The conventional wisdom is that the political left in America is suspicious of stories of presidential faith and the political right is suspicious of stories of presidential faith that involve Barack Obama. What we often lose in the crush between the two are those tender, endearing episodes that sometimes arise from a presidency and become treasured in American memory.
There is such a tale and it deserves to be told. It does reveal something of the spirituality of the current American president but it will not impact an election or change political opinions. Obama's critics may deny it. His supporters may exploit it. The cynical may doubt it. Yet, the tale is true and it belongs to us.
It begins with Dr. Joel Hunter, the pastor of Northland Church in Orland, Fla., a man unlikely to be part of a story like Barack Obama's. Hunter was a political conservative who had once been asked to head the Christian Coalition, the advocacy group founded by Pat Robertson. Yet, when Hunter responded publicly and favorably to Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech in 2008, Obama heard of it and sent the pastor a note. "I'd like to catch up with you someday," he said.
A friendship developed. Hunter found himself praying with Obama before a campaign debate and then, later, praying at the Democratic National Convention. When Obama was elected, Hunter also agreed to be on a team of spiritual advisors for the new president. He may not have been entirely aligned with Obama's politics but he knew when he felt God's call and he certainly felt the call to minister to this young leader. Not everyone was pleased. Opposition came. Still, Hunter knew what he was meant to do.
This story, though, is not about Hunter's ministry to Obama. Instead, it centers on Ava, Hunter's granddaughter. In June, 2010, when she was only 5, Ava was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumor -- glioblastoma multiforme. It is extremely rare in children -- and deadly. Losing Ava became a haunting possibility.
The day after Hunter learned the news, his phone rang. It was the White House operator. "Dr. Hunter, will you stand by for a call from the president."
"Yes."
And then, in a moment, "Joel, this is Barack. I just heard about Ava. I just had to call and tell you that Michelle and I are praying for you. If there is anything we can do we want to do it."
Unable to meet Obama's informality, Hunter replied, "Thank you, Mr. President. That's very kind. We have checked and there is no traditional treatment that has proven effective. We're at a loss. But I appre......."
"No. Stop that." Obama interrupted impatiently. And then, gently, "I really mean it, Joel. Anything I can do I want to do."
Hunter could take no more, and began to weep.
Then began the reversal. The man who had pastored the president now sat silently in tears as the president became, for a few moments, the pastor Hunter needed. "Joel, I want you to remember that God has got you here. He's not going to let you go. He will walk all the way through this with you. You remember this. God isn't going to let go of you. We've got to hold on to our faith in God." This continued for many minutes and then, finally, Obama said, "Please tell your family that Michelle and I are praying for them and our heart goes out to them."
"Thank you, Sir," Hunter said, and the two hung up.
What followed were some of the worst weeks of Joel Hunter's life. His granddaughter underwent a grueling surgery to remove the tumor. There was hope for a season and then the tumor grew back larger than before. On Sept. 4, the little girl died. Hunter was undone.
That same day the phone rang. "Dr. Hunter, will you stand by for a call from the president." The pastor was surprised. He was sure the president could not already know.
"Yes, I will stand by," he told the operator.
Soon, the president came on the line, obviously brokenhearted. "Joel, this is Barack. I've just heard. I'm so sorry. You will be in my prayers. Michelle and I are with you. We are trusting God to go through this with you."
"You are so kind, Mr. President. Thank you. This means a great deal to me."
Then, as before -- as Hunter's words failed him -- the president began to encourage. Again, the bits of scripture and assurances of God's grace. Again, the faith of a president offered to his friend.
Finally, "Your concern touches me, Mr. President. Thank you for calling."
"We are praying for you, Joel," Obama said before hanging up. "I am with you in this. You are not alone."
Hunter was grateful for what had been said, grateful that it helped to lift the pain. He would never forget how a president became, for a moment, a pastor and a grieving pastor could only receive and the lines between the political left and right were dissolved by the greater force of faith.
It will not impact an election or change political opinions, but it is a story we ought to know.
Follow Stephen Mansfield on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MansfieldWrites
April 2008 – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying they “cling to guns or religion”
February 2009 – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical activities that go against their beliefs,
April 2009 – Obama orders that a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name be covered when he is making his speech.
May 2009 – Obama declines to host services for the National Prayer Day
April 2009 – Obama nominated three pro-abortion ambassadors to the Vatican,
October 19, 2010 – Obama begins deliberately omitting the phrase about “the Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence,
November 2010 – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus unum” rather than “In God We Trust”
January 2011 – The Obama administration refused to allow federal land in the Mojave Desert bearing a cross to be transferred to private hands, and ordered the cross to be removed in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court.
February 2011 – Obama did not fill the post of religious freedom ambassador, an official that works against religious persecution across the world; until heavy pressure from the public and from Congress forced his hand.
April 2011 – Obama urged passage of a non-discrimination law that does not contain hiring protections for religious groups, thus eliminating conscience protection in hiring.
Yeah, right....
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/08/obama-reappoints-religious-freedom-ambassador-amid-controversy/
and then
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/us/politics/15religion.html?_r=3&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
“Her nomination has been stalled by the same type of general obstructionism that often paralyzed the last Congress,” said Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York, Ms. Cook’s most vigorous backer on the Foreign Relations Committee. “I hope any senator who is blocking her nomination will take the time to meet with her and give her the opportunity to detail why she is the right person for this important job.”
*****That person would be Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, a conservative Republican closely allied with the Tea Party movement.***** By various inside accounts, which were not disputed by the senator’s staff, he was the person who filed the hold-over letter. He also canceled a personal meeting with Ms. Cook in mid-December that could conceivably have unfrozen her nomination.
I can see how this would be an important issue for you - the truth, I mean - and you would want it to be done above board. How many other of your points are just as accurate?
You fall for this one story, yet he does not hear the cries of those unborn babies that are being butchered in their mothers wombs every single day in our country...or those countries where he is pushing his pro-abortion agenda! And that is only ONE of his many agenda's against the church and Christianity!
However...I really wish Obama would stop supporting the killing of unborn children--the most vulnerable human beings in the world. There is such a disconnect. Why the disconnect President Obama? This article shows that you have a caring side, but your policies that encourage, promote, and support the killing of unborn children override that caring side. WHY? WHY?
By the way, where in the bible does it say that abortion is outlawed? (Clue: nowhere).
To me, it doesn't matter if you vote for him or not. It does, however, matter to me that a good, decent man like him is maligned so horribly at times by others for political gains, in ways far beyond the pale of "normal politics". I hope someday people will see the truth.
This story has giving me hope that our nation can come together. One of my dear friends is a very Conservative woman, she and I talk about our differences with care and love for each other. We always wonder why politicians feel the need to be so vile.
Hate is not a Christian value.
Bless you!
Forgive my cynicism, but I don't inherently trust everything reported in the news. Based on the impact this story had on my thought processes, I had no choice but to fact check it so I could determine how to proceed from there.
I assure you, I have nothing but respect for Dr. Hunter even though I'd never heard of him before this article. He seems like a man of character and he has my deepest sympathy (as does his family) on the loss of Ava.
Vera Richardson