News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2004

July 16, 2004 Ethan Hyman
Before every mission, North Carolina Army National Guard members of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 252nd Armor Regiment, circle up to pray, including, from left, 2nd Lt. Amos Oh of Nashville, Sgt. 1st Class Cary Hathcock of Albemarle, Spc. David Cortes of Jackson Springs and Spc. Steve Ruiz of Laurinburg. "Do a convoy brief, a prayer and then load up. That is the order," said Staff Sgt. Edward Strickland, who led this pre-patrol prayer one Wednesday morning at Forward Operating Base Cobra in Iraq. "Our prayer brings a certain bond that keeps us united with each other," he said. "Not only here, but it will be a bond that lasts a lifetime. As I told my guys one night after we had a patrol, I never felt as great a faith between 16 people as I did with our platoon."
About This Project


Ethan Hyman
"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.

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