Cult leader? ‘Sinful Messiah’? 25 years later, interest in David Koresh still strong
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service
WACO, Texas — The curious keep coming.
They turn onto a gravel road 10 miles east of Waco and pass through a black gate leading to a rural complex where David Koresh — leader of an apocalyptic religious sect known as the Branch Davidians — and 75 followers perished in a firestorm on April 19, 1993.
That came after six Branch Davidians and four federal agents earlier died amid a flurry of gunfire in the government’s initial Feb. 28, 1993, raid on the 77-acre Mount Carmel property.
“I was just really curious about seeing this memorial and seeing what’s out here,” said Eric Williams, a Seattle film producer who made it a point to visit the site during a leisure trip to Texas.
Nearby, a woman snapped a picture of a monument listing the names of Koresh and the other 81 Branch Davidians — including 18 children ages 10 or younger — who lost their lives in the 51-day federal standoff that ended in a nationally televised inferno.
Twenty-five years after the siege, interest in what happened outside Waco — and who’s to blame — remains immense.
Evidence of that can be seen in the spate of recent television specials coinciding with the anniversary — from ABC’s “Truth and Lies: Waco” to the Paramount Network’s six-part miniseries “Waco” to the Smithsonian Channel’s documentary “Waco: The Longest Siege.”
Related: Former FBI agent still haunted by Waco tragedy and David Koresh’s beliefs (reporting from Waco, Texas)
My 1993 story: FBI spokesman relishes comfort of home after horror of Waco (reporting from Edmond, Okla.)
Religion News Service is a national wire service whose media partners include The Associated Press, USA Today and the Washington Post.
‘Those events will be with me for the rest of my life’
Waco tragedy and David Koresh’s beliefs still haunt former FBI agent. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service WACO, Texas — Twenty-five years ago, Oklahoman Bob Ricks was the FBI’s main spokesman during the 51-day standoff outside Waco between federal agents and an apocalyptic religious sect known as the Branch Davidians. Ricks, 73, who earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Baylor University … Continue reading ‘Those events will be with me for the rest of my life’
Pompeo’s Kansas church asks God to ‘give him strength’ in Senate confirmation process
“Mike has enemies because of his faith who may try to paint him in a poor light and make it difficult for him to reach the Secretary of State position,” the pastor of nominee Mike Pompeo wrote to his congregation. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service WICHITA, Kan. — Under fire from Muslim, Jewish and human rights groups for a record of … Continue reading Pompeo’s Kansas church asks God to ‘give him strength’ in Senate confirmation process
In ‘Still Wrestling,’ minister whose wife, son were slain explores faith, doubt
For Les Ferguson Jr., writing a book was a way to deal with his own hurt and pain — and help others, too. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle A double murder. A destroyed family. A shattered faith. After the tragic deaths of his wife and 21-year-old son in 2011, minister Les Ferguson Jr. struggled not to believe that God existed but that he cared. … Continue reading In ‘Still Wrestling,’ minister whose wife, son were slain explores faith, doubt
Two legacies, 50 years later
Marshall Keeble and Martin Luther King Jr. fought for ‘different things in different ages.’ By Hamil R. Harris and Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle Marshall Keeble was calling sinners home at a 1939 gospel meeting in Ridgely, Tenn., when a young white man approached him after the sermon. The renowned black evangelist reached out his hand, thinking this was one more soul ready … Continue reading Two legacies, 50 years later
Marshall Keeble’s ‘boy preachers’ still baptizing and saving souls
Famous traveling evangelist mentored many of the most influential African-American ministers in Churches of Christ. Third Place, Theme Issue, Section or Series, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle LOS ANGELES — In 1963, an 11-year-old named Dewayne Winrow preached at Southwestern Christian College’s annual Bible lectureship in Terrell, Texas. The boy’s message resonated with one notable person in the audience: Marshall … Continue reading Marshall Keeble’s ‘boy preachers’ still baptizing and saving souls
‘Sister Keeble’ stayed strong in mind, faith
The widow of famous traveling evangelist Marshall Keeble lived to be 108. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle I never got to meet Marshall Keeble or hear him preach. I was a baby when Keeble, the famous traveling evangelist who started hundreds of Churches of Christ, died 50 years ago. “I wish you would have had the chance of meeting him,” Daniel Harrison, minister … Continue reading ‘Sister Keeble’ stayed strong in mind, faith
‘Dear Jesus, send some angels’: Faith and prayer inside Southwest Flight 1380
By Bobby Ross Jr. | GetReligion
Several years ago, I was flying home from a reporting trip when the pilot came on the loudspeaker and reported trouble with the controls that direct the plane.
He said we needed to make an emergency landing, and rescue vehicles would be waiting as a precaution. But he stressed that the flashing lights on the ground shouldn’t alarm anyone because he didn’t expect any problem landing the plane.
That statement would have provided more comfort if I hadn’t kept asking myself: If the plane were going to crash, would he be so candid as to say so?
“Attention, passengers, I fully expect that we are all about to die. Please buckle your seat belts and get your affairs in order.”
For an anxious flyer such as myself, that experience was scary enough.
But I can’t even imagine what the passengers of Southwest Flight 1380 endured this week. As you no doubt heard, one passenger was killed and seven others wounded Tuesday after an engine exploded.
However, as I noted Wednesday, devout Christian pilot Tammie Jo Shults is being praised for her “nerves of steel” in calmly maneuvering the plane to the ground and avoiding a much worse catastrophe.
Since I wrote that post, I’ve come across more faith-filled news coverage that needs to be highlighted.
• • •
All of my GetReligion columns (March 2018):
Continue reading “‘Dear Jesus, send some angels’: Faith and prayer inside Southwest Flight 1380”
In Heart of America, LTC helps train church leaders from small congregations
Nationally, Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes and Leadership Training for Christ events draw more than 40,000 to 17 sites in 13 states. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Four families from the Northern Hills Church of Christ in western South Dakota drove more than 700 miles each way to attend the Heart of America Leadership Training for Christ (LTC) convention this past weekend. Alaethia Thompson — … Continue reading In Heart of America, LTC helps train church leaders from small congregations
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 