News Articles by Ginny Dent Brant

CLEMSON, S.C. (BP) -- Elisabeth Elliot was an inspirational author and speaker whose books, courageous faith and words of wisdom influenced generations around the world. She was respected as a missionary who inspired many to serve God with reckless abandon. She graduated through the "Gates of Splendor" to her heavenly reward Monday morning (June 15) at the age of 88. In her later years she suffered with dementia.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Actress and producer Roma Downey and reality TV show producer Mark Burnett shared with media professionals about the making of "A.D.: The Bible Continues," their follow-up project to the popular TV series "The Bible." The newest series is a 12-part continuation of The Bible that portrays the history of the early church according to the first 10 chapters of Acts. The series will air on NBC beginning Easter, April 5. Filmed in Morocco, A.D. will delve into the book of Acts in an effort to show the humanity and true character of the apostles, as well as their devotion to take the Gospel to the world no matter the cost. The persecution of the early church and its growth are also highlighted.

Columnist Ginny Dent Brant recounts the story of a brave valedictorian who stood against those who told him not to mention God in his graduation speech.

CLEMSON, S.C. (BP) -- In 1997, I entered a country far different from my own. As a trustee of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, I visited Yemen in July of that year. At that time, trustees were debating whether to keep Jibla Baptist Hospital open. The hospital workers requested the trustees see their work before making a final determination. I was ill-prepared for the experiences that awaited me. Before my arrival, physician Martha Myers had been kidnapped and miraculously released. That news made my steps unsteady. After safely passing through customs and seeing men with machine guns on their backs and jambiyas (daggers) across their chests, I was alarmed. After winding four hours through rugged terrain to Jibla Baptist Hospital, I heard alarming details that elevated my normally low blood pressure: Rabid dogs were wandering, malaria was spreading, water was scarce, electricity was sporadic, the hospital was under red alert due to threats from al-Qaida and the airlines had just gone on strike. They had me at rabid. I was officially in culture shock. And who's al-Qaida? But this kind of news was status quo to the workers called to serve in Yemen. I would only sample a taste of their everyday lives. Yet, no complaints. Why, they should be begging me to rescue them from this. Instead, Bill Koehn, the hospital administrator, and others did their best to show me all God was doing, begging to stay. My first day began with meeting the staff for devotions, prayer and a hospital tour. Hours later I was shuttled between prison and orphanage ministries. By the end of the afternoon, Koehn escorted me to the sheik's house. What an experience. As we prepared to leave, Koehn's face revealed his pain as he was unable to tie his shoes. A head-on collision on a winding mountain road had nearly disabled him, requiring hip-replacement surgery.