In God they trust

The obvious success of New Life Church depends not only on the charisma of Pastor Ted Haggard but also on those who have joined the church and become evangelists, spreading the word. It is an essential part of their commitment.

United States Air Force cadet Brandon Bernardoni spent months trying to get his roommate Paul to attend New Life Church, but in the end, Paul renewed his commitment to his Catholic faith.

Paul Hollrith: I would say that it made me like re-think a lot of things. Some minor things are just realizing that I do want to be Catholic. That is my religion—its who I am and I like it.

Brandon says he supports Paul’s decision.

Brandon Bernardoni: To me what’s important is seeking God. And if he’s doing that at a Catholic Church, if he’s doing it in New Life, if he’s doing it at a Protestant Church just down the road. Wherever he’s doing, that’s fine. All I care about is that Paul is seeking God. 

Paul and Brandon are aware of the religious controversies at the academy and believe  that they’re exaggerated.

Bernardoni: I get excited about coming to church. And i just want people to know my excitement, to know how I feel you know. Sometimes, I think that gets misconstrued into the fact of them thinking that we’re trying to force something that they don’t want at all.

Brandon still sees evangelizing as an essential part of his own beliefs, beliefs that he feels will last far beyond his academy graduation.

Tom Brokaw: What will be more important to you going forward— your military career and your academy training or the transformational experience that you had here?

Bernardoni: Definitely, the transformational experience. Because it’s who I am.  It’s the very core essence of my being and that’s how I live my life.  And that will never change, regardless of the jobs that I get,  regardless of the people that I meet.  So that is by far the closest thing to my heart.

As for the Lowmans, they have a dual challenge— to be good Christians, and keep their small business going.

Venezia Lowman: God is faithful. He’s keeping it going, we’ve been open a year. Wwe’re stressed but we’re real blessed in the stress, so it’s I think it’ll work. I think its gonna go it just takes time. 

Their other goal is to bring Venezia’s brother Rudy to their church is another struggle.  It’s not happened. Rudy says the family get-togethers are much more harmonious when they don’t discuss religion at all.

Rudy: I’m no where near prepared to join the church they belong to and join the belief  system that they have. I’m just not heading down that same path at this point in my life. It is frustrating to me because I could be a lot closer to my family if we all believed in the same in the same thing. I think there is some you know we are somewhat distant just because we don’t have the same belief system.

The family will manage to continue to get along,  without either side changing their beliefs. 

Brokaw: Venezia, what sends you over the top when you read comments about the Evangelical movement?

Venezia Lowman: What makes me angry is when that it’s misrepresented. I’m a Christian, and I love the Lord.  And that’s what it’s all about.  When it’s misrepresented like we’re fanatics, that is so not true.

Leon Lowman: Hate mongers.

Venezia Lowman: Yeah, we’re hate mongers— that is so not true.  I mean and, in my own personal life, I have many friends who are not Christians.  I’ve worked with many people who aren’t Christians and that is not at all how an evangelical Christian really is.

Despite Tom’s concerns, the Monroes continue to embrace New Life Church.  Tom has started reading the Bible. He even bought one for Karen as a gift.

Tom Monroe: I’m feeling a lot more comfortable everyday that I do it.  I think it’s a good foundation for my family.

New Life pastor Ted Haggard sees even more growth for his church— and for his beliefs.

Ted Haggard: In the Christian community, people vote every Sunday morning by where they go to church. All right, so right now, during this particular era in my life—I don’t want to say this boastfully, but I am winning this election right now.

In the meantime, Haggard will continue to consult with the White House and press for a Supreme Court that will outlaw abortion and gay marriage, insisting he’s not interested in a religious take over of the government.

Haggard: There’s no one that’s leading the mega-church movement or involved in the mega-church movement that is in favor of a theocracy. None of us are for that. We’re all defenders of freedom and liberty for all.

Brokaw: Wouldn’t you like to have more members of congress and a senate, however, who adhere to the list of priorities of the NEA?

Haggard: Sure. Absolutely. We would like more representation in the House and in the Senate. We lobby for it. We work for it. We do what we can. And the reason we do that is of course because we believe we’re right. But so do the other groups and that’s why there’s debate in the Congress and debate in the House. So we want to give our best argument. And other people will give the opposite argument. And then somebody else will say, “I think he’s right on that. And I think he’s wrong on that.” That’s the way it should work. It’s a wonderful country.

In fact the Evangelicals don’t have some kind of secret formula. They play by the old rules, they organize around their common beliefs, and they’re highly motivated to advance those beliefs in their communities and at the ballot box. If they’re successful, and they gain control of the presidency and the Congress, they won’t need a theocracy.

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