I’ve decided to pause and write.
Jackson, Tenn.
The Recap
I arrived in Jackson on Tuesday, March 14. As I mentioned below there were meetings I did not know about and other events that made me excited for the week to come, but also nervous of how I’d handle it. However it was not a bad nervousness, but a good nervousness that makes me focus on ever detail, every time frame to make sure the job is done correctly and to the best I can do it.
Tuesday was another late night, the second in a string of four nights of nearly 3-4 hours of sleep each. Amazingly, I was alert and good each of those nights without drinking a drop of caffeine the whole week.
Monday’s opening game tipped off at 8:30, a tip that could have coincided with the firing of a starter pistol for the track meet I’d run as director of media ops at Oman Arena that week.
The final buzzer sounded for game one as the winning basket hit the nylon net for the University of the Cumberlands, as the Lady Patriots held off Cumberland University’s comeback from 15 points down to almost pull off the win.
The day followed with upsets from the No. 6 seeded teams in the tournament, while the No. 1 seeds won without much of a fight. The story was the same on Thursday for the second half of round two. An interesting statistic in the morning session of day one, was that the visiting team scored 67 points in each of the first three games, however Vanguard University’s strong defense put an end to that interesting, useless fact when they held Texas College to 46 points in the 1:45 game.
By Friday night, I’d written 24 game recaps and two round recaps for the NAIA Tournament. But for the first time, I’d get to sleep past 6:30 on the week. A nice feeling, when hours usually don’t come that early.
By this time I already had the opportunity to get to know the tournament photographer Willis, some of the Trevecca Nazarene players, Lubbock Christian players, reporters from local newspapers and get to know Steven and Allen better, two of the Sports Information Directors of other TranSouth Conference teams that were in the tournament.
Also, because I was one of the first to arrive and the last to leave each night, I received the chance to get to talk with Earnest, one of the maintenance men, or “E” as he preferred to be called.
I slept in Saturday then went to the arena to set up for the quarterfinals. Vanguard opened by holding off a University of the Cumberlands’ attack that almost upset the No. 1 team in the nation, followed by sixth-seeded Lubbock Christian knocking off No. 1 seed Trevecca Nazarene, then The Master’s College tying the game with a last tenth of a second shot by Jessica Seyler to send the game with Freed-Hardeman University to overtime, before winning to knock-off the No. 1 seeded Lady Lions. The night cap was the defending national champions, Union University, beating Oklahoma City in a rematch of last year’s title game, to advance to the “Fab Four”
The next day I hosted the Fab Four Press Conference at the Doubletree Hotel. I was tempted to play Beatles music, but decided not to.
The session lasted nearly two hours, possibly way too long, but it was a good two hours. Stories came out in the press conference that may not have come out otherwise, as we heard from Jessica Seyler and how she came back from what she thought was a career-ending injury to play in the last 12 games of the season. Also, The Master’s Grace Tapely shared what it was like to be sitting on the bench for the tournament after being injured in the opening minutes of the tournament, and having to give up her starting role to a freshman.
I’m not nearly doing justice to the stories here, but they were stories that had the reporters and others in attendance engaged in what was being said. I was disappointed that not more was printed the next day, but it was rewarding to see a small story on Seyler in the Jackson Sun, that most likely would not have been there had it not been for her speaking at the press conference.
Jessica was a source of encouragement for myself over the next few days, just reflecting on her story and the short moments of conversation she and I had off the court. Her ability to look past the troubles that she was going through and keep the positive attitude, plus being the one to go ask the trainer and others what she could do to help them after she played her final game on Monday night was good to watch.
As Barry Faulkner from the Daily Pilot in California kept telling me, that’s a girl that a movie script could be written about.
Anyway, we went on to see Lubbock Christian stay alive into the championship game as this year’s Cinderella, and the lowest seeded team to ever make the championship.
LCU dominated early, but Union countered with offensive and defensive tactics they had not used all year to get past LCU and dominate the last 25 minutes of play, although, LCU made a late run to pull within six.
So, Cinderella fell short of wearing the crown home, as the defending champions won their third title in nine years.
I’ve been asked many times how the tournament went, was it fun, was it worth while.
It went well, and “Yes” to the other two questions.
Did it pass the test to say that sports media relations in where I am supposed to spend my career? I don’t know.
What I do know is that I enjoy telling the story. I enjoyed the moments of helping make the ones who go unnoticed hopefully feel appreciated. I enjoyed the chance to encourage others to tell the story and help them do so.
“Director of Media Opperations” – sounds big and official, doesn’t it?
