tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62660389858630115312011-04-21T14:21:08.533-07:00Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-32884072694860015112008-11-01T08:11:00.000-07:002008-11-01T08:15:33.048-07:00

So, just wanted to say hey and to let everyone know who is following the blog that I am still alive. lol. The ride has been busy and crazy but with this weekend off and relaxing in Oklahoma City I will have all the up dates from every school and even some things in between. Thanks for following and sorry I have been slacking!From The RoadZak

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-67716014866687046142008-10-23T23:30:00.000-07:002008-11-18T08:56:32.714-08:00

“I pray that you exercise the demons in this man and take him out of his homosexual lifestyle.” A man from Louisiana College said has he laid his hand on my back during our candlelight vigil out side LC. It was in that moment I lost all my silent reserve and started to cry. Let me rewind.We pulled into the Pineville LA area that afternoon and spent the packing boxes for he CENLA Food Bank. For me

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-62244587787355921782008-10-20T08:36:00.000-07:002008-11-18T08:50:01.599-08:00

We rolled into the Clinton MS on Saturday the 18th and I feel like as we are leaving there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in this town. This is the one stop on the Ride that I have been planning and working on since July and now that its come and gone I feel like there is much more that needs to be done. We held our meeting about the stop on Saturday the 18th and I gave everyone a

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-38312783672352486952008-10-18T08:45:00.000-07:002008-11-11T08:47:05.725-08:00

The drive from Palm Beach to Florence AL was ,well, long. After the six of us that were arrested were released we hoped on the bus and drove till about 9 that night and stopped in south Georgia at a motel just long enough enough to sleep and get back up. The next we morning we dragged ourselves out to the bus and rode for another day to a small town in AL where we were offered true southern

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-68643440632028703332008-10-14T17:30:00.000-07:002008-10-15T12:22:13.128-07:00

At 3PM today I was released from Palm Beach County lockup. I was arrested at about 11:30 yesterday morning. Why? For trying to attend chapel on the campus at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Let me start from the begging.We got to Palm Beach FL Saturday afternoon after a long 10 hour drive from Atlanta. We settled into our hotel and had a meeting about the coming days. PBA had offered us a

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-39216765745376512162008-10-11T12:25:00.000-07:002008-10-15T12:26:29.626-07:00

Our days in Atlanta came to a close and I left ATL with renewed sense of purpose and engery and drive. For me, it seems like when I feel really low I meet someone at stop that just lifts my spirits about all that we do.Our fist day in Atlanta we went to Spelman college for a meet and greet with Afrakette and Safe Space, the Spelman and Morehouse LGBT student groups. It was refreshing to walk

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-47340243606496267082008-10-10T07:36:00.000-07:002008-10-10T07:37:59.599-07:00

Sitting here in Atlanta watching the traffic wiz by in the highway I can't help but think of our most recent stop in Columbia SC at Colombia International University. This stop will remain important to me because a reality was really made clear, no matter how much students want to talk to us, the administration is afraid. When we got Columbia SC we were welcomed at a a local LGBT center for a

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-22860385341693872482008-10-02T07:05:00.000-07:002008-10-02T07:06:47.991-07:00

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-23020207862975508692008-10-01T20:10:00.000-07:002008-10-01T20:45:08.522-07:00

I woke up this morning very reflective. It had been a week since the other riders and I got to Baltimore. Our last bit of training under our belts and ready to have the dialog we have been wanting for so long.I will remember what Peterson Toscano said to us about people not remembering what we said, but how we made them feel. Peterson talked to us about the ex-gay movement and his experiences

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-45133572812261614742008-09-24T20:40:00.000-07:002008-09-24T20:45:18.677-07:00

When you pour your heart and soul into something you want it to work out okay. One thing you don't expect is to be told there is a possibility that it may not happen.“So Zak we just had a really big grant fall though. We will know by 4pm today if we are going on the ride.” That was phone call I got yesterday. For the next few hours I prayed, called, emailed, prayed and wondered what would happen

