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

April 9, 2004 Ethan Hyman
Stepheny Houghtlin walks the labyrinth in the sanctuary of The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church Monday. "It's a very special experience," she said. "It's an opportunity to have a different experience of prayer." The labyrinth, sponsored by a number of churches in the Chapel Hill area, is set up during Holy Week. "Lent is a time for coming home to yourselves and the labyrinth is a tool for doing that," said Robin Brooks, Minister of Christian Education at Binkley Memorial Church. "It's meant to be a way to focus your prayer." For Houghtlin walking the labyrinth provides something different from kneeling in the pew. "Its difficult to walk away from it," she said. "You have to go back into the world now."
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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