Although, I think the roll was more like Media Servant... at least that’s what I’d prefer my work on the week to be remember as by the media that was there.
Were there complaints? Yes. Some expected there to be more phone access or more structure for certain aspects. But, those people were only there for one night, so it didn’t matter past that. And after Monday, I think things went well. We still had glitches and problems, but we worked to make sure that things were still able to be done and deadlines met.
It was a good week, but aside from the Championship feeling of standing in the tunnel before the title game and looking up at all the banners, the weekend was more about service than sports.
It was rewarding to help others serve their school or the NAIA. We’ll see lies ahead.
All 34 recaps can be found on the Championship Website.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Blog Update
Yes, there is another update coming soon. No, I have not fallen off the face of the planet. And yes, I did spend more than one day in Jackson at the NAIA Women's Basketball Tournament.
I know some of you have been checking for an update, so I thought I'd put this "disclaimer" up until I can get the next Jackson post up. I sat down a few times in Jackson to write, but after writing non-stop almost through the day, each day, I lost my creative edge, or decided to sleep, then the same has mostly been the case since getting back into "routine".
So, a post is coming soon, more than one most likely. Maybe next week.
I too keep checking my blog, hoping to see it updated, but the blog fairy just won't do it for me.
I know some of you have been checking for an update, so I thought I'd put this "disclaimer" up until I can get the next Jackson post up. I sat down a few times in Jackson to write, but after writing non-stop almost through the day, each day, I lost my creative edge, or decided to sleep, then the same has mostly been the case since getting back into "routine".
So, a post is coming soon, more than one most likely. Maybe next week.
I too keep checking my blog, hoping to see it updated, but the blog fairy just won't do it for me.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
I'm goin' to Jackson...
Day 1
Jackson, Tenn.
Well, the tournament begins in the morning, actually tip-off is nine hours away from when I am writing this. I arrived today around 11 a.m. and checked in at the Jameson Inn, then headed down to the NAIA Headquarters at the Double Tree Hotel.
Upon arrival I learned that my media manual had not arrived yet, nor had the media programs. Steven Aldridge, the SID for Union University and I sat around the lobby waiting, then decided to go grab lunch. He jinxed us on the way to the restaurant. Steven asked if I had heard about a pre-tournament SID meeting, which I had not and neither had he. Well just our luck, while we were waiting for our food to arrive, Steven checked in with his wife about picking up his daughter from day care and I received a call asking if I knew that I had a meeting at 2:30 with the SIDs….”No, but that’s ok…we’ll aim for 2:30, but let the SIDs know we may be a few minutes late,” was my response.
We arrived back about 2:35 after devouring our late barbecue lunch. The media manual was there, which was what I needed to help conduct the meeting, so to say the least, the meeting was strictly improvised – which turned out well.
We’re short some fax lists and media credentials, but that can be taken care of in the morning. After the meeting Steven and I went to Oman Arena where the tournament will be and I set up my “office” for the week that is closed off from the rest of the media room. I also set up the press tables a little. Tomorrow, I’ll need to get there extra early to setup press row for the games and make sure we’re good to go.
I rushed back to the hotel to change clothes then go to the WBCA Kodak All-American Banquet at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, then a quick Wal-Mart run, then back to the hotel to my second office on the week to update the MMC website with our baseball, softball and tennis results from the day.
I was nervous about getting through today with my students helping me out back in Pulaski, but it all worked out great.
The highlight of the day/night is most likely nothing to do with MMC or this tournament, but receiving a call from Andrea from the Gulf South Conference, who was keeping track of the Montevallo game for me.
“They were down 14 at the half, I’ll call you back” – first call
“They just went up with seven minutes to go, but keep swapping leads” – second call
“Overtime” – third call
“86-83…Montevallo” – fourth call.
The Falcons are in their first ever Elite Eight!
In other words….BZZZZZZ…Alfred Kojima’s getting a buzz cut by Marcus Kennedy – an ongoing agreement since our first Sweet 16 appearance two years ago.
Previous to Danny Young’s tenure, the last UM team to go to second round of the National Tournament was the 1995-1996 women’s basketball team (25-4) here in Jackson at Oman Arena in their final year as an NAIA team. Garry Van Atta was head coach at the time of the purple and gold Lady Falcons.
Tomorrow, Van Atta will lead his No. 1 seed Lady Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene University onto the court for his first trip back to Jackson as a coach since March 1996. Oh, Trevecca wears purple and gold.
Every time I speak to Van Atta, including this afternoon, I tell him it’s the purple and gold!
