Showing posts with label Billy Hallowell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Billy Hallowell. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2019

The Perfect Response to Miley Cyrus' 'Abortion Is Healthcare' Photo - BILLY HALLOWELL CHARISMA NEWS


(Save the Storks/Instagram)
The Perfect Response to Miley Cyrus' 'Abortion Is Healthcare' Photo 
BILLY HALLOWELL  CHARISMA NEWS June 12, 2019
A pro-life group offered the perfect response on Friday to singer Miley Cyrus' controversial social media post that featured the former "Hannah Montana" star licking a cake adorned with the message: "Abortion is healthcare."
Cyrus' post went viral and sparked debate last Tuesday after it was shared on her social media platforms, but pro-life group Save the Storks decided to offer a twist on the image and message.
The organization released its own photo. In the image, a baby is seen sitting next to a cake that reads, "Celebrate life."
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"Women's rights begin in the womb!" the caption reads. "Very special collab with moms who've chosen life. Like if you believe in healthcare for ALL — including the preborn."
Save the Storks used the chaos and furor over Cyrus' initial photo and message to make an important point about their work—and to illustrate some truths about abortion.
"Miley Cyrus posted a social media meme and message that blatantly steers women toward abortion," Joe Baker, founder of Save the Storks, said in a statement. "We at Save the Storks want to shine a light on her insensitive post and obvious disregard for the truth about abortion."
Save the Storks is an innovative organization that partners with pregnancy resource centers to offer medical vehicles known as Stork Buses. These buses, which have exam tables, restrooms, counseling services and sonograms inside, have saved 6,000 babies thus far.
Find out more about Save the Storks here, and be sure to watch the trailer for a powerful film called "7 Reasons" that shows what causes some people to change their minds about abortion.
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.
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Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

'Holy Spirit Just Overcame Me': Behind the Scenes on 'Unplanned' - BILLY HALLOWELL CHARISMA NEWS

(Ashley Bratcher/Facebook)

'Holy Spirit Just Overcame Me': Behind the Scenes on 'Unplanned'

BILLY HALLOWELL  CHARISMA NEWS
Unplanned star Ashley Bratcher has been vocal about her pro-life views in the wake of the movie's success, taking to social media to weigh in on the abortion debate. Bratcher, who plays real-life abortion clinic worker-turned pro-life activist Abby Johnson, recently revealed some of the on-set Unplanned prayer moments that she believes deeply inspired the cast and crew.
One of the most powerful scenes in Unplanned—a film currently showing in theaters across America—comes when Bratcher portrays the moment Johnson experienced complications from taking an abortion pill. The actress recently told PureFlix.com's "Pure Talk" that the scene was the "most difficult" to perform—but that prayer made a massive impact.
"I have never felt closer to God than I did on that set," she said. "It was so anointed."
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Watch Bratcher reveal the stunning impact of prayer:
Bratcher said she went on set before filming the scene to get a feel for the room, and that's when she experienced something truly powerful.
"I walk into the set, and when I did, the presence of the Holy Spirit just overcame me," Bratcher said. "I wanted to just fall to my knees in that moment and cry. It was so overwhelming. I had no idea that the team had been praying over that set."
Then, when it came time to film the immensely emotional scene, prayer once again took form.
"It was the most difficult scene to film, and what I didn't know is that our prayer team, other crew, cast members were standing on the outside of the wall with their hands on the wall, praying the entire time," Bratcher said.
The actress also shared the journey she took toward playing Johnson, noting that she didn't know much about the pro-life activist before agreeing to the role.
Listen to Johnson reveal why she fled Planned Parenthood:
"I looked her up, and when I heard her real testimony, that was when I was floored," she said. "I was blown away."
But it wasn't only Johnson's testimony that shocked Bratcher; it was also the realities of abortion. Before taking the role, the actress admitted that she was "blind" and didn't know what an abortion procedure entailed.
"I think most of America really doesn't know what it looks like, and that's why people are so on the fence, and that's how I was," she said. "And watching [Abby Johnson] transform throughout the script was the most beautiful thing."
Bratcher was also dealt another surprise when she called her mother to tell her about her decision to take the role. After Bratcher explained the plot, her mom started crying and revealed something that she had never shared with Bratcher before: She almost aborted the actress, but changed her mind at the last minute and left the clinic.
Bratcher, who became emotional while discussing the story, believes God had a profound purpose for her life.
"It just proves to me that God is so great, and He really did plan my steps from conception to this moment to bring my story full circle to align with Abby's," she said.
As for whether she was scared to take on Planned Parenthood and the issue of abortion, Bratcher was resolute: "My identity is in Jesus Christ."
We'll leave you with an interview with Dr. Anthony Levatino, a gynecologist who performed around 1,200 first- and second-trimester abortions early in his career before a stunning change of heart transformed him into an outspoken pro-life advocate. He plays an abortion doctor in "Unplanned," and his personal story is incredible:
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.
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Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.
Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

