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A wrestle with the truth
Jeremy Halcrow | 1 September 2006
Wildfire: the dangers of spreading ‘good news’
by Jeremy Halcrow
Reputations all round have been damaged. And an innocent Queensland pastor has even been accused of starting a hurtful hoax. All
because thousands of well-meaning Christians decided to pass on ‘encouraging’ news to their friends.
The affair began in the back offi ce of Creation Ministries International (CMI). Their news site posted a story which mentioned
the involvement of Steve Irwin’s widow, Terri, in a Queensland church.
In response to this article, a pastor from a nearby church posted a private email via their website saying she understood Steve had been converted at her neighbouring church a few weeks ago.
Emails from the website CreationOn-TheWeb.com go to an administrative staff person, whose job it is to forward the email to the relevant staff member to respond. Clearly overjoyed by the news, this junior sent it to all staff. From there, it appears the email spread to staff members’ friends and families.
“The way our system works people can access their email at homes,” Dr Carl Wieland from CMI told SC. “We asked people who passed the message
on. Three or four sheepishly raised their hands.”
The rumour was given impetus as the email multiplied across the world, because it bore the name of the Australian pastor, and gave specifics of the church in which Steve Irwin is supposed to have ‘come forward’.
What are the lessons in this affair?
Kudos to CMI for being honest about how this occurred. Their procedures were fairly tight, with Dr Wieland himself tasked with checking such facts. No staff had permission to send out work emails.
A statement posted on Creation Ministries International website says, “We believe it is important to be sensitive to the hurt that these sorts of things
can cause to Steve Irwin’s widow and the family. We would urge Christians not to be involved in circulating the email or any other unconfirmed reports.”
True, but who would think to check the facts with CMI when the ‘source’ of the information was the pastor?
If the pastor’s church had a website the damage may have been lessened.
In the internet age, churches do need to think more seriously about the sharing of sensitive material about people’s lives – such as ‘prayer points’. Churches need protocols for sharing of information and contingencies for checking facts and putting out potential bushfires.
This way ‘good news’ will not turn bad.
by Jeremy Halcrow
Reputations all round have been damaged. And an innocent Queensland pastor has even been accused of starting a hurtful hoax. All
because thousands of well-meaning Christians decided to pass on ‘encouraging’ news to their friends.
The affair began in the back offi ce of Creation Ministries International (CMI). Their news site posted a story which mentioned
the involvement of Steve Irwin’s widow, Terri, in a Queensland church.
In response to this article, a pastor from a nearby church posted a private email via their website saying she understood Steve had been converted at her neighbouring church a few weeks ago.
Emails from the website CreationOn-TheWeb.com go to an administrative staff person, whose job it is to forward the email to the relevant staff member to respond. Clearly overjoyed by the news, this junior sent it to all staff. From there, it appears the email spread to staff members’ friends and families.
“The way our system works people can access their email at homes,” Dr Carl Wieland from CMI told SC. “We asked people who passed the message
on. Three or four sheepishly raised their hands.”
The rumour was given impetus as the email multiplied across the world, because it bore the name of the Australian pastor, and gave specifics of the church in which Steve Irwin is supposed to have ‘come forward’.
What are the lessons in this affair?
Kudos to CMI for being honest about how this occurred. Their procedures were fairly tight, with Dr Wieland himself tasked with checking such facts. No staff had permission to send out work emails.
A statement posted on Creation Ministries International website says, “We believe it is important to be sensitive to the hurt that these sorts of things
can cause to Steve Irwin’s widow and the family. We would urge Christians not to be involved in circulating the email or any other unconfirmed reports.”
True, but who would think to check the facts with CMI when the ‘source’ of the information was the pastor?
If the pastor’s church had a website the damage may have been lessened.
In the internet age, churches do need to think more seriously about the sharing of sensitive material about people’s lives – such as ‘prayer points’. Churches need protocols for sharing of information and contingencies for checking facts and putting out potential bushfires.
This way ‘good news’ will not turn bad.
by Ramon Williams with Jeremy Halcrow
Following the death of the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, in North Queensland, on September 4, reports circulated throughout the Christian community in Australia and overseas, telling of his conversion to Christ. This has resulted in an electronic wrestle to clarify the truth.
It was claimed that Steve Irwin had become “a born-again Christian two and a half weeks (before his death) at (a church), going forward publicly before the congregation to ask Christ to become his Lord and Saviour.”
The report had come from a Pastor at a Christian Centre in a different town. There is no evidence to suggest this was an intentional, misleading report, therefore we have not named that Pastor.
There was much rejoicing over the news and the story soon spread like a bushfire.
However, on investigating the reports I commenced searching for verification from other sources. One report in the media told of a Scripture Union Chaplain working in the Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin’s tourist attraction and reptile sanctuary.
Most attempts to contact the Chaplain met with unsuccessful and futile comments. It was not “politically correct” to share contact details! It was suggested that he was involved with a Baptist Church so perhaps the Baptist Union could provide the information requested.
Finally the Chaplain contacted me and he was most helpful. He does not work as a Chaplain at Australia Zoo, but rather as a part-time employee. He too had heard the rumour, but had no evidence to support the claim. He was not in direct contact with the Irwin family so could not check out the conversion theory.
The church where the conversion experience was reported to have taken place, was contacted to ascertain the accuracy of the spiritual experience.
A very courteous and speedy response from the leadership team told of their appreciation for “taking the time to clarify the (personal) emails going around. Unfortunately they aren’t true. Terri and her children have attended (the church) in the past. However, neither Terri nor Steve have been to (this church) of late. Once again, thank you for taking the time to clarify this.”
A positive outcome would have been very nice but this was not to be. Other reports have surfaced of “a friend of a friend who personally led Steve to the Lord, 4-5 weeks ago” while another asked: “Wasn’t he converted 2-3 years ago?”
The rumours are incorrect and have been refuted by the church named.
Louise Heinrich, a teacher of Drama and Media at a nearby Christian School, associated with a Baptist Church, wrote the first factual article to appear in the Christian media, via the Assist News Service, regarding the life and death of Steve Irwin, known around the word as the “Crocodile Hunter”. This report was well researched and based on the facts she was able to ascertain.
Louise mentioned Terri Irwin’s visits to a local church, together with their children Bindi (8) and Bob (2) when practical.
Louise Heinrich closed her report with: “Our prayers are that his wife and children will come to know Jesus in a more real and meaningful way as (they) face life without their amazing husband and dad and Australia’s much loved Crocodile Hunter. May our prayers be with them and the 500 staff who work at the Australia Zoo as we mourn the passing of a truly inspiring man who made it his life work to care for and subdue many of God’s creatures.”
Louise’ call to pray for the family has met with an “Amen” from other Christians.
A private, family funeral was held for Steve Irwin on Saturday, September 9, and a public Memorial Service will be held at Australia Zoo next Wednesday, September 20. Admission tickets were issued, free of charge, so as to limit the number attending. TV news coverage has shown some hardy souls camping out overnight, at the Australia Zoo entrance with many late-comers weeping and disappointed that they were not able to obtain tickets when the office opened.
One little boy was crying bitterly as he could not obtain a ticket, when a young man noticed his disappointment and gave him his own ticket. A nearby lady had obtained two tickets, so gave one to the young man, so that he too could gain admittance.
The impact of this event is already affecting many lives, but there is a warning to make sure reports are based on fact and truth, as shown by Louise Heinrich, not wishful thinking.
Ramon Williams is a Sydney-based Christian
photographer and journalist.
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