I am hoping to see our four TranSouth teams do well this week. I hope that Van Atta and I can sit down and talk about the Montevallo days sometime soon, most likely not here, but when we do, then maybe I can start working toward the “History of Myrick Hall” book that I thought about and wrote him about two years ago.
Time to roll over and go to bed…I was thinking I’d be nervous. I was earlier today, but not as much now. Tomorrow may be a different story though.
Jackson, Tenn.
Well, the tournament begins in the morning, actually tip-off is nine hours away from when I am writing this. I arrived today around 11 a.m. and checked in at the Jameson Inn, then headed down to the NAIA Headquarters at the Double Tree Hotel.
Upon arrival I learned that my media manual had not arrived yet, nor had the media programs. Steven Aldridge, the SID for Union University and I sat around the lobby waiting, then decided to go grab lunch. He jinxed us on the way to the restaurant. Steven asked if I had heard about a pre-tournament SID meeting, which I had not and neither had he. Well just our luck, while we were waiting for our food to arrive, Steven checked in with his wife about picking up his daughter from day care and I received a call asking if I knew that I had a meeting at 2:30 with the SIDs….”No, but that’s ok…we’ll aim for 2:30, but let the SIDs know we may be a few minutes late,” was my response.
We arrived back about 2:35 after devouring our late barbecue lunch. The media manual was there, which was what I needed to help conduct the meeting, so to say the least, the meeting was strictly improvised – which turned out well.
We’re short some fax lists and media credentials, but that can be taken care of in the morning. After the meeting Steven and I went to Oman Arena where the tournament will be and I set up my “office” for the week that is closed off from the rest of the media room. I also set up the press tables a little. Tomorrow, I’ll need to get there extra early to setup press row for the games and make sure we’re good to go.
I rushed back to the hotel to change clothes then go to the WBCA Kodak All-American Banquet at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, then a quick Wal-Mart run, then back to the hotel to my second office on the week to update the MMC website with our baseball, softball and tennis results from the day.
I was nervous about getting through today with my students helping me out back in Pulaski, but it all worked out great.
The highlight of the day/night is most likely nothing to do with MMC or this tournament, but receiving a call from Andrea from the Gulf South Conference, who was keeping track of the Montevallo game for me.
“They were down 14 at the half, I’ll call you back” – first call
“They just went up with seven minutes to go, but keep swapping leads” – second call
“Overtime” – third call
“86-83…Montevallo” – fourth call.
The Falcons are in their first ever Elite Eight!
In other words….BZZZZZZ…Alfred Kojima’s getting a buzz cut by Marcus Kennedy – an ongoing agreement since our first Sweet 16 appearance two years ago.
Previous to Danny Young’s tenure, the last UM team to go to second round of the National Tournament was the 1995-1996 women’s basketball team (25-4) here in Jackson at Oman Arena in their final year as an NAIA team. Garry Van Atta was head coach at the time of the purple and gold Lady Falcons.
Tomorrow, Van Atta will lead his No. 1 seed Lady Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene University onto the court for his first trip back to Jackson as a coach since March 1996. Oh, Trevecca wears purple and gold.
Every time I speak to Van Atta, including this afternoon, I tell him it’s the purple and gold!
I am hoping to see our four TranSouth teams do well this week. I hope that Van Atta and I can sit down and talk about the Montevallo days sometime soon, most likely not here, but when we do, then maybe I can start working toward the “History of Myrick Hall” book that I thought about and wrote him about two years ago.
Time to roll over and go to bed…I was thinking I’d be nervous. I was earlier today, but not as much now. Tomorrow may be a different story though.
Monday, March 13, 2006
NAIA Women's Basketball D-I National Championship
For the next week I will be in Jackson, Tenn. serving as the media coordinator for the 2006 NAIA Women's Basketball Division I National Championships. There will be 32 teams, 31 games and six days of competition for one championship. It ought to be interesting.
My hope is to update this blog daily with an update of each day's events, so check back each night or morning to catch up on what's been going on. Most likely I won't be doing much e-mailing, especially the first few days, so this will be my way of letting you know how it goes.
Wed.-Fri. the first games tip at 8:30 a.m. and the last at 9:45 p.m., so that means time in the media room will be from about 7 a.m.-1 a.m.
Click here for a bracket.
Bring on the Basketball,
Chris
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Visiting Blood:Water Mission
Thursday I visited the Blood:Water Mission office in Franklin, Tenn. on a whim. Blood:Water Mission is an organization established by the band Jars of Clay in concept about three years ago, but in physical drive only about eight months ago.
