them some facts.
I just saw Franklin perform at the 2009 Woman Thou Art Loosed Conference at Bishop T.D. Jake’s church The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He was, as usual, outstanding. As part of the upcoming health tour, the Grammy Award-winning artist will encourage concert-goers to pledge to take control of their health, reduce their risk of stroke and learn the warning signs of stroke.
Save the date.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Women of Faith is just days away
Someone always asks me a question that’s easy to answer about this time of year: Why are all these women — thousands — crowding into the Ford Center?
It’s because Women of Faith 2009 is here … just days away, in fact.
With the theme “A Grand New Day,” the conference will be Friday and Saturday at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno.
Judging from years past, there will indeed be thousands of women flocking to downtown Oklahoma City come Friday.
Women of Faith’s core presenters include Oklahoma native and contemporary Christian recording artist Sandi Patty (at right), Marilyn Meburg, Sheila Walsh, Patsy Clairmont and Luci Swindoll. Lisa Whelchel (pictured below), star of NBC TV’s’1970’s-80’s sitcom “The Facts of Life,” will be one of the guest presenters.
Women from all over Oklahoma and some other states in the region are expected to attend the two-day conference.
See you there …
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
The Book of Destiny
It doesn’t surprise me that interest is growing in the Mayan prophecy that says the end of the world is to happen during the year 2012.
I just wanted to let readers know of another book out that also deals with the prophecy. It appears to offer perspective different than the one espoused by local author the Rev. Mark Hitchcock, who wrote “2012: The Bible and the End of The World.”
It’s called “The Book of Destiny: Unlocking the Secrets of the Ancient Mayans and the Prophecy of 2012 (HarperOne, $23.99)” by Carlos Barrios.
Here’s what the publisher has to say about the book: “Anthropologist and Mayan expert Carlos Barrios helps clarify just what the 2012 date means to us, and how we can all best prepare ourselves to meet the coming change the Mayans believe has long been written in the destiny of our planet. Written at the request of the Mayan Elders, “The Book of Destiny” is a tool to help people understand their life purpose and to use this profound knowledge to make the best of their time on earth.
“According to the Sacred Mayan Calendar and its corresponding horoscope, our lives have been predestined, and our better understanding of this often-ignored horoscope helps one use this knowledge to beneficially interact with the world around us.”
Who knows? A follow to Saturday’s story on Hitchcock’s book may be forthcoming.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
The end of the world?
ark Hitchcock, author of the new book “2012: The Bible and the End of the World.”Contest for fundraising religious groups
Lifetime Products, one of the world’s largest makers of folding tables and chairs, plans to give out “Spirited Fundraiser Grants” to seven religious organizatons through an essay contest that continues through Oct. 30.
A news release explaining the contest said the grants are vailed at about $2,100 each including cash and folding tables and chairs for use in future fundraisers.
Employees of religious organizations can apply by submitting an essay describing their organization’s most creative, successful fundraiser. All entries must be submitted no later than Oct. 30, 3009.
Has your religious group been especially creative in the area of fundraising? Check out the entry information and official rules for Lifetime Product’s contest here: http://www.lifetime.com/page/tipssolutions/spirited-fundraiser.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Hillsong United coming to big screen
Hillsong United is to make its big screen debut on Nov. 4 with “Hillsong United: We’re All in This Together,” a special hosted live from Australia.
The special will include the contemporary worship group’s live performance from their home church in Sydney and conclude with the debut of their documentary “The I Heart Revolution: We’re All in This Together.”
Filmed over two years, the documentary follows the band as they learn about the stories of people facing injustice and hardships around the world.
“It’s a story made up of many stories, told by many voices, no individual voice any more or any less important than any other, yet every voice working together to ultimately tell the ONE story — a story that involves everyone,” Joel Houston, Hillsong United member, said in a news release.
He called the special “part documentary, part apologetic, part call to action.”
The one-night-only special will be shown in 440 movie theaters nationwide, including Cinemark Tinseltown, 6601 Martin Luther King, and AMC Quail Springs Mall 24, 2501 W Memorial Road, in Oklahoma City. The show at both theaters starts at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Ryan’s legacy
Covering religion and spirituality means that I’m often surrounded by uplifting stories that touch my heart.
