My local paper, The Denton Record Chronicle, has a section called “Names In The News,” where they publish stories that come over the Associated Press wires. I don’t know why I bother to read it, because I usually scratch my head and say, “Huh?” Sunday’s paper was no exception.
The headline read:
It seems that the minister of Southland Christian Church, in Lexington Kentucky, asked his congregation to write letters of love and support to Britney Spears. I tell you what, people, I laughed so hard that I spewed Cheez-Its crackers all over the paper![Don't tell the 17 year old there are Cheez-Its in the house, I hide them from him so that I get to eat some of them!] I thought this article was a joke, but no it’s not. I looked it up on Reverend Jon Weece’s blog.
He called the article “Encouraging Britney.” I should say so! Does that girl need encouragement? The reverend asks on his blog,“If she were your next-door neighbor in the same situation without the money and success, wouldn’t you care about her problems? Wouldn’t you pray for her and offer her support and encouragement?”
Well, I just might support her, Reverend, but I’d probably do more than write her a worthless letter. Why in the world would he think that’s going to help the situation? She probably won’t ever even see them!
The article quoted Cindy Willison, the church’s director of communications, as saying, “This is an opportunity for us to reach out to someone who probably doesn’t have a lot of people in her life that care for her as a person.”
So, do all those folks care about Britney “as a person?” Excuse me if I seem cynical. I am.
I’m not sure that Britney needs the support, though I’m sure she will love the media attention. The church will, too, don’t you think?
I read the comments on the page, and it seems that most of the people commenting are all caught up in doing this! Huh? Only one woman, Linda, said this (and I love it):
“You’re asking people to take a few minutes to write a note of encouragement, and you’re actually collecting them and mailing them. Wouldn’t it be better to spend that time offering support to someone who will actually be touched and encouraged by it? It’s sad that our society is so celebrity-focused that a pastor would ask his congregation to waste their time writing to Britney, when there are so many people in your local community and elsewhere who have no one offering them support or encouragement.”
Amen, Sister!
To me, this little caper smacks of an “opportunity” for the church to get some attention and publicity. I could be wrong; I was wrong once. However, it seems sort of like if some doofus blogger wrote about this incident and put Britney Spears’ name inside of Technorati tags, hoping folks like you will come and read my her blog. Any publicity is good publicity, right Britney and Reverend Weece?
I must be wrong. I’m sure we aren’t getting all the story. Surely the pastor also asks his congregation to write letters of support to their beleaguered “next-door neighbors,” too.
But, maybe we should get on this bandwagon? Heck, we can use some publicity, too! So, what do y’all think? Shall we write letters to Britney, folks? Huh?
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I haven’t read the pastor’s blog so I may feel different after that but my comments are based on your post and quotes…
My first reaction was “yeah, right” Just another church seeking publicity or some mis-guided call to the world but then I started to think about it.
It may be cheesy and opportunistic but when he asked “If she were your next-door neighbor…” and I realized that for many Christians, the answer would be no. We {Christians} don’t typically like to get our hands dirty dealing with other people’s struggles. And non-Christians don’t like to get involved because then they be a hypocrite for judging someone else and their life choices.
So maybe the benefit of this exersize is not that Britney will be helped or this specific church will become larger but that those who participate will have thought through the issues Britney is facing and they will be prepared to help their neighbor when faced with the opportunity.
Hey, Archsrk. Reading in the pastor’s blog, I think he was probably well meaning in this (I’m just evil). I agree that most people Christian or non don’t like to get involved in someone else’s troubles so, maybe your assessment is true. However, I strongly agree with the woman who commented on the pastor’s blog. The congregation should be focusing on someone who will actually benefit from it. Surely they have some of “their own” who need support. Then the exercise would have even more merit.~skt
That’s a good one! LOL
What Britney needs is a good, solid pair of underpants that actually stay on and don’t slip off every time she exits a vehicle. Well, that and a smack on the back of the head.
Perhaps they could get Victoria’s Secret on board in this “Help Britney” endeavor. I’m certain they have something that would fit her.
I’m going to go have to check out this request!
Jessica
I was waiting to see what YOU had to say. Started to send this to you to blog for yourself, but I couldn’t resist. Archshrk took the high road, but that’s just because he is nice. I’m not. I kinda thought you would join me in this
~skt
Key word is repentence. If she feels bad about what she’s been doing then the church oughta back her. The thing is I haven’t seen evidence to that effect so the church jumping in isn’t gonna spread the right message. Then again, the church oughta help anyone at anytime.
I read this piece this morning too. I hadn’t had my coffee yet and my first thought is the preacher has the hots for Spears. He’s up to something. Huh is right! Have a great day.
Well, I´ll try to explain myself. I think Spears has enoguh people to care her . Hasn´t she got parents? or any family? I think it is more important what you do trying to help sick kids that to write letters to Spears cheering her up , letters that probably never will be read by her.
I put my package yesterday, I couldn´t do it before, there is enclosed a little present for you.
That is pretty amazing. I think your theory may be correct. Couldn’t they have picked someone else to pray for — like maybe all of the wives/mothers who are alone while their husbands are off in Iraq?
I guess great minds think alike. I came this close (holding my pointer and thumb about half an inch apart) to writing a post about this and using the name Britney Spears after about every fourth word.
My heart wasn’t in it though. I sure did wonder about what this church in Kentucky could possible have to do with her.
I guess your reasoning is probably right on.
Although I can see, somewhat, the logic of the first commenter here, I can see the points the others have made as well. However, if it were put to me to write said letter, I think I’d have to put it very simply -and steal the words of the title of your post below “I Have No Words!” The whole thing does leave me somewhat tongue-tied – and those who know me well know that is a rare thing to have happen too!
Now you know I would have to comment on that one! This priest surely just wants his church to be acknowledged and get some needy attention.
Instead of writing to Brittany…we should sit down and write some letters to people who have helped us in the past year,,letters of thanks or encouragment or gratitude. We don’t do nearly half enough of that. I can think of people that I know right now who would be more than pleased to get a note of thanks…or a letter stating how they have encouraged us or supported us in the past year. To me that makes a lot more sense than sending a letter to a brat who clearly won’t listen. If she has no respect for the court…why would she care what a bunch of strangers think?
Oh and don’t forget to rush out this month and buy her mother’s new book. Yes, people…it’s a book on Parenting! Believe it or not!
What a waste of time! As you say, she probably won’t even get to see the letters, which will be dealt with by some paid assistant who wil send out a form letter in reply to each one — assuming they are not just ignored. How they think a bunch of unsolicited letters from a gang of God-huggers will make any difference to anything is beyond me. There are so many better things they could be doing, in a more realistic way, if they want to make a difference to the world we live in.
LOL! My gosh, I have a feeling you might be right on this one. I loved the whole cheese-it episode I almost saw you spat it all out. hahaha. Happy Halloween! I was actually hoping to read a spooky story today here.
Love yah girl.
While I totally understand why you all might think that this is: 1. publicity for the church, 2. that Pastor has the “hots” for Britney,3. or why didn’t the church pray or do something for those wives of soldiers in Iraq, (sorry…extremely long sentence) I can only tell you, you weren’t there to hear the context, nor do you know the heart of Jon Weece as God does. You also have no idea of any of the ministries that the church is doing. Maybe you should look into that.
He makes a valid point …if she were a niece or a friend or a neighbor, you might be all about it. But since she’s a celebrity, why should we care less about her or anyone else in her situation that lost custody of her children.
Anyway, my two cents.
Beth, thank you for giving your opinion. I’ve read some of the pastor’s blog, and realize that he has a good ministry going. This particular quest still seems a little sad, especially when you consider other ways for folks to spend their energy. If there was a chance that Britney would even see it, that would be one thing, but that seems quite unlikely.