Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!
It’s the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This week’s roundup features news about former President Jimmy Carter’s faith and Saddleback Church’s exit, for now, from the Southern Baptist Convention.
But we start with a story Plug-in already covered last week.
I explain why in 3, 2, 1 …
What To Know: The Big Story
Asbury revival, again: When the New York Times, Christianity Today and Terry Mattingly (IYKYK) all jump on the same story, it must be a big deal.
Such is the case with the spiritual phenomenon that drew thousands to a small Christian college in Kentucky.
The spontaneous, 16-day gathering that ended Thursday was like “‘Woodstock’ for Christians.” So declares Times religion writer Ruth Graham’s front-page story today.
Behind the scenes: “Chocolate chip cookies. ‘All the Chick-fil-A.’ Meetings in a storage closet. Flow charts.”
Christianity Today’s Daniel Silliman goes in depth to explore how Asbury University officials tried to “honor what is happening.”
‘Like deja vu all over again’: In his “On Religion” column for the Universal Syndicate, Mattingly delves into the history of past Asbury revivals.
They go all the way back to 1908, as alumnus and professor Stephen A. Seamands notes in Mattingly’s column:
“The wildness of these events is that they’re actually un-wild. The atmosphere is serene, deep and at times rather quiet,” he said. “It’s like a veil is pulled back and students see Jesus for the first time — Jesus manifested in a new and powerful way.”
At ReligionUnplugged.com, contributor Deborah Laker interviewed two Asbury students — including her sister — about what the revival means for Gen Z’s faith.
Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads
1. Jimmy Carter’s pastor: Faith is such a major part of the story when talking about the 98-year-old former president, who has begun end-of-life care at home.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein visits with Carter’s pastor, Tony Lowden, about why he won’t say “goodbye” to the most famous member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia:
Instead, Lowden tells the former president three things: I love you, I’ll see you again — and there’s nothing you can do about it.
See more reflections from Carter’s church, via the Wall Street Journal’s Cameron McWhirter, The Associated Press’ Jeff Martin and Maysoon Khan and CNN’s Holly Yan.
2. Saddleback disfellowshipped: The Southern Baptist Convention has ousted the megachurch made famous by founding pastor Rick Warren (now retired) for naming a woman pastor.
This week’s decision, which the Southern California church is expected to appeal, drew coverage by a who’s who list of top religion writers.
Among them: The Tennessean’s Liam Adams, The Associated Press’ Peter Smith, the New York Times’ Ruth Graham, Christianity Today’s Kate Shellnutt, Religion News Service’s Adelle M. Banks and the Washington Times’ Mark A. Kellner.
3. Beloved Catholic nun: Just in time for March Madness, The Associated Press’ Luis Andres Henao and Religion News Service’s Emily McFarlan Miller profile Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt.
The 103-year-old nun has a new book, “Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years.”
Sister Jean “captured the sports world’s imagination and became something of a folk hero as the chaplain for the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 2018,” the AP story notes.
CONTINUE READING: “Surprise! Spiritual Revival Is Big News, From New York Times To Christianity Today” by Bobby Ross, Jr., at Religion Unplugged.