You’ll enjoy this video, which already has drawn millions of viewers

To kick off 2023 with a dose of inspiration, Emmy-winning journalist Tamron Hall featured Jeanine Patten-Coble on her ABC-network talk show. Jeanine is the author of Struck by Hope, which tells the remarkable story of her nonprofit: Little Pink Houses of Hope, which helps families struggling with cancer.

After the Tamron show aired, the YouTube version of the story is drawing more viewers. We have that video for you to enjoy—and to share with friends who could use a dose of hope this January.

Want to do some good in the world yourself?

Contact Sharon Buttry and help war-torn Ukrainian families

Global peace activist and artist Sharon Buttry launches a project to spread awareness of and assistance to war-torn families in Ukraine. She calls it “artful prayer and prayerful art.”

Try carrying ‘Hope’ with you, each day

Roger Babson carried words of ‘Good Cheer’ in his pockets

IN HIS COLUMN THIS WEEK, Howard Brown kicks off 2023 with potent words full of hope—from the wisdom of his mentor, Babson College founder Roger Babson.

In the News—

Tammeus reviews new Parajón memoir: ‘Can help shape young lives today’

Award-winning journalist Bill Tammeus reviews the upcoming biography Healing the World and especially urges younger readers to pick up this inspiring biography of Gustavo Parajón.

Also in the News—

Coverage of MSU’s stereotype-busting book project.

MSU’s Bias Busters combat bigotry one book at a time

Our community of writers and readers was pleased, as January 2023 dawned, to read coverage of MSU Professor Joe Grimm’s Bias Busters team in the mid-Michigan-based news journal called City Pulse.

And from Baptist Global News—

Dr. Gushee ranks among the world’s most-read Christian writers

HELPING THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES—Among columns published internationally in 2022, Baptist Global News (BGN) finds that Dr. David Gushee ranks among the most-read writers. This column has links to the BGN report, to Dr. Gushee’s most popular BGN column in 2022 and to two of Dr. Gushee’s most influential books.

Holidays & Festivals

How are you marking the 2023 Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

Holidays & Festivals expert Stephanie Fenton has found a whole host of helpful information for our readers, including tips about finding King events nationwide and even a recipe for one of Dr. King’s favorite desserts!

WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

Faith & Film

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER—(In theaters) “James Cameron’s sequel to Avatar is violent but so beautiful that it is well worth the long wait.”
THE WHALE—(In theaters) “Darren Aronofsky’s new film, the script adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from the latter’s own play, is a powerful parable of remorse, self-punishment, and attempted reconciliation.”
BABYLON—(In theaters) Ed urges anyone interested in the movie to go see it in a big-screen theater before it inevitably comes to streaming.
EMPIRE OF LIGHT—(In theaters and streaming) “Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) pays homage to the cinemas of the 80s while tackling such issues as racism and mental illness in his new film.”
THE FABELMANS—(In theaters and streaming) “The Fableman/Spielberg family is a combination of dreamers and realists, of eccentrics and down-to-earth folk, who love each other but also find themselves at odds with one another.”
THE MENU—(Streaming on HBO Max) “Director Mark Mylod and his distinguished cast must have had a blast bringing to life this dark satire written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy.”
EMANCIPATION—(Streaming on Apple+) “Director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter Bill Collage have created the most compelling story of a freedom-loving slave that I have seen.”
SHE SAID—(Streaming on Peacock) “If ever one doubted the importance of a free press, this film centering on two NY Times reporters should be invoked!“
GOOD NIGHT OPPY—(Streaming on Amazon) “Ryan White’s delightful documentary is a good companion for Wall-E, due to the NASA engineers treating their two Mars rovers like they were their children.”