PUBLISHER 6 april 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition April 2021, we featured the front cover of the GOOD NEWS with a cover caption “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Fought to Open Florida Churches & Synagogues And Won!” Of course, the reference was the reopening of Florida during Covid. We believed in people having the choice to attend worship services of their choice. The visual of a Republican governor disappointed some pastors. One pastor even suggesting there was only one appropriate cover for the Good News, and that was the visual of Jesus Christ. I appreciated the input but tried to reason we had 12 issues a year, “Are you suggesting Jesus be the front cover every month?” He answered, “Yes.” We are delighted to have the work of artist Peter Olsen grace our front cover with his very descriptive painting of Jesus Christ, for this, our Easter issue, Shelly Pond interviews Peter Olsen in his studio, the feature starts on page 42. I am often reminded of the cultural differences in the diversity we enjoy in a multicultural region like South Florida. My personal observations and experiences, although subtle, remain profound to me. The Good News has been in need and in search of another qualified sales and marketing team member for an extended period now, and we have interviewed many applicants. Not until recently have I noticed a cultural pattern that has emerged. First, the absolute prerequisite is: they must love Jesus, and they also must have a strong belief system that what we do is important for the Kingdom. Next, they must possess a certain skill set to express to potential clients the benefits and virtues of being in a Christian publication, serving the needs of the dozens of nonprofit ministries that labor, mostly in darkness, and benefit from the light that we shine on their heroic efforts. Interview after interview in ensuing discussions the very normalized responses center around requirements necessary for the job description, but more directly, “How much will you pay me?” Nothing new there; that indeed is normal. For reasons of my own, I began to find that odd, and not knowing why? I started reflecting on my many decades in business, and in publishing, always in niche endeavors, music and live Broadway entertainment. The latter, skewing closer to my Jewish heritage, attracted personnel that was more ethnically aligned: I was blessed with long-term associates with very low turnover and, therefore, was less engaged in the need for endless associate interviews. It took me a good while to realize where the rub was. What seemed to be uncomfortable in this process? Then it subtly hit me; I have extreme cultural differences in the process, and until the GN, I was dealing primarily with Jewish people that gravitated to the entertainment industry. In the area of sales, everyone is aware that you earn your rewards based on your level of successful performance. I had also taken for granted that in the past when interviewing people for sales positions, I was not sensitive to the phrase “how much will you pay me?” I was more in tune with the question “how much can I make?” Analyzing the excitement of the potential as opposed to the task. The subtleties haven’t seemed so subtle lately. In the Christian Kingdom the strong reinforcement always centers around He will provide. To some that may lessen the need to perform/achieve. Is that judged as greed or performing at your potential level? Happy Easter, He is risen. South Florida Edition • Good News • April 2025 • Volume 27, Issue 1 Advertising: We reach over 110,000 readers each month. 80,000 in print and 30,000 via our online digital edition. Placing an ad in our publication is affordable and effective to help grow your business. Call us today! Distribution: Available in more than 800 locations throughout South Florida. To become a free distribution point for the newspaper, please contact Shelly. The Good News is published by Good News Media Group, LLC, Reproduction in whole or part strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. 600 S.W. 3rd St., Suite 4000, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 954-564-5378 • www.goodnewsfl.org Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman [email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond [email protected] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 The 12-Day Fast Slow – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Franklin Graham: Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is the Lord – by Franklin Graham CHURCH UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 For Such a Time as This: Church United Miami – by Carter Brown THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 The Promise of Victory in Death – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Easter’s Impact on Your Calling – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn and Dr. Jonathan Grenz FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 The In-Between – by Andrew Holmes YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Jesus Came to Reverse the Curse! – by Dr. Tommy Boland ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Happy Meal – by Omar Aleman PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Is It a Problem When Parents Do Not Agree? – by Dr. Bob and Torrey Roberts SUMMER CAMP GUIDE 2025 . . . .29 - 36 GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 – 40 What is a unique Easter activity you've experienced or a tradition your family has had? COVER STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 – 43 Sacred Visions: Peter Olsen’s Art Brings Scripture to Life – by Shelly Pond LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Navigating Florida’s Judicial System – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Robert Meacham OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Blinded To Our Blessedness – by Chris Simpson MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Faith-Based Movies That Touch and Change Lives – by Stanley Goldenberg INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 4 Leadership Lessons for Any Generation – by Rob Hoskins COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . . .52 - 56 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 - 59 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 - 63 Cultural Differences On The Cover Our April 2025 Easter cover image features “Salvation,” a piece of art created by award-winning South Florida Artist Peter Olsen, utilizing wood pyrography, a combination of wood burning, etching, carving and pigment. This selection from Olsen’s collection depicting “The Miracles and Healings of Jesus” is laid atop his oil painting of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Olsen has spent decades transforming Scripture into breathtaking visual narratives. Read the cover article on page 42. - Leslie J. Feldman - Publisher C O N T E N T S Good News • April • Volume 27 Issue 1
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