Culture & Youth

Kentucky megachurch to send 'Jesus Loves You' letters to Britney Spears

A megachurch in Kentucky is collecting letters of love and support to send to pop singer Britney Spears amid drugs and alcohol problems and a rocky battle with her ex-husband over custody of their two children.

At the request of senior pastor Jon Weece during a sermon, members at Southland Christian Church in Lexington will gather letters bearing messages such as “Britney, Jesus loves you", "The congregation of Southland Christian Church loves you as Jesus loves you", and "We are praying for you”, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

"Take a few minutes and write a note to Britney Spears," Weece said in a sermon and in a September 19 blog on the church's website. "No preaching. No criticizing. Just love. As a church, let's love Britney the way Jesus loves her."

The pastor of the 8,000-member congregation said that Spears had made “devastating life choices” but encouraged members of the church to offer the same compassion and prayers as they would to those with non-celebrity status.

"If she were your next-door neighbor in the same situation without the money and success, wouldn't you care about her problems? Wouldn't you pray for her and offer her support and encouragement?” he asked members of the church.

Britney Spears was raised as a Southern Baptist in her home state of Mississippi, part of the Bible Belt, and supposedly entered the music scene as a relatively devout Christian.

While her rise to stardom brought her arguably as many problems as it did fame, if not more, some believe she has not entirely lost the faith through it all. Hollywood.tv reported seeing her earlier this year with the word “PUSH” tattooed onto her hand. The acronym, some believe, stands for “Pray Until Something Happens” and is normally printed on necklaces and bands sold at Christian shops.

Added: Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 14:15 (GMT)

britney spears wake up already .dont you know where you came from.from your mom .she made you with love and took care of you with love.now you turn around and say i hate you mom.how dare . your mom, was there for your first step ,your first birthday,first day off to school ,she help your career.she did what a mother should do .every time you needed her she try to be there. you then meet kev had two wonderful kids.then he plays you just for your money,and leaves and its a big joke to him.you then blame mom for your lost.first of all i think your mom feels for you alot. if not i feel for you hon. but first you have to stop blameing every one for your mistakes.please start with mom.you are a grown lady,now act like it.family comes first.dont ever forget that .if something where to happen to mom you mean to say all well.i dont think so. for god sake help your self.for your sake as well as for those kids you made thoses kids with love .now take care of thoses kids with love .honey theres no money in the world to replace those wonderful kids of yours. i dont ever recall any body telling you this but money is the root to all evil.your money could come and go.but your kids and mom will always be there please listen.seven brothers in my family,none of them took care of my father like i did. two heart attacks two strokes lost half of stomach,almost lost his foot.but because of what he did for me by feeding me clothing me putting a roof on my head so i could be warm at night and teaching the facts of live to . now i should hate him and disown him.NO I DONT THINK SO. when my father die my brothers ask me to help bury him.i said no. dad knew i had a family he knew i went out of my way to do the things i wanted to do because i love him.excuse me.had to wipe my tears. i miss him wish i could talk to him again.im sorry crying again. so any way i told my brothers the least they could do was to bury him since they did not want anything to do with him i just wanted to remember my dad with that smile he left on his face the day he left chicago to texas to die and be bury next to his mom. so britney miss spears to you .dont give up on life.most of all your kids and mom.your kids only have one mom.thats you..also you have one mom dont hate..you would not want your kids to hate you.love you always.if you need a true friend drop me a line.keep your head up honey.love you heres my e mail address albert_c_57@yahoo.com take care please.

albert cardoza, chicago ill

Added: Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 1:54 (GMT)

This should stand as an inspiration for God's beloved children to really reach out to the broken. So often we become comfortable and apathetic to the outside world outside of our church walls -- and as Jesus called Matthew, so we should call the world. However, let's all remember (of all others, myself needing the reminder most!) that there is so much brokenness that we can't see -- not everyone has their own paparazzi to remind the world how we're doing. So as lovers of Christ, let's get uncomfortable. Love, love, love. We are that light -- and darkness truly does not exist -- its just everywhere that we are not. Instead of standing firm with our church and creating a streetlight in the night -- what would it look like to see that light spread out? We would be millions of torches blazing in a confused universe. All we can hope to do is love.

Colton, windsor, canada

Added: Tuesday, October 30, 2007, 21:38 (GMT)

I just wanted to say How thankful I am to hear that a church is sending this young lady letters of hope about Jesus, I know , I have been praying for her for a long time , I write on blogs all the time that talk horribly about her and I write prayers instead. I would love to let Britney know personally that Jesus Does truely love her and their isnt anything that she cant tell him he wll keep it between himself and her unlike all the people in her Life! Jesus loves you Brit and there is nothing that you could do or say that will stop that love . He is there whenever you choose to answer! From Jennifer Rondo of Arizona

Jenifer Rondo, united states

Added: Tuesday, October 30, 2007, 13:42 (GMT)

I feel really sorry for britney. I'm 25 and i would love to meet her. I've got a son of my own and it must be extremley difficult for her right now about losing her sons. I hope she gets better and im praying for her

Jacqueline Openshaw, ROCHDALE

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