5 The Ice Bucket Challenge
The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. It went viral on social media during July–August 2014. In the US, many people participate for the ALS Association, and in the UK, many people participate for the Motor Neurone Disease Association,although some individuals have opted to donate their money from the Ice Bucket Challenge to other organizations.The challenge encourages nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and then nominating others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated participants have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation.
Read: Year In Review: Top 10 Commentaries of 2014
#4 BringBackOurGirls
The terrorist organization Boko Haram orchestrated numerous attacks throughout the year in a violent attempt to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria. The kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Borno State was the terrorist organization’s most publicized act, with millions demanding their safe return under the trending hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. Some of the girls managed to escape Boko Haram, but over 200 still remain. Leaders of the group have claimed that they girls have all been married off or sold as slaves.
#3 Mark Driscoll and the End of Mars Hill
The evangelical megapastor had a fall from grace as Driscoll was found involved in several controversies. The founder of the Mars Hill megachurch organization and the Acts 29 network allegedly paid a company to place his book “Real Marriage” on the New York Times bestseller list. Driscoll also used church funds to buy multiple copies of the book without permission; he later apologized for doing so.
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Soon after the “Real Marriage” controversy, church leaders began to speak out about emotional abuse and a lack of financial clarity that had occurred in Mars Hill for years. A misogynistic online rant that Driscoll wrote under a pseudonym in 2000 surfaced and dozens picketed Mars Hill Church, demanding that the pastor step down from ministry.
Driscoll and Mars Hill Church was removed from the Acts 29 church-planting network by the board and Driscoll took a hiatus from the ministry. On Oct. 14, Driscoll he announced that he would permanently step down from his pastoral position and the Mars Hill organization would be dissolved.
#2 Racial Discrimination
Race came to the forefront of American headlines in 2014 after two black men died at the hands of white police officers. Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black man was fatally shot by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri on Aug. 9 prompting weeks of violent protests in the streets. Wilson allegedly shot Brown fearing his own life was at risk. When a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson, protests reignited across the country, though most remained peaceful.
Eric Garner, 43, died on July 17 after NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo reportedly held him in a chokehold which constricted his chest and neck. Garner, who had been resisting arrest for selling individual cigarettes on the street, is believed to have said, “I can’t breathe,” multiple times before he died.
#1 Ebola
The Ebola virus caused a great deal of alarm throughout the world as an epidemic ravaged West Africa. The illness, which has a death rate of 70 percent, began in Guinea in Dec. 2013 and quickly spread throughout Liberia and Sierra Leone. Over 7,500 people died from Ebola throughout 2014. The virus continues to wreak havoc in the West Africa, strengthened by the lack of equipped medical facilities in the region.
In December, TIME Magazine named the Ebola fighters its “Person of the Year,” noting that the men and women had risked their own safety to tend to the needs of others. Samaritan’s Purse physician Kent Brantly, who contracted Ebola while serving in Liberia, was honored with a magazine cover photo. Brantly was transported to the U.S. after he contracted Ebola alongside missionary Nancy Writebol, where both recovered from the virus.
5 Biggest Stories In Faith Word 2014 That Made Us Laugh, Cry And Pray
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