Author Archives: abfifer

Peacemaking Doesn’t Mean Passivity

May 6, 2019 – 9:25 am

“Peace is not just about the absence of conflict; it’s also about the presence of justice. Martin Luther King Jr. even distinguished between ‘the devil’s peace’ and God’s true peace. A counterfeit peace exists when people are pacified or distracted or so beat up and tired of fighting that all seems calm. But true peace […]

Posted in Peacemaking | Comments Off on Peacemaking Doesn’t Mean Passivity

Mother Forgives Son’s Killer

April 29, 2019 – 3:22 pm

Stories of forgiveness are literally extraordinary—outside of the ordinary. One took place in a Grand Rapids courtroom last week. As reported by the Grand Rapids Press, Javika Wallace-Hawkins faced the man who murdered her son Andre last year, and told him, “I have forgiven you from the bottom of my heart.” Andre was just 17 […]

Posted in Peacemaking | Comments Off on Mother Forgives Son’s Killer

Forgiveness that liberates after decades

April 15, 2019 – 12:38 pm

A woman named Kathy thought she had forgiven the high school classmates who had assaulted her when she was sixteen. Decades later, she realized she had more work to do. Kathy told her story to Nancy DeMoss Wohlgemuth in an episode that was broadcast today on Revive Our Hearts.  “One of the things that had […]

Posted in Peacemaking | Comments Off on Forgiveness that liberates after decades

Daughter’s Forgiveness Brings Soldier Peace

April 8, 2019 – 9:30 am

An American World War II soldier found peace when he met with the daughter of the Japanese soldier he had killed. The story ran on 60 Minutