Press Release: Video Producer and Activist Takes Down the WWJD Video That Recieved Million of Views

Peace Takes Courage

November 07, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ava Lowery
Phone: 334.524.6291
E-mail: ava@peacetakescourage.com


TEEN VIDEO PRODUCER AND ACTIVIST TAKES DOWN THE WWJD VIDEO THAT RECIEVED MILLIONS OF VIEWS.

(Alabama) – An Alabama teenager who has become an internet sensation has taken down her most popular video about the war in Iraq. Ava Lowery, 17, has taken down the video "WWJD"(what would Jesus do) which shows images of Iraqi children effected by the war in Iraq along with the Beatitudes and the song "Jesus Loves Me." Lowery has taken down the video after the father of the boy (now an adult) who sang the song requested his son's voice not be used in the video.

Lowrey made the WWJD video at the age of fifteen. The video has now been circulating the internet for over nineteen months and has received millions of views and media attention from several news organizations. The father who requested the video be taken down did so after hearing about the video from the Laura Ingram show. Lowery made the following statement on her website after taking the video down.

"From the beginning, I've been shocked and dismayed that so many Christians were angered by my video. As a Christian myself who lives by Christ's mandate "Love your enemies," I felt the song "Jesus Loves Me" and the Beatitudes were appropriate when viewed in light of man-made war. There can be no doubt that Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, and chastised his disciples when they took up the sword.

I am now asking all children of faith who believe in peace and love to send me their version of "Jesus Loves Me." The child who is chosen will be properly credited in the video, and will be featured on my website as the first member of "Ava's Army," a new organization for young people who believe in peace."


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If you would like more information on “WWJD” and Peace Takes Courage, or if you would like to schedule an interview with Ava Lowery, please call (334) 524 – 6193. You may also email Ava at ava@peacetakescourage.com. You can also visit the official website of Peace Takes Courage at http://www.peacetakescourage.com and visit the website for the upcoming "Ava's Army" organization at http://www.avasarmy.com.

As Always, Ava - you can be counted on to do the right thing. We're all looking forward to the new version of a great video.

K&R

Change the world!
:applause:
:woohoo:

:yourock:

I don't care for the name "Ava's Army" much, though.
Just a minor quibble- not terribly important. :yourock:

How about, "Ava's Flying Monkeys of Doom?"

No...

Ava's Peacemongers?

It also doesn't HAVE to have her name in it, does it?

Creating a movement means creating something bigger than one's self.

:shrug:

Has a certain ring to it, but probably too religious for a peace organization.

-Hoot

but thanks for the suggestion. i already have ava's army set as the name ;)

...spiritual warriors, armies of God, righteous wars.

I was a little put off, too, at first, but I have every confidence that your message will shine through. A hammer can be used to pound a nail while building a house, or to hurt someone. Intention is all!

hopefully once you see the upcoming site i can change your mind about the name. ;) :pals:

I'm selling "Ava Lowery- Hero" statues in Star Wars Galaxies OnLine, along with statues of Barbara Boxer, Keith Olbermann, etc.


They don't actually LOOK like anyone, but you can just name them whatever you like.

I've sold a bunch of Valerie Plame statues, but no Ava statues yet. But I have one on display in my shop, "Brewster Jennings & Associates."

I'll try and post screen captures.

I think your statue is between Graeme Frost and Stephanie Miller.

:hi:

Its what an army should be used for, to bring forth peace and goodwill. Bless you for your work, Ava.

I just visited your website. I will pass it on to my teenagers. Thank you for all your hard work and devotion to Jesus' command for nonviolence and caring for our neighbors. -- Wanet

Ava, you handled that very gracefully. I can't wait to see and hear the new version when it's ready.

and by the way, the christians who were angered by your video are the ones that will spend a lifetime unable to grasp the idea of christ. You did it at fifteen.

Amazing that it took 2 years for this guy to get upset.

Actually, it's unfair of me to assume the Jesus Loves Me Dad hates peace.

It could just be he prefers protecting his copyright more than peace.

Either way, not very Christian of him.

i'm pretty sure his problem is with the video's content.

:applause:

and your incredible work!

Recommended.

I'm calling my brother to see if any of his little ones can sing. Mine are all too old. :(

why not help her out and buy a couple of peace take courage tags. I have two of them.


http://www.peacetakescourage.com/page-tags.htm

You have and are making a difference :hug:
way more than I can say I am doing

It makes me want to cry to think about how moving it must have been.

God bless you!

I'm sure it was difficult taking down your most successful video.

It's sad that a large number of Christians in this country have no empathy for what is happening to Iraqi children. Best of luck finding a new child to sing it.

I hope that KO or someone can pick up this story and give it the exposure it needs. OTH, there should be no shortage of talented youngsters that would appreciate the exposure, especially for such a good cause.

WTG Ava!

--IMM

his email address isn't working.

But I'm sure I'm not the only one.

--IMM

dupe

Best of luck with Ava's Army.

I wish you all the best. Sent link to my 17 year old daughter.

Ava, you rock. Congratulations on your very mature response and I can't wait to see the new version of WWJD.

or, better yet, find a young person with a nice voice to record it specifically for your video . . . that video is too important to be taken down and never seen again . . .

i'm letting people send me their versions of the song. i posted about it a bit in the op ;) :pals:

thanks :hug:

Affect is the verb. Effect is the noun.

Anyway, good luck with your videos.

unfortunately i can't edit the OP though.. says time has expired.

You are a brave and compassionate young person. Your deeds are more Christlike than those of most so-called Christians. Keep fighting the good fight! :patriot:

The truth of your video ia hard for some people to reconcile. Their unease is the goal, I believe..

Thank you, Ava!!!

They are the reason I will not call myself a Christian because it lumps me in with them. They are the ones who do not even read the bible because if they did they would have read Mathew Mark Luke and John and would know WWJD.

And yet have NO recollection of the best of the beatitudes

Blessed are the Peace makers...

:sarcasm:



Go wage peace, Ava!