August 13, 2009 -- 2nd interview with Dora Gianoulakis – aired after a hearing before the St. Louis (MO) County Planning Commission.

August 4th, 2009 -- first interview – aired before the hearing. Dora Gianoulakis (john a like' us), refused to let the “powers that be” easily push a new casino into her neighborhood.  As President of the board of her neighborhood association (www.spanishlakemo.org), she, her board unanimously, and others refused to give into all the glitz, glitter, negatives and devastation that casinos inevitably produce.  Hear Dora’s “fire” in resisting the high pressure efforts of politicians, bureaucrats and big gambling money people to ruin her community.     

The Global Day of Prayer is now world-wide.  It was birthed in Africa, and Africa invited to rest of the world to join them.  Nearly every country in the world now takes part. Charlie Fay, Coordinator of the Global Day of Prayer in St. Louis (www.praystl.org, www.globaldayofprayer.com), provides an inspirational explanation of it, encouraging others to participate. His great focus to obey the command of Jesus found in John 17:20-23 that all those belonging to Jesus would be “one.”  Charlie, a retired executive of the A. G. Edwards financial house in St. Louis, MO, is the president of the Clayton, MO chapter of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship and a board member of the Christian Broadcasting Network (www.cbn.com).  Near the end of the interview he is invited to reflect on the life of Ben Edwards, longtime Chief Executive Officer of A. G. Edwards, who had just passed away.  Mr. Edwards grew his company into the largest financial house in the country “… west of Wall Street.”  Charlie is able to speak in glowing terms of the man who built a great company on character, integrity, and other great Biblical values.  “In all his years as company head, Ben Edwards never laid anyone off!”

See www.thedredscottfoundation.org.

With a great concern regarding the many of today’s lost young people, Franklin Graham is leading a tremendous effort to reach and show love to thousands of them through Rock the River.  As an attraction to young people, Rock the River brings in several famed youth bands to perform their music.  Throughout the several hours of concerts, Franklin preaches three or four brief messages of hope, love, and salvation in Christ.  See www.rocktherivertour.com.  “It’s not my kind of music,” Franklin says. “I’ll probably have to bring my earplugs!  But we want to reach the young people.”  Performing under the St. Louis, MO, Arch on Sunday, August 2, 2:30 – 9:30 PM are Flyleaf, Kirk Franklin, Red, Canton Jones, Hawk Nelson, Lecrae, Skillet, and Action Sports – Jsaw.  For months numerous BGEA staff members have been focusing on preparing for RTR … and the BGEA is donating more than a million dollars to “bless” the thousands impacted by it.  Local churches and individuals are needed to provide the remaining $500,000 in necessary financing.   Franklin Graham, older son of Evangelist Billy Graham, is the president and CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and the international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.   

Missouri Senators and Representatives, Democrats and Republicans, are grieved upon facing their state budget crisis.  Hundreds of millions in budget shortfalls could mean very painful cuts of important services and thus hurt many of Missouri’s citizens.  In bipartisan fashion lawmakers have sought the help of trusted spiritual leaders to organize a statewide effort of prayer to address the crisis.  In response, leaders of the National Day of Prayer, the Missouri Family Network, and others have responded.  A plan of 40 Days of Prayer is begun with Anne Graham Lotz (www.annegrahamlotz.com), daughter of the famed Billy Graham, invited and leading a time of prayer in the Rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol Building on Monday, March 29^th, from 12:00 noon until 1:30.  Many will do prayer walking in the halls of the Capitol Building, welcomed by lawmakers.  The conclusion of the 40 Days of Prayer will coincide with the date that the Missouri Constitution requires that a budget be approved for the following year … which is also on the National Day of Prayer.  It is hoped that every praying Missourian, as well as many others, will respond to the urging of Missouri’s Senators and Representatives: taking part in sincere prayers of repentance … pleading with God to work in us … so that He will be pleased to mercifully help Missouri’s government serve the people in ways that He intends.

Joni Hannigan spent the week before the 2010 Super Bowl in south Florida covering it for Baptist Press. 

She writes about … and talks on radio about … 

• The Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad and its widespread discussion and support by the players;
• Interview with Michael Oher (oar) of Ole Miss and the Baltimore Ravens whose story is featured in the smash him movie, “The Blind Side;”
• Testimonies of faith in Jesus, openly expressed by pro athletes … several from both Super Bowl teams;
• Second generation Haitian Pierre Garcon of the Colts, member of a Belle Reeve, Fl, Haitian Baptist Church;

Quotes from www.bpnews.net and www.gofbw.com, such as …

Kevin Mawae, center for the Tennessee Titans, said after the Pro Bowl: “I’ve been married 17 years and my wife Tracy is my No. 1 accountability partner, and that’s the only way you can do it. A man can’t be on an island by himself; he’s got to have someone there to keep him spiritually healthy and keep him accountable to himself and to God.”

Drew Brees, the Saint’s quarterback since 2006, recently told a Christian magazine writer he invited Christ into his life on his 17th birthday during a Sunday church service in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
 
Rookie Colts defensive back Jerraud Powers delivered a stirring testimony about God’s work in his life."I just started asking my mom a ton of questions about God, about Jesus, about sin, about everything. And when I was 12 I ended up getting saved."

Nearly 200 South Florida Baptist Churches composed of mostly Haitians…and many others Baptist teams involved in disaster relief … on the ground in Haiti providing great help there (100% of all donations through www.flbaptist.org go to Haitian relief -- administration and salaries are paid from other sources);
 
The added pain of many Haitian mothers having to “split” their families … Haitian children born in the US, thus citizens, allowed into the USA, and their other children, born in Haiti, not allowed in.

Joni and I briefly reminisce about our shared happy time of serving on the board of the terrific Christian school, Hannibal-LaGrange College in Mark Twain’s Hannibal, MO.  (I rotated off. She’s is still serving … where she and her husband went to college.)

And much more …

Joni Hannigan is the Managing Editor of the Florida Baptist Witness which partners with Baptist Press News Service for coverage of major news events. During Super Bowl XLIV she and two Baptist Press colleagues are providing extensive coverage this week. Again, her inspirational articles and many more can be found at www.bpnews.net and www.gofbw.com. (Shouldn’t these websites be added to our “favorites?”)

Part 1

Part 2

It began with 16-year-old twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris writing a “blog.” Five years later it is a “full blown” nationwide movement!  Their website, for instance, has received more that 35 million “hits.”  Now The Rebelution tour  (www.therebelution.com) is visiting cities through the USA, challenging their fellow young people to “do hard things” (www.dohardthings.com). During this radio time Alex tells the story of its development, noting upcoming tour visits to such cities as Atlanta, Nashville, and on August 28, 2010 St. Louis, MO.  Hear Alex discuss The Rebelution in his own words.  

Alex Harris’ bio:

With his brother Brett founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today is among the most widely read young writers on the Web. He and his twin brother Brett serve as the main speakers for The Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured nationally on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and The New York Times, as well as in publications like WORLD magazine, Breakaway, and Ignite Your Faith. Their first book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations, was released in 2008 by Multnomah Books. Their second book, Start Here, came out just this year.

Sons of homeschool pioneers Gregg and Sono Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Alex and Brett have a passion for God and for their generation. Their personal interests include politics, filmmaking, music, basketball, and soccer. And food. They like food.

Sadly, their mother (of seven children) died on Independence Day, July 4, 2010, just 16 days before this recording.  In his comments Alex said something like: “She went home to Heaven with the celebration of fireworks!”

It might have been an ongoing neighborhood upset, but our Kansas City son revealed that he is indeed a “…man of peace…” (Luke 10:6). One of Stephen’s daughters was helping her brother deliver newspapers in a hurry, running from house to house in the process. One of the papers hit against a subscriber’s door. The neighbor came out to see our granddaughter running away. Thinking she was doing some mischief, he yelled at her…and brought our sensitive granddaughter to tears. I was so moved and pleased when I heard the story of how our son and daughter-in-law handled this delicate situation that otherwise could have “festered” into neighborhood misunderstanding and resentment for years. That same day, after his work Stephen went to the neighbor’s home to calmly address the matter. You will love our 12-minute radio time of the story of the resulting peace, blessing, and bonding that emerged from this Christ-like approach to crisis. And we are delighted that our grandchildren saw firsthand from Godly parents of how God can work in doing things the right way.

It’s a fun radio conversation with Peter Herschend of Herschend Family Entertainment (www.hfecorp.com), owners of Silver Dollar City of Branson, MO, and 16 other very family friendly major entertainment venues in nine states.  They include Dixie Stampede’s, The Branson Belle, Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Dollywood (in partnership with Dolly Parton) in Gatlinburg, TN, and numerous others.  The Herschend Family Entertainment mission is to “Create memories worth repeating;” and its purpose is “Bringing families closer together.” Pete takes gratification in the fact that visitors can take their grandparents…or their grandchildren…to any of the Herschend  properties and enjoy it without embarrassment.  The Caring People (www.thecaringpeople.org), a ministry to single moms, founded by JoDee (Mrs. Peter) Herschend, is referenced.   Peter Herschend was just recently inducted in the 2010 MO Sports Hall of Fame as a cyclist, having raised ¼ Million $s for the MS Society.  Some laughs during the conversation are at the expense of Peter’s college roommate and longtime friend, Rev. Bill McConkey, Senior Pastor of Sutter Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO.  Listen, laugh, and look ahead as you consider your next family friendly and fun vacation destination.