OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLIST HELPS HONOUR COMMUNITY SPORT HEROES Former Spartan Brent Hayden on hand for 10th anniversary { Page A19 }
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THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014
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Chilliwack
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‘OPEN’ - May 31 RAIN or SHINE
Finals bound. { Page A27 }
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A SHOW of FAITH
John Les, Gwen O’Mahony giving serious thought to running this fall
A former Historymaker attendee produces documentary that sheds light on the darker corners of massive Pentecostal youth gathering Despite his lack of belief in the general tenets of Pentecostalism or Christianity at all, he said he was never totally able to rationalize away some of the things he saw 10 years prior to making the documentary. His memories of Historymaker periodically and quietly tested his atheism. “My family are still Charismatic Christians,” Fenn told the Times. “I think they got their hopes up a little bit with me doing this story was showing an interest in the faith.” He returned to Historymaker with a lack of faith, but with the avowed objectivity of a documentarian. “I wanted to try to remain as open as possible,” he said. Fenn said he was by far the
oldest person there, at least among those wandering on the floor at Prospera. Up on stage there is always an array of high-profile Pentecostal preachers, touring speakers and musical acts. This year’s headliners include: Martin Smith, former singer for Christian worship band Delirious?; Banning Liebscher of Jesus Culture, a California youth movement; Andy Moore of Glad Tidings Church in Victoria; and former Harlem Globetrotter Lefty Williams. Last year, the headliner was Eric Samuel Timm, an American Christian speaker/artist for hire who is so popular, he is booked years in advance. Timm is a powerful speaker engaged in precise theatre { See FAITH, page A4 }
BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
C
hilliwack residents will have a chance to elect a new city council six months from today and, for the first time in six years, maybe a new mayor. Two high-profile names with experience in elected office are considering a run for the top job at city hall—a job popular Mayor Sharon Gaetz won by acclamation in 2011. How does Mayor Gwen O’Mahony sound? Or maybe Mayor John Les? Both O’Mahony and Les confirmed to the Times this week the truth to the persistent rumour that they are pondering a run for mayor. “I have been talking to community members and I have been asked by a number of people if I was interested in running for mayor,” O’Mahony said Monday. O’Mahony served for a year as NDP MLA for the Chilliwack-Hope riding. She won a byelection in April 2012 forced when longtime BC Liberal MLA Barry Penner stepped down. O’Mahony beat Liberal candidate { See MAYOR, page A3 }
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housands of young Charismatic Christians will descend on Chilliwack this weekend to encounter God, get spiritually motivated and, just maybe, have a life-changing experience. The annual Pentecostal youth rally Historymaker is back at Prospera Centre for the second year in a row. There will be smiles and there will be tears. There will be worship song and there will be psychological counselling. There will be believers and there will be skeptics. Many will witness seemingly supernatural phenomena:
speaking in tongues, divine prophecies received from God, and spontaneous healing. But according to former Charismatic Christian Sam Fenn, there will also be theatrical stage presentations, highly-paid guests following precise timelines, and counselling sessions where homophobia and sexist views are espoused. Fenn attended Historymaker 2013 here in Chilliwack where he recorded audio for a documentary he produced as part of a radio program called The Terry Project on CiTR at the University of British Columbia. The visit was a return for the 27-year-old who, since his attendance at Historymaker in 2003 as a 17-year-old, has become an atheist.
www.cultus.com
Could be a threeway race for mayor
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BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
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