Can promoting Easter church services land you on the 5 o’clock news?

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries



Mike Fabarez



At a time when movie theaters across the country are featuring blockbuster hits promoting murder, drugs, sex, corruption, and the like, is there anything “too controversial” to be shown on the big screen? Compass Bible Church, in Aliso Viejo, Calif., found out first-hand that indeed, promoting Easter on the big screen proved to be too controversial.

This was reveled in a story released by PR Web that went on to say that the 30-second ad produced by the church features short one-liners about what some conspiracy theorists believe may have happened to Jesus Christ some 2,000 years ago, and ends with “find out what we believe about the resurrection at Compass Bible Church.”

It wasn't the conspiracy theories, or controversy with the actual spot that threw red flags for the theaters, but the fact that religious deity was promoted and the name of Jesus Christ was used, according to story. Using completely subjective terms, since there are no official written policies about such usage, the agency for the national theater remarked that their constituents might be offended by such an advertisement.

"We were told we could promote our Easter services with a commercial that featured the date, time and place with some fun bunnies and eggs thrown in," said Mike Fabarez, senior pastor of Compass Bible Church. "But for us, Easter isn't about springtime fun, it's the most important day in Christian history, and we won't water that message down. It's unfortunate that what our country was founded on has now become 'too controversial.'"

Compass Bible Church was promoting its Easter At The Bren services, an annual event that hosts more than 5,000 attendees at the Bren Center on the campus of UC Irvine, on Easter Sunday, April 24.

New book offers fuel for godly relationships

Special to The Pew

The recently released book “Married to Commitment” is designed to be an inspirational tool for healing in broken marriages and other forms of relationships, positive reinforcement for healthy ones and a resource of encouragement for anyone looking to strengthen communication with others, such as family members, neighbors and colleagues.

The book is a collaborative effort by friends Donald Lee, a freelance columnist, copy editor and pastor in Dallas, and Brigitte "Bre" Eaton, an intercessor and associate pastor in Houston.

A little more than a year ago, Lee was inspired by God to write a lengthy series of columns that centered on marriage and other kinds of relationships.

At the time the Lord gave Lee the idea to write inspirational columns on relationships, (which also brought healing to many in broken relationships) Lee, a Beaumont, native, and his high school classmate, Eaton, were leading an intercessory prayer (teleconference) line that — to this day — consists of scores of intercessors from around the country.

Lee began writing the columns, using extensive quotes from Eaton. As the columns went on, Lee shared with Eaton his idea to turn the column series into a book. The two then teamed up to co-author "Married to Commitment.”  In other words, this book is about total commitment, the kind you’d see in a marriage.

They raised money to pay for the cost of self-publishing through Xulon Press, a Christian publishing company. And in mid-March 2011, what started out as a thought became a manifested reality.

“Married to Commitment,” which has all the ingredients of a bestseller, can be obtained by calling Xulon Press toll-free at (866) 909-2665 or visiting http://www.xulonpress.com.

Young adult evangelist making impact on ‘generation next’

Special to The Pew

Randal Lee started his ministry by being a light in his school and starting a Bible club that has reached more than 700 students. It is still going today.

Randal Lee

Lee is now making huge strides to spread the word of the Lord and is impacting generation next unlike never before not only through events but through social media.

"If we are Christians then why not show it through Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter?" Lee said.

The 21-year-old youth evangelist is helping teens all across the nation by encouraging teens to live a passionate life for Jesus everyday of their life. Lee said he first sensed a calling into the ministry at the age of 12. He was hesitant of what God wanted him to do, but with much prayer and reading of the word, God has called Lee to ignite a passion for Jesus in the teens of the nation.

"My vision is to encourage other teens to be world changers in their communities and wherever they go in life, to always be a light for Christ in this dark world," said the Meridian, Miss., native.

Lee has preached to youth groups, to local churches and to congregations in Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois.

In the past, he has hosted his own radio show, "Ignite," and has interviewed national youth leader Ron Luce with Acquire the Fire and Teen Mania Ministries.

Lee has been interviewed by several Christian radio hosts, including Larry Weidman and Lori Allen.

Read more about Randal Lee at his website, www.randallee.org.

What I want and expect of my pastor

Editor's note: The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Inside The Pew staff.

By Bill Ellis

Special to The Pew

Spring has sprung and the planting season has begun. It is also that time of the year when many pastors may give serious thought to going to another pastorate, or being sent to another church by their superintendent of bishop. Pastors with children at home often want to move in the summer time so as not to disrupt a child's school year. It may also be the time when young college and seminary graduates go to their first church.

