Liberty Champion February 26, 2019

CPAC coming Meeting Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in totheLU March 1 LaHaye Event Space

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Community Group Leader Interest

See Commencement details www.liberty.edu/commencement

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VOLUME 36, ISSUE 15

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA

LIBERTYCHAMPION.COM | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 | LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

In this Issue!

Content

A1

Opinion

A4

Sports

B1

Feature

B5

Op-ed from the president

Baseball opens season

See A5

See B1

CPAC to pack Vines

f i r s t C FAW o f 2 0 1 9

LU will host March 1 event Lillian Abbatacola leabbatacola@liberty.edu

The Conservative Political Action Conference will pack out venues across the country, including the Vines Center, March 1 to honor American heroes, including veterans, current military and first-responders.

“The very best part of Liberty University is its dedication to serving others. Liberty prides itself in honoring and serving our nation’s heroes both locally and nationally,” Liberty President Jerry Falwell Jr. said.

Liberty will join Colorado Christian University and Pepperdine University as satellite locations, each stemming from the main event in Washington D.C. Liberty’s CPAC is focused on showcasing the great men and women who serve in the military or put themselves in harm’s way for others.

“Honoring our veterans is one thing we can all come together and agree on — regardless of political affiliation, ideological differences, or religion,” Falwell said.

CPAC at Liberty is planned to be a seamless event, meaning students arriving to Convocation will be greeted by a live stream of Vice President Mike Pence speaking from D.C., plunging students into the all-day program. Convocation will be discussion style, where Donald Trump Jr. will sit down with a panel.

See CPAC, A3

CFAW — Students attended College for a Weekend Feb. 21-24. Story on A3.

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

SING — Bethel performed in the Vines Center Feb. 22. Story on B8.

Leah Stauffer | Liberty News Service

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

ICED — The Flames took on Adrian. Story on B1.

Steps for the unborn

What’s News

Light of Life Vigil supports pro-life movement Deanna Drogan ddrogan@liberty.edu

Candles lit the steps of Monument Terrace in downtown Lynchburg as a group of about 50 people gathered to support the unborn at the Light of Life Vigil Thursday, Feb 21.

Organized by a local woman named Amy Gibson, who felt compelled to act after attending the 2019 March for Life in Washington D.C., the gathering was a Taryn Azimov | Liberty Champion time of prayer and grieving for the LIFE — Attendees at the event heard from different pro-life speakers. millions of babies aborted in the U.S. Liberty’s pro-life club Lifeline was also in attendance and Pastor Paul Dudley of One Com- years later, she explained she truly helped advertise the event. munity Church. After prayer, Gib- understands the decision she made The event started at 6 p.m. and son came to the podium and shared and has dealt with the shame. Bays opened with a word of prayer from her experience at the March for attributed the power of the GosLife and the call she felt God had pel to allowing her to experience placed on her heart to act. true forgiveness and urging her to “Open your eyes and see this share her story with others. evil head on,” Gibson said.

“People learn way more from With tears, she encouraged at- your weaknesses than they will tendees to see and acknowledge your strengths,” Bays said. abortion for what it is. She closed Bays is now a counselor at the with Proverbs 31:8, which says, Bedford Pregnancy Center and “Speak up for those who cannot shares her story with women facspeak for themselves, for the rights ing unplanned pregnancies. of all who are destitute.”

“Every time I get to share my She then welcomed Julie Bays, story with people, I can see the who had an abortion at the age of light flicker in their souls again,” 19. Bays recalled the dark, cold Bays said.

Taryn Azimov | Liberty Champion day she sat in a Planned ParentLIGHTS — Attendees lifted candles in hood clinic. the sky at the end of the vigil.

After having three children See VIGIL, A2

Liberty

Lady Flames swimmers and divers win championship

Liberty University women’s swimming and diving team won the 2019 Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships Feb. 23, with a conference-record score of 1,859.5 points. The championship was hosted at the Liberty Natatorium.

Indoor track rises to the top of ASUN Liberty University’s men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams won the university’s first ASUN titles in their ASUN Championship debuts Saturday, Feb. 23.

Local

James River Association provides opportunities for high school students High school juniors and seniors will soon have the opportunity to be a part of the James River Association’s James River Leadership Academy, according to the News & Advance. The academy teaches young adults about issues the James River is facing in hopes of building a new generation of conservationists.

Weekend winds leave some Lynchburgers without power Sunday, Feb. 24 winds exceeding 40 mph in the Lynchburg area left many residents and traffic signals without power. According to the News & Advance, about 1,700 customers of regional electric utility services in Lynchburg were without power as of 5:40 a.m. Feb. 25.

National “Green Book” takes home best picture Celebrities and entertainment moguls awed spectators of the 91st Academy Awards red carpet Feb. 24 before awards were doled out. “Green Book” took Best Picture, and dark horse candidate “Black Panther” claimed Best Original Score, Costume Design and Production Design.

California teachers strike against school association More than 3,000 educators for Oakland, California, took to the streets Thursday, Feb. 21 to ask for a “retroactive raise covering 2017 to 2020,” according to Fox News. The strike continued at 6:30 a.m. Feb. 25 after weekend negotiations between the protestors and the Oakland Education Association failed to reach a resolution.

content

A2 | February 26, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Counseling mastered Liberty University’s professional counseling program gets accredited aged to sign up for LU Send trips and complete their internships at home Liberty University’s online master’s and abroad. program for professional counseling was “We do a great accredited this month by the Counsel for job marketing to our Accreditation of Counseling and Related online students …

Educational Programs (CACREP), an orgaletting them know nization responsible for recognizing almost about (LU) Send 900 schools across the nation that meet trips they can their standards of exgo on and incellence.

“In the counseling Our programs have our students going ternship opportunities,” Cox world, this CACREP into somebody’s burned out shell of said. “The onorganization is the campus intengold standard for aca home, sorting through the ashes, … sives are great creditations,” Knapp as well because said. doing grief counseling, and helping the students According to to see their Knapp, a sitting board these people piece their lives back get school and meet member of CACREP, during the process of together. their residential classmates.” achieving accredita“I’m the new tion by CACREP, Lib- Kenyon Knapp guy here, but erty hired 31 full-time I have reason counseling faculty in one semester to meet the 12-1 faculty to stu- quality certified counselors. Through LU to be proud of our Send, Liberty is able to send counseling stu- counseling program dent ratio required for accreditation.

“That was a multi-million-dollar deci- dents to places around the world to help oth- because it really is Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service Knapp HEAD — Knapp has been the dean of the School of Behavioral Sciences for the sion,” Knapp said. “They counted the cost, ers in crisis, such as the victims of the 2018 rocking,” said. and they did it. That just shows Liberty’s lev- California wildfires. past seven months.

“Our programs have our students going “I feel like a kid in el of commitment and devotion to this field.” more accreditations to come and new After submitting their self-study to into somebody’s burned out shell of a home, a candy store with my CACREP, there was one on-site visit by an sorting through the ashes, … doing grief new job. … I wake up every morning excited programs to be added to the school and accreditation team. After a thorough review, counseling, and helping these people piece to go to work,” new Dean of Behavioral Sci- that more news will be available on those ences Kenyon Knapp said. changes in the coming weeks.

Liberty met every single accreditation stan- their lives back together,” Knapp said.

Liberty University Online students, like As the online and residential programs dard and achieved an eight-year accreditation for the program, the highest level a residential students, are able and encour- continue to grow, Knapp said he expects EVANS is a content reporter.

Will Evans wjevans@liberty.edu

“

school can receive.

“I think one of the biggest things for (the) department is being accredited,” associate professor at the School of Behavioral Sciences Elke Cox said. “It’s what gives you creditability out in the field.”

The Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, to be called M.A. in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling in the fall of 2019, is a program focused on creating

VIGIL continued from A1

Tayrn Amizov | Liberty Champion

INVOLVED — Attendees were encouraged to get involved with their local pregnancy centers.

02/27 - Dietitian Culinary Pop-up

11:30 a.m. | Montview Student Union Tabling 02/28 - Bingo Bash

7 p.m. | DeMoss Hall Classroom- 4422 02/28 - Local Law Enforcement Panel

7:30 p.m. | DeMoss Hall Classroom - 4040 03/01 - Concert - Gray Havens feat. Chris Renzema and Gray

7:30 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space 03/02 - King of the Mountain 1 Mile Race

10 a.m. | Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre Parking Lot 03/02 - Movie Night – Creed II

8 p.m. | Vines Center 03/04 - Coffeehouse Tryouts

5 p.m. | LaHaye Event Space STUDENT ACTIVITIES

SHARE WITH US

CONCERTS

LULifeline, or on Instagram at @lulifeline.

After Bays spoke, a video from Save the Storks played. The video said 64 percent of post-abortive women claimed they felt pressured DROGAN is the social media by others to abort, and 79 percent editor. were not counseled. According to its website, Save the Storks is an organization that uses creative solutions to support and empower pregnancy resource centers.

Gibson encouraged attendees to start supporting organizations like these, explaining the Christian community needs to take action.

“We come with the best news, the blood of Christ and the mercy of God,” Gibson said. “This video is just one example of how we can get involved.”

The night continued with a word from Lori Lewis, the director of the Bedford Pregnancy Center, who spoke about different opportunities she and the volunteers have had to counsel women at the center.

“We don’t want them to see us,” Lewis said. “We want them to see Jesus.”

She then asked the attendees Tayrn Amizov | Liberty Champion to pray and look for ways to get involved in their local pregnancy STEPS — The group met at the Terrace Monument steps to rally for the pro-life movecenters. ment in the U.S.

CAMPUS CALENDAR

COLOR KEY:

To conclude the night, candles were passed around and lifted in the night sky as Liberty School of Divinity professor Dr. David Wheeler closed in prayer. Attendees sang “Amazing Grace.”

Liberty’s Prolife Club can be found on Facebook at @

CORRECTION In the Feb. 19 issue, there was inaccurate information in the sports story “Pinning down nationals.” JerLynchburg emy Mosley is an Apprentice School Daily Bread athlete, not Liberty. He was pinned

by Liberty’s Sam Karel.

CO N VO CAT I O N S C H E D U L E CPAC

CLUB EVENTS

CAMPUS EVENTS

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Liberty Champion

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libertychampion media@gmail.com

Boys & Girls Club

03.01.19

content

Liberty Champion | February 26, 2019 | A3

CFAWs flood Liberty Future Flames from around the world visit campus, hoping to find a home

Madison Hirneisen mghirneisen@liberty.edu

Nearly 2,100 prospective students fought off rainy weather at Liberty University over the weekend, marking the first 2019 College for A Weekend (CFAW) Feb. 21-24.

For Liberty freshman Elisa Sitarz, CFAW was the experience she needed to make the decision to come to Liberty. Sitarz attended CFAW twice as a high school student — once in February 2017 and again in February 2018. While she looked at other schools closer to her home in Birmingham, Alabama, she always found herself considering Liberty.

“I looked at a lot of different schools, but none of their departments or (any) of the tours stood out as much,” Sitarz said.

“I would always compare them back to Liberty.”

Students attending CFAW have the option to attend a number of events and activities and visit many places on Liberty’s campus. Over this CFAW weekend, prospective

Photo Provided

TWINS — Elisa Sitarz (left) and Lauren Sitarz (right).

students were able to engage in a variety of events, including attending department open houses, going to classes, taking campus tours and experiencing Convocation.

CFAW attendees also had the opportunity to check out Hydaway Outdoor Recreation Center and SnowFlex, watch a hockey game at the LaHaye Ice Center and even see Bethel Music in concert Saturday night.

Many students attending CFAW come accompanied by a friend or members of their youth group. When Sitarz came for the first time, she was joined by her twin sister, Lauren. When she attended her second CFAW, Sitarz came without her sister.

Coming by herself, she was able to catch a glimpse of what it would be like to come to Liberty without her twin. During her weekend at CFAW, Sitarz sought guidance from her host and from the professors in the School of Education. Attending CFAW ultimately led Sitarz to make the decision go to Liberty, while her twin sister chose to enroll at Mississippi College.

“I came here without my sister, and that was definitely a big step for me just to trust God,” Sitarz said.

For the first time, the Sitarz twins have been separated and have coped with navigating their new college lives separately.

While this has come with a unique set of challenges, Sitarz explained attending different colleges has given them room to grow separately and has ultimately strengthened their relationship.

