Are you ready for some of the most notable faith stories of the past week? Let’s dive in:
My favorite story of the week centers on Hollywood vocalist Steve Amerson. He’s the voice behind songs in “Star Wars: Rogue One,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Patriot,” among many others. But he’s also a voice of hope for Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
He quietly travels to Washington, D.C., twice a month to pray and meet with members of the House and Senate. He told me, “Each trip, I write 200 notes, and I walk about 10 to 12 miles delivering these notes.” Here’s the incredible story.
There are some other great Hollywood stories this week as well. “Hacksaw Ridge” star Nathaniel Buzolic openly shared the Gospel message in a recent Instagram post, exploring Jesus’ biblical healings and the importance of being “transformed on the inside by the Word of God.”
“Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” Buzolic said. “We have set our hope on him.”
Perhaps the most significant Hollywood story, though, surrounded singer and actress Jana Kramer, who was baptized Sunday and offered a touching proclamation on her Instagram page.
“In the name of Jesus, there is healing,” she said.
Also, “American Idol” alum Janelle Arthur announced the birth of her newborn child last weekend with a Bible verse and gratitude toward God. Oh, and speaking of gratitude: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially announced Thursday his NFL retirement, and he, too, thanked the Lord.
And I’ve been genuinely enjoying the heroic cop stories of late. Here’s one about two female officers who risked their own lives and safety to pull a man out of a burning car.
“I don’t know how long we have until this car could possibly cause an explosion,” Officer Rachel Fernandez said. “If I get hurt in the process, it doesn’t matter … we’re going to get it done, and we’re going to make sure that everybody else is good.” Wow.
The goodness doesn’t end there, though. Here’s another cop who calmy saved the life of an unresponsive toddler who was reportedly choking and could have died without his help. And yet another group of police lifted a vehicle (yes, really) off of an elderly woman trapped underneath.
There was also a building rescue in NYC that was, yet again, selfless.
Sadly, there was a heartbreaking law enforcement story in New York City on Friday, as NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was laid to rest. He was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in Harlem last Friday. His partner, Wilbert Mora, 27, also died.
Thousands of cops showed up in a touching scene outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The “sea of blue” was beautiful.
Lastly, there’s a story of forgiveness. Young vandals allegedly trashed an Alabama church, but the pastor and congregants are reacting in the most biblical way possible.
“The church building received some damage; our spirit did not,” Pastor Bill Becker of New Antioch Church of Christ in Lawrence County, Alabama, said. “The building is hurt, but it’s not the church.”
And that wraps the week’s best stories.
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