It is an exciting time for both pastors and churches. There is always a degree of anxiety. What do churches look for and expect from a pastor?

I asked one layman and leader who has served his church in a variety of ways, "What kind of pastor do you want? Here are some of his "wants" in his pastor.

1. "I want my pastor to preach Bible based sermons every time he steps to the pulpit." Forget about trivia, sports, headline news and personal opinion. Help me understand what God expects of me.

2. "I want my pastor to be an example for all, in the way he has a command of the language in the country where he serves and have compassion for everyone. To be well dressed and physically fit. I want to be proud of him or her and always pleased to introduce my pastor to my friends, business associates and community leaders.

3. "I want my pastor to be in control of the entire church he serves. To be in charge of the worship service. I want him to inform the music director that it is not necessary for everyone to stand for extended periods of time while singing. I can sing and worship God seated as well, and often better, than I can standing and having my weekly physical workout. There are often older congregants who physically are not able to stand more than five minutes if that long.

4. "I want my pastor to seek God's guidance as he plans and prepares budgets, building projects and programs to serve the entire church and community. Must be a praying pastor.

5. "I want my pastor to make no apology for preaching and teaching about tithing and giving generously in addition to the tithe. I want him to emphasize the generous giving of time, talent and treasure to serve others. Our financial responsibility cannot be taken lightly. We must daily remember, 'To whom much is given, from him much will be required' (Luke 12:48 NKJ).

6. "I want my pastor to be a strong supporter of missions throughout the world, but to fully understand that important mission fields exist close by and often in the shadow of the local church.

7. "I want my pastor to remind me and others of the contributions of parishioners who served and serve our country to protect our freedoms and especially the freedom to worship God.

8. "I want my pastor to take time to be with his family and to have a special day for his spouse. Go to the ball games, musical programs, fishing, have a picnic, take vacations with the family. Teach us by example.

9. "I want my pastor to be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, be more powerful than a locomotive and faster than a speeding bullet." If he can do that, he will be just like my pastor, Dr. Hayes Wicker, First Baptist Church, Naples, Fla.

My brother, E. Franklin "Whitey" Ellis, retired educator, contributed much to this column and adds, "My apologies to the women who pastor many churches all over the world, for referring so much to men, but I do include and appreciate your ministry equally.

Bill Ellis is a syndicated columnist and convention and conference speaker on every continent. He can be reached at bill@billellis.net.

Japan benefit concert featuring 'This Is It' singer scheduled

ASSIST News Service

Judith Hill

Half-Japanese singer Judith Hill, who performed at Michael Jackson's memorial services, will lead a benefit concert raising funds for Japan at Biola University. The university plans to raise funding for Japan by repurposing its upcoming Women's History month celebration concert through collecting donations to go towards emergency relief -- concert admission is free. The March 24 show, named after the song "For My Sister," which Hill wrote with Japanese pop star "Ai," is open to the general public and will be an evening of soulful music inspired by women and directed by Rique Pantoja.

Singing a duet alongside America's "king of pop", Jackson, in 2009's hit movie "This is It," songstress and alumna Judith Hill has been recognized by millions of people for her performance and talent. Hill will perform "For My Sister" in honor of Japan and sing portions of the song in Japanese.

Hill's mother was an immigrant from Japan and her father is African American --similar to Japanese pop star Ai's bi-racial background whose father was Japanese and mother is half Japanese and half Italian. The two wrote "For My Sister," which is a representation of their sisterhood. One of the main verses reads "When you need a helpin' hand, I'll be there for my sister... and it doesn't matter where you are. You can never be too far. I'll be there for my sister."

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on March 24 in Crowell Music Auditorium at Biola University and Hill will be accompanied by the Biola Vocal Jazz and Jazz Combo Ensemble.

Composer, pianist and singer Judith Hill graduated from Biola University in 2005 with a degree in music composition, having studied with John Browning of Biola's Conservatory of Music. Following her graduation in 2007, Hill toured the world singing with French pop star Michel Polnareff. She began a career as a singer-songwriter upon her return to the United States. In 2009, she was selected as one of Michael Jackson's back-up singers for his planned comeback "This Is It" tour.

She performed at Jackson's memorial services on July 7, 2009 and attracted global attention when she sang the lead in the song "Heal the World." Hill is now working on her debut album with Dave Stewart.

Spring fan drive is on!