“It’s definitely been such a God thing,” Sitarz said. “He’s taught both of us how to rely on him and not rely on each other because we’re so used to doing that. Also, we’ve grown as best friends because we are able to sort of intentionally talk to each other.”

While many use CFAW as a time to decide if Liberty is the right fit, some students come to CFAW with their minds set on Liberty.

High school senior Rachel Matos is one of these students.

KJ Krugar | Liberty News Service

FOR A WEEKEND — More than 2,100 students poured onto Liberty mountain to check out the campus.

Matos began making plans to attend Liberty in the fall 2019 semester after visiting the school in early October. However, she wanted to attend CFAW to get a better idea of college life at Liberty.

“I wanted to come and meet people (and) get a feel for the campus, (while) actually being here,” Matos said.

Matos looked forward to participating in some of the weekend events to meet other future Liberty students. Going into the fall semester, she is looking forward to engaging in Liberty’s community.

“Everyone I’ve met is so nice, and everyone is so welcoming,” Matos said. “It almost calms those nerves down, like you don’t really have to be nervous because everyone is so nice.”

Diversity Coordinator of National Recruitment Josh Brown welcomed CFAWs in a number of orientations Thursday night, Feb. 21. According to Brown, his team works to welcome CFAWs to campus in order to give them the best shot at a successful

experience. “(My team) is intentional by making sure that everyone’s feeling welcome (and) that we have enough information here at the beginning to feel adequate,” Brown said. “We do want to prepare students as best we can with what to expect (during the weekend).

As many students leave CFAW with new experiences and big decisions to make about choosing a college, Sitarz encouraged the CFAWs she hosted to let God write the story and to not be afraid of stretching outside their comfort zones. For Sitarz, Liberty is far from home, but she has grown through the distance.

“Don’t be afraid to take that step and go farther than you think you would go to school because in the long run, that’s how God can shape you and change you into the person he wants you to be,” Sitarz said.

HIRNEISEN is a content reporter.

God enables the disabled

International missionary Nick Vujicic on depression, suicide and a pair of shoes Rachel Van Tuyl rvantuyl@liberty.edu

Christian motivational speaker Nick Vujicic, who was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder resulting in the absence of arms and legs, shared his testimony at the Feb. 22 Convocation.

He shared his testimony with Liberty University students about how God has used his life for God’s glory, even when Vujicic did not know God’s plan.

His parents instilled a strong work ethic in Vujicic from a young age. When he wanted something from the store, his parents told him to earn his own money, so Vujicic began vacuuming the house weekly. He was six.

“The way that my parents raised me up is phenomenal,” Vujicic said. “(It was) only by God’s grace.”

Vujicic explained that because of his parents, he was the first disabled person to go to a mainstream school in Australia. He said his mother took the government to CPAC continued from A1 Gary Sinise, the actor who played Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump, will honor

Kevin Manguiob | Liberty News Service FULL CIRCLE — Tim Lee is a friend of Liberty and will close out CPAC.

court and won.

At the age of 8, Vujicic became depressed, where he would remain for the next four years. At

do you think you are? … There was something greater than giving Nick Vujicic as a child arms and legs miraculously, but (I) couldn’t think of that.”

While Vujicic He commands you to walk believes he is being used to be by faith, so get comfortable God’s “hands and feet” right now, he being uncomfortable and said he still has a depending on him. pair of shoes in his closet in case God - Nick Vujicic says, “Yes.” “We all have broken pieces,” age 10, he attempted suicide, but Vujicic said. “We all are disabled the thought of the guilt his parents in some sort of way. But when you would experience stopped him walk by faith and not by sight, … from following through. when you hear the word of God, “When I was 8 years old, I did it is sharper than any two-edged not know that God would have a sword.” really good plan, a greater plan,” Vujicic said the only way to fight Vujicic said. “And I had mine.” the spiritual war is with the word His plan was to begin praying of God. He explained that while that if God was real, that he would everyone has broken pieces, there give Vujicic arms and legs. is no limit to what God can do with “Does God always say yes to those pieces. our prayers? No,” Vujicic said. “If “Do you know what hinders us God can’t say no to you, then who from running as fast as God actu-

“

veterans, current military service members and their families. Sinise is the founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which aims to develop support programs and events to honor and serve military families and first responders.

“We’ve gone all out to invite our local veterans and military to come to this event — and we’re going to let these special guests know that we love and honor them for what they’ve done to defend our freedom,” Falwell said.

CPAC at Liberty will also host American heroes like Tim Lee, Sergeant Edgar Harrell and Colonel Steve Chealander.

The event will also honor pastor Rob McCoy of Calvary Chapel, who also serves as Mayor of Thousand Oaks.

The Thousand Oaks community was devastated by a fire and then on Nov. 13, 2018, when a man gunned down 13 people at Borderline Bar and Grill.

Popular conservative voices like U.S. Representative Ben Cline, Gina Loudon, Sean Spicer, Kentucky

Jessie Rogers| Liberty News Service

BREAKING BARRIERS — Vujicic spoke at Convocation about how he was the

first disabled person in Australia to go to mainstream school and how he has reached millions for Christ around the world.

ally wants us to run? It’s because you want a plan,” Vujicic said. “If you’re waiting for the blueprint for the plan of God in your life, get ready to hear nothing. The moment he tells you his plan is the moment you don’t need as much faith.

He commands you to walk by faith,

Gov. Matt Bevin and Liberty Law student Autumn Johnson will speak at different segments throughout the day at Liberty.

“I am excited about our event with CPAC on Friday,” former U.S. Representative and Executive Director of Liberty’s Center for Law &

SPEAKER — Edgar Harrell will speak at CPAC.

Photo Provided

so get comfortable being uncomfortable and depending on him.”

More information about Vujicic’s ministry can be found at his website, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/.

VAN TUYL is the assistant content editor.

Government Robert Hurt said. “Liberty strives to prepare our students to be better citizens at a time when good citizenship seems to be more critical than ever, and this is a great opportunity for them to hear directly from a star-studded lineup of leaders about the fundamental principles that have made — and will continue to make — our country great.”

Prior to Pence’s address Tim Tebow will be on a Skype call with Liberty Champion’s assistant sports editor, Jacob Couch. Throughout the day, Christian musician Zachary Radcliff will perform.

“I am so excited for this event — and even more excited to hear from some of our nation’s heroes,” Falwell said.

Registration for CPAC at

Photo Provided

BOOKED — Gary Sinise will speak at CPAC at 4:20 p.m.

March 1.

Liberty is open to the public, and those interested in attending should register by visiting www.liberty.edu/ cpac.

ABBATACOLA is the content editor.

OPINION

A4

February 26, 2019

Oscars Recap Ryan Klinker rmklinker@liberty.edu

With no host and temporary reports that certain category announcements would go untelevised, there was plenty of speculation how this year’s Oscars would go, but surprises and a few genuine moments made the 91st Academy Awards a success.

It began with a live performance by Queen — who has been involved in this year’s awards season thanks to the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” — instead of the traditional monologue full of references to the year’s nominees.

This led to plenty of cutaways to our favorite stars banging their heads to the iconic rock songs, and it seemed to diffuse the tension that had accumulated. It was an unconventional opening, but not a bad one.

Excluding the predictable award races, especially when the technical awards came around, there were some surprises. Best Sound Editing, an award almost predestined for a soundcentric film like “A Quiet Place,” went to “Bohemian Rhapsody” instead.

By the end of the night, the film had accumulated four Oscars, including Best Actor for Rami Malek and Best Film Editing.

The race for Best Original Song was never much more than a sprint, as the duet “Shallow” from “A Star is Born” was never doubted. Almost all of the Original Song nominees performed live, and the appearance by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper was incred-

ible. Left uninterrupted by intercut camera angles, the presentation of the song we’ve heard for months on end was still just as intimate and touching.

The Oscars sometimes gets things wrong when it comes to nominations and wins, and there have been many actors and filmmakers who end up waiting far too long to earn their statuette. Spike Lee, the influential mind behind films like “Do the Right Thing” and “Malcolm X,” finally received his first Oscar for adapting the script for “Blackkklansman,” a true story about a black detective in Colorado who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. While I’ve never been a fan of Lee as a person, it was enjoyable to see someone who has surely paid his dues to film finally receive some recognition.

The upset of the night had to be in the Best Actress category. If you read my predictions from a couple weeks back, you’ll see this category was a neck-and-neck race between Lady Gaga and Glenn Close, with Close being the favorite, due to a long career of going home empty-handed on Oscar night. However, the dark horse Olivia Coleman nabbed the win for her offkilter performance in “The Favourite.” Even in her acceptance speech, Coleman seemed to be shocked that Glenn Close wasn’t standing in her place, and I felt the same way.

A moment I enjoyed that may be forgotten was when Guillermo Del Toro, who won Best Director last year for “The Shape of Water,” presented the same award to his friend and fel-

low Mexican auteur Alfonso Cuaron for “Roma.” As Del Toro opened the envelope and saw the name inside, he said, “This name I can pronounce.”

It was a small exchange between two foreign filmmakers who have had immense success in Hollywood, and I loved it.

Best Picture is always the pinnacle of the night, and this year never had one true film at the forefront for the award. “Roma” was filled with artistry and subtlety and was definitely the more refined of the nominees, but since it was produced by Netflix and was a foreign film, I think the more traditional voters denied it the grand prize. “A Star is Born” was what I wish could have won, but it didn’t have the legs that other nominees had. In the end, “Green Book” took home Best Picture as what I think was the safest choice by the Academy. It wasn’t exactly the most flawless film, but it told an uplifting story about mending race relations and featured quality performances.

A few surprises, victories that were long overdue, and a lack of major mishaps made the 91st Academy Awards an enjoyable night for movies. There were only a few political statements, and we got to experience something that almost everyone can enjoy: movies.

KLINKER is the photography editor.

Ineffective policy The NFL personal conduct rules aren't effective

Macy Hrncir mhrncir@liberty.edu

The National Football League has been plagued with players being accused of domestic violence. One of the most famous cases came when the NFL suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice when he was charged with domestic violence after knocking his then fiancée (now wife) unconscious in an elevator during an altercation in a New Jersey casino.

Yet another recent, horrendous incident has put another NFL player, and the league as a whole, in the spotlight after a video was released Nov. 30 of Kareem Hunt knocking a woman down and kicking her in a hotel. As a result, Hunt was cut from the Kansas City Chiefs in early December and suspended from the NFL. Hunt has been given a second chance by the Cleveland Browns, who signed the running back to a one-year deal Feb. 11.

Even more recently, the league announced Feb. 6 they would be investigating wide receiver Antonio Brown because of an alleged domestic violence incident, according to CBS Sports.

When the Hunt incident first occurred, both the NFL and the team were reportedly unable to get their hands on the footage they needed to conduct an investigation, according to NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. It then raised a few eyebrows when a celebrity website, TMZ, obtained a copy of the very video that seemingly eluded the NFL. It was only after

the video’s release that the league actually decided to dole out punishment to Hunt.

Apparently, the NFL has had problems with its investigations and rules for years.

Deborah Epstein is a professor of law and co-director of the Georgetown University Law Center’s Domestic Violence Clinic. Years ago, Epstein joined the NFL Players Association’s commission on domestic violence. This commission was formed to recommend steps the league could take as a part of the NFL’s belated effort to take charge of the plague of domestic violence in the league.

This association seemed to start because of the incident involving Rice.

“My NFLPA contacts would initially greet these ideas with a burst of enthusiasm and an indication of likely implementation,” Epstein wrote for the Washington Post. “But efforts to follow up would yield nothing in the way of specific plans, and eventually, communication would fade into radio silence.”

All the while, she would see allegation after allegation of NFL players committing acts of domestic violence. One spring, Epstein saw at least half a dozen new players invited to join NFL teams, even though they were currently facing outstanding court cases involving physical or sexual assaults.

After years at the NFLPA, Epstein was forced to accept a suspicion she had from the day she accepted her position, that the NFL was only paying lip service so that it could claim it was confront-

LIFE WITH

LOGAN Logan Smith lcsmith1@liberty.edu

Hymns pierce the soul better than contemporary music.

My church, a congregation of about 70, balances modern praise and worship with traditional hymns. This genre mix provides stability in our diverse congregation, many of them senior citizens who deeply appreciate the “old-fashioned” music.

Unlike contemporary music, hymns focus on powerful, doctrinally-driven lyrics.

There’s nothing wrong with contemporary tracks, but I prefer singing something that will strengthen my faith in God, not swing me on an emotional roller-coaster.

