THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504280203
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
In response to Ida Kay Jordan's article on land that could have been donated to Portsmouth on Twin Pines Road, I sincerely hope that our leaders will become a little more visionary to see the full potential in what a positive gift it could be.
I live and work in downtown Portsmouth and therefore have no close relationships to the location but the far-reaching effects of its loss should touch all of us. We will always be able to create asphalt and concrete but the beauty of the natural is something we owe to our children.
The citizens of Portsmouth are both creative and intelligent enough to make it happen - and in time, the whispers through the trees will quietly thank us for generations to come.
Audrey Cooke
Swimming Point Walkway
Portsmouth
April 27, 1995 A new dimension
Although the words, ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,'' inscribed on the base of the Stature of Liberty have become a symbol of hope for emigrants from foreign lands, on Easter Sunday, the Rev. Scott Ranck, pastor of The Believers Baptist Church in Chesapeake, brought a new dimension to its meaning.
Standing in front of his church, filled to capacity by faithful worshipers and visitors, Ranck did something totally unexpected. While other preachers might have seized the golden opportunity to expound on their own views of Christianity, or what they thought was best for their supporters, Ranck turned over the time he generally spends delivering his sermon to a group of people fighting their way back from lifelong abuses of alcohol and drugs and others seeking a release from the chains of hatred.
Unlike other preachers who shun people who aren't picture-perfect, and instruct their flock to do the same, Ranck believes the house of God is for people in need, weak people, sick people - a place to be loved, accepted and healed - not turned away.
Each member of the group came forward and described his own tortured existence - his personal experiences of hell on earth. They all agreed their lives had changed after they found their God through the help of Ranck and The Believers Baptist Church.
``Give me your tired (in spirit), your poor (living without faith), your huddled masses (thousands of souls desperately reaching out for sanctuary).'' Another weary emigrant had, at long last, found a home.
Gerry D. Lewis
Virginia Beach
April 26, 1995
Editor's note: The church is located on Peek Trail off Portsmouth Boulevard. ABC ad criticized
I think is is a disgrace to our system that is fighting drug and alcohol abuse for the state of Virginia to carry a half-page ad in all the widely circulated newspapers across the state.
They have the large state ABC Board logo under the ad and then in small print it says: ``paid by individual liquor distributors.''
In my years as a practicing alcoholic, I knew where the ABC stores were and all the bootleggers.
I am sure this money could be put to a much better cause - mainly drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
Our city and state has enough problems without further ruining the state's image.
Harry D. Tevis
Summers Place
April 27, 1995 by CNB