The Unbelievable Story Behind the Doctor Who Plays an Abortionist in 'Unplanned' - BILLY HALLOWELL CHARISMA NEWS


Dr. Anthony Levatino is a gynecologist who performed around 1,200 abortions early in his career before a stunning change of heart left him sickened and distraught, transforming him into an outspoken pro-life advocate.
Levatino, who still practices medicine, plays an abortion doctor in the new hit film Unplanned, a movie that tells the real-life story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director who fled her clinic and became one of the most prominent pro-life voices in America.
The doctor recently told "The Billy and Justin Show" all about his background, revealing that he was initially pro-choice in the 1970s and early 1980s when he was studying and later operating his independent practice.
But then his perspective started to change. Listen to Levatino tell his incredible story at the 32:30-mark:
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Levatino and his wife were having difficulty conceiving, so they started the adoption process. During that time, he recalled recognizing a difficult juxtaposition: he was performing abortions and ending babies' lives while he and his wife were working diligently to find a child to adopt.
"We were fortunately able to adopt a child after a considerable amount of effort," he said, noting that his wife ironically got pregnant right after the adoption.
With a son and a daughter suddenly completing Levatino's family, he continued performing abortions—until a tragedy changed everything.
"Our daughter, Heather, whom we had adopted, was two months shy of her 6th birthday when she was struck and killed by a car out in front of our home," he said.
It was an event that rocked Levatino to his core. When it came time to return to his practice, he found himself feeling ill after he started performing an abortion.
"I finished that abortion ... for the first time in my career after all those years and all those abortions I looked ... and I didn't see her wonderful right to choose and I didn't see what a great physician I was helping her with her problem," he said. "And I didn't even see the $800 cash I just made in 15 minutes. All I could see was somebody's son or daughter."
Levatino added, "That was the beginning of the end."
Watch the trailer for Unplanned below:
A few months later, the doctor stopped performing second-trimester abortions. Not long after, he stopped performing all abortions.
"Once you figure out that killing a baby the size of your hand for money is wrong, then it doesn't take you too long to figure out that it doesn't matter how big — it's still her son or daughter," he said.
Listen to Abby Johnson, the real-life inspiration for Unplanned, discuss her story and the film:
Unplanned is currently playing in theaters across America. Find out more and get your tickets here
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

He Vowed ‘I Will Never Be a Christian.’ Now, His Music Is Inspiring Millions - CBN News Billy Hallowell, Pureflix.com

He Vowed ‘I Will Never Be a Christian.’ Now, His Music Is Inspiring Millions
10-15-2018

Singer Austin French is on a mission to make music that reaches fans’ hearts and souls. French, 24, 
recently shared his incredible journey from skeptical pastor’s kid to popular Christian musician — an 
exploration that forced him to question absolutely everything, including his childhood faith.