Consider the following bridge from Chris Tomlin’s “White Flag:” We lift the cross. Lift it high. Lift it high.

We lift the cross. Lift it high. Lift it high.

We lift the cross. Lift it high. Lift it high.

We lift the cross. Lift it high. Lift it high. (x 2) The bridge slowly progresses from soft to loud as the words continue. The lyrics are true, but what is the song actually teaching?

Now, contrast this with the first verse of “It is well with my soul,” written by Horatio Spafford after he tragically lost his children in a sailing accident in 1873: When peace like a river attendeth my way When sorrows like seas billows roar Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, “It is well. It is well with my soul.”

Both stanzas declare God’s sovereignty over the individual, but only one relies on rich, theologically-sound lyrics to express its meaning. The hymn slashes through our emotional curtain and into our souls, causing humble adoration, not an emotional reaction.

General rule for worship music: melody should accompany lyrics, not vice versa.

When artists prioritize composition over lyrics, the message can sometimes get lost or become vague to the listener.

Consider the first verse of “There is a fountain filled with blood,” written by William Cowper in 1771: There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Emanuel’s veins And when sinners plunge beneath that flood (They) lose all their guilty stains

Google Images

KAREEM HUNT — Hunt played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 before being released by the team after a video showing him punching and kicking a woman was released on TMZ.

ing the problem of domestic violence, just long enough for the Rice story to fall out of the spotlight.

“The NFL Players Association is no longer interested in even making a public show of concern about violence against woman,” Epstein said. “A point driven home more forcefully during each new NFL season.”

Currently, the league’s policy states that a first-time offender faces a six-game suspension, but in many cases, those are repealed and reduced. In the wake of the Hunt investigation, many media personalities called for stricter punishments for offender. Molly Qerim, host of ESPN’s First Take, called for a full-year suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for any

subsequent offense.

This would be a good step for the league to take. It would show that the league takes domestic violence seriously, but still gives a second chance for an athlete who shows they are repentant and seeking to improve themselves.

These football players are just like any other men and should be punished in full by the government and the league for their crimes, no matter how much money they make.

This stanza bursts with doctrine. It paints a beautiful picture of our blessed assurance through Jesus’ precious blood, a substance powerful enough to cleanse the filthiest sin.

Contrast that with the chorus of “One thing remains,” by Jesus Culture: Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on me.

Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on me. (x2) I completely agree with the lyrics of this contemporary classic (if there is such a thing), and I don’t have a problem singing them in church. But let’s ask ourselves a question: how much methodical energy actually went into the writing?

Hymns put emotions aside and venture straight toward the heart. Many contemporary songs rely on a sensational tidal wave of emotional music, resulting in shallow lyrics and a foggy message.

There’s music that whets your appetite, and then there’s music that is food for your soul.

Next time you hear a hymn, consider its lyrical value. Don’t disregard it as “old-fashioned.” You may miss out on something truly beautiful.

SMITH is the manager of content.

HRNCIR is an opinion writer.

opinion

Liberty Champion | February 26, 2019 | A5

Moderate vote The court does not have a conservative majority

Francesca Walker frwalker@liberty.edu

Earlier this month, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts sided with his liberal colleagues on a decision to block a restrictive Louisiana abortion law from going into effect, according to CNBC. Given Roberts’ siding with liberals, from the most recent vote on an abortion law from Louisiana to Former President Barack Obama’s health care law back in 2009, it is unlikely that he will be a sure conservative vote on the court go-

Google Images

CHIEF JUSTICE — Besides presiding over Supreme Court cases, the chief justice also is responsible for swearing in the president, as John Roberts did here with Barack Obama in 2013.

ing forward. Both of those decisions were questionable for multiple reasons, including constitutionality, according to the New York Post. However, what most people may be missing is that, according to OnTheIssues.org, Roberts has seen Roe v. Wade as settled law since 2005.

Unfortunately, Roberts seems to have left his previous more conservative voting line behind in favor of a more progressive, or at least moderate, way of ruling. With a clearer picture in mind of who he really is as a judge, he will likely swing left more often, becoming the new moderate in the Supreme Court. It is unclear if Robert’s ideology is changing, or if he merely has a heightened level of respect for already existing precedent.

One can only speculate about the reason for Robert’s decision; however, one thing is certain, as the new swing vote on the Supreme Court, a lot of people on both sides of the isle will be clamoring for Roberts to vote their way. In fact, it is unclear how much of a conservative the Chief Justice truly is. According to OnTheIssues.org, up until 2005, Roberts had no “paper trail” as a judge on issues concerning gay rights.

Robert’s spat with President Donald Trump in November of last year could also be indicative of his future voting. According to Bill Bennet in an interview on Fox News Channel, this kind of verbal sparring between a

Supreme Court Justice and the president is not “unprecedented,” but it is unusual. During the Civil War, President Lincoln and the court openly criticized each other, but that is still an uncommon occurrence in American government.

There is one good thing about Robert’s ruling. The abortion bill will likely be on the voting docket again in 2020, the year of the next U.S. presidential election. This is good news, as it will force both presidential candidates to make their stance on abortion clear.

With Trump already staking out and proving his extremely pro-life position on abortion, the Democratic candidate will have to represent the liberal side, which could be even more radical by the time 2020 rolls around. This could favor Trump with an electorate of which, according to Real Clear Politics, 65 percent of Americans want the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade.

According to CNBC, this spells trouble for Democrats and “reproductive activists” going forward who say that, “the high court’s abortion precedents are unlikely to withstand the addition of Trump's two nominees,” and that’s good news for pro-lifers and the unborn children they defend.

WALKER is an opinion writer.

One-and-done

The NBA must change its draft eligibility rules Chad Wylie cewylie@liberty.edu

When Zion Williamson’s defective shoe ripped open 36-seconds into Duke’s rivalry game against North Carolina, all eyes turned to the National Basketball Association to see if they will finally rip up their defective one-and-done rule.

By forcing teenagers to attend college for a year and play for a university that monopolizes off their free labor, the NBA has jeopardized the careers of hundreds of young players. Unfortunately, it took a generational talent being injured for the NBA to seek to correct this issue.

In 2006, the NBA included Article X into the collective bargaining agreement they signed with the players association. This article mandates that all drafteligible players must be at least 19-years-old and one full year removed from high school graduation. All top players were then recruited by colleges, where it is assumed that top talent will play their freshman year before declaring for the draft, hence the rule’s nickname, one-and-done.

That brings us to last Wednesday night, when Williamson, the most famous prospect since LeBron James, laced up his white and blue Nike sneakers and prepared to play before a sellout crowd of over 9,000

at the direction of head coach Mike Krzyewski. Nike has paid Duke millions of dollars for their players to wear Nike apparel. The cheapest ticket for Wednesday’s game on the second-hand market was $2,000, with the average ticket price closer to $4,000. Krzyewski is being paid $8.89 million to coach Duke this year.

Due to their NCAA amateur status, the only people who were not making money off the talent of the players were the players, including Williamson, despite it being the players putting themselves at the most risk.

If Williamson’s mild knee sprain had been a ligament tear or bone break, his entire career could have been jeopardized. Whenever a college player takes the court, they are risking millions of dollars playing in a league that does not pay them and they have no choice but to play in that league or go overseas and play in Europe for a season.

Last year’s NBA first overall draft pick, Deandre Ayton, will make $17.8 million in his first two seasons. After that, he will be able to sign an extension for over $100 million. A full max contract for a 10-year league veteran is currently at $220 million, and that value will increase in upcoming years. Forbes Magazine explains that Williamson is likely to become the third NBA player, after Michael Jordan and possibly LeBron James, to be paid

over $1 billion playing basketball, considering both salary and endorsement opportunities.

If Williamson had fallen a little bit harder, or at a more awkward angle, and suffered a careerending injury, that defective shoe he was forced to wear playing in the NCAA, where he was forced to play, could have cost him $1 billion.

What the NBA must recognize is that players should not be Google Images forced to attend ZION — Known by his first name only, Zion college to play Williamson is the heavy favorite to be the first basketball if pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. they believe they can capitalize on their abilities without it. pick, even if he never played For one-and-done players, a second of college ball. obtaining a college degree is The NBA has filed a petinot enough incentive to turn tion with the players associadown the millions of dol- tion to change the age limit lars available at the profes- to 18, with the rule change sional level. And that’s not a to take effect for the 2022 bad thing. draft, according to USA ToNot even the possibility day. This solution will finally of improving under college solve the unjust problem coaches will make all players of forcing the best players want to attend college. Wil- to give free labor for a year liamson, whose high school to a school they will never videos have generated over graduate from.

2 million views on YouTube, would have been the pre- WYLIE is the sumptive first overall draft opinion editor.

Dear Students, Here at Liberty University, we talk a lot about how we should show honor to the heroes who have sacrificed to defend our nation and our freedoms.

Over 30,000 of you are either active military or come from an active military family. You know firsthand the sacrifices that are made.

There are many ways to show honor to heroes throughout the year. But Friday, March 1, Liberty is making it really easy to do so.

We are one of three universities, along with Pepperdine and Colorado Christian, to be chosen as a satellite location for this year’s CPAC, an event dedicated to hosting conservative speakers from around the country.

Politics is downstream from culture.

So we’ve put together several speakers who will lead us in “Honoring Our Heroes.”

And we’ve gone all out to invite our local veterans and military to come to this event. We’re going to let these special guests know that we love and honor them for what they’ve done to defend our freedom.

And how are we going to do that? By being there. By being in the Vines Center for the day. They’ll see firsthand that the next generation loves the same great America that they were willing to lay down their life for.

The event is free and open to the public. We decided to just give the event away to you and to our community.

Doors open at 9 a.m. and the program starts at 10 a.m.

Guests will include Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Donald Trump, Jr., former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, actor Gary “Lt. Dan” Sinise, Colonel Steven Chealander, and Sergeant Edgar Harrell, a World War II veteran and one of the last survivors of the USS Indianapolis.

And that’s just a few of the people hitting our stage.

The very best part of Liberty is its dedication to serving others. Liberty prides itself in honoring and serving our nation’s heroes both locally and nationally.

Honoring our veterans is one thing we can all come together and agree on — regardless of political affiliation, ideological differences or religion.

I am so excited about this event — and even more excited to hear from some of our nation’s heroes.

I implore the student body and faculty to come out to this event and show our veterans just how much Liberty loves and respects those who have sacrificed so much.

I hope to see you there!

-President Jerry Falwell P.S. Classes won’t be canceled. But if you decide to come to this event on Friday instead of going to class, then you’ ll be excused. And your professor will also go to extra lengths to make sure you don’t miss anything and that you won’t get behind on your work.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICIES & INFO Logan Smith manager of content

Emily Baker sports editor

Sarah Rodriguez graduate assistant

Jacob Couch asst. sports editor

CONTENT

Jenna Crenshaw feature editor

Lilli Abbatacola content editor Rachel Van Tuyl asst. content editor Chad Wylie editorial editor

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Ryan Klinker photography editor

Deanna Drogan social media manager

Allison Heise asst. photography editor

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Emily Smith copy editor

DESIGN

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ADMINISTRATION Deborah Huff faculty advisor Scott Lamb consultant

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Letters should not exceed 400 words and must be typed and signed. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

Letters and columns that appear are the opinion of the author solely, not the Champion editorial board or Liberty University.

Send letters to: Liberty Champion Liberty University Lynchburg, VA 24515 or drop off in Green Hall 1565.

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content

A6 | February 26, 2019 | Liberty Champion

E Pluribus Unum in Helms

School of Government Convo brings in Civil Rights icon and West Point grad Hattie Troutman hatroutman@liberty.edu

Conversational barriers were brought down and discussion opened up on how to achieve unity in a time of great national divisiveness during Convo Select Feb. 18, hosted by the Helms School of Government.

The theme of the Convo Select was the U.S. motto E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one.

Clarence Henderson, president of the Fredrick Douglass Foundation, and Army 1st Lt. Jeremy Hunt, joined interim dean Ron Miller and Mark Acres, director of projects and initiatives, to share their stories,

answer questions and speak about the current disunity in the country.

Henderson, a Civil Rights icon, started the conversation by sharing his experiences of living through the Jim Crow Laws and participating in the Woolworth’s lunch counter sit in Feb. 2, 1960. Because of that sit in, Henderson and the three other college freshmen received national attention, exposing the unequal treatment of black people in the U.S. While sharing his story, Henderson urged students that life is not about where they come from, but where they will go. For Henderson, the direction of his life to bring unity to the U.S. outweighed where he had

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

UNITY — Jeremy Hunt believes it is the church’s responsibility to unify the country.

come from. nominations,” Hunt said. “We think that we “If any of you decide to participate in a are all these different classes of Christians.”

