The church in South Africa: Post-apartheid era brings blessings (reporting from Benoni, South Africa). Page 1 lead.
First Place (with Erik Tryggestad, Lynn McMillon, Amanda Jordan and Joy McMillon), In-Depth Enterprise Reporting/Team, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
BENONI, South Africa — On the fourth and final night of the Southern Africa Bible College lectureship, the voices of 500 Christians rang out in praise.
The diverse crowd — a mix of blacks, whites and “coloreds,” as those of mixed races are known in South Africa — sang first in English.
Then Clive Landsberg, a Zimbabwe-born immigrant, led two hymns in Venda, one of 11 official languages in Africa’s wealthiest and most developed country.
“It helps with unity,” said Landsberg, who a few nights earlier joined attendees in worshiping God in Zulu, another official language. “People feel welcome.”
A loud chorus of “Amens” greeted that night’s guest preacher, David Duncan, minister of the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, when he pointed out that Jesus did not speak English.
“We are all here today because someone shared their faith with us,” Duncan said. “And we are called on today, no matter what country we’re from or what culture or what color we are, to share our faith in Jesus with other people.”
Bringing ‘salt and light’ to journalism (reporting from Searcy, Ark.). Inside Story.
Modern-day prodigal son takes his passion for reaching lost students to the City by the Bay (reporting from San Francisco). Currents.
50 years of mission support: Al and Donna Horne profile (reporting from Benoni, South Africa).
The Ross News 