Momentum
By Ruth Schenk | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The line-up of national celebrities for Momentum, Oct. 4-8, is all-star impressive. Hearing and seeing superstars tell their stories is exciting, especially since each one has been chosen for their faith as well as their talent.
But this week is about more than entertainment. It’s about outreach.
“Momentum will be a waste if the rooms are filled with just members of this church,” Stone said. “The goal is to invite people to Southeast who don’t have a church home. It’s a non-threatening outreach, a way to invite friends, neighbors and co-workers to hear unique speakers. We’ve included a variety of events for different interests and age groups.”
Man vs. Wild | Monday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.
More than 1.2 billion viewers around the world watch Bear Grylls climb cliffs, parachute from helicopters, paraglide, ice climb, run through forest fires, wade rapids, eat snakes, wrestle alligators, eat insects and free climb waterfalls.
Riveted fans watch Grylls eat crazy, wild foods like camel stomach intestines, scorpions, snakes, yak eyeballs, goat organs and bear poo.
When asked why he pits himself against the worst conditions, Grylls says, “It’s what I love. It’s what I’ve always wanted. I never aspired to be smart or rich. I just wanted to follow my dreams and have loads of fun. I am really lucky that I have a job that involves climbing trees and getting covered in mud.”
Grylls grew up on an island in the English Channel, has a black belt in karate and spent three years with the British Special Forces as a trooper, survival instructor and patrol medic. What he does is even more remarkable in light of what he’s been through. While in special forces in Africa, he fell from a parachute, breaking his back in three places. He persevered through months of rehabilitation to fulfill his dream to climb Mount Everest.
He was just 23 when he set out on that journey, surviving 90 days of extreme weather. On the way down from that climb, he was almost killed in a crevasse at 19,000 feet, but on May 28, 1998, he became the youngest British climber to successfully climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. He’s been taking chances ever since.
In addition to being a TV host, crazy person/star survivor and family man, Grylls is a Christian man of faith.
When explaining his faith to Urban Christian News, Grylls used words like “home” and “being held.”
And when asked what that means, he said, “It’s about being strengthened. It’s about having a backbone run through you from the Person who made you. It’s about being able to climb the biggest mountains in the world with the Person who made them.”
Grylls’ adventures benefit a host of charities, including Global Angels Kids, championing the cause of child refugees, and Alpha, a 10-week course introducing people to the Christian faith, in which no question about life or God is too simple or too hostile.
In Grylls’ words, faith is the ultimate journey.
A Night with the Chapman Family | Tuesday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Anyone who listens to Christian music knows Steven Curtis Chapman. Born in Paducah, Ky., he has more than 50 Dove Awards, five Grammys, an American Music Award, two certified platinum and 10 gold albums, more than 10 million total albums sold and 45 No. 1 radio hits.
Steven and his wife Mary Beth adopted three girls from China and became advocates for adoption with the creation of their foundation, Show Hope, to mobilize individuals and communities to care for orphans as well as adoption aid grants to help put more orphans from overseas into loving, forever families.
Faith shines through his life and music.
But it’s never been more real than the horrific days the Chapmans had to deal with loss.
On May 21, 2008, the Chapman’s youngest daughter, Maria Sue, was hit by an SUV in the driveway of their family home, where everyone had gathered to celebrate their oldest son’s upcoming graduation from high school and their oldest daughter’s engagement.
After the accident, the Chapmans began to speak publically about their loss and the role that their faith played in it all. They appeared on Good Morning America, Larry King Live, in People Magazine and on the 700 Club.
In the Show Hope tour with the whole Chapman family, they sing some of Steven’s most memorable hits and share about real faith that has held them up through unbearable loss.
“We’ve prayed for months that each evening of this tour will be an opportunity to ponder important things, to celebrate the hope we have in Jesus and the great hope I’m so thankful carries us all,” Steven said.
Mary Beth will join her husband for the first time ever on tour.