Hunt asked how a country could unite movement because the Constitution says we can, … make sure you understand the around their flag if they cannot first unite movement you are participating in, and make There are no political solutions to the sure it is a cause you believe in,” human condition. The issue of racism Henderson said.

Henderson travand division in our country is a sin els around the problem, and the only solution is the country speaking on the importance blood of Jesus Christ. of unity, saying the country is bet- Jeremy Hunt ter together than it is apart. He also urged students to ask God to reveal his purpose for their lives. around the cross.

During his time at the U.S. Military Acad“Here is this little unassuming kid who had the opportunity because God called me emy at West Point, Hunt said they once tried out to do certain things,” Henderson said. to bring the all Christian cadets together for “If you have not talked to God about what a night for prayer. Later, they were able to your purpose is here on this earth, you need start a cadet prayer room dedicated to 24to do that to make sure you are going in the hour prayer. Hunt said it still operates today.

“There are no political solutions to the right direction because none of us are here human condition,” Hunt said. “The issue by accident.”

Hunt spoke after Henderson, first thank- of racism and division in our country is a sin ing Henderson and his peers for the sacri- problem and the only solution is the blood of fices they made to give people a chance to Jesus Christ.”

Hunt shared practical steps for bringing celebrate their differences.

Hunt, a lead strategist for the Fredrick about change. He said students will make Douglass Institute, led a conversation an impact when they know their identity in about how people say they want racial rec- Christ, value the role of family and commuonciliation, but their words have no actions nity, stay loyal to truth and righteousness and are not afraid to mobilize when God behind them.

“You hear a lot of these folks talking tells them to go out.

After each speaker had a chance to tell about racial reconciliation saying, ‘We need healing in the country’ but what is re- their stories, the conversation transitioned ally interesting is that nothing really ever to questions from students. Both men rechanges,” Hunt said. “A lot of them are tak- sponded to questions about how students ing what is really the church’s mission, they could work towards unifying the country.

“We have to respect each other as hutake racial reconciliation and healing, and they strip God out of it, then wonder why it man beings,” Henderson said. “I am still bringing unity to this country so they will doesn’t work.”

Hunt said it is the responsibility of the know there is only one race, and that is the church to unify the country. Yet the church human race.” is not taking the action needed to bring healing.

“It is hard for the church to lead the way in unity when our own churches are so divided.

I don’t mean just racially, but I mean in de- TROUTMAN is a content reporter.

“

content

Liberty Champion | February 26, 2019 | A7

A ‘pizza’ the business

Sourdough Pizza Company owners moving to New York, looking for buyer Emma Smith esmith83@liberty.edu

Sourdough Pizza Company, a mobile brick-oven pizzeria based in Forest, Virginia, is looking for a new owner, as current owners Zac and Megan Kolegue are planning to move to New York to be closer to extended family.

“The goal is to keep the business here, and somebody could operate it here, … and I think it will do fairly well, and then we’ll go to New York and start another brand,” Zac Kolegue, a 2007 Liberty University graduate, said. “I love doing this. I’m not leaving it. I’m going to New York and doing the same thing. Hopefully, it can be as successful as it is here for us.”

The Kolegues started Sourdough Pizza Company in 2012 but did not pursue it full

time until 2018. At first, they made pizzas at festivals and backyard events. Now, the pizza company, which is run out of a 12foot trailer, resides in the lot connected to Aylor’s Farm and Garden on Forest Road, which houses other local food trucks, including Rookies and the Wandering Donut.

Zac Kolegue mentioned several qualities a buyer must possess in order to successfully handle the pizza company.

“You certainly have to love pizza — that’s the number one requirement,” Zac Kolegue said. “If you don’t love food, it’s a bad idea.”

He also said the buyer needs to be a “people person” and have the ability to multitask, as the owner will be making pizza and interacting with customers simultaneously.

The Kolegues will also offer six weeks of training to the buyer, which will teach them how to make sourdough, care for the equip-

Emma Smith | Liberty Champion

LEARN — The current owners of Sourdough Pizza Company will offer six weeks of training to the buyer.

ment, order supplies and more.

“I don’t necessarily have an owner’s manual. It’s kind of a hands-on experience, and you have the opportunity to gain that experience before you get out there on your own,” Zac Kolegue said.

In order to handle the business, Kolegue said the buyer will need to make about 1,000 pizzas to practice.

If the Kolegues do not find a buyer, they have two backup plans.

“We’ll find someone who wants to operate the business, and we’ll leave them in charge of running the business and actually being here, say, 80 percent of the time,” Zac Kolegue said. “Or, (we will) just take everything and go to New York and use the same brand there we’re using here.”

Luke Hardee, a loyal Sourdough customer and friend of the Kolegues, said he will miss having his friends operating the business, but he thinks the buyers will be able to continue the Kolegues legacy. “(When they leave) there will be a pizzasized hole in my heart,” Hardee said. “I hope that (the buyer) will be able to put the same care and attention into the pizzas I know (the Kolegues) do currently. With the same facilities and recipes, they would be able to replicate what Zac has brought to it.”

Sourdough Pizza Company uses real sourdough crust, taking anywhere from 24 to 72 hours to make from authentic sourdough starter. Kolegue explained many sourdough breads purchased at grocery stores or restaurants are made with a commercial starter, which replicates the flavor of sourdough without the time commitment of authentic sourdough starter. Additionally,

the pizzas are woodfired in 90 seconds in an 800 degree oven on the trailer.

“The sourdough crust that they make is just a unique aspect of their pizza that nowhere else around here has, and it just gives

“

(When they leave), there

will be a pizza-sized hole in my heart.

- Luke Hardee

the pizza a distinct flavor,” Hardee, who claims he dines at Sourdough almost daily, said. “And then also the way they cook it in the brick oven gives it a flavor and crispiness that is just unmatched.”

While the Kolegues love their business, Lynchburg and their customers, Zac Kolegue explained family is their priority.

“Lynchburg has been really good to our family. We do really love it here,” Zac Kolegue said. “It’s been a really awesome place where we started our family, and we’ll never forget it. It definitely has a little piece of our heart. We’re definitely going it miss it, but family definitely has to take priority.”

Zac Kolegue said interested parties can reach out to him via email — kolegue@ gmail.com.

SMITH is a copy editor.

U.S. Court of Appeals visits Liberty Law hosts a court case concerning veterans affairs Feb. 21

Emily Wood ewood13@liberty.edu

Law students and professors gathered in Liberty University School of Law’s federal court room to observe a real case involving the Veterans Consortium’s class action suit against the Office of Veterans Affairs (VA). Liberty University’s School of Law hosted the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Feb. 21.

Tory Lucas, a professor in the School of Law, believes the experience greatly benefited law students.

“Any time that we can transform (the) School of Law into an actual courtroom with actual judges and actual attorneys in an actual case, our learning community receives an exponential benefit from that experience,” Lucas said. “The law certainly came alive during (the) oral arguments last week.”

The Veterans Consortium petitioned over the unreasonable wait times for veterans before the VA addresses their claims.

As the respondent, the VA held that in some circumstances, a longer wait time is reasonable for veterans, depending on the nature of the case. The VA said they hope to create shorter wait times in the future.

Judge Pietsch, Judge Allen and Judge Bartley presided over the case between the Veterans Consortium and the VA. The oral arguments occurred Thursday and the judges will come to a decision at a later date, after examining the briefs.

Former President Ronald Reagan established the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims through Congress in 1988 to keep the VA in check and to ensure veterans receive the benefits they deserve in a reasonable amount of time.

Sandy Petersen, manager of client services at the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, assists veterans in receiving the advocacy they need by assigning them attorneys to handle their cases without a charge.

“It is so important that veterans are given the extent that they deserve based on the extent to which they served our country,” Petersen said. “I want to make sure they get those benefits that they’ve been promised.”

Some veterans and their families wait several years before their case is ever certified to the board, due to oversight. As the newest federal court in the U.S., the Veterans Court of Appeals exists to guarantee that no veteran’s needs fall through the cracks.

Liberty international relations major and law school-hopeful, Alyssa Rumbuc observed the case Thursday and supports the petitioner’s argument.

“Veterans were not getting the resources that they earned (for) fighting for our country,” Rumbuc said. “Because of the nature of bureaucracy and government, things get lost in the shuffle or just delayed in a way that is unconstitutional. Having that check for people to bring their petition to court in order to receive the benefits that

they earned is very important.”

Petersen advocates for veterans’ rights at the Veterans Consortium and has a passion for supporting those who served.

“I love hearing veterans’ stories,” Petersen said. “It makes it more real to me, and it drives my passion for making sure that we can help them in any way. It is really rewarding. … They really show their appreciation by thanking us, (but) I really want to thank (them) for what they did for our country.”

The Veterans Consortium in-

cludes about 4,000 attorney and non-attorney practitioners, dedicated to serving veterans’ legal needs at no cost.

“I love being able to be a part of that,” Petersen said. “It’s been a great experience for me, and I hope it is for the veteran.”

For the final decision on this case, visit the website of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

WOOD is a content reporter.

Photo Provided

COURT — Three judges presided over the case between the Veterans Consortium and the VA.

Female veterans stand and cheer Stories and laughter bring Lynchburg women and their families together Deanna Drogan ddrogan@liberty.edu

It was a patriotic day Feb. 23 as female veterans of all ages and backgrounds gathered at the American Legion Post 16 for the fourth annual Empowering Female Veterans event, hosted by The American Legion Post 16 of

Lynchburg.

A time dedicated to honor each other, share experiences and build relationships, the event was filled with laughs, tears and newlymade memories.

Local veterans, families and care givers, began to file in for the event at 9 a.m. and sat at tables decorated

Mikaela Stiner | Liberty Champion

SERVICE — Women from various branches came together and encouraged one another.

with patriotic artwork, wrist bands, notebooks and poppy corsages.

The opening ceremony began at 10 a.m. with a posting of colors and Pledge of Allegiance by the Heritage High School JROTC, followed by a greeting to the women from Gordon Farmer, the Commander at the American Legion Post 16.

“All of you are special,” Farmer said. “You are veterans. Today is your day.”

The morning continued with a word from former U.S. Army Reserve Force Colonel and current Army Reserve Ambassador Lettie Bien. Bien, whose military career spans over 30 years, was asked to share her story of how she enrolled.

“It isn’t so much about my experience, but our collective experience as women,” Bien said.

The women laughed as Bien told a story of how she entered the military on a dare given to her by a coworker who was a former medical technician in Vietnam.

“She said, ‘You know Lettie, I really could have used you when I was in Vietnam.

You would have made it so much more okay,’” Bien said. “I said, ‘You know what? Maybe I’ll join the Army,’ and she said, ‘Lettie, I dare you.’ I am here to tell you that I went into the Army on a dare.”

After sharing her own experience, Bien asked the women to stand and share some of their own stories.

The rest of the morning included a mindfulness session led by Nenden StillmanRunyon from the Salem Virginia Medical Center. All women were asked to close

their eyes and relax.

Before lunch, there was a recognition ceremony where women from each branch were called up to the front of the room, as well as a POW/MIA toast of remembrance to pay tribute to prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.

A buffet-style lunch and time of fellowship was followed by a quilt of valor ceremony that recognized five veterans, including Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy, a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Tweedy later spoke about her experience in the military and the quality of teamwork that comes along with having served.

“In the military, it is survival to get along,” Tweedy said. “I think we bring so much to the table.”

She also took the time to recognize black female vet-

erans, in honor of Black History Month.

To wrap up the afternoon, Longwood professor Dr. Michael Lund, the director of Home and Abroad, a free writing instruction program, came up to speak about a special opportunity for the veterans to write stories of their experiences.

“The story is in you, and however it comes out, I am thrilled,” Lund said.

Each packet the women received on their way in included a blank sheet of paper on which Lund encouraged them to begin writing their stories.

The event closed with the distributing of raffle prizes, as well as a final prayer.

DROGAN is a content reporter.

A8 | February 26, 2019 | Liberty Champion

content

Rep. Denver Riggleman

Text CPAC to 839-858 to register.

Doors open at 9 a.m.

An excused class absence will be provided for students who attend.

VP Mike Pence at 10 a.m.

