Christians pray for talks

Their prayers may have been answered.

The writers strike was high on the agenda at the fourth annual National Media Prayer Breakfast on Friday, when Christian industryites gathered at the Beverly Hilton to pray for wisdom, guidance and moral clarity for Hollywood.

Geriann McIntosh, senior veep of administration for Warner Bros. Television, led the crowd of nearly 700 in a prayer calling specifically for negotiations to resume, asking that God "would keep everyone that is affected by the strike in your loving care.''

The WGA and AMPTP's joint announcement that they would resume talks Nov. 26 came later that evening.

"I do think that this is an answer to prayer, and I think that we're going to see a faster resolution than we expected,'' said Karen Covell, founder and director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. "We'll see what's ahead.''

The National Media Prayer Breakfast was sponsored by the Hollywood Prayer Network and Mastermedia Intl.

- Justin Chang

Comments

[Drew]

Absurd.

[Jesus]

Could you be a little more specific, Drew?

[Karen]

Well, as a striking WGA member who also happens to be a Christian, I came here to thank you for writing that post without making any snarky sarcastic remarks in the process...but the combox comments before mine kinda killed my enthusiasm.

Just the same, thanks.

[kaysi]

If it's any encouragement, Karen, I, too, appreciate that the prayer breakfast & prayers regarding the strike have been referred to in articles (here and in the LA Times -- the latter of which has a link on UnitedHollywood.com) without sarcasm. I live in Reno and have been praying for those of you involved with the strike since it first began. I hope for a swift & just resolution! Hang in there!

[Karen]

Thanks! I'm a little short-tempered these days -- can't imagine why.

Personally, I hope everyone involved with the prayer breakfast will show some restraint and refrain from pointing and saying "Look what our prayer breakfast did!" in terms of tangible strike developments. And I say this as someone who would have been at the prayer breakfast had I been in town!

But I'd also like to see a lack of sniping in the combox here. Hollywood has not always been nice to Christians and vice versa (I speak as a member of both clubs) and it's a good time to remember that no one likes being painted with the broad brush (neither "Hollywood" nor "Christians") and, frankly, if somebody wants to pray for you and your family, how about just say thanks? What's the harm?

[Karen]

Thanks! I'm a little short-tempered these days -- can't imagine why.

Personally, I hope everyone involved with the prayer breakfast will show some restraint and refrain from pointing and saying "Look what our prayer breakfast did!" in terms of tangible strike developments. And I say this as someone who would have been at the prayer breakfast had I been in town!

But I'd also like to see a lack of sniping in the combox here. Hollywood has not always been nice to Christians and vice versa (I speak as a member of both clubs) and it's a good time to remember that no one likes being painted with the broad brush (neither "Hollywood" nor "Christians") and, frankly, if somebody wants to pray for you and your family, how about just say thanks? What's the harm?

[kaysi]

All great thoughts, Karen! I couldn't agree with you more about no one wanting to be "painted with the broad brush" -- neither "Hollywood" nor "Christians." While I can't claim to be a member of the "Hollywood club," I AM a huge supporter and I definitely sympathize with BOTH sides. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!