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
Oklahoma’s version of old Jerusalem provides the setting for what organizers describe as North America’s longest continuously running outdoor Passion play. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE, Okla. — Before the sun sets at a remote mountain attraction called Holy City of the Wichitas, Jesus and a band of white-winged angels walk through a crowd gathering on the … Continue reading Where the buffalo roam, a Passion play approaches the century mark
Lloyd Lee Ross, my grandfather, was born on March 24, 1918. Today would have been his 100th birthday. Papa Ross was one of a kind. And I — like so many others whose lives he touched — loved him so much. After he died in 2011, I wrote a column about him that appeared in the Father’s Day edition of The Commercial Appeal newspaper in … Continue reading Papa Ross, World War II hero and loving grandfather, was born 100 years ago today
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service DALLAS — In 1953, Robert Jeffress’ mother, Judy, got saved at a Billy Graham crusade at Dallas’ Cotton Bowl. After the crusade, Graham — the world-famous evangelist who died Wednesday at age 99 — gave a guest sermon at First Baptist Dallas. “The day he preached, he also joined the church,” said Robert Jeffress, who grew up in … Continue reading Billy Graham never lived in Texas but belonged to a Dallas church for 54 years
An Oklahoma church member found himself in urgent need of a transplant. A minister’s wife answered the call — eventually. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle TULSA, Okla. – “It’s you, Shannon.” Shannon Wilburn heard the voice in her head. What she didn’t know was whether the voice was her own or that of the Holy Spirit. Wilburn, whose husband, Mitch, preaches for … Continue reading When God wants your kidney
Sisters in Christ brought together by massive California wildfire. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle VENTURA, Calif. — For the last few years, DeLoyce “Dee” Hathway and Crystal Rabe worshiped together each Sunday. However, the Ventura Church of Christ members never really connected. In a weekly assembly filled with 150 souls, Hathway, 88, sat toward the back. Before Edward William Hathway, Dee’s husband … Continue reading Blessings in the ashes
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service OKLAHOMA CITY — A red carpet. Friendly paparazzi. Limousine rides. All of the above greeted the special-needs teens and adults — most clad in tuxedos and fancy dresses, many using wheelchairs — who showed up at the Putnam City Baptist Church on the Friday night (Feb. 9) before Valentine’s Day. Inside the Southern Baptist church’s sanctuary, … Continue reading Glitz and a surprise guest at prom for special-needs teens and adults
Loved ones struggle to understand why 17-year-old opened fire during traffic stop. First Place, News Story, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A thin sheet of snow and ice covered the ground outside the Levy Church of Christ this week as hundreds of mourners filed into the auditorium. Charles Smith Jr. — “C.J.” to friends and relatives — … Continue reading Tears and fears: Church teen killed by Arkansas police
By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — To hear Bruce Bachman tell it, he’s just a guy with a bell, a red apron and a heart to serve who gives a little of his time during the holiday season. He’s just one of the thousands of volunteer bell ringers who keep alive a 127-year tradition that the Salvation … Continue reading The guy in the red apron: How a Salvation Army bell ringer brings heart to the job
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 