February 26, 2019

SPORTS

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Withstanding the weather The Flames endured the difficult conditions to defeat Delaware in weekend series Jackson said. “One of the hallmarks of our program is to try and draw free bases and be very disciplined in our plate Free passes and the unexpected were approach.”

Sullivan struck out the next batter the name of the game Friday, Feb. 22, on a rainy afternoon in Lynchburg as the Lib- but then walked Mathieu to load the erty Flames baseball team (3-2) held onto an bases once again. This prompted early lead to defeat the Delaware Blue Hens freshman pitcher Jack Dubecq of the (0-4) 5-4 in the first game of the three-game Delaware bullpen to replace Sullivan. Sullivan finished his short outing with a total of home series.

The Flames got out to the early 2-0 five run earned and five walks and two hits lead in the bottom of the first inning after surrounded. Dubecq got the Flames sophomore first baseman Logan Mathieu ninth batter of the inning freshman doubled deep off the right field wall scor- designated hitter Drew Baughing sophomore left fielder Brandon Rohrer man to fly out to left and end the and senior third baseman Tyler Galazin who inning.

The Flames walked a total of were on base after a walk and hit by pitch, 10 times in the game with five respectively.

Delaware starter sophomore right hand- of the walks coming from Suler Billy Sullivan struggled with command livan on the mound. Sullivan during his one and two thirds innings also put two Flames runners pitched. In the bottom of the second inning, on base from hit by pitches.

Jackson, in his third year at the helm for Sullivan walked Flames junior shortstop Cam Locklear and hit freshman center fielder the Flames, said he is preaching patience Jaylen Guy with the pitch. Then senior right at the plate to his team as one of the team’s essential tenants. The fielder Ayden Flames sent a program Karraker hit single season record the ball up One of the hallmarks of our in 2018 for the most the middle to program is to try and draw free walks in Liberty history. score Lock“Most players want to bases and be very disciplined in lear, stretchgo up there and swing ing the Flames our plate approachs. and be aggressive,” lead to 3-0.

- Head Coach Scott Jackson Jackson said. “There are Sullivan moments to do that, but then walked redshirt junior catcher Jonathan Embry to I think as college hitters you’ve got to learn load the bases and then walked Rohrer to yourself and you’ve got to know which balls force in freshman center fielder Jaylen Guy to you can handle and which balls you can’t put the Flames up 4-0, still with no recorded early in the count. … On a night like tonight outs in the inning. Galazin extended the lead when hits are hard to come by, that can be the to 5-0 with a flyout to shallow center field, difference. I felt like it was tonight.”

After going down five, the Blue Hens rescoring Karraker.

Flames Head Coach Scott Jackson said sponded with two runs of their own in the top the key to rattling Sullivan was knowing the of the third. Blue Hens freshman first basescouting report and being patient at the plate. man Joseph Carpenter got on base after a “The game and his performance kind hit up the middle. After a pop out by junior of unfolded in a way that we thought it shortstop Vinny Vaccone, senior second would from just watching him on video,” baseman Erik Bowren homered to left field,

Sarah Rodriguez srodriguez70@liberty.edu

OPINIONS AND FEATURES THIS WEEK

Wild and Wylie returns this week with opinion editor Chad Wylie convincing U.S. sports fans to watch soccer.

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putting Delaware on the board and dwindling the Flames lead to three.

The Flames bats fell silent as they managed only one hit in the fourth and fifth innings — an infield single by Embry in the fourth. By the beginning of sixth inning, the rain had begun to in-

crease from a misty drizzle to a steady pour.

Jackson attributed the Flames batters’ slump to a variety of factors, yet he remained optimistic about the offense.

“The bottom line is it’s not easy in these conditions to hit,” Jackson said. “It’s not easy to do anything. It’s not easy to pitch. It’s not easy to play defense. So, is it frustrating?

In this week’s edition of Couch’s Corner, assistant sports editor Jacob Couch explains why the Flames new offensive coordinator is going to change the trajectory of Liberty’s football program.

B2

Yes. It’s extremely frustrating as a coach, but you’ve got to be patient with your guys, and you’ve got to take a step back and say, ‘what are we really dealing with here?’”

In unconventional fashion in the top of the sixth inning, the Blue Hens put two more runs on the board to pull Delaware within one run. After a walk of senior center fielder Kevin Mohollen and a single by sophomore right fielder Chance DiFebbo to shallow left field, sophomore third baseman Jordan Hutchins stepped up to the plate.

During the at-bat, Mohollen and DiFebbo unexpectedly advanced two bases, scoring Mohollen and moving DiFebbo to third. Officially ruled an error, Flames starting pitcher redshirt junior Andrew McInvale had thrown a dirty baseball into the dugout without calling time, allowing the Blue Hens baserunners to take two bases per Liberty Baseball Stadium’s rules for a ball out of play in the dugout during play.

McInvale discussed the incident.

“I felt like I really hurt the team right there,” McInvale said. “The ball was wet, and before the game, the umpire just told me to throw any wet balls in. I guess I just kind of assumed time was in and it wasn’t. They got two free bags because of that.”

With DiFebbo on third, Hutchins grounded out, scoring DiFebbo. The Blue Hens pulled within one but never gained the lead. Jackson then called on redshirt senior Evan Brabrand out of the bullpen for the threeinning save.

See WITHSTANDING, B2 Photography: Ryan Klinker Design: Elizabeth Mallicoat | Liberty Champion

Liberty student Christian Bedell’s story of resilience is featured.

Game Day with Gooch is back as sports reporter Peter Gooch offers sports fans a positive perspective for when life does not go their way.

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THIS WEEK IN LIBERTY ATHLETICS Men’s and women’s track dominated the ASUN Indoor Track Championship, Feb. 22-23 @ Liberty.

Coverage will be available March 5.

Swimming & diving took first place in the CCSA Championship, Feb. 20-22 @ Liberty.

Coverage will be available March 5.

Softball defeated Bucknell 1-0 Feb. 24 with a perfect game from pitcher Julia DiMartino. The Lady Flames will play Rutgers at home March 1.

The Flames lacrosse team defeated the Clemson Tigers 14-8 Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

SCRAPED — The Flames only have two regular-season games left before the ESCHL playoffs.

Drained by Adrian Men’s hockey loses 5-4 to Bulldogs Benjamin Craft bcraft2@liberty.edu

Flames fans packed into the LaHaye Ice Center when the reigning national champion Adrian College Bulldogs came to play the Liberty Flames Friday, Feb. 22. The No. 3 ranked Bulldogs rebounded from an early 0-2 deficit to defeat the Flames 5-4.

Physicality defined the first period, with Liberty denying Adrian of many potential scoring opportunities. Liberty pushed the pace during the period which led to two goals — one from junior wing Brock Thompson on an assist from sophomore center Devin Pierce. The goal was Thompson’s 17th of the season.

“We came out firing,” junior forward Andy Clarke said. “We started with really good intensity, and that’s exactly what we

wanted. We started exactly how we wanted to, getting the puck in deep.”

Adrian’s comeback started in the second period when they scored two goals in 30 seconds to tie the game at 2-2. Yet the Flames would remain focused. A few minutes later, freshman forward Josh Fricks scored his first of two goals to regain the lead.

“Luckily it was quick,” Clarke said. “We almost tried to take it painless. If those are two stretched out goals, then maybe we find it a bit harder to bounce back. We had great lines that were ready to keep the pace up.

We’ve got guys that are always going hard no matter whether we’re down or up.”

See DRAINED, B4

B2 | February 26, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Betting on Bedell

sports

800 meter hopeful has persevered through medical challenges to prove doubters wrong

Christian Weaner crweaner@liberty.edu

After Christian Bedell was born, the doctors told his parents that he would always be behind physically because of two holes in his heart.

After training for nearly two years without breaking his personal best in the 800-meter, the uncertainty of whether to continue training or pursue a different passion weighed heavily on the sophomore runner.

The race would prove to be just another obstacle Bedell would have to surmount along the journey that he has been pursuing his whole life.

“I thought (the Liberty Kickoff) was going to be my last race,” Bedell said. “I didn’t know what God had for me. … I contemplated, ‘God do you want me to keep running?

Do you want me to keep chasing the time that I feel like I could never get?’”

Bedell was born with a cleft palate and an

Zach Infield | Photo Provided

SPEED — Bedell hopes to break two minutes in the 800m race.

WITHSTANDING continued from B1 The Blue Hens put the go-ahead runner at the plate in the top of the eighth inning, but Brabrand continued his dominance and secured the Flames win.

Braband’s save was his first as a Flame, following his first victory as a Flame on opening day versus South Carolina, Feb. 15.

Brabrand received a medical redshirt for the 2018 season after transferring from N.C. State before the season. He said he is relishing the chance to be back on the field again.

“It feels good,” Brabrand said. “It’s a little bit special and a little bit different this season than past seasons. It almost seems like this season’s a gift. It’s a special season for me. I feel blessed to be in the position I’m at here.”

Brabrand secured the win for Flames starter McInvale who earned his first win as a Flame. McInvale also missed the entire 2018 season due to injury.

“It was awesome,” McInvale said. “It was a total team effort. It just couldn’t have felt any better especially on a day like today, when we have some ups and downs. To come out with a victory was pretty sweet.”

On a cold and rainy afternoon, runs were hard to come by for both teams, but behind strong pitching and defense, Jackson said he

unfinished midline. His life was set further back when doctors noticed he had two holes in his heart — one in his atrial septal and another in his ventricular septal.

“The result of (the birth defects) was definitely a very difficult childhood,” Bedell said. “It was a lot of stress on my parents at first, but I think they found a lot of peace just knowing that God was watching over me the whole time.”

Despite being told he would likely not be as physically active as some people because of his heart issues, Bedell defied the odds and began playing soccer at a young age. He enjoyed the athletic competition, but soccer was not his true passion.

Bedell began running cross-country and eventually joined the track and field team while he was in high school. He eventually fell in love with the mid-distances and devoted himself to training for the 800. “(The 800) is not an easy race, and I realize that, but I just love it so much,” Bedell said. “I’m not a 400-meter runner — I don’t have the strength and sprinting skills to be a 400-meter runner, and I never really enjoyed the mile. (The mile) was just four laps for me, whereas two laps were really something special.”

His passion for the 800 combined with his hardworking attitude helped Bedell to become a successful runner in his home state of Maine. He broke his personal best with a time of 2 minutes and three seconds during his senior season in high school, capping the year by finishing in fourth place at the state meet.

Bedell knew making the track and field team would not be easy, but his appreciation for Liberty University’s mission and his interest in the digital media program drew him to the school.

“I wanted to make the track team if I could,” Bedell said. “But it was more about what school I could go to that would really accelerate my love for Christ and prepare me to be a leader and a champion.”

Upon arriving at Liberty, Bedell’s 800 time was not low enough to make the track and field team immediately, but he was committed to training to get the time down.

During his freshman year in 2017, Bedell was introduced to a friend and mentor was proud of his team.

“You know going into it, it’s going to be a dogfight,” Jackson said. “Nothing it going to be comfortable for the guys whether that’s on the mound or at the plate. You just take the game as it comes to you. I’m proud of how we handled the ball defensively in the rain. …

It’s a part of college baseball — wet and cold.

You’ve got to learn to play in it.”

Despite the Flames fourth victory of the young 2019 season, Jackson looked to learning from the game and helping his team improve in all aspects.

“We’re still in the process of growing in some areas that we really need to offensively,” Jackson said. “I just think the pitching and the defense has played out like we thought it would. I thought those would be really big strengths of our team. So far, so good. Hopefully our pitching will continue to keep us in games like that. When you come out on the good end of two of the three one-run games that we’ve played, you’ve got to feel good about that.”

The Flames continued their dominance vs. Delaware by defeating the Blue Hens 8-1 Saturday and 11-0 Sunday.

RODRIGUEZ is the Champion graduate assistant.

Ryan Klinker| Liberty Champion

SLICK — The baseball team faced a weekend of rainy days that delayed Saturday’s game.

John Sherret. Sherret is a former 800 runner and current medical school student at Liberty. He was a friend and teammate of Corinn Bedell.

“I’ve been somewhere where (Christian) wants to be, which is the track team,” Sherret said. “So, I am able to help him in that sense.”

Throughout the past two years, Bedell persistently followed a schedule of running six days a week.