Their purpose is to take a “community-centered approach to AIDS that includes establishing basic conditions necessary for health, providing vital medical care and clean water, working toward social equality, addressing the constraints on poverty, and empowering communities to take ownership of their own long-term healthy development.’
Their mission: “To tangibly reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to promote clean blood and clean water in Africa, and to build equitable, sustainable and personal community links.”
Their vision: “To eradicate AIDS and the injustice that perpetuates it through personal and communal transformation.”
We’ve all been introduced to the numbers and statistics of deaths in Africa, or at least the small hint of knowledge that AIDS is heavily present there and it is causing deaths, whether we know how many there truly are. I remember when Live Aid 8 was going on this past summer that I wasn’t actually a fan of the idea at the beginning, I mean, I wasn’t opposed to a bunch of celebrities standing up and promoting a cause, but I felt like we need more than celebrities. In a way I feel like I was right, but at the same time I was strongly wrong.
More people tuned and listened to U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Jars and others join together to sing in eight different countries about the need for support. Now, I don’t know what these celebrities have given other than air time toward the cause. At the time, and even still now, I felt that if the celebrities really wanted to do something to fight AIDS in Africa and demand more US financial support, then they could start by selling all but one of their homes that they are, downsize that one to a realistic size for what they really need, then take the millions of dollars from just those adjustments and give toward the cause. But it’s not my place to judge their financial giving when I am not willing to give as much myself, unless I had millions to give – something I was convicted of when deciding how to use a jackpot PowerBall winning, if I ever got one.
The thing about Blood:Water is that it is an opportunity to give, and not only give toward a cause for research, but toward a physical life changing cause that you see results of. This is not only an AIDS project, but a fight against poverty and against famine in Africa.
BWM recently started the 1000 Wells Project with the goal to raise enough money to build a clean water well in a different village in Africa.
When I visited the office Thursday, all I knew about the mission was that it was started by Jars, was for a good cause and mainly the information I gave you above from the brochure I picked up at a Derek Webb concert in Florence, Ala. back in November that my friend Adam Wright opened at.
Since then, I have stared at the brochure next to my bed and read it a few times, browsed the group’s website and read the same information over and over again. I have started to develop a “heart” for the cause, but I put that in quotes, because I think it is truly just an interest and not really a heart, but maybe a desire for a heart for it.
I finally was pushed to visit Thursday morning. I had the day off from work, but went into the office early in the morning to update a few things, while I was there I again looked at the BWM website and also took a look at Donald Miller’s site, where he had added a post about tithing and mentioned a quote from BWM Executive Director Jena Lee that I had heard and read many times: “$1 = One year of water for an African.”
I decided I’d give Jena a call and head up and meet her. I didn’t know that she just flew back from Kenya the day before. I debated the whole trip to Franklin whether or not to go by there, but finally, as I approached the Cool Springs exit, I called got an answer: “Blood:Water Mission, this is Adrian.”
I had to think quickly and decide what in the world to say. “Hi Adrian, my name is Chris and I live in Pulaski. I’m in the Franklin area today and was wondering if you had a office nearby to stop in and find out more about the project.”
“How dumb was that” I thought. I could have come up with something better to say or a better way to say it. Anyway, Adrian told me where their office was and it was right next to the Cool Springs shopping area that I was going to. I had been a block from the office many times and had no clue it was there.
Adrian and I talked for a while until Jena arrived from her meeting to prepare for a Board of Directors meeting the following day and go over her latest trip.
Through talking to Adrian I realized that this project was really in its early stages. I was unsure before whether it had been around for a few years, or was just starting up. It is just starting up. They moved into their donated office space in the fall. My previous knowledge was that BWM only had one full time person, Jena. Adrian came on staff in December because of the increasing numbers of calls and checks flowing in. She caught me up to date about the current state of the project. 58 wells have currently been built, and the fundraising didn’t really begin until this past summer.
The cost of each well could be as little as $300 or as large as $3,000 to build depending on the village, location in the village and how much digging and support must be done to build it.
Those numbers are easy to grasp really. That means that 1,000 Wells can be built for roughly $300,000 to $3 million. Looking back at my PowerBall breakdown, I was willing to give $54 million of the $136 million jack pot, had I won, to the group…that would be close to 18,000 wells at a minimum…Wow!
Here’s another interesting number. BWM currently has on their website that Americans spend three billion dollars each year on Easter candy. That’s enough spent on candy to celebrate Christ’s resurrection that could build at the minimum 100,000 wells! Again, interesting numbers.
Now, I don’t have the millions to give, but what is possible is setting back money each month till you reach $300 or $3,000 in a year and give that…even giving $20 a month, could almost be enough to buy a small well, or if ten people did that, to build one well I the roughest terrain.
