As We ForgiveWhile I have heard of the genocide of 1 Million Rwandans which occurred in 100 days in 1994, I was unaware that it was neighbor on neighbor and not tribal conflict. Imagine it was your neighbors, the people on your street, and those who you knew. I really couldn't imagine the depth of the impact on everyday life.
Last night I was blessed in seeing the Best Documentary winner of the 2008 Student Academy Awards film "As We Forgive." Laura Waters Hinson, the Director, spoke and answered questions afterward. She is an Anglican from the Washington DC area and had 30 days to document the courageous effort of Christians to forgive and bring forgiveness to hurting people.
Unlike watered down "Christianity" of our Western culture, the Rwandanese forgiveness is being brought to those who confess their sins. In our culture we rarely see the shame, the guilt, and the brokenness in the lives of those who are willing to admit their sin. The few surviving members of families killed in the genocide are paralyzed in their anger, fear, and the inability of any meaningful justice for these murders.
The blessing for me was to see the need for a return of God's peace in these broken lives and Christians working to bring the power of God's forgiveness into these lives. In responding to a victim's family member, the murderer could only respond, "Lord, have mercy" knowing his pleading was not enough. But the grace of God is transforming lives. The Rwandan bishop said, "Transformation is our life as Christians."
With all the horror, the pain, the devastation, this is a film about hope. Hope for individuals, for communities, and a Christian nation. For a poor country rebuilding the roads, the buildings, and the houses was the easy part. And for a wealthy nation like ours, how are we entering into the ministry of reconciliation?
Take the time to watch the 2 minute trailer As We Forgive.
FreeTeenGuitarClass Gives Thanks
The FTGC students helped provide music for the Alpine Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. The guitarists were joined by the musicians of Bethel Christian Assembly. It was great having Bass, Drums, and Keyboard!
The FTGC will be playing at Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity on Sunday, December 7th. On Saturday, December 13th they'll be playing Christmas music before the theatre presentation of "A Journey through Christmas" at the Pine Valley Bible Camp Worthington Hall. The play features several of the Barrett kids and Jack Arnold. The music starts at 7pm & the play starts at 7:30pm.