That Pesky Wabbit

First Baptist Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress defends the Easter Bunny

Good news for the Easter Bunny: The floppy-eared rabbit has a friend in First Baptist Dallas senior pastor Robert Jeffress.

On March 27, Jeffress appeared on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor to discuss the war on Easter. Several communities have started using the label "spring egg hunts," omitting mention of the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

Jeffress and O'Reilly called the change "offensive" and said that while Jews and Muslims have organizations dedicated to protecting their respective religions from defamation, Christianity lacks one.

"Many Christians think it is un-Christian to stand up and fight for your rights," Jeffress said, adding that "the apostle Paul spent two years fighting against the Roman legal system to preserve his right to speak freely. We need to do the same thing as well."

Jeffress also referenced Plano-based Liberty Institute, a legal organization dedicated to "restoring religious liberty in America." O'Reilly said the the First Amendment has been "perverted" to stand for freedom from religion instead of its original intent — freedom of religious expression.

Although he admitted that the Easter bunny is "a secular symbol meant to bring joy to children" on a religious holiday, Jeffress said the inclusion of the word Easter is a matter of religious freedom.

"The First Amendment simply says Congress can't establish a state religion. It has nothing to say about Easter egg hunts," Jeffress said.

Bunnies are commonly associated with the Christian holiday of Easter.

Homeless News

Downtown Dallas homeless service Stewpot lands bigger better space

The Stewpot

The Stewpot

The Stewpot

It's official: The Stewpot, a community program that serves the homeless, has a new home. According to a release, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas — the organization that oversees the Stewpot — has acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. where the StewPot will soon reside.

“This new facility will allow us to better deliver our programs and continue to support the 12,000 people served annually by CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry programs,” said Brenda Snitzer, executive director of The Stewpot.

The Stewpot is a community ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. Established in 1975, it began with a concerned group of church members who started preparing lunch for the congregation's homeless and hungry neighbors.

It serves those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Its programs have tripled in size in recent years, and the ministry has outgrown its current space at 1835 Young St. across from the church.

When CitySquare announced earlier this year that it would cease operations and sell its property by the end of the year, First Presbyterian leaped in to make a bid on the space. Members voted on Sunday, December 8 to approve the acquisition. The closing is scheduled for Friday, December 13. The Stewpot will begin moving into the new space later this month.

As a part of the acquisition, The Stewpot will continue two of CitySquare’s core programs: its Food Pantry and its Neighbor Resource Center, which helps people with housing options, SNAP, WIC, healthcare, financial assistance, and mental health services.

The property is a mile from The Stewpot’s current facility on Young Street, across the street from the church. With this acquisition, The Stewpot will move its operations and offices, while continuing to serve more than 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown.

charity downtown

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