These are numbers that are easy to grasp. Numbers that are realistic approaches to solving the problem…well, at least to help the problem.
I may sound all gung-ho on this, but I’m really not there yet, but am working toward caring much about it.
Jena just arrived from Kenya. The last time she went was months ago when a well was built. During that visit photos were taken of a boy named Joseph. Joseph had sores all over his legs from malnourishment and other disease in the area. I do not know if he had HIV or AIDS, but with such sores, the open wounds would be an easy reception site for the immune disabling virus. Relevant magazine did a story on the mission and Jena’s visit building the well. There was a photo of Joseph and his legs.
Jena took the magazine with her this time to Kenya. While she was there she saw a boy come near her who she recognized but without sores, a boy who was wearing the same T-shirt as he was months ago. She gave the magazine to Joseph, as he took a look at the first photograph he has ever seen of himself and first magazine he has ever held.
Jena’s walls in her office are mostly bare except for a photo of her and Colin Powell that sits by her desk that is with the exception of the wall to her left of her desk if you were sitting at it. On that wall, posters about AIDS and BWM are up in a collage, but also included are drawings from kids. I did not ask Jena about the drawings, although I wish I had, but most likely these are drawings from the children she has visited over the past year in numerous villages across Africa, possibly the same children in the photographs surrounding the drawings on the wall.
It was a good visit to find out more about the people behind the scenes, see what they have, learn how little money goes toward office supplies and salary, and how it almost all goes to the project, something that may not be true with all organizations.
Adrian is a 2005 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University in Oklahoma City. Jena was a senior political science major in Washington in 2003 when she was giving a lecture on AIDS and told she should meet with Jars the following week when they will be on campus. She was hired not too long after.
The driving daily force in the project on this side of the Atlantic is a group of people in their 20s, something more encouraging than a group of Baby Boomers working for the cause.
“We have a big task at hand, and we need you to join us in this effort. We believe that knowing, loving and acting are the necessary steps for change. YOU have something to give. Would you please join us?” – Jena Lee
For more information, log onto www.bloodwatermission.com and www.1000wells.com
Their purpose is to take a “community-centered approach to AIDS that includes establishing basic conditions necessary for health, providing vital medical care and clean water, working toward social equality, addressing the constraints on poverty, and empowering communities to take ownership of their own long-term healthy development.’
Their mission: “To tangibly reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to promote clean blood and clean water in Africa, and to build equitable, sustainable and personal community links.”
Their vision: “To eradicate AIDS and the injustice that perpetuates it through personal and communal transformation.”
We’ve all been introduced to the numbers and statistics of deaths in Africa, or at least the small hint of knowledge that AIDS is heavily present there and it is causing deaths, whether we know how many there truly are. I remember when Live Aid 8 was going on this past summer that I wasn’t actually a fan of the idea at the beginning, I mean, I wasn’t opposed to a bunch of celebrities standing up and promoting a cause, but I felt like we need more than celebrities. In a way I feel like I was right, but at the same time I was strongly wrong.
More people tuned and listened to U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Jars and others join together to sing in eight different countries about the need for support. Now, I don’t know what these celebrities have given other than air time toward the cause. At the time, and even still now, I felt that if the celebrities really wanted to do something to fight AIDS in Africa and demand more US financial support, then they could start by selling all but one of their homes that they are, downsize that one to a realistic size for what they really need, then take the millions of dollars from just those adjustments and give toward the cause. But it’s not my place to judge their financial giving when I am not willing to give as much myself, unless I had millions to give – something I was convicted of when deciding how to use a jackpot PowerBall winning, if I ever got one.
The thing about Blood:Water is that it is an opportunity to give, and not only give toward a cause for research, but toward a physical life changing cause that you see results of. This is not only an AIDS project, but a fight against poverty and against famine in Africa.
BWM recently started the 1000 Wells Project with the goal to raise enough money to build a clean water well in a different village in Africa.
When I visited the office Thursday, all I knew about the mission was that it was started by Jars, was for a good cause and mainly the information I gave you above from the brochure I picked up at a Derek Webb concert in Florence, Ala. back in November that my friend Adam Wright opened at.
Since then, I have stared at the brochure next to my bed and read it a few times, browsed the group’s website and read the same information over and over again. I have started to develop a “heart” for the cause, but I put that in quotes, because I think it is truly just an interest and not really a heart, but maybe a desire for a heart for it.
