Hiya Ace!
What a sobering topic.
According to InTouch.org, In Touch Ministries was founded in 1972 as
part of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, shortly after one Dr.
Charles F. Stanley became its pastor.
The ministry had its beginnings as a half hour televison program
exploring biblical teaching. In 1978, the Christian Broadcasting
Network requested to be allowed to add "In Touch" to its program
lineup. After the ministry incorporated in 1982, distribution spread
and the organizations radio and TV broadcasts are available worldwide.
The organization maintains offices in the following countries:
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Guatemala
India
New Zealand
Philippines (*called the "Jesus Our Life Foundation" in the
Phillipines)
Russia
United Kingdom
Inside In Touch
http://www.intouch.org/inside/about_us/index_76145.html
In Touch FAQs
http://www.intouch.org/inside/about_us/ITMFaq/index_76843.html
Global Outreach
http://www.intouch.org/inside/global/offices/index_76982.html
The organization offers a "Statement of Faith" here:
Statement of Faith
http://www.intouch.org/inside/about_us/statement_76838.html
Dr. Stanley claims to have been called to the ministry at the age of
fourteen, and boasts a rather impressive educational dossier:
"At the age of fourteen, Dr. Stanley received a clear call to the
ministry, which later led him to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from
the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, and a Bachelor of
Divinity degree at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth,
Texas. He then earned the degrees of Master of Theology and Doctor of
Theology from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta."
Biographical Sketch
http://www.intouch.org/inside/about_us/biography_76833.html
On Sunday, March 30th, the ABC News affiliate in Australia reported:
"They may be the ones facing danger on the battlefield, but US
soldiers in Iraq are being asked to pray for President George W Bush.
Thousands of marines have been given a pamphlet called "A Christian's
Duty," a mini prayer book which includes a tear-out section to be
mailed to the White House pledging the soldier who sends it in has
been praying for Bush."
US soldiers in Iraq asked to pray for Bush
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s819685.htm
The pamphlet, which was apparently distributed to Christian and
non-Christian Marines alike, offers daily "devotionals" - those for
the president occupying the first position for each day, with prayers
for the troops relegated to the second position.
According to In Touch:
"A President who begins the day on his knees with the Word of God is
worthy of all our prayers."
How to Pray For the President
http://www.intouch.org/War/president_38027183.html
No comment on whether anyone who doesn't follow this doctrine is
worthy of prayer, however.
The full color brochure is available for download from In Touch:
A Christian's Duty In Time Of War
http://www.itmimg.org/images/duty_brochure2.pdf
While the brochure has been met with praise in some circles, not
everyone approves.
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, of Tor Books, opines in her daily journal:
"Which part of a Christian’s duty is it to pray for George W. Bush,
except insofar as we are enjoined to pray for all our fellow critters?
Yes, it’s traditional to pray for our leaders—but a pamphlet with set
prayers, and a tear sheet you fill out and send in? The tear sheet is
nominally sent in as a pledge, but I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts
its real purpose is to gauge what more straightforward industries
would refer to as market penetration."
Making Light - Language, fraud, folly, truth, history, and knitting.
Et cetera.
March 30th
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/
Quiddity at UggaBugga writes:
"UPDATE: This is not a joke: US soldiers in Iraq asked to pray for
Bush (link from Counterspin) Excerpts:
"I have committed to pray for you, your family, your staff and our
troops during this time of uncertainty and tumult. May God's peace be
your guide," says the pledge, according to a journalist embedded with
coalition forces.
The pamphlet, produced by a group called In Touch Ministries,
offers a daily prayer to be made for the US president ...
Sunday's is "Pray that the President and his advisers will seek
God and his wisdom daily and not rely on their own understanding".
Yes, don't rely on "understanding", which is bothersome rational
thinking."
UggaBugga
March 29th
http://www.uggabugga.blogspot.com/
There have been some murmurings that perhaps the president put In
Touch up to producing this pamphlet. I undertook to find a credible
link between the president and this organization, and have found very
little. The organization apparently sponsors a "prayer team" for him,
and he and representatives from the organization both recently
appeared at the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention in
February:
NRB - National Convention > Current Convention Program > Monday,
February 10
http://www.starwire.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID308770%7CCHID581122,00.html
In Touch does not publish its donor list.
If I can be of further assistance with this question, please do ask
for clarification. I'll be glad to look further.
--Missy
...and here my objectivity ends. Dona Nobis Pacem. |