“There are three things I told God I would never do: homeschool, adopt and speak in public,” she said. “Well, we’ve already homeschooled, you know we’ve adopted, and now I’ll be on stage speaking at Steven’s concerts.”
With a smile Mary Beth added, “Now I’m telling God I won’t go to Hawaii for three months.”
In 2009, the Chapmans finished building Maria’s Big House of Hope, a medical center that provides holistic care to orphans with special needs. It is dedicated to Maria.
pureNRG | Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
Fasten your seatbelt for high octane energy with a message and sing along with pureNRG.
Their mission is to entertain, educate and promote Christian values through uplifting lyrics, music and dance.
“Our purpose is to teach kids to be godly and provide a positive ‘other’ choice for our age group. We hope our music will cross all boundaries and that it is so powerful the world can’t help but notice,” they posted on their website.
PureNRG rapidly became one of the most popular young acts in both mainstream and Christian circles. They have become a favorite on Radio Disney and have logged a tremendous number of miles on the road, performing with Jump5 and the Winter Jam tour with MercyMe, BarlowGirl and Skillet.
The group-comprised of Carolyne, Jordan and Caroline, describe themselves as “high energy and something that you can let your kids listen to.”
It passes the parent test.
“With my mom, if we want a CD, she has to check it out first, and I think parents will feel very at ease with the CD and the songs because of the message,” Carolyne said. “They know their kids will be having fun, but also listening to good music.”
The Biggest Loser | Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
When Danny Cahill tipped the scales at 430 pounds, he knew he had to lose weight. He was living in heart attack territory and had to lose more than 100 pounds to save his life. According to an interview with The Tulsa Beacon, Danny’s concerned family even staged an intervention to convince him to lose weight.
“My excuses were gone,” he said. “I stepped up to the plate. I knew I would do well. I had faith. This was ordained by God.”
Danny battled obesity since he was young, losing weight, then regaining it.
His faith in Christ was his biggest motivation to lose weight–along with his desire to raise his children.
He took a sabbatical from being the praise and worship leader at The Bridge fellowhship in Bixby, Okla., to appear on The Biggest Loser television reality show. He won by losing 239 pounds in six months. He’s a shadow of his former self.
The only souvenir he kept from his bigger life is a single pair of pants – a reminder that he went from a size 56 waist to a size 34.
He now encourages others.
In the process, he learned the importance of making healthy decisions in diet, exercise and health.
A big family equals big blessings | Thursday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.
Millions find Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar fascinating. Their reality program, 19 Kids and Counting, is in its fifth season on TLC. The megafamily with nine girls and 10 boys has been in the spotlight even more as millions followed Josie, the youngest Duggar, who was born at just 25 weeks gestation.
Strong Christians, they said their No. 1 goal is to lead their children into a close relationship with God.
They begin the day with family Bible study and schedule regular heart-to-heart talks with each of their children. Older children in the family “buddy” up with younger ones to study phonics, math, violin and piano. After lunch, each child works on individual studies.
At 9 p.m. every night, the children have Bible time with Jim Bob as he reads Scripture, and they discuss the passage together. There is a master schedule of each family member’s responsibilities displayed on the kitchen wall. Individual daily checklists cover schoolwork, chores, music lessons and personal hygiene.
The Duggars believe in praising 10 times more than correcting, shopping at thrift stores and garage sales, and paying in cash.
Sing Yourself Silly | Friday, Oct. 8
Veggie mania has exploded since Veggie Tales began in 1989 as the creation of Phil Vischer. He began using vegetables with big personalities to teach timeless truths about character, good choices and biblical values. Silly songs like Love my Lips, His Cheeseburger and Oh, Where is My Hairbrush make learning fun. And there’s a lot to learn from Bob the tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Junior Asparagus and others.
The Veggie Tales will kick into high gear for an unforgettable, silly song night.
Time to Shine | Friday, Oct. 8
More than 1,200 volunteers will provide an elegant, unforgettable night of dining and dancing for special guests with disabilities. They will be pampered at the beauty salon, dress in formal attire, sample refreshments from around the globe and enjoy carnival games and dancing.