I finally was pushed to visit Thursday morning. I had the day off from work, but went into the office early in the morning to update a few things, while I was there I again looked at the BWM website and also took a look at Donald Miller’s site, where he had added a post about tithing and mentioned a quote from BWM Executive Director Jena Lee that I had heard and read many times: “$1 = One year of water for an African.”
I decided I’d give Jena a call and head up and meet her. I didn’t know that she just flew back from Kenya the day before. I debated the whole trip to Franklin whether or not to go by there, but finally, as I approached the Cool Springs exit, I called got an answer: “Blood:Water Mission, this is Adrian.”
I had to think quickly and decide what in the world to say. “Hi Adrian, my name is Chris and I live in Pulaski. I’m in the Franklin area today and was wondering if you had a office nearby to stop in and find out more about the project.”
“How dumb was that” I thought. I could have come up with something better to say or a better way to say it. Anyway, Adrian told me where their office was and it was right next to the Cool Springs shopping area that I was going to. I had been a block from the office many times and had no clue it was there.
Adrian and I talked for a while until Jena arrived from her meeting to prepare for a Board of Directors meeting the following day and go over her latest trip.
Through talking to Adrian I realized that this project was really in its early stages. I was unsure before whether it had been around for a few years, or was just starting up. It is just starting up. They moved into their donated office space in the fall. My previous knowledge was that BWM only had one full time person, Jena. Adrian came on staff in December because of the increasing numbers of calls and checks flowing in. She caught me up to date about the current state of the project. 58 wells have currently been built, and the fundraising didn’t really begin until this past summer.
The cost of each well could be as little as $300 or as large as $3,000 to build depending on the village, location in the village and how much digging and support must be done to build it.
Those numbers are easy to grasp really. That means that 1,000 Wells can be built for roughly $300,000 to $3 million. Looking back at my PowerBall breakdown, I was willing to give $54 million of the $136 million jack pot, had I won, to the group…that would be close to 18,000 wells at a minimum…Wow!
Here’s another interesting number. BWM currently has on their website that Americans spend three billion dollars each year on Easter candy. That’s enough spent on candy to celebrate Christ’s resurrection that could build at the minimum 100,000 wells! Again, interesting numbers.
Now, I don’t have the millions to give, but what is possible is setting back money each month till you reach $300 or $3,000 in a year and give that…even giving $20 a month, could almost be enough to buy a small well, or if ten people did that, to build one well I the roughest terrain.
These are numbers that are easy to grasp. Numbers that are realistic approaches to solving the problem…well, at least to help the problem.
I may sound all gung-ho on this, but I’m really not there yet, but am working toward caring much about it.
Jena just arrived from Kenya. The last time she went was months ago when a well was built. During that visit photos were taken of a boy named Joseph. Joseph had sores all over his legs from malnourishment and other disease in the area. I do not know if he had HIV or AIDS, but with such sores, the open wounds would be an easy reception site for the immune disabling virus. Relevant magazine did a story on the mission and Jena’s visit building the well. There was a photo of Joseph and his legs.
Jena took the magazine with her this time to Kenya. While she was there she saw a boy come near her who she recognized but without sores, a boy who was wearing the same T-shirt as he was months ago. She gave the magazine to Joseph, as he took a look at the first photograph he has ever seen of himself and first magazine he has ever held.
Jena’s walls in her office are mostly bare except for a photo of her and Colin Powell that sits by her desk that is with the exception of the wall to her left of her desk if you were sitting at it. On that wall, posters about AIDS and BWM are up in a collage, but also included are drawings from kids. I did not ask Jena about the drawings, although I wish I had, but most likely these are drawings from the children she has visited over the past year in numerous villages across Africa, possibly the same children in the photographs surrounding the drawings on the wall.
It was a good visit to find out more about the people behind the scenes, see what they have, learn how little money goes toward office supplies and salary, and how it almost all goes to the project, something that may not be true with all organizations.
Adrian is a 2005 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University in Oklahoma City. Jena was a senior political science major in Washington in 2003 when she was giving a lecture on AIDS and told she should meet with Jars the following week when they will be on campus. She was hired not too long after.
The driving daily force in the project on this side of the Atlantic is a group of people in their 20s, something more encouraging than a group of Baby Boomers working for the cause.
“We have a big task at hand, and we need you to join us in this effort. We believe that knowing, loving and acting are the necessary steps for change. YOU have something to give. Would you please join us?” – Jena Lee
For more information, log onto www.bloodwatermission.com and www.1000wells.com
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Soaking in "The Second Chance"
I enjoyed a day off from athletics at MMC Thursday by taking a drive up to Franklin, Tenn. to the Cool Springs shopping area. The main reason I wanted to go that way was to go by the movie theatre and check out the movie "The Second Chance." I first heard about the film on Donald Miller's website a couple of weeks ago when it came out. It opened in 87 theatres across the nation, after a poor showing at the box office it is down to 31 theatres as of March 2 according to the-numbers.com. You can track how it does at the box office, by clicking here.