Read Also: Christian Singer Lauren Daigle Just Shocked the Music World

“As an 8-year-old kid I remember writing in my journal, ‘I will never be a Christian,’” French recently 
told The Billy Hallowell Podcast. “And I just hated the church — I hated Christians, didn't want to be 
closed doors was chaotic and painful.

“I remember people coming to us and saying, ‘Your family's the godliest family we've ever met,’” he 
explained. “But at home it felt like World War III, and the mask came off, abuse happened. it was 
fear-based. It wasn't love-based and I so I remember going and writing in this journal, ‘If this is what 
being a Christian looks like, I don't want to be a Christian.’”

Listen to French reveal his journey to faith and how he truly came to discover Christ below:
French said he struggled to see why he had to be two different people — one at home and another at 
church. Eventually, his parents divorced and his church disowned the family. It was an awful situation 
that left him feeling alienated and disenchanted with Christianity.

Looking back, the singer now realizes that he didn’t know at the time who Jesus truly is, and that he 
assumed — based on his experiences — that Jesus hurt people, talked bad about people and was 
somehow like those who had harmed him.

But then one day French found himself totally transfixed by a stunning reality: Jesus loves.

That realization came when French’s mom got a job at a small church and sent him to a music camp. 
It was there that he heard a man preach about Jesus, and it changed everything.

“A guy got up on stage and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk about hypocrisy. I'm gonna tell you there's a lot 
of people who follow Jesus with their lips and they talk a really great game, but they've never followed 
Jesus with their life,’” he recalled. “‘That is not what being a Christian is — being a Christian is giving 
your entire life to Jesus. It's looking like Jesus because you're spending time with Jesus.’”
The speaker went on to say that broken people hurt others, but that Jesus “died to heal the broken 
people.” It was that day that French realized he had it all wrong, and he accepted Christ.

“That's the day I gave my life to Jesus and realized that I was saved by his scars,” he said. “I wasn't 
defined by mine.”

French also realized that day that he wanted to make “music for broken people” — something he’s 
now doing with the release of his first album, “Wide Open.”

In addition to French’s budding music career, he and his wife welcomed a biological son just two months
after adopting a baby boy. Now, he’s balancing a family of four, music and plenty more, but French is 
exuberant about it all.

“I feel like the songs on this record are literally the stories of the last three to four years of my life.” he 
said. “So, for people to finally listen and get to know me in a way through this music, I'm just so 
excited about it.”

French said he feels like God is using his life and his music, and he’s hoping to inspire fans to think 
deeper about faith.

This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of 
faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.

Monday, September 24, 2018

Why This Wildly Famous Commentator Refuses to Relent Against 'An Act of Great Moral Evil' - BILLY HALLOWELL/FAITHWIRE

Ben Shapiro

Ben Shapiro (Ben Shapiro/YouTube)

Why This Wildly Famous Commentator Refuses to Relent Against 'An Act of Great Moral Evil'

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro shows no fear when he tackles some of the most controversial issues of the day. Abortion is just one of the topics he frequently addresses with passionate fervor; it's an issue that he firmly believes is "the great moral issue of our time" and one for which history will ultimately judge our society.
"There are very few issues where you can confidently look forward 100 years and say people are going to look back at us and say we're barbarians — people are going to look back at us and say that we're engaged in an act of great moral evil," he said.
He said that people are "capable of great evil" when they don't think about what they're engaged in. As time progresses, he believes abortion will be an issue that will eventually be seen for what it is, as science will further change the dynamics at hand.
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"As science develops, as we are able to get better pictures inside the womb, as we realize the innate value of every human life that that springs from conception, it's going to be harder and harder to defend this stuff," he said. "And I think frankly it's obvious right now."
Listen to Shapiro reveal why he's so passionate about fighting abortion:
Shapiro said there's a great deal of willful denial that comes along with the abortion debate.
"I think you have to be willfully blind to take seriously the Democratic position that you should be able to murder a baby up to the point that it exits the birth canal," he said.
Shapiro said he can't believe that abortion is still defended by so many, calling it "beyond ... evil" and "crazy." Unfortunately, he said there are a lot of people today who simply don't want to see the realities at hand.
"I think there are a lot of people who have bought into the idea that it's a some sort of imposition on a woman's body to talk about the person growing inside her," he said. "And anytime you make a moral argument it's inconvenient."
As Pure Flix Insider previously reported, some pro-life activists have seen success in changing people's minds on abortion. During a recent episode of PureFlix.com's "Pure Talk," Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, explained her experience.
"People are living in the lie today ... the good news is, the truth sets people true," Rose said. "That is the way that we've seen people change—when they actually know what's happening through the story. They know what abortion actually is."
If you're looking for more inspiration, PureFlix.com offers thousands of uplifting Christian movies, TV shows and original programs that you can watch at home at no cost during your one-month PureFlix.com trial. 
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.
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Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Is it Time to Totally Rethink Christian Music? - BILLY HALLOWELL/PUREFLIX