Such is the case of the story of Ryan McAfee, 19, (pictured below) the young man who was killed in a car accident earlier this year.
Ryan’s story, chronicled in today’s Oklahoman, is one that blends life and death and faith and hope all in one.
Kellye Medley, a family friend of the McAfees, said organizers of tonight’s Matthew West concert expect between 2,500 and 3,000 people to show up for the event.![Ryan_McAfee_-_2009-2-233x300[1]](http://blog.newsok.com/religionandvalues/files/2009/10/Ryan_McAfee_-_2009-2-233x3001.jpg "Ryan_McAfee_-_2009-2-233x300[1]")
Matthew West heard about Ryan McAfee after West’s song “The Motions” was played at the young man’s funeral. The McAfee family had learned that Ryan McAfee had posted the lyrics to the song on his last posting on his Facebook wall.
West was so interested in Ryan’s story that he’s kicking off his multi-city tour in Ryan’s hometown of McAlester tonight and Lance McAfee, 22, Ryan’s brother, will be going on tour with West to share his brother’s story with thousands of West’s fans.
“I get to encourage brothers and sisters, Christians and non-Christians alike,” Lance McAfee told me. “I get to tell them that we’re here to serve Christ and to serve others by giving our all today.”
The McAfee family said they were especially pleased that even in death, Ryan touched people and helped guide them to the Lord. His mother, Linda McAfee said about 15 young people gave their lives to Christ during an altar call at the youth’s funeral.
Ryan’s father, Danny McAfee said young people have come up to him to tell him that Ryan led them to the Lord.
“He inspired people,” Danny McAfee said.
The Rev. Kevin Meridth is the family’s pastor at Second Baptist Church in McAlester.
He said he was not surprised that so much has happened as a result of the faith-filled life that Ryan McAfee led and his last Facebook posting.
He said the youth was a “young man of great character and integrity.”
Meridth said he preached the eulogy at McAfee’s funeral and was thrilled when young people responded to the altar call that was suggested by the family.
“From a pastor’s standpoint, he (Ryan) lived his life in such a way that his testimony preached his own funeral.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Freemasons the focus of new Dan Brown book
OK, it’s official.
Freemasons are an integral part of “The Lost Symbol,” the new Dan Brown book released today.
I saw Brown’s interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s “Today” show this morning and he said as much as he and Lauer talked about some of the key elements in the book.
Saturday’s LIFE section featured a Religion News Service story about masons around the country preparing for people’s curiousity should their fraternal organization be featured prominently in the book. Also, I wrote a story about a top leader in the Oklahoma Grand Lodge, a masons’ organization representing about 250 masonic groups in the state, who said he has been preparing his masons groups for inquisitive “Symbol” readers.
Looks like they were right to be prepared.
In today’s television interivew, tt was interesting to hear Brown tell why he chose to focus his literary attention on the masons this time around. Most of us can recall that the Vatican was the subject of “The Da Vinci Code.” That fiction book stirred up controversy in Rome and other religious circles for its less than pleasant portrayal of the Catholic Church and its assertion that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelane and fathered a child with her.
Anyway, Brown said the masons drew his interest because they are a spiritually-aware group that welcomes not just Christians, but Muslims, Jews and others who believe in God or a higher power. Although they are open in that way, they are still somewhat ”secretive” Brown said.
It seems that that he felt that so-called secretive nature made a good subject for this latest book.
I plan on getting “The Lost Symbol” this week because now I’m interested to see if it lives up to all the hype about secret societies and such.
Interestingly enough, Jim Tresner, 67, the spokesman for the Oklahoma Grand Lodge in Guthrie, said he enjoyed Brown’s bestseller “The Da Vinci Code” and he is also looking forward to reading “The Lost Symbol.”
Tresner, who has been a mason since he was 21, said he is just as curious as everyone else about the book’s premise and how it portrays his beloved masons.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Sept. 8 Today’s Prayer
Sept. 7 Today’s Prayer