Summary: The movie is filmed in Nashville and the surrounding metro area. The plot: a successful "mega church" has an urban mission in downtown around 2nd Ave. The "mega church" that was used to film the movie was Brentwood Baptist, while the urban ministry church was a small Church of Christ church located in the hood. (I actually think I drove right by this church last Saturday.) The associate pastor at The Rock (mega church) is played by Michael W. Smith and is the son of the senior pastor, who is nearing retirement and wanting to put his son as his replacement. Smith's character is a musician with gold and platinum albums, a successful book with his face on the cover...and a personality for the strictly scheduled, television aired Sunday worship services at The Rock (ironic in name for the end of the movie).
Ethan (played by Smith) goes to work at his father's direction at the Second Chance Community Church, a sister church to the Rock. He is there to "observe and learn" from Jake (played by jeff obafemi carr). Jake is a local black pastor in his 30s (most likely), who grew up in the same "worst part of town" of Nashville that he now serves as minister. He is loved and respected by his community...not just a showy pastor for TV, as most likely many observe Ethan to be. The two know each other, because Ethan's father Jeremiah used to be pastor of Second Chance before going to The Rock and Jeremiah is the one who encouraged Jake to join the ministry and hired him as the youth pastor at Second Chance.
Review: If you can get past the acting of Michael W. Smith that makes you feel like you are watching a made for TV movie instead of a feature film, this film has a great, to the heart, to the core of the gospel, true message of love, tolerance and truly living out Christ's commandments.
Steve Taylor of Third Day does a great job adapting the story into film. To be honest, I can see why it is not doing well at the box office. One, it hasn't been publicized well as far as I can tell. Two, it is not a film that will grab you into your seats like your top box office flicks, at least not at the beginning of the film. And three, the theatres where the film is showing are located in the heart of the areas where your white middle-to-upper-class people are residing, the same class of Christians that Jake says can "Keep your damn money" when TV crews force him to wrap up his sermon about the need for bodies not money for service is what the Second Chance can use the most.
I thrive for Jake. A guy who is willing to stand up for the real truth, yet has his flaws, who is supported by a strong wife who shares in his ministry with her own. While Jake is working with rehabbing men with drug, alcohol or gambling addictions, his wife Amanda is helping girls break out of prostitution and addiction also. One of the first introductory scenes of Ethan at Second Chance has him coming into one of these meetings with the men and being asked to lead the prayer at the end of the meeting. He starts out with his "look at me" preacher tone and approach...something we all probably have at times at least once in our life if we are "on fire for God" and asked to pray, but as time elapses it shows how they're all praying for Javier...and of course chimes in with a stab at the Powerball lottery.
As this film goes on you get to witness and most likely fell the calluses on Ethan's heart toward the inner city be picked away. Reality of gangs, poverty, power trips and more become his every day dealings...something that changes him. Which in turn leads him to reach toward Jake, who is unreceiving because of his own calluses toward Ethan, The Rock and the money giving "supporters" who are unwilling to serve.
But it takes the small step of faith of two servants at Second Chance, who were both given the second chances in their lives, to reveal the heart of both Ethan and Jake, which in turn reveals the true hear to Jeremiah, which had been almost absorbed by “successful ministry” and “God’s plan”.
I love the symbolism of the father’s name being Jeremiah, who at some point in his ministry turned away from what seemed to touch the most in the hood to go toward being the personality for a multi-media ministry…thinking maybe at the time that was the call of God, but in time becoming wrapped up in the “sinking sand” of the mega church life.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11-13
Jeremiah, Ethan, Jake, Amanda, everyone realizes their true desire and God’s true mission at the conclusion of the film.
It’s a feel good story, but will stretch your heart and make you think, challenging your mind and heart on how you view service, love, poverty and hypocrisy. The thing that each character in the film knows, most likely each actor, and hopefully each viewer will know, is that we can not walk away from such a film just feeling good…we cannot walk away from good days just feeling good. We must move forward with a monthly, weekly, or if possible, daily renewal of the same thoughts and feelings that we may feel and the same motivation we may receive after viewing the film for the first time. However, the kicker is, we must not just think, but act. Not just give our money, but our time. Because if we're not willing to give our time to some causes, then in some cases we might as well keep the money and give it elsewhere, especially if by giving the money we feel like we are doing all we can to serve the cause.
