Two congregations adopt a family displaced by a civil war that has claimed half a million lives. Third Place, Feature Article, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle BEAMSVILLE, Ontario — As war ravaged their homeland, a Syrian family of eight fled for their lives. The Muslim father, mother and six children — among 4 million Syrians who have escaped to … Continue reading Canadian churches embrace Syrian refugees
Republican frontrunner’s personal background is an issue for some — but not all — going into Super Tuesday balloting. First Place, News Story, Associated Church Press First Place, Election Reporting, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — To Ethan Garrett, a presidential candidate’s integrity and personal values matter. As Garrett sees it, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump lacks those … Continue reading In the GOP primaries, do politics Trump values and character?
With residents angry and frustrated over lead contamination, Christians work to meet physical and spiritual needs. Third Place, News Story, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle FLINT, Mich. — “Father, we know the water saves us,” North Central Church of Christ member Robert McDaniel prayed on a recent Sunday. The living water of Jesus Christ washes away sins, McDaniel declared … Continue reading Thirsty souls: Churches help victims of Flint water crisis
Role reversal draws one woman closer to her parents — and to God. First Place, Feature Article, Associated Church Press By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SYLACAUGA, Ala. — The little girl tugged at her father’s leg. “Don’t go, Daddy,” she begged. “Don’t go.” Jack Zorn — known to generations in Churches of Christ as “The Man in the Red Jacket” who founded … Continue reading From daughter to caretaker
Jihadist theology vs. mainstream Islam debated. Finalist (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Anger. That was minister and elder Royce Bell’s first reaction when a friend called to tell him her son, Robert Adams, had died in the terrorist attack on county employees enjoying a holiday celebration. In all, … Continue reading San Bernardino massacre puts focus on Muslims
Pistols in the pews make some feel more secure, but others are leery. Finalist (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle At many Churches of Christ across the nation, Christians bring more than their swords — as some refer to their Bibles — to Sunday worship. An untold number also carry concealed handguns into … Continue reading God, guns and keeping Christians safe
After the rioting, church leaders seek to bring spiritual and social renewal to the city. First Place, Diversity Coverage, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Second Place, News Story, Associated Church Press Finalist (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association BALTIMORE — Derrick Lindsey takes an Amtrak train to work in Washington, D.C. The federal employee — a member of the Central Church of Christ in Baltimore — … Continue reading The broken soul of Baltimore
Christian Chronicle named top newspaper in national “Best of the Christian Press” contest: http://t.co/XyaKEDqv5w pic.twitter.com/EPRRarqAoO — Christian Chronicle (@InformInspireCC) May 4, 2015 I was blessed to receive 1st place for news story and 1st place for feature in the Associated Church Press contest: http://t.co/kUu5cxySSo — Bobby Ross Jr. (@bobbyross) May 4, 2015 This story appears online at christianchronicle.org. Continue reading Christian Chronicle named top newspaper in national ‘Best of the Christian Press’ contest
By Bobby Ross Jr.
At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, I had just stepped off The Oklahoman’s eighth-floor newsroom elevator when we heard the boom and saw the smoke in the distance.
In all, 168 people died in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City — the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil until 9/11 six years later.
Twenty years ago today, my Oklahoman colleagues and I found ourselves covering the biggest story of our lives, even as we joined our grieving community in shedding tears over an unfathomable tragedy.
I was blessed to tell many stories of victims and survivors. Here are links to seven of the most memorable:
1. Neighbor cares for boys when mom doesn’t return
Thirteen-year-old Ricky Hill and his brother Jonathan, 11, waited up late Wednesday hoping to hear from their mother.
Even as they drifted off to sleep, they clung to hope that Army recruiter Lola Renee Bolden, a 40-year-old single parent, had survived a thunderous bomb blast.
But her call never came.
The boys’ distress turned into a real-life nightmare about 1 a.m. Thursday.
That’s when three men and a woman, all clad in their best Army green, arrived at the door with the horrible news.
Neighbor Mechelle Murray, a single parent with children herself, had taken in the next-door neighbor boys when their mother failed to return home.
Even while calming Ricky and Jonathan, Murray had feared the worst.
“I immediately thought, ‘Oh my God, Renee works in that building,’ ” the 38-year-old accounting student said of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 