Liberty Associate Head Coach Andrew “Pete” McFadden gave him workChristian Bedell out routines for training SHOOT — Bedell is a digital media student. and noted that he regularly sees Bedell running “The feeling of finally breaking my time by at the indoor track when he arrives for work a second after a whole two years of training on weekdays. was amazing,” Bedell said. “I was just thankIn spite of Bedell’s tireless training, his personal best in the 800 re- ing God for the opportunity to finally (break mained at 2:02.4. That is, until the the time).”

For Bedell, the time of 2:01.33 is still not Liberty Kickoff. low enough to earn a spot on the team. He As Bedell stood pacing and waiting for the final heat of the men’s 800-meter, he would need to be under 2:00 to do so, but he thought about his game plan and mentally now had a renewed confidence in himself and prepared to give everything he had out on his ability as a runner.

Even with the good feeling that came with the track.

“I knew that I wanted to go out hard,” Be- breaking his personal best, Bedell ponders dell said. “I wanted to do something that I what would be the best direction for him gohad never done before and I wanted to give it ing forward.

“If God doesn’t want me to bring glory to my all more than I ever had. Not that I hadn’t given my all-in other races, but I thought, him in this way then I don’t want to do track,” Bedell said. “I am honestly at a point where I ‘this could be my last one.’”

As soon as the gun went off and the race love track and I love running and I love trainbegan Bedell pushed ahead and took the ing, but if it’s not bringing glory to God in lead, running times of 27 and 28 seconds the fullest amount then I don’t want to be a in his first two laps. Bedell was making great part of it. I want to do something that (God) time but lost a little bit of pace in the final wants me to do.”

Whether Bedell decides to keep running two laps.

He came around the final turn with one or not, the perseverance and consistency he competitor on his hip. Bedell was tired from continues to show in his life are traits that the opening push and had to grind out the have allowed him to be inspiration to others. final 100 meters. One racer passed him on the final straightaway, but Bedell sprinted across the finish line with a time of 2:01.33, breaking his personal best by more than WEANER is a sports reporter. a second.

Jacob Couch jtcouch@liberty.edu

Hiring new offensive coordinator Kent Austin has the potential to be the best decision Flames Head Coach Hugh Freeze will make in his coaching career.

That may seem far-fetched and bold considering Austin has not displayed his offensive skills in front of the Flames nation.

But think about these two questions for a moment. What sport brings the most attention to a college and what is the most critical player position that is played in that sport?

The answers are easy: football and quarterback.

You may say, how does Kent Austin play into this belief? Austin is the foundation of this belief coming to life and becoming a reality in the Liberty football program.

Austin played quarterback in the Canadian Football League for 10 years and won two Grey Cup championships and threw for over 36,000 passing yards and 191 touchdown passes. Austin is one of only four professional quarterbacks to have thrown for over 6,000 passing yards in a season.

Following a CFL career that saw Austin finish as one of the top 10 CFL quarterbacks of all time, the talented signal caller decided to begin his coaching career. In Austin’s first three years as a CFL head coach, he led his teams to Grey Cup appearances each year.

During his time as a CFL head coach, Austin was known as one of the wisest quarterback coaches. Austin’s methods differ from many quarterback coaches and offensive coordinators. While many offensive coaches instruct their quarterbacks on going through the progression which entails moving from one read to another by having a number one option, a number two option and so on for every passing play, Austin thinks differently.

Austin desires for his signal callers to break the field up into zones. This entails

the quarterback coming to the line of scrimmage to identify how many safeties there are on the field and understand where they are. Based off of how the defense lines up, the quarterback will decide which side of the field presents a better opportunity for a completion by breaking the field in half.

This style of coaching presents opportunity for the quarterback to have a high completion percentage which will in turn lead to the quarterback gaining confidence.

“A quarterback has to understand what are the most important skill sets that he has to have,” Austin said. “Some are intangible; some are physical. He has to be able to see the game holistically. So how we break down the field, where he fixes his eyes, how he casts his vision and learning how to execute a play based off how a defense is taught to play.”

Austin’s impressive resume with taking veteran quarterbacks to a higher level is remarkable. The 2019 football season will entail Austin teaming up with Flames senior quarterback Buckshot Calvert.

If circumstances unravel in the same pattern as they have in the rest of Austin’s coaching career, the quarterback whisperer will give Flames fans a quarterback that will put on an offensive show weekly.

As a quarterback goes so does his team.

If Calvert is propelled to the next level then I believe that that energy will be contagious enough to make the Flames bowl-eligible.

Just wait. Austin’s past depicts that he is able to implement his methods quickly and efficiently.

I believe that Hugh Freeze’s signing of Kent Austin will prove to be one of the most impactful decisions in Liberty University history … just wait and see.

COUCH is the assistant sports editor.

sports

Liberty Champion | February 26, 2019 | B3

Ultimate athlete

Junior ultimate frisbee player leads the club team to greatness in the Mid-Atlantic region John Simmons jasimmons2@liberty.edu

Ultimate frisbee is a delicate combination of athleticism and precision, grit and grace. It is a highly competitive sport in the Mid-Atlantic region, with teams like UNC Wilmington and UNC Chapel Hill regularly making appearances in national collegiate club championships.

Liberty has its own club men’s team, and it is here that sophomore handler Jacob Norman has found an outlet for his passion. Norman has played ultimate for the past seven years and said he has learned many lessons during his time in this unique sport.

“Ultimate is the ultimate team sport,” Norman said.

“You can’t score with one person. ... You have to be so selfless to be a good ultimate team, and for everyone to buy into that.

It’s so fun to watch when it happens.”

Before attending Liberty, Norman played on the Pittsburg Impulse, an elite U-20 club team, in a Youth Club Championships league. It is the most elite league for youth ultimate in the country, and each year Norman traveled to Blaine, Minnesota to compete against other clubs across the country.

The experience Norman gained while playing YCC has been invaluable to Liberty. And while Norman does not officially hold the

title of captain, his attitude are freshmen or are playing and demeanor have a great their first year of organized impact on the team. ultimate.

“I do play a bigger role in Despite the lack of exterms of emotional leader,” perience that comes with Norman said. “My role is that much roster turnover, to just compete as much as Norman has expressed I can and drive everyone to optimism about the inbe the best they possibly can coming class of first-time at the same time. I just want players. to make everyone better by “I’m very pleased with the what I’m doing.” freshmen this year,” Norman Sophomore captain Sam said. “Every single one on Petersen acknowledged the the team this year is driven large influence Norman has and committed, which will on the team. Petersen said eventually make us finish betthat he has known Norman ter than we did last year even since his first week at Liberty, and they have My role is just to become close friends. When compete as much as I asked what Norman brings to the can and drive everyone team, Petersen had nothing but to be the best they high praise for possibly can at the Norman.

“He is a fiery same time. and passionate player that sets — Jacob Norman high standards for himself and for the team,” Petersen said. “A lot of guys though we have a drop off in look up to him as a leader be- numbers and depth.” cause of obvious passion for Both Norman and Petersour team to succeed. His op- en expressed optimism about timistic spirit helps the team where the team will finish at morale whenever we face the end of the season. The adversity.”

Flames lost on the last point The Flames have had their to George Mason in last fair share of adversity to year’s sectional tournament, face this year. In addition to missing out on the chance having multiple changes in to become the first Flames the coaching position, the men’s team to make it to the Flames have seen their ros- regional tournament. ter numbers drop from last However, Norman thinks year’s 31 to 18. Addition- that with the right mindset, ally, five of those 18 players this year’s team will finally

Wild

“

and

Chad Wylie cewylie@liberty.edu

Until recently, American interest in soccer was reserved for only every fourth year, when people tuned into the World Cup in the same way they watch the Olympics.

While soccer is heavily entrenched across Europe and South America year-round, the beautiful game has struggled to find its footing in American culture.

But that narrative is changing. While baseball, basketball and football rank higher as a favorite sport among U.S. fans, according to a 2017 Gallup poll, soccer is the only one of the major four sports that has increased in interest since 2004.

When the Huffington Post broke down the demographics of football, baseball and soccer fans, they found that soccer fans are younger, more urban centered and have less of a gender disparity among fans. The average age of a soccer viewer is 40-years-old, according to SportsBusiness Journal. For football and baseball, the age is 50 and 57, respectively.

For the casual sports fan, soccer brings appeal that other traditional American sports do not, while still giving the quality and personality that resonates with American fans. For fans who can’t designate three hours minimum to watch football or baseball, soccer guarantees to be over in two hours. For fans who hate constant commercial breaks, soccer provides two 45-minute halves of continuous action with no commercial interruptions.

The biggest disadvantage of soccer in America, especially with the MLS, is the perceived disparity of talent between American teams and other leagues. While the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball attract the world’s best talent, quality soccer players play in England, Spain, Italy and France. But that only elevates the ability of soccer clubs and players to build a global brand.

According to Forbes Magazine, three of the top five highest paid athletes of 2018 are soccer players. Lionel Messi,

Wylie

Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have built brands and starred in advertisement campaigns worldwide.

The beauty of the world’s game is the ability for fans to support teams and players thousands of miles away. American fans of La Liga in Spain or the English Premier League have completely adopted their international teams. Take it from a serious Manchester United fan who looks forward to waking up at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday for Premier League soccer.

But don’t let soccer haters trick you into believing that American soccer doesn’t compare internationally. The MLS has continued to grow and elevate its status among the top leagues worldwide.

This season, 72,243 fans will pack into a football stadium in Atlanta to watch two of the most dynamic soccer players in the world play for Atlanta United. Josef Martinez, the reigning MLS MVP, will be paired alongside recent acquisition Gonzalo Martinez, voted last year as the South American Footballer of the Year.

Both young superstars are 25-years-old, entering the prime of their careers, and signed long-term contracts with their MLS club, despite interest from multiple European clubs.

Other global superstars have shown interest in the MLS, dedicating the waning years of their careers to American clubs.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, two European legends, brought their talents to the MLS last season, improving the total quality of the league.

For any casual sports fan with limited exposure to soccer, take two hours, invest in a game, and get a feel for the quality and atmosphere that encompasses soccer in America and throughout the world.

This Saturday, Ibrahimovic will lead his LA Galaxy in their home opening game against the Chicago Fire on FS1 at 8. Tune in, give it a try, and see American soccer fans sell out a stadium that the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers have never been able to fill.

WYLIE is the opinion editor.

YOUTH — The ultimate frisbee team has five freshman or first-year players.

break that barrier.

“We have the pieces,” Norman said. “We need to just go into games expect-

ing to win, not just to play a game of ultimate. We need to have a winning, championship mentality.”

Photo Provided

SIMMONS is a sports reporter.

sports

B4 | February 26, 2019 | Liberty Champion

Allison Heise | Liberty Champion

SCRAPPY — The Lady Flames were one of the few athletics teams that weren’t affected by the rain this weekend.

Raining down on Elon

Women’s lacrosse handily defeats Elon 10-6 Saturday, Feb. 23 John Nekrasov ydnekrasov@liberty.edu

A rainy Saturday afternoon saw the women’s lacrosse team engineer a five-goal comeback against Elon, powering to a 10-6 victory in a mature second-half performance after trailing for over 43 minutes of the game.

Though the Flames (3-1) often struggled offensively throughout the first half, scoring their first goal with 1 minute and 35 seconds left in the half, they dominated the second period, outscoring the Elon Phoenix (2-2) 9-1 in a one-sided end to the game.

Senior midfielder and ASUN Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week Brianna McCaffrey orchestrated the comeback with four crucial goals throughout the game, scoring both Liberty’s first goal and the winner as the Flames ultimately completed a victory by a comfortable four-goal margin. Building on last week’s narrow loss to Notre Dame, senior attacker Kayla Foster saw a connection between Liberty’s recent mental strength and the experience of older players like McCaffrey.

“I think, like with Notre Dame earlier, we used (our experience) to come back today, and I think that our team has this mindset that even if we’re down, we’re not out,” Foster said. “I think that it says a lot about our seniors because we’ve been there — we’ve been in those games where we have to figure out a way to pull ourselves out of this, and I think

Peter Gooch pgooch1@liberty.edu

After venting last week about baseball free agency — which, thankfully, pushed forward with Manny Machado’s agreement to join the San Diego Padres — I thought I’d get to a more personal, spiritual side.

DRAINED continued from B1 Fricks scored his second goal of the game early in the third period to give the Flames a 4-3 lead, but Adrian freshman forward Domenic Moore responded with his second goal of the game to tie the game at 4-4 off a power play.

Liberty relinquished its lead when Adrian freshman defenseman Dante Raposo scored on another power play with 7:16 left in the third

that getting that experience and knowing we stricted the Flames to shots DiFatta could can do it is going to help us in the long run.” easily save as the Phoenix consistently In the opening period, similar to last pushed Liberty’s attackers to the outside, week’s game against Notre Dame, Elon regularly forcing turnovers as the Flames ran scored three unanswered goals within the out of attacking options. The half ended with first 10 minutes as the Flames struggled to Elon ahead 5-1 after McCaffrey scored bebuild offensive rhythm. fore halftime.

Though the Flames had 11 shots on frame Recognizing Elon’s defensive strategy, to Elon’s six in the first Nangle adjusted the half, Elon goalie Paulina Flames attacking apDiFatta made 10 saves, proach at halftime, frustrating Liberty’s atencouraging her playI’m really proud of how ers to cut inside to intackers. With Elon dominating possession for crease their efficiency. they responded because most of the half, Head “That’s what we Coach Kelly Nangle it’s tough when you’re an talked about at halftime knew that outsmarting — we wanted to attack DiFatta would be crucial attacker and you want to inside,” Nangle said. to earning a result.

“They (Elon) wanted score goals and the goalie us to take those low“We knew going into it that she’s really a good probability shots, and keeps making saves. we were in the first half, goalie,” Nangle said.

“Sometimes as attackbut that’s the change -Head Coach Kelly Nangle we made in the second ers that’s hard to work through, when you’re half. We just wanted getting a lot of good them to get inside so looks and she makes they could have a better saves, but we knew going into it that we were probability and better-angled shot, and they really going to have to place our shots and did that.” move her. But I’m really proud of how they Liberty’s shift in mentality handed them a responded because it’s tough when you’re an goal within 42 seconds of the start of the secattacker and you want to score goals and the ond half, bringing the Flames to life as they goalie keeps making saves.” scored three more within the first 10 minutes Elon’s robust defensive system often re- of the half. As momentum swung in Liberty’s

“

M y church back home in California remodeled about six years ago. Before they did, there was a Bible verse discreetly painted on a side wall of the sanctuary.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” Hebrews 13:8.

Even though life can seemingly be a revolving door of ups and downs, especially in college, Jesus promises one thing: He will be constant.

Too often, I find myself hoping and praying that I could remain in certain seasons of my life forever.

And by seasons, I mean anything from a good day to an awesome weekend to a semester full of growth.

period.

“The difference in the game was that we took too many penalties tonight,” Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said. “You can’t give them opportunities like that without being burned. Those are things we can control. A lot of things were right tonight — the effort, the competition, the execution — but we can’t put them on the power play five times.”

There were a few opportunities for Liberty to tie the game late in the third period, but the Flames were unable

But seasons change. For me, there have been seasons of spiritual drifting, shame, depression and pain, mixed in with spiritual growth, confidence, peace, joy and more.

As an athlete, peaks and valleys are not a foreign concept. Gaining or halting momentum in sports can be a critical aspect in determining success or failure.

I’m not a sports psychology major, but my feelings can directly affect my game.

When I feel frustrated or inferior to the competition, it is so much more difficult to achieve results.

But when I’m on cloud nine and feel that no one can stop me, the quality of my performance skyrockets.

Over the past year, I have tried to keep a consistent mentality every moment I am on a competitive field of play.

In the same way, I’ve found myself attempting to navigate the ups and downs of every other aspect of my life.

Spiritually, socially, emotion-

to convert before the final buzzer sounded.

This was the third meeting between these teams this season. Adrian won the first two games last semester by a margin of 14-5. Liberty played them much closer in this game, and Handy saw this as a sign of improvement.

“It was anyone’s game out there tonight,” Handy said.

“We’ve really improved as a team (since the team’s first meetings). It’s encouraging to see out there against a great team. We have a little more refinement to do,

favor, Foster and McCaffrey’s influence grew on the game, with Foster scoring twice as the Flames levelled the score at 6-6.

Less than a minute later, McCaffrey spun her defender to slam a low shot beneath DiFatta, giving Liberty a lead that they would hold for the rest of the game.

“We were down against Notre Dame, so it was no different, especially with a team we know we can come back on,” McCaffrey said. “So when we came back in the second half, it was pretty much foot straight down on the pedal. We were going hard, giving everything that we had, and it resulted in the win.”

The Flames struggled to add to their lead; however, with Liberty goalie Katherine Widrick producing an important save from Elon midfielder Cami Lynch to keep the Flames in front. McCaffrey finally widened Liberty’s advantage about 8 minutes later, driving in a shot off the ground to make the score 8-6 with 7:37 left.

McCaffrey and junior attacker Jenna Joyal then added two more goals to round off the scoring at 10-6.

Liberty plays against Robert Morris on the road Wednesday, February 27, where they will play their fifth of eight nonconference games before their first ASUN game against Kennesaw State March 16.

NEKRASOV is a sports reporter.

ally, academically — in each area, there have been times where things have turned out better than I could have possibly imagined.

Then there are times I have fallen from the heights and I think, “Is there any way I can just stay on the mountaintop forever?”

The answer is inevitably no.

No, Francis Chan or Nick Vujicic will not be guests at every Convocation.

No, the Flames will not win every athletic competition from here to the end of the year — let alone the end of the week.

No, you cannot stay at Liberty with these awesome people forever.

No, you will not get an A on every project.

I could let my emotions dictate my attitude and get depressed whenever I hit the decline from a season of happiness and growth.

And, I admit, this is my default human reaction.

In a way, it’s natural. As soon as I start reminiscing about how awesome something was, I want to be

there again, doing it again.

But I don’t have a DeLorean and a friend named Doc Brown. Every moment I get to experience is the first and only time I get to experience it.

I have a choice, though.

I have a choice to embrace the mundane moments of life as much as those that I want to replay in my head over and over again.

I have a choice to give God thanks in all circumstances as instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — even the circumstances that don’t feel as important or memorable.

I won’t always choose to face life the best way, as my inconsistent commitment to righteousness is as palpable as the peaks and valleys I will encounter in the future.

But that’s just another reason to remember Hebrews 13:8 and lean on a Savior who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

GOOCH is a sports reporter.

though.”

Liberty lost the rematch against Adrian the following day Feb. 23 4-0, with all four goals coming in the first period for the Bulldogs. The Flames look to bounce back in their final games before nationals when they take on Alabama next weekend March 1-2 in the LaHaye Ice Center.

CRAFT is a sports reporter.

Ryan Klinker | Liberty Champion

TOUGH — Liberty has lost to Adrian four times this season.

feature

Liberty Champion | February 26, 2019 | B5

PRAISE — Numerous cultures were represented through music at the annual event at the School of Music Concert Hall.

In one voice

Lydia Poindexter | Liberty Champion

GLOBAL — The evening was defined by a desire to show the importance of a global focus.

Hill, host of the event, said. “If you were to come to my synagogue you would n Tuesday night, be surrounded by Jewish Feb. 19, people (people) that have accepted gathered inside the Christ, who blow trumpets Liberty University School of and jump up and down. You Music for One Voice, an an- see that in a lot of different nual event with the purpose cultures, the way that they of creating a platform for en- express joy.”

The event started with sembles of musicians at Liberty that come from diverse LU Praise, who led a song in cultural backgrounds in a Spanish that was performed

by Laura Gil, an international student from Colombia, who said that being part of the event made her feel more united with the community.

“Being able to worship in your native language with — Laura Gil your native music genre is valid and profound,” Gil said. “I think “Global Night of Worship.”

“The way that we worship they wanted to bring that to God greatly determines how people who don’t get to go we see him,” Christopher to other countries so they Kharen Martinez-Murcia kmartinez6@liberty.edu

O

“

Being able to worship in your native language with your native music genre is valid and profound.

could experience it.”

And the fact that Gil describes her experience in that way illustrates what Katherine Morehouse, director of the Department of Multiethnic Music Studies, said is the heart behind One Voice.

“One Voice is really about giving a platform to international students and to other languages.”

Morehouse said. “By recognizing the multiple languages, musics, cultures, and artistic expressions of God’s people we are showing that his plan is global (Ephesians 3:6-12), so to be able to participate in worship with the nations is really creating the culture of heaven on earth (Revelation 7:9-17).”

The event featured dances and songs from cultures and languages around the world, showing the diversity in the body of Christ, according to Morehouse.

“We are painting a picture of who we are whenever we lead worship,” Morehouse said. “We are saying, ‘This is our identity.’ When we only sing in one language or in one musical style it

Lydia Poindexter| Liberty Champion

Global Night of Worship showcases cultural dance and worship songs makes us look very homogeneous. But if we ask, what does the body of Christ look like? The body of Christ is global.”

Even after the event was technically over, about 150 students stayed, prayed, and worshiped with an acoustic set of instruments led by people from around the world.

“For me this is one of the most genuine worship nights that I have been able to go to here at Liberty,” Gil said. “It has a lot of value to be able to feel more connected to other people who are going through the same things as me and getting to know cultures other than my own.”

Liberty’s Global Worship Community, who organized

the event with the support of the School of Music, gets together on most Mondays throughout the semester.

They said that the goal is to open a space where people from every nation can worship through all the arts freely, whether that is music, dance, theater, spoken word, visual arts, or arts and trauma healing in the community. Their goal is all nations, all arts, all welcome. You can follow them on Facebook at “Global Worship Community” or on Instagram at globalworship_lu. For dates and location information, email Lindsay Coleman at lhcoleman@liberty.edu with the subject line “Add Me.” “God is fluent in all of the languages,” Morehouse

said. “Nothing is foreign to him, so if we are really trying to portray that kind of global assembly, it is going to feel multicultural, look multiracial, and sound multilingual.

This can feel uncomfortable the first time we try it, but then we realize that this is the reality and the beauty of the unified global bride of Christ. Worshiping in diversity actually makes a way for us to worship him in One Voice.”

MARTINEZ-MURCIA is a feature reporter.

Having difficulty in “Corporate Finance”?

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Lydia Poindexter | Liberty Champion

VOICES — Students experienced worship songs in different languages.

Mark Lang professormarkland@gmail.com

feature

B6 | February 26, 2019 | Liberty Champion

LYN businesses go social Local businesses engage customers and build brand using social media

time consuming.

Lynchburg’s local boutique Live Trendy or Die trains their employees how to post Social media is catalyzing Lynchburg’s on their Instagram and makes posting a duty small business growth in a big way. With for each shift, according to manager Aimee continued additions such as Instagram Sto- Patrick. Owner Stephanie Atkinson even ries and Facebook Live, many locals are uses Instagram to find potential clothing making these platforms their primary mar- wholesalers for her store, according to News keting place. and Advance.

Small business social media use differs Daniel Coco of The White Hart and Jagreatly, even within Lynchburg’s compara- son Arbusto of Daughters and Sons Pizza tively small economy. Businesses utilizing have dedicated employees to manage their social media can directly link high levels of accounts. Coco suggests that having a dediengagement to their business’s success. cated employee is essential so that time is not “Lynchburg is a very local focused area taken away from other business aspects. and (the consumers) like things that are Businesses may hire a third-party organitheirs,” Leah Jones of 434 Marketing, a lo- zation to manage accounts and create concal marketing consulting company, said. tent. Lynchburg’s Double Tap Media, a mar“They like to own that business. They like to keting agency specializing in social media, own the story behind something. The things uses skills like graphic design, photography that get a better response are things that and video production to create content for tell a story.” their clients.

Businesses are hiring additional employ“For a lot of industries in this economy, ees to manage social media accounts or recruiting and hiring is a big goal, even more create content, as managing a professional so than revenue,” Tim Gosnell, founder social media account can be aggressively and managing director of Double Tap Media said.

The White Hart announced open positions via social media this week.

Some small businesses are seeing more engagement via Instagram. Snapchat and LinkedIn are also becoming more common, but few local organizations have been successful on Twitter.

“A lot of smaller businesses don’t necessarily want to compete on Twitter,” Jones said. “It’s just a chaotic space right now.”

Some organizations that have had success photo provided on Twitter are News and ATTENTION — Mama’s Crockett’s posts location updates.

Clayton Dykstra cdykstra1@liberty.edu

photo provided

CAPTURE — White Hart Cafe uses Instagram to display shots of their signature drinks.

Advance at 8,920 followers, Thomas Road Baptist Church at 4,321, Joe Beans Coffee at 2,578 and the Lynchburg Humane Society 1,511.

Most businesses generally see higher numbers on Facebook, as the number of its users still outweighs all other platforms.