Just some food for thought. Go check out the film if you can in theatre, or be sure and get it when it's released on video.
Summary: The movie is filmed in Nashville and the surrounding metro area. The plot: a successful "mega church" has an urban mission in downtown around 2nd Ave. The "mega church" that was used to film the movie was Brentwood Baptist, while the urban ministry church was a small Church of Christ church located in the hood. (I actually think I drove right by this church last Saturday.) The associate pastor at The Rock (mega church) is played by Michael W. Smith and is the son of the senior pastor, who is nearing retirement and wanting to put his son as his replacement. Smith's character is a musician with gold and platinum albums, a successful book with his face on the cover...and a personality for the strictly scheduled, television aired Sunday worship services at The Rock (ironic in name for the end of the movie).
Ethan (played by Smith) goes to work at his father's direction at the Second Chance Community Church, a sister church to the Rock. He is there to "observe and learn" from Jake (played by jeff obafemi carr). Jake is a local black pastor in his 30s (most likely), who grew up in the same "worst part of town" of Nashville that he now serves as minister. He is loved and respected by his community...not just a showy pastor for TV, as most likely many observe Ethan to be. The two know each other, because Ethan's father Jeremiah used to be pastor of Second Chance before going to The Rock and Jeremiah is the one who encouraged Jake to join the ministry and hired him as the youth pastor at Second Chance.
Review: If you can get past the acting of Michael W. Smith that makes you feel like you are watching a made for TV movie instead of a feature film, this film has a great, to the heart, to the core of the gospel, true message of love, tolerance and truly living out Christ's commandments.
Steve Taylor of Third Day does a great job adapting the story into film. To be honest, I can see why it is not doing well at the box office. One, it hasn't been publicized well as far as I can tell. Two, it is not a film that will grab you into your seats like your top box office flicks, at least not at the beginning of the film. And three, the theatres where the film is showing are located in the heart of the areas where your white middle-to-upper-class people are residing, the same class of Christians that Jake says can "Keep your damn money" when TV crews force him to wrap up his sermon about the need for bodies not money for service is what the Second Chance can use the most.
I thrive for Jake. A guy who is willing to stand up for the real truth, yet has his flaws, who is supported by a strong wife who shares in his ministry with her own. While Jake is working with rehabbing men with drug, alcohol or gambling addictions, his wife Amanda is helping girls break out of prostitution and addiction also. One of the first introductory scenes of Ethan at Second Chance has him coming into one of these meetings with the men and being asked to lead the prayer at the end of the meeting. He starts out with his "look at me" preacher tone and approach...something we all probably have at times at least once in our life if we are "on fire for God" and asked to pray, but as time elapses it shows how they're all praying for Javier...and of course chimes in with a stab at the Powerball lottery.
As this film goes on you get to witness and most likely fell the calluses on Ethan's heart toward the inner city be picked away. Reality of gangs, poverty, power trips and more become his every day dealings...something that changes him. Which in turn leads him to reach toward Jake, who is unreceiving because of his own calluses toward Ethan, The Rock and the money giving "supporters" who are unwilling to serve.
But it takes the small step of faith of two servants at Second Chance, who were both given the second chances in their lives, to reveal the heart of both Ethan and Jake, which in turn reveals the true hear to Jeremiah, which had been almost absorbed by “successful ministry” and “God’s plan”.
I love the symbolism of the father’s name being Jeremiah, who at some point in his ministry turned away from what seemed to touch the most in the hood to go toward being the personality for a multi-media ministry…thinking maybe at the time that was the call of God, but in time becoming wrapped up in the “sinking sand” of the mega church life.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:11-13
Jeremiah, Ethan, Jake, Amanda, everyone realizes their true desire and God’s true mission at the conclusion of the film.
It’s a feel good story, but will stretch your heart and make you think, challenging your mind and heart on how you view service, love, poverty and hypocrisy. The thing that each character in the film knows, most likely each actor, and hopefully each viewer will know, is that we can not walk away from such a film just feeling good…we cannot walk away from good days just feeling good. We must move forward with a monthly, weekly, or if possible, daily renewal of the same thoughts and feelings that we may feel and the same motivation we may receive after viewing the film for the first time. However, the kicker is, we must not just think, but act. Not just give our money, but our time. Because if we're not willing to give our time to some causes, then in some cases we might as well keep the money and give it elsewhere, especially if by giving the money we feel like we are doing all we can to serve the cause.
Just some food for thought. Go check out the film if you can in theatre, or be sure and get it when it's released on video.
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