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-11508030384930341752008-09-21T10:30:00.000-07:002008-09-21T10:57:15.758-07:00

I can't believe its almost here. The 2008 Soulforce Q Equality Ride which I am a part of this year. 18 people. 15 college campuses. 2 months. 1 bus. In a few days I will be hoping on a plane and traveling to Baltimore to reunite with the rest of the Riders. It has been since the middle of July that I last saw any of them but if I know anything, distance means nothing between friends. Once we all

Zak Rittenhousenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-30821648757427530822007-04-30T10:21:00.000-07:002007-04-30T10:22:53.090-07:00

(Mankato, Minnesota) April 26, 2007 -- Fifty-two Equality Riders, representing diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and faith backgrounds, were met by campus security and Mankato police when they walked onto Bethany Lutheran College campus seeking dialogue with students, faculty, and administrators to address the school's anti-gay policy. Over twenty supportive community members,

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-12961641441554504012007-04-24T06:10:00.000-07:002007-04-24T06:14:47.893-07:00

The pictures I took at the Bob Jones University Soulforce Equality Ride visit are now posted here.In addition, Rainbow Radio, the show I co-host here in South Carolina, has put together a show using much of my tape that didn't make it on the podcast. So, check it out here along with all the other shows we've done !For the latest updates on the Equality Ride, visit Soulforce.

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-68533240241195836802007-04-08T20:20:00.000-07:002007-04-08T20:22:49.278-07:00

Whosoever's newest podcast features the Soulforce Equality Ride stop at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, along with an essay by myself entitled, "I Don't Understand Fundamentalists."Please go to this page to listen and to subscribe to our podcasts:http://feeds.feedburner.com/WhosoeverPodcastsGo to equalityride.com to support the Soulforce Equality Riders

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-43572692967322086172007-04-04T12:22:00.000-07:002007-04-04T12:37:17.506-07:00

I went to the Soulforce Equality Ride stop in Greenville, SC today at Bob Jones University. It was quite an experience and I'll have photos and a podcast up soon so everyone can experience what the day was like.The street preaching protesters were very loud and rude. They said they loved us, but I don't believe people who shout at me that they love me, sorry. It reminds me of the scene in "Saved"

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-32621193453353060672007-04-04T04:46:00.000-07:002007-04-04T04:52:55.145-07:00

This week began with a schedule change. We had originally planned to be at Union University on Monday, but in light of statements made by Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, we reexamined our route. Dr. Mohler has made public statements claiming that if a biological root for homosexuality is ever found, it would be a parent's duty to

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-21237605120311973112007-03-27T08:20:00.000-07:002007-03-27T08:21:26.953-07:00

(Louisville, KY) -- Monday, 12 young adults were arrested for conducting a sit-in outside of the office of Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). In light of recent inflammatory comments by Albert Mohler, leaders of the Equality Ride eastbound bus decided to reroute temporarily in order to demand an apology for his remarks. Earlier this year, Mohler

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-71673916673996489682007-03-26T03:42:00.000-07:002007-03-26T08:05:44.914-07:00

This has been the most eventful week on the road for me personally so far. Our week began with a journey from Oklahoma to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Baylor is the largest Baptist university in the U. S., and their strategy for interacting with us was to try to ignore our presence. We had two days of conversations with students planned. The administration had sent out an email earlier in

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-47220761553347276242007-03-24T09:13:00.001-07:002007-03-24T09:13:44.014-07:00

(Clinton, MS) -- As a traveling group of young adults attempted to recollect and depart Clinton, Mississippi, they were stopped three times by police vehicles within less than ten minutes. Their driver was subjected to threatening demands to "get out of town." In response to this clear act of harassment, the Co-Directors of the tour wrote a letter to the Attorney General of Mississippi that

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-80184878634318665952007-03-21T15:17:00.000-07:002007-03-21T15:22:48.886-07:00

(Provo, UT and Clinton, MI) -- Two weeks ago, 50 young men and women boarded two buses and set out on a remarkable journey. Their mission: to initiate conversations about faith and sexuality at 32 Christian colleges with policies that silence or exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students. This week, the Riders face their toughest challenges yet as the westbound bus travels to

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-6789714798290533102007-03-18T04:30:00.000-07:002007-03-18T04:35:17.420-07:00

Soulforce Equality Rider Mandy Matthias checks in with us from the road:There are quite a few moments that will remain in my memory from my experiences on the second week of Equality Ride. Individual conversations and the picture of my friends being arrested stand out to me as I reflect.The week began in Springfield, Missouri with our stop at Central Bible College. We stood vigil, noticing

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-29898547521811638922007-03-17T14:09:00.000-07:002007-03-17T14:12:33.897-07:00

Mandy Matthias and 49 other Equality Riders are making their way around the country, visiting 32 Christian colleges with homophobic student policies.Mandy gives us her first report from the road in the latest Godcast from Whosoever.Go here to listen to Mandy as well as an interview with Dottie Berry and Roby Sapp who were recently arrested at James Dobson's Focus on the Family headquarters in

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-33428203256505153492007-03-15T12:20:00.000-07:002007-03-15T12:21:13.047-07:00

Equality Riders Arrested at Oklahoma Baptist University(Shawnee, Oklahoma) -- On Wednesday, March 14, five Equality Riders were arrested for attempting to worship at chapel with students from Oklahoma Baptist University. The Soulforce Equality Ride is a nationwide journey of 50 young adults visiting conservative Christian colleges to challenge policies that discriminate against lesbian, gay,

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-6334068711207039342007-03-14T05:36:00.000-07:002007-03-14T05:38:47.313-07:00

Soulforce Press ReleaseEight Equality Riders Arrested at Wisconsin Lutheran College(Milwaukee, WI) -- A group of gay and straight young adults, members of the Soulforce Equality Ride, joined students on campus Tuesday, March 13, at Wisconsin Lutheran College to talk about gay and lesbian issues and faith. Equality Riders stood with Bibles in hand, offered literature, and attempted to worship in

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-66411845157950743612007-03-14T05:32:00.000-07:002007-03-14T05:35:06.388-07:00

Soulforce Press Release:Fear Leads to Arrests at Central Bible College(Springfield, MO) -- Monday morning, March 12, two young adults were arrested for attempting to enter the campus of Central Bible College. Abigail Reikow and Brandy Daniels, both straight women, stepped onto campus in order to talk with students about religion-based discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-1170025689918629762007-03-11T04:58:00.000-07:002007-03-11T05:09:00.687-07:00

After a harrowing start to the journey, Whosoever's correspondent on the Soulforce Equality Ride 2007, Mandy Matthias, files her first report from the road:=======My first week as an Equality Rider is drawing to a close as I'm on the bus to Springfield, Missouri with 26 people who have rapidly become my family. Our Ride began with a touch of insanity as all of us were trying to fly into

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-1075461696488513962007-03-09T04:44:00.000-08:002007-03-09T12:13:50.556-08:00

On the opening day of Equality Ride 2007, the 50 young Riders faced grim reminders of why they are on 2 buses, headed for 32 Christian colleges with policies that silence or exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. Last night the eastbound bus made its first stop in Sioux Center, Iowa, where Riders were harassed at their hotel. This morning they awoke to find their bus defaced by

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6266038985863011531.post-87395110966606729002007-03-09T04:30:00.000-08:002007-03-09T12:14:38.960-08:00

Whosoever is proud to be one of the many sponsors of Soulforce's 2007 Equality Ride.Fifty young adults going to thirty-two Christian colleges and universities. Two buses are taking the group on two distinct routes around the country in creative pursuit of social justice. In doing so, they are empowered to change countless lives.Whosoever is sponsoring 23-year-old rider Amanda Matthias from Wayne,

Candace Chellew-Hodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318466652462866480noreply@blogger.com0