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VoI.XXXVI No. 44 WINSTON -SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, July 1, 2010
Deac
headed to
LA to play
pro ball
?See Page B8
Noted
activist
makes
local stop
?See Page A9
ITo mifcrsyth County Public Llbrary75 cents
I , 0 West Fifth Str^bra/v
no I (is Winston-Salem, #NC
reunion in ? f
Winston o //ears f
-See Pane HI
God at center of debate
New billboards ,
Commissioners ' prayer
stance tires up church
ana state issues
BY TODD l.UCK
TH! CHRONICLE
The separation of church and
Rev. Haw
Male nas neen
a much debat
ed issue since
the nation's
founding
fathers rough
drafted the
Constitution.
A new
statewide bill
board cam
paign will
undoubtedly
add to this centuries-old debate.
The North Carolina Secular
Association, a coalition that
includes atheist and agnostic
groups us well as those with mem
Submitted Photo
One of the Association's controversial billboards.
hers of faith, are behind the bill
boards. which feature the United
States flag with the words "One
Nation Indivisible." The N.C.
Secular Association's Web site is
also featured on the billboards.
"One Nation Indivisible" is a
reference to the section of the
Pledge of Allegiance. In 1954, the
pledge was changed when law
makers added the words "under
God" between the words "One
Nation" and "Indivisible." That
change still doesn't sit well with
Jim Moury and other members of
the N.C. Secular Association.
"Claiming that our national
patriotism is based on a belief in
God, or that that's necessary, is
not based on any kind of fact,"
said Moury, founder of Forsyth
Area Critical Thinkers (FACT), a
group of skeptics that holds
monthly meeting where a wide
range of topics - everything from
recycling to the supernatural, are
pondered.
FACT is the sponsor of
Forsyth County's only "One
Nation Indivisible" billboard,
which stands along 1-40 East.
Moury said he hopes the bill
board creates interest in FACT and
gets people thinking about the
issue.
" Our founders intended for us
to have a secular government and
for there to be a clear bright line
between church and state," he
said.
There are fans and critics of
the billboards, said Moury. One in
Charlotte was vandalized when
the words "under God" were
painted onto it.
The issue of the separation of
See God on A9
... Let it Shine
Union Baptist members find
work in shoe-shining ministry
BY l.AYl.A KVRMKR
I HI CHRONIC LI
Union Baptist Church has launched an
innovative new ministry designed to fight
unemployment within its congregation.
"We were trying to figure out a way that
the church could help people obtain some
work and some income." explained Rev. Dr.
Sir Walter Mack, the pastor of Union Baptist.
The result was the creation of Soul 2 Sole,
an on-site shoe shining service. It was started
at the church in March. Congregants can get
their shoes shined before and after each serv
ice tor a nominal fee: and the general public
can even drop their shoes off for shines during
the week.
"It's been great." remarked Program
Director Cheryl Harry. "The congregation has
been very supportive."
Sole 2 Soul has created a source of income
for three Union Baptist members
"You feel good when your shoes shine: you
feel good about yourself," said Anthony
Carpenter, one of the shoe shiners. "It boosts
your morale."
Soul 2 Sole is the latest of a collection of
unorthodox ministries birthed from Mack's
imagination. A gospel ice cream truck -
which sells cold treats with spiritual-themed
names in neighborhoods around the city - and
the Christian Football League (CFL) - which
allow s kids to play regardless of their weight
and height - are among the church's other
Photo b> Lay U Farmer
Sole 2 Soul's Anthony Carpenter and
Dominique Fleming.
Right: Veteran shiner Harold Payne in
action.
more unique ministries. Mack believes it
takes creativity to get the church's message to
the masses.
"We are able to minister to people by pro
viding that opportunity." he said. "...The
church needs to meet the needs of people
where they are."
See I nion on A9
Bryant Cameron Webb
Wake med
student
takes reins
ofSNMA
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
A Wake Forest University School
of Medicine student recently look
office as the 40th president of .1
national organization for medical stu
dents of color
Bryant Cameron Webb, a MO can
didate at the medical school, took the
helm of the Student National Medical
Association
( S N M A ) in
April
Amazingly.
Webb is also
studying to earn
his juris doctor
ate at Loyola
School of Law in
Chicago.
"It's been I
great." Webb L
said of his term
so far. "We are
Robinson
on target, with everything moving
steadily ahead and I'm \er\ excited."
The 27 year-old Fredericksburg,
Va.. native will lead the organization's
over 8.000 members in chapters at
more than 130 medical schools nation
wide during his yearlong term
"I've always been inspired by the
role student organizations have pla\ed
in shaping our nation since the Civil
Rights Movement." Webb said of his
motivation to lead the SNMA. "1 want
to inspire that spirit in our organiza
tion."
An alumnus of the University of
Virginia. Webb is a decorated student
who has been awarded an arra\ ol
prestigious scholarships He and his
wife. Leigh Ann. who is an emergency
medicine resident, tied the knot a \ear
See Webb on \5
Church food ministry goes mobile [|
PtteKm by I jvla Farnirf
A volunteer gives a box lo a Peacehaven resident.
BY LAY1.A FARMER
THE CHRONICLE _
Volunteers from the Agape Care & Share, a min
c A r?- r~*\ ? ^
isiry (ii rtga[>c rann v. nurcn 01
Clemmons, took their mission to
the streets on Saturday.
More than 37 families in the
Peacehaven Mobile Home
Community received pre-pack
aged boxes filled with food and
other items from ministry volun
teers. Agape Care & Share bases
its work from its food pantry on
Patterson Avenue Saturday
marked the ministry's first
attempt to become a mobile enti
Watsoit
ty that travels to communities in need of its servic
es.
Giving
God the
Glory
Plnln b> l jy(t Fww
Rishop Hcnnell
Alexander says he
has truly been
blessed. After strug
gling with addiction
and homelessness,
he has emerged to
help others dealing
with challenges of
their own. Read
more on page A3.
DON'T
PASS
THE BUCK
BUY LOCAL
rNAMMft