(Free-Photos)

Is it Time to Totally Rethink Christian Music?

BILLY HALLOWELL/PUREFLIX  charisma news
Music and film producer Mark Joseph knows a thing or two about the entertainment industry, having worked for decades in both the Christian and secular worlds. In his new book, Rock Gets Religion: The Battle for the Soul of the Devil's Music, Joseph makes the case for Christians to "make their music in the middle of popular culture."
Joseph recently told "The Billy Hallowell Podcast" that he believes it's important for Christian artists to speak to the broader culture by having a presence in the mainstream. He also expressed worries about attempts to keep Christians out of the secular music arena.
"American culture thrives when all different voices are at the table," he said. "When one group suddenly evacuates, that creates a problem in the culture."
Listen to Joseph explain why Christians need to enter the secular realm in the podcast.
Joseph explained how he came to love both secular and Christian music during his younger years, but soon came to question why Christian music was contained in its own isolated genre—a dynamic that kept great talent from being heard in the mainstream.
"I began to really question, 'Why are they walled off?'" he said. "I just felt bad that there were so many amazing artists that were in Christian music who never got to be heard by the outside world."
Joseph soon started working in record distribution overseas and met some of those Christian artists. His concern only intensified.
"I realized that people of faith, devout Christians were not being heard," he said, noting that he soon found himself wondering how this trend could be reversed. "It's like Christians were at the kiddy table, not being taken seriously."
The music and film producer soon set out on a mission to try and change that dynamic, writing three books on the subject over the years. Joseph has plenty of ideas about how Christians can take their music into the mainstream.
Ideally, he wants to see Christian music "function like a normal part of the industry," with insiders pitching to mainstream media. A smaller portion of Christian singers, he argued, should focus on church worship music.
"My hope was that a smaller percentage of them would really focus on ... songs that are for worship," he said.
When asked about the separate Grammy categories that currently exist for Christian and gospel artists, Joseph said that these categories can't be eliminated and integrated into general music categories until Christian artists take a stand on the issue.
"It has to be the Christians themselves saying, 'You know what? We are tired of sitting at the kiddy table at Thanksgiving. We want a seat at the normal table,'" he said. "When the first artist declines their Grammy and says, 'You know what? I am an artist defined by my category of music' [then there will be change]."
Joseph added, "Right now, Christians are being treated like second-and third-class citizens."
In "Rock Gets Religion," he recounts stories of some of the Christians who have hadsuccessful mainstream careers, while also covering the tragic stories surrounding artists like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus, who moved away from their faith roots as fame crept in.
"There are some casualties as we integrate people of faith into rock and pop," he said. "The music industry, the way it's organized is inherently unhealthy."
Rather than a touring model that leaves artists separated from their families for long periods of time, he encouraged people to rethink how it all works. Joseph encouraged artists to opt for residency instead—a model that allows fans to come to them and, in turn, allows them more consistency for their families and marriages.
Find out more about Joseph here.
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This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.
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