Phil Donahue - Mine disaster in West Va.

At a mine disaster in West Virginia, Phil Donahue, a young television reporter, arrived just as the local pastor arrived. He was rough-hewn and didn’t speak well but gathered all the families in a circle, and they held each other in their arms while he prayed for them. As they were praying, Donahue was unable to get his camera to work and was very frustrated because he couldn’t film this poignant scene. Finally, after the prayer, Donahue managed to get his camera operating. So, he asked the pastor to please pray again so he could film it for the evening news. He said this had happened before with other well-known pastors and they were always willing to redo a scene in order to get on the evening news. However, this simple West Virginia preacher told Donahue. “Young man, we don’t pray for the news. I’m sorry, but we have already prayed, and I will not pose.” Donahue says, “You don’t forget this kind of character, no matter who you are. (Jay Kesler, Being Holy, Being Human).