newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2005

News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2005

About This Project

"Acts of Faith" explores the different belief systems that co-exist in the Triangle area. Ten years of heavy migration has brought many new faiths to the region, turning the Bible Belt home of Billy Graham into a spiritual coat of many colors. Mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwaras, synagogues and scores of Christian churches have become spiritual and social centers for a radically changing population. The demographic shift has pushed congregations to find innovative ways to keep their members while attracting new arrivals. "Acts of Faith" was born as a way to show this new religious diversity and analyze the role spirituality plays in people's daily lives.

Pailin Wedel

When covering an event for Acts of Faith, we look for situations that evoke strong emotion and try to bring readers into the moment. Though holidays and major celebrations are important, we also look for unexpected expressions of faith and quieter moments of solitary exploration. We hope to give readers insight into the breadth and depth of faith by showing how people incorporate it into their everyday lives.

Ted Richardson

For two years, Sher Stoneman and Susana Vera produced this column. In 2004, they handed it over to Ethan Hyman, Scott Lewis and Lisa Lauck. In 2005, Ted Richardson replaced Scott Lewis on this project. In 2006, Pailin Wedel replaced Lisa Lauck.

More photos: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006


December 30, 2005	Staff photo by Lisa Lauck	Buy Photo
Cameron Settle’s microphone isn’t turned up, but he doesn’t care. Cameron is on stage with his big brother, Anton Gist, during an inspirational show at the Ezra Conference Center in Raleigh. Known as B.L.E.S.S., an acronym for Believe Life Every Second Sacred, Gist is trying to jump-start his musical career and finds he doesn’t ‘have a lot of sit-down time’ with his family so he looks for ways to connect with them while working. ‘At shows, I always like to get them to come up there with me so they feel like they are a part of where I am going.’ Gist’s music is influenced by his background growing up in a low-income neighborhood where he realized that ‘why people made it was how they took the blows life was dishing out.’ Gist hopes to connect people to their dreams, their religion and their morals. ‘If you’re down today, try to pick yourself up by tomorrow,’ he says. ‘Sometimes when we don’t give up, something good happens.’

News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2005

Acts of Faith: 2005

Print Ads View all ads from past 7 days »