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

September 10, 2004 Lisa Lauck
Shelia Gill missed her favorite hairstylist Shelia Smith so much that when Smith moved to Wilmington briefly, Gill prayed for her return. "You know it had to be bad if I had to talk to Reverend White about it," Gill said. The two ran into one another the very day after Gill prayed about it, and Gill reacted "like she'd won a million dollars." "I said, 'Girl, I prayed you up!'" Gill now has her regular salon appointments with Smith at a salon called Heavenly Cuts in Garner. Victoria Banks and her fiance Erskins Searles opened Heavenly Cuts with the goal of making it a family friendly place and a reflection of their beliefs. "It is important not only to have faith, but to live and portray that faith throughout your life," said Banks. They have strict rules about dress, language, and behavior for all of their stylists. That suits Gill. "You don't want to go into an environment where there's a lot of gossip and noise going on." She continued, "When you come in here, you can tell the difference."
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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