{"id":8967,"date":"2020-05-27T09:29:15","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T13:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?p=8967"},"modified":"2020-05-28T12:14:03","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T16:14:03","slug":"a-virtual-ride-signals-the-return-of-feel-good-movies-in-theaters-faith-leaders-note-a-somber-covid-milestone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2020\/05\/a-virtual-ride-signals-the-return-of-feel-good-movies-in-theaters-faith-leaders-note-a-somber-covid-milestone.html","title":{"rendered":"A virtual “Ride” hopefully signals the return of feel-good movies in theaters + Faith leaders note a somber COVID milestone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith and media:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A ride through the real life of foster care and adoption. <\/strong>As National Foster Care Awareness Month draws to a close, the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0the National Review Institute<\/a> are presenting a virtual conversation with foster care\/adoption advocates, including John Buultjens<\/strong>, an adoption ambassador and real-life inspiration for the upcoming major motion picture The Ride<\/a><\/em> (Roadside Attractions)<\/strong>. The event, happening today (5\/27) at 3:00 PM (ET)<\/strong>, will feature a \u201csneak peek\u201d of clips from the movie due which the studios hope to open in theaters on July 31. That’s right, in theaters! The Ride<\/em> is one of the first movies set to do so since the pandemic threw the movie industry and the entire economy for a loop.\u00a0 For more information, and to register, you can click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Ride<\/em> is based on the inspirational true story of Buultjens, who was in foster care, adopted, and is now a highly successful BMX professional bike rider. You can learn more about Buultjens\u2019 remarkable story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> The above story has been updated to reflect the fact that the July 31 opening date is an aspiration but is not yet locked down due to the current unpredictability of the COVID situation.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, there’s this from my inbox…<\/p>\n

After 100,000 COVID-19 Deaths in U.S., Interfaith Leaders, Mayors Call for Day of Mourning\u00a0and Lament<\/strong>. As we mark the death of 100,000 people in the U.S. from COVID-19, an unprecedented group of 100+ national faith leaders<\/strong>\u2014from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions\u00a0representing major denominations, national faith-based organizations, local congregations, and millions of people of faith across the country\u2014call for a\u00a0National Day of Mourning\u00a0and Lament.\u00a0Together, they look to\u00a0federal, state, and local\u00a0elected officials to observe Monday, June 1<\/strong>\u00a0as National Day of Mourning\u00a0and Lament, a day marked by\u00a0moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils,\u00a0ringing of bells, and civic memorials.<\/p>\n

This call is being supported by the\u00a0U.S. Conference of Mayors<\/strong>\u00a0who represent over 1,400 mayors across the country. Mayors lead on the frontline of the COVID-19 response effort and continue to model\u00a0critical local\u00a0leadership amid this difficult time.<\/p>\n

Together, interfaith leaders and mayors across the nation will call us to mourn,\u00a0lament, and honor the dead, acknowledge the\u00a0unequal nature of our\u00a0suffering,\u00a0pray together for the healing of the nation, and recommit to the difficult work ahead.<\/p>\n

“One hundred thousand people, citizens, friends, and family dead is a terrible marker we must not miss or pass by quickly or easily. We must stop. We must weep. We must mourn. We must honor. And we must lament which is to feel and bear great grief and sorrow, and to reflect upon it,”<\/em>\u00a0said president and founder\u00a0Rev. Jim Wallis<\/strong>.\u00a0“To pray for the healing of the nation is to go even deeper than our horrible sickness; we must also see the national brokenness and signs of hope\u00a0the\u00a0virus\u00a0continues\u00a0to\u00a0reveal. Our suffering has been painfully unequal and racially disproportionate, but our healing must be in unison.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a nation we can\u2019t afford to be numbed or desensitized by this staggering milestone. Every one of the over 100,000 lives in the U.S. lost to COVID-19 is precious and sacred. While the need for social distancing has precluded funerals and other traditional forms of mourning, we can and must find ways to grieve and lament together as a nation,”<\/em>\u00a0said executive director\u00a0Rev. Adam Taylor<\/strong>.\u00a0“These tragic deaths include so many heroic frontline and essential workers who risked their lives to heal, protect, and serve others.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The National Day of Mourning and Lament will follow a weekend of\u00a0services from Muslim, Jewish and\u00a0Christian houses of worship\u2014including Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical, African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American\u2014all\u00a0united in times of lament and mourning for the dead. Remembering unites across religions and traditions, transcending our politics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith and media: A ride through the real life of foster care and adoption. As National Foster Care Awareness Month draws to a close, the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture\u00a0and\u00a0the National Review Institute are presenting a virtual conversation with foster care\/adoption advocates, including John Buultjens, an adoption…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4893,9,9619,10,13,17,19,21,24,4206,1],"tags":[9729,9660,9717,9720,9726,9723,9711,9714],"class_list":["post-8967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adoption","category-christianity","category-coronavirus","category-current-events","category-family-matters","category-interfaith-dialogue","category-islam","category-judaism","category-movies","category-power-of-prayer","category-uncategorized","tag-bmx","tag-covid-19","tag-john-buultjens","tag-national-day-of-mourning-and-lament","tag-rev-adam-taylor-national-review-institute","tag-rev-jim-wallis","tag-sheen-center-for-thought-and-culture","tag-the-ride-roadside-attractions"],"yoast_head":"\nA virtual "Ride" hopefully signals the return of feel-good movies in theaters + Faith leaders note a somber COVID milestone<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2020\/05\/a-virtual-ride-signals-the-return-of-feel-good-movies-in-theaters-faith-leaders-note-a-somber-covid-milestone.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A virtual "Ride" hopefully signals the return of feel-good movies in theaters + Faith leaders note a somber COVID milestone\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith and media: A ride through the real life of foster care and adoption. 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He has written over 100 children's novels based on episodes of the Cartoon Network series \"Ben 10\", \"Ben 10: Alien Force\", \"Ben 10: Ultimate Alien\", \"Ben 10: Omniverse\" and \"Generator Rex\" among others. He also writes Beliefnet\u2019s \"Faith, Media & Culture\" blog. Previously, he has produced successful news and talk programming for CNN, Fox News, Pax TV and SiriusXM. Specialties: Script Writing, Movie\/TV Novelizations & Adaptations, TV Content Creation and Development, Creative Consultation, Producing and Booking News and Talk shows. 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