When you are engaged in mainstream journalism as a Christian you find many of your colleagues are either indifferent or even hostile to your worldview. And so you look for role models who are not only excellent reporters, but who also understanding the world you observe. Journalists, such as the famous retired New York Timesman John McCandlish Phillips, Russ Pulliam of The Indianapolis Star, Don Boykin of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jerry Mitchell of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss. and Manny Garcia of The Miami Herald, come to mind immediately as wonderful examples. There is also a figure close to home, here in New York City who continues to inspire me with his perceptive analysis and bold initiatives to engage the dominant creative culture – Eric Metaxas. Though not always associated with journalism, Metaxas is a leader in the evangelical community here in the Big Apple. He lives, works, worships and plays in Manhattan. A Yale graduate, Metaxas is comfortable discussing Bach or Berlin, Colson or Cavett, Bob the Tomato or Squanto, Schaeffer or Socrates (He runs Socrates in the City in Manhattan.). And now he has blessed his avid readership with a new award-winning book, Bonhoeffer which is a great companion volume to his earlier book, Amazing Grace, which tells the story of the great British statesman and Christian, William Wilberforce. Metaxas has been a teacher for the institute for years and continues to urge our journalism students to consider New York as place of employment. I never tire of listening to his clarion call to engage our culture where it is being shaped. Add to this witness, the fact that wife Susanne is a leader of the pro-life movement in New York City as she runs Midtown Pregancy Support Center.
When our college students gather at The King’s College for our New York course, Metaxas will likely be there exhorting them to be a part of our great culture and I will be able to point to him as an example of one who is walking the talk.
Eric, Susanne and Annerose will be coming to Tacoma for the weekend of July 23-24 for several talks, interviews and discussions. Good stuff awaits us at Faith Presbyterian Church.
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