However, more likes on Facebook versus followers on another platform does not mean more engagement, which is a more accurate definer of an account’s success.

Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts is a Facebook champion of Lynchburg, with about 50,000 likes. While their Instagram followers are less than a seventh of their Facebook likes, their posts see many more likes, and they post stories about as often or more than they post on Facebook. Other mobile businesses like Nomad Coffee Co. also primarily post location information to Instagram.

The effectiveness of hashtags and the addition of stories has persuaded many to focus more on Instagram. Rookie’s, Golf Park Coffee Co., Third Wave Coffee, Nomad Coffee Co. and Live Trendy or Die have higher engagement via Instagram than Facebook.

Live Trendy even includes their Instagram account outside their store window.

“The college age is going to be the most active within Instagram and Snapchat compared to Facebook,” Gosnell said.

Businesses are not just looking for engagement, however. Businesses measuring their social media account’s success do not look to follows, likes or shares.

“There are several ways to measure (success), but the bottom line is going to be sales, and then long-term health of a brand of business is going to be customer service and customer satisfaction, which we work toward improving,” Gosnell said.

“As a social media marketer, it’s fun to get the interaction of people and we’re able to engage that way here in Lynchburg more so.

It’s a lot harder, in some of the bigger markets,” Gosnell said.

As local businesses search for ways to grow their businesses, social media has proved a valuable tool to reach out into the community and engage with costumers.

DYKSTRA is a feature reporter.

feature

Liberty Champion | February 26, 2019 | B7

‘Oh what a (jazzy) night’ Commuters and graduates gather for a formal night of fun, food and music Rachel Ali rmali@liberty.edu

Commuters and graduate students attended the second annual Winter Gala dressed in suits and sparkly gowns. The offices of Graduate Life and Commuter Life hosted the formal in the LaHaye Event Space Thursday evening, Feb. 21.

Senior Family and Consumer Sciences major Kristen Fitzgerald said she had been looking forward to the event for some time and spent the day pampering herself with a few of her closest girlfriends.

“I just wanted a night to come out with a couple of friends and have a chance to really dress up,” Fitzgerald said. “We made a day out of it and got our nails done earlier and spent the evening getting ready to-

gether. It was a really special day, and I’m so thankful for memories like the ones we made tonight.”

The evening provided entertainment from an etiquette lesson to multiple smooth jazz bands that filled the room with old Hollywood vibes.

Freshman interdisciplinary student Nycole Gallian was one of the student workers from the Office of Student Life who helped pull together this whimsical evening for her fellow students.

“When I was given the option to work this event or not, I instantly knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Gallian said. “I get to see firsthand just how much work the Office of Student Life puts into making commuter student life more exciting, and I really feel we were able to come together and do that for students tonight. This is just one of the many events

Kacey Huffty| Liberty Champion

TUNES — Several jazz bands provided the background music for the evening.

that are planned to make life at Liberty more enjoyable for commuter students.”

The plans for this high-end event began in August 2018 and aimed to bring a sense of fellowship and togetherness and delivered just that for Liberty students.

Assistant Director of Graduate Student Life Gretchen Cline praised her students for coming together and serving their fellow classmates with such a beautiful and memorable evening.

“It’s all about building community and developing student leaders,” Cline said. “All of our students had roles to play in this event.

Our emcees and musicians and entertainers were all students.”

The evening ended in a raffle for students.

Multiple baskets and dinner date packages were given away to winning tickets while all proceeds went towards Miriam’s House, a

LU Serve addresses poverty in Lynchburg 101 series pants were given a fake name tag and were put into groups based on the last name on the tag. After everyone had arrived, Karen Tanner, the facilitator of the “poverty simulation”, gave the group instructions.

Using the name tags, Tanner assigned participants to “families,” consisting of three to five people. Some people were assigned to be parents, and some were assigned to be their children. Ages, races and genders were randomly assigned.

Each family had a packet with multiple pieces of laminated paper inside including tickets with house hold items like electronics and jewelry and their worth, tickets for transportation, and information on each of the family members.

The task was to make it through four weeks of life in the new family by juggling the family’s income, expenses and some unexpected things that came up during the hour-long exercise.

According to Tanner, the poverty simulation is a demonstration that simulates what it is like to live in poverty for one month.

Students assigned to be “parents” were to report to “work” for seven minutes, while those assigned to be school age children had to go to “school.”

During work and school, participants

ALI is a feature reporter.

Kacey Huffty | Liberty Champion

DELECTABLE — Students enjoyed a fancy meal at decorated, candle-lit tables.

A day without Francesca Walker fbwalker@liberty.edu

Lynchburg-based home that advocates for the homeless in the community specifically focusing on families with children.

Second year graduate student Ashley Peterson appreciated the event. Peterson encouraged students to attend the event next year.

“I loved the chance to come out and attend a fancy formal event and really get to know other commuter students,” Peterson said.

“I’d encourage students to come out next year because this was such a great way to engage with fellow commuters and experience a really different night on campus and get to be a part of this community.”

completed worksheets with questions about poverty in American as well as Virginia. Along the walls of the Alumni Ballroom were situated various tables labeled as common neighborhood destinations such as a supermarket, social services office, interfaith ministries, pawnshop and a place to get cash quickly.

During the simulation, parents were frantically making plans on how to get food, money, and take care of the issues their children brought home from school. Multiple families were evicted from their “homes,” some had members thrown in “jail” for reasons varying from bringing a weapon to school to leaving a “baby” at the social services office. Some “families” had “possessions” stolen from their homes, while others had been ripped off by “stores.”

After the simulation, Tanner asked everyone how they felt about what they had just experienced. Attendees expressed feeling stressed, frustrated, hopeless and angry. One girl said that she had expected an event where she would sit down and take some notes.

Instead, she was given a fun, eye opening experience that she would take with her for the rest of her life.

LU Serve’s website promised that students would be challenged to, “confront (their) stereotypes regarding poverty, and experience what it is like to live in poverty.”

The Unlearning Poverty session delivered on that promise. The event held in the Montview’s Alumni Ballroom Feb. 19 was part of “The Lynchburg 101 Series” hosted by LU Serve.

Unlearning Poverty was facilitated by the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

According to their website, the VCE “brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth. …. To better utilize our resources, we form collaborations with hundreds of public and private partners and volunteers, who help us reach larger and more diverse audiences and also leverage the impact of our work.”

According to Corey Leistner, the Campus Impact Coordinator for LU Serve, a lot of LU students had expressed interest in learning more about poverty. As a result, according to Cassandra Marroquin, LU Serves AssociWALKER is a feature reporter. ate Director, LU Serve, in conjunction with Lynchburg Public Schools, brought the Virginia Cooperative Extension to facilitate the event. This was the first time this experiential forum had been done at LU, according to Leistner.

The purpose is to educate students who may not be familiar with the struggles of people who live at the poverty line. The poverty rate is 23.1%, according to the City of Lynchburg website.

Some of the participants expressed that they expected the event to be a sit-downtake-notes affair, but got more than that. Unlearning Poverty was one of the first times students could get imGrace Hildebrand | Liberty Champion mersed in activity.

After checking in, partici- EDUCATE — Students participated in activities that showed what it is like to live in poverty.

Did you know?

This This week week is is National National Eating Eating Disorder Awareness Disorder Awareness week. week

30 million people in the U.S. struggle with an eating disorder.

Of all mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate.

Leading Eating Disorder types • Anorexia Nervosa • Bulimia Nervosa • Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

The Student Health Center and Wellness Initiatives Department is raising awareness.

Expert faculty members will host the event “Panel: Challenges to Loving your Body” on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in Divinity 1510.

Information Information provided provided by by the the National National Association Association of of Anorexia Anorexia Nervosa Nervosa and and Associated Associated Disorders Disorders

B8

FEATURE

February 26, 2019

‘Drowned in perfect love’ Bethel’s Brian and Jenn Johnson bring hits and encouragement to Vines Center

Allison Heise| Liberty Champion

LIFTED UP — Students and CFAW guests were delighted to join Brian (top right) and Jenn (top left) Johnson in signing beloved worship songs written by the artists of Bethel Music.

Jenna Crenshaw jmcrenshaw@liberty.edu

B

rian and Jenn Johnson of Bethel led the audience in favorite worship songs and shared their story at a concert Saturday night, Feb. 23 at the Vines Center.

The couple pioneered Bethel Music, which sprung from Bethel Church in Redding, California. Out of Bethel’s repertoire of artists came Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love” and countless other popular worship songs, such as “You Make Me Brave” and “No Longer Slaves.”

Instead of opening with a hit, Jenn Johnson had a request from the audience.

“I had a weird day today and I’m still having a weird day. … I’ve got some weird thing happening where I’ve got body aches (really) bad. … I am in a lot of pain right now,” Jenn Johnson said. “Aren’t you glad that we believe in a God who heals? Will you extend your hands to me and will you just do what the Bible beautifully says? Will you just command healing into my body right now?”

The audience reached their arms toward Jenn Johnson and prayed, some aloud. But the couple was not ready to play just yet.

“Don’t start me off yet guys; don’t stick that thing in my ear yet. I want to talk,” Brian Johnson said to the sound crew.

Brian Johnson wanted to steer the audience toward a specific experience through the songs.

“Sometimes we get really intense, but there’s this element of just light and fun and normal that we really would love to go after,”

Brian Johnson said.

The first set contained favorites such as “Tremble,” “Forever” and “No Longer Slaves,” the audience cheering as they recognized the beginning chords of each song.

The Johnsons took a break from their worship set to share some wisdom with the audience, who gladly took the opportunity to give their feet a rest.

“Let’s tell them our story,” Brian Johnson said, turning to his wife with a smile. “Where do you want to start?”

According to Jenn Johnson, she had a crush on the 16-year-old-Brian when she was 12 at a summer camp. Years later, she moved to Redding, California to go to college. She and Brian reconnected over the summer and began to spend time together at the church where Brian led worship.

“I just couldn’t stop thinking about him, and it was making me so annoyed because I moved there (to Redding) for ministry school and to focus on Jesus and all I could think about was this cute worship leader, and I was like, ‘Listen God, either I’m marrying this guy, or take these feelings away because this is crazy,’” Jenn Johnson said.

The couple, who were both members of their church worship team, knew they were getting married two days into the relationship, according to Brian Johnson. On the tenth day, he popped the question before a worship set on a Sunday morning.

“I forgot to get down on my knee because I was too nervous, but I had the ring — the ring is more important than the knee. Guys, the ring is more important than the knee,” Brian Johnson said.

“The knee is still important, okay,” Jenn Johnson said, chuckling.

According to Brian Johnson, he knew God had a vision for his life. He challenged the audience to hold on to their dreams loosely and let God lead.

“If you follow after him, and you do what he says, and it’s in your heart to be obedient, he will open up doors and do things that 10

“

Try to be the biggest encourager in the room and try to have the most hope, and you won’t even have to lead.

— Brian Johnson

(or) 20 years from now you will be in a position or a place that you could have never dreamed of or made happen on your own,” Brian Johnson said.

For the college students in the room, Brian Johnson assured them that pursuing college is a difficult task and something to be proud of. While planning a future is a worthy goal, he challenged the students to consider God’s plan.

“In that pursuit, make sure to let God have a part of that because he will take you way

beyond and further than you can imagine,” Brian Johnson said.

The couple introduced Brian’s new book, “When God Became Real,” a project Brian never though he would accomplish.

In fact, he gave up twice, but he eventually pushed through. The book focuses on the “bad days,” according to Brian Johnson, and records his battle with anxiety and panic attacks.

At one point, Brian Johnson was fighting panic attacks on a daily basis.

“It was like an every-five-minute thing I had to do, just to keep my sanity, just to keep my eyes on God,” Brian Johnson said.

As a leader, Brian Johnson shared a few surprising tips for budding leaders.

“Leadership 101, are you ready?” Brian Johnson said. “You all can read all the books on leadership, you can do all the stuff on leadership, but what about this — try to be the biggest encourager in the room and try to have the most hope, and you won’t even have to lead.”

Brian Johnson picked up his guitar and Jenn Johnson stepped behind the microphone in preparation for the last set of songs.

Jenn admitted her voice was a little “froggy,” and spurred the audience to sing “Reckless Love” “loud and proud.”

The audience did just that, and the concert concluded with “God I Look to You” and “One Thing Remains.”

More information about Brian and Jenn Johnson’s music can be found at their website.

CRENSHAW is the feature editor.