Could you use dinner on The Pew? Whoever brings on the most fans to The Pew's Faceboo page between now and Friday, April 15 wins a gift card to the restaurant of your choice. Keep track of your friend's names and send them to us at pewnews@aol.com by Monday, April 18. Good luck!

Christian Aid Mission asks pastors to 'pray and act for suffering Japanese' in Sunday services

Special to ASSIST News Service
From Christian Aid Mission

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (ANS) -- The Christian Aid Mission relief coordinator for Japan is calling on Americans to pray and collect aid in Sunday services for the Fukusima families who lost who lost loved ones in last week's killer quake.

Christian Aid Mission is sending the aid to Japanese believers working among residents evacuated from the nuclear reactor town on the northeastern coast of Japan. Fukusima is located just below the epicenter of the quake near Sendai.

"This weekend, the emphasis should be on prayer in our churches and collecting a special emergency offering," says Stephen Van Valkenburg, the overseas director in charge of disbursements to Japanese pastors and missionaries who are delivering relief on the ground.

Contributions for the suffering survivors may be made to Christian Aid Mission and designated to Japan Disaster Relief, gift code 850DIS. Credit card donations may be made online at www.ChristianAid.org or by calling 800-977-5650.

"Your contributions to Christian Aid Mission will be sent directly to strategic indigenous ministries in Japan that are meeting basic needs and planning for the future," says Van Valkenburg. "Gifts are not sent through a bureaucracy or to pay for overhead, but go directly to Japanese Christian missionaries who are already physically there on the disaster scene. They are with the suffering people, reaching out to the survivors in word and deed - in the name of Christ, the one who loves and cares for them in this time of tragedy."

Van Valkenburg listed three requests for prayer:
* Pray for the families who are burying their dead or still searching for lost loved ones. From 50-60 are still missing from one of the four chapels in Fukusima. When people face the death of loved ones and the loss of all their earthly possessions, their hearts are laid bare. Christians need the strength to face their trials and then the ability to reach out to those around them.

* Pray for believers to be used by the Lord to personally pray for the hurting ones around them. If a Buddhist and a Christian believer are together in a shelter, the believer needs special grace from the Lord to show hope.

* Pray that the authorities will get the nuclear plants under control and that these problems will turn the hearts of many in that nation to cry out to God.

"These believers need our help to reach out to the suffering in the name of Christ," says Van Valkenburg.

"Christian Aid Mission is sending financial assistance to provide basic needs and to give Christians the resources to reach out to the unbelievers around them. At this critical time, the Japanese people are seeking answers and looking for hope. With Christian Aid's help, local believers are able to provide comfort, encouragement and hope through Jesus Christ.

"Japan has been resistant to the gospel. Pray that God will pour His love upon these people and they will come to know a love that is deeper than their present sorrow."

Pastors and church group leaders who want to send an offering by mail should forward funds to Christian Aid Mission, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Checks should be designated to gift code 850IDS, Japan Disaster Relief.

Hardin-Simmons soccer player missing, presumed dead

Special to The Pew

Kiefer Holman, a student and men’s soccer player, at Hardin-Simmons is missing and presumed dead after a canoeing accident on Lake Ray Hubbard on March 12.

Divers searched Lake Ray Hubbard and used a sonar device to search for Holman who disappeared in the water on Saturday. Searchers say high winds make it difficult to search and blamed high winds as the probable cause of the accident.

According to WFAA in Dallas, Holman was in a canoe with two others on Saturday when his boat capsized. The other two were able to swim to shore but Holman went under. The search resumed on March 14.

Kiefer Holman

"Kiefer was just a good kid, that was fun to be around,” said Hardin-Simmons Head Coach Dan Heger. “He was a freshman that played some early in the year than was injured, but he had a great attitude and he loved Hardin-Simmons. He had decided not to play next year, but just a few weeks ago he hosted a kid from his high school that we are recruiting and really sold him on Hardin-Simmons.”

Although undecided on a major, Heger said that Holman was really being pulled to the ministry.

“Kiefer had started doing some preaching on the side and was really getting the call to the ministry. I think that is the direction he was heading. You knew where Kiefer stood with his faith and he was not afraid to share that with anyone. He just had a big heart and always tried to make people smile. It is a tough situation and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Holman played in two games early in the season. He was a midfielder from Mesquite Poteet High School. His brother Tanner, plays on the soccer team at the University of the Ozarks. 

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Holman family,” said HSU Athletic Director John Neese. “From all accounts Kiefer was an outstanding young man who had a lot of life and personality.”

A memorial page has been set-up on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_199960673357052