How Faith Made A Mother Take Her Bible Into Court Knowing She Would Rather Offend A Juror Than Offend God

Ellaville, GA, November 21,  2011 - Jackie Carpenter describes herself as a businesswoman, volunteer and reluctant author because she never intended to become an author, nor expected to be a resource for people facing a crisis in life. But she took the worst crisis in her life and the miracle that stemmed from it and wove it into a dramatic and heart-wrenching story.

The Bridge: Between Cell Block A and a Miracle is Psalm 91 (Xulon Publishing) is the powerful and compelling story of the terrifying journey that began the morning she received a frantic call from her son’s wife telling her that he had been arrested for felony murder, and it did not end until the jury returned its verdict ten months later.

Jackie Carpenter was living the true American Dream. She had good health, a beautiful home, married to a wonderful man, and had two married sons and four grandchildren - she honestly believed life could not get any better. It was then she discovered it could get a whole lot worse. The Bridge tells the frightening chain of events that occurred after her son, the victim of copper thefts on his construction job sites, was guarding his property on the advice of a deputy. In the early morning hours of June 27, 2008, he attempted a citizen’s arrest when his gun accidentally fired, wounding one of the alleged thieves. Hours later when the man died from the wound, the deputy recanted his advice and her son Jason was taken into custody and charged with felony murder and four other serious charges.

At a time when Jackie Carpenter’s world was turned upside down she did the one thing she knew how to do – she turned to God. It took ten long months, many visits to her prayer closet, and the help of Psalm 91 for the author to build her faith to the point where she believed God would perform a miracle. And on April 16, 2009 at 3:40 p.m. she got her miracle when her son went from being on Cell Block A (where murderers are housed) to freedom after the jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty!”

While The Bridge is the story of her walk of faith, the sequel Georgia Justice: A Story To Faith, acts as a guide for building faith in the face of tragedy or grief and tells how a tormented mother made the critical decision that allowed God to deliver such a miracle. It is a powerful testimony to the spiritual strength this small-town girl found in the promises of Psalm 91 and how she built her faith up during the tormenting ten months leading up to her son’s trial. 

When this Georgia mother made the fateful decision to carry her Bible into the courtroom, against the wishes of her son’s attorney who felt a non-believing juror could be offended and hold it against her son, she made a huge leap of faith by deciding she would rather offend a juror than offend God – she got her miracle in the form of an acquittal!

Jackie Carpenter has made numerous appearances on television, in radio interviews and in newspaper articles and her books will be produced into a motion picture that will be in theaters the fall of 2012. For more information on this author and her miraculous story of faith, hope and love that brought her to victory, please visit her website at: www.bridgetoamiracle.com.

PHOENIX-AREA CONGREGATION TO HOST TRAVELING EXHIBIT FROM INDIANA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM 

 Eva Mozes Kor

Congregation Baruch HaShem will host a new traveling exhibit on the Holocaust at the Paradise Valley Community College Library, 18401 N. 32^nd St. in Phoenix, from October 4-November 13. The grand opening of the exhibit will feature a keynote speech from Eva Mozes Kor, founder of CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, Ind. 

Intertwined Lives: Dr. Mengele, Eugenics, and the Mozes Twins tells the story of Kor’s survival in Auschwitz as a 10-year-old girl and her transformation into a determined truth-seeker and Holocaust educator. Kor and her twin sister Miriam were used as human guinea pigs by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele as children at Auschwitz. In 1995, Kor founded a museum to educate the public about the dangers of hatred and prejudice and the benefits of respect and forgiveness.

 Intertwined Lives uses photographs, documents, text, and maps against the historical backdrop of the eugenics movement and the rise of Nazi Germany. Central to the exhibit’s theme is that every human being has an unlimited capacity for both good and evil. Through the exhibit and its supporting educational materials, CANDLES hopes to help visitors realize how they can use the lessons of the Holocaust to transform their lives and communities.

 Kor is known throughout the world as a Holocaust educator and forgiveness advocate. As documented in the film Forgiving Dr. Mengele, her controversial 1995 decision to forgive the Nazis in her name alone drew the criticism of some Holocaust survivors and scholars. They claim that such an act diminishes the suffering of the Nazi’s victims, but to Eva forgiveness is a profound way of self-healing that has more to do with helping the victim break the cycle of victimization than seeking justice for the perpetrator.

 “Forgiveness is a seed for peace,” says Kor. “Anger is a seed for war.”

 Kor has spoken at international events such as the 10^th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, as well as to conferences of clinical researchers. But since she started telling her story in 1978, she has emphasized to young people their power to improve their lives and make the world a better place.

 “Each and every one of you is the master of your future, but you have to work at it,” Eva tells young people. “Never ever give up on yourself or your dreams, and forgive those who have hurt you. Only you have the power to do both, and you will become the next greatest generation of Americans. You are the power of tomorrow!”

Singer/songwriter in concert May 2 in Anthem
 Anthem, Ariz.  (April 12, 2010) … Gospel meets the blues on May 2 as Danny Daniels, one of the nation’s most prolific worship songwriters, will be leading a worship concert that begins at 6 p.m. at Vineyard Church @ Anthem, 42105 N. 41st Drive. The concert is free of charge, but donations to Daniels will be accepted.

 Since the 1970s, Daniels has had more than 100 songs published and recorded by Vineyard Music, as well as Maranatha! Music, Sony Music and TIME/LIFE Songs 4 Worship. Some of his best known tunes include “Mighty Savior”, “You Are the Vine”, “Wounded Soldier”, “Glory”, “The Call”, “No One Like You”, “Sons of Thunder” and “Hearts On Fire.”
 

His music and ministry was birthed in the Jesus Movement, and he was a founding member of Bethlehem, an early Maranatha! Music Group. Daniels has served as a staff pastor and worship leader at Vineyard churches in California and Colorado, and now travels the globe leading conferences and consulting on worship. Daniels and his family currently attend the Smoky Hill Vineyard in Aurora, Colorado.

 Vineyard Church @ Anthem is non-denominational church located just two blocks south of the Hampton Inn. For more information, call 623.551.1133 or visit www.vineyardanthem.com .

Infant / child CPR class offered in Anthem 

Anthem, Ariz.  (March 24, 2010) … Phoenix firefighters and Vineyard Church @ Anthem are teaming up to offer a certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class geared specifically toward infants and children. The class is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 10 at the church; parents, grandparents, babysitters and childcare givers are especially encouraged to attend.

 Taught by a Phoenix firefighter/paramedic, the three-hour class offers an American Red Cross certification. Cost is $25 and includes the required book.

 Class size is limited to 30. To register, call 623.551.1133 or e-mail tonya@vineyardanthem.com. Payment may be made at the class. The church is located at 42105 N. 41^st Drive, two blocks south of The Hampton Inn, in Anthem.

Worship Schedule:

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church Location and Easter Schedule

•  39808 N Gavilan Peak Parkway

• Anthem, AZ  85086 (East of the Anthem Park & Ride)

•  www.anthemcross.org

• office@anthemcross.org

• 623.551.9851

•  Maundy Thursday Worship (includes communion)

• 7pm Thursday, April 1^st

• Good Friday Worship

• 7pm Friday, April 2^nd

•  Easter Worship

• Sunday, April 4^th

• 8:30am Traditional Worship

• 9:00am Contemporary Worship

• 10:30am Contemporary Worship 

• Nursery available during each service 

• We will host Easter egg hunts for children, ages Toddler through 3^rd Grade following the 9am, and 10:30am services.

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• Desert Streams Lutheran Church

Anthem church presents Dave Ramsey series

 Anthem, Ariz.  (March 15, 2010) … Managing money in difficult times is the subject of a three-week video series by financial authority Dave Ramsey and it’s starting in April at Vineyard Church @ Anthem. 

“We feel like what Dave has to say is so important and so relevant that we’re showing these videos in our weekend services for three weeks in a row,” said Pastor Terry Tarleton. The church, located at 42105 N. 41^st Drive, two blocks south of The Hampton Inn, offers three weekend services: 7:07 p.m. Fridays, and 9 and 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. Tarleton will introduce the series, “Life, Money, Hope: Biblical Advice in Difficult Times,” on April 9 and 11.

·       April 9, 11         Introduction to the series by Pastor Terry Tarleton

• April 16, 18        The Basics of Biblical Finance
• April 23, 25        Breaking the Bondage of Debt
• April 30, May 2  The #1 Myth About Money

 Ramsey, whose syndicated show is aired daily on radio stations across the country and FOX news, was a millionaire by the age of 26. He lost it all and went on a quest to learn how to correctly handle money. He shared what he learned in his best-selling book, Financial Peace, and has since taught his principles for getting – and staying – out of debt to more than 10 million people.

 For more information on Ramsey, visit www.daveramsey.com. For church information, visit www.vineyardanthem.com or call 623.551.1133.

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Worship Concert April 11 in Anthem Park 

Anthem, Ariz.   Worship Under the Stars is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 11, 2010 in the Anthem Community Park Amphitheater. The open-air concert is free of charge.

 Led by Vineyard Church @ Anthem Associate Pastor Dave McPherson, the church’s “house band” will perform original and cover songs in a style he describes as a cross between John Mayer, Lifehouse, Matchbox 20 and U2. “Come enjoy a free concert from a great band. It’s a great place to bring the family,” said McPherson.

 For more information, contact McPherson at 623.551.1133 or dave@vineyardanthem.com.