wfn.org | [PCUSAnews] Mr. McFeely brings a “speedy delivery” to the Presbyterian Media Mis

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Note #6692 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Mr. McFeely brings a “speedy delivery” to the Presbyterian Media
Mission lunch
14-June-2001
GA01131

Mr. McFeely brings a “speedy delivery” to the Presbyterian Media
Mission lunch

by Emett Barfield

LOUISVILLE, June 14 - Commissioners and friends at the Presbyterian Media
Mission (PMM) luncheon were treated to one of the most delightful programs
of the 213th General Assembly. Mr. McFeely (David Newell) thoroughly
enchanted the audience with anecdotes from 33 years of life as side kick to
one of television’s truly beloved personalities, Mr. Rogers.

When asked what makes the show so special, his immediate response:
“Fred Rogers!” He said, “Fred Rogers likes them (children)
for what they are.” Endorsing the worth of every individual, Mr.
Rogers teaches that every person is valuable and every person is unique . 
Illustrating graphically this point, Mr. McFeely shared a video clip of a
young boy in a wheelchair and the compassion Mr. Rogers exhibited when he
talked to the child, affirming his value and his unique personhood.
Utilizing the skill of child psychologist, Margaret McFarland, Mr. Rogers
and his staff deal with subjects like a child’s fear of separation
from his parents, confusion between reality and fantasy, and fear of
“being so mad you could bite.” Nelson explains that children
love and trust Mr. Rogers because of the basic openness and honesty with
which he deals with them on the fundamental issues of their lives.

 McFeely said, “The Internet is today, where we were in the
Sixties.” Dispelling the rumor that Mr. Rogers is retiring, he
professed that, “These have  been the best 33 years of my life and we
are looking forward to 33 more.” The affable “Speedy
Delivery” man says that they are opening the whole arena of the
Internet with bedtime stories and other activities  on the web specifically
for children.

The program opened with a dramatic presentation of story telling from the
days of primitive humanity by Dennis Benson, host and producer of the
Passages radio show. Greg Hartung, executive director of the Presbyterian
Media Mission, announced that today is the 20th anniversary of Passages and
that Benson has done 40,000 interviews during that time. Because of his
faithful service to Passages,  Benson was presented with a plaque
celebrating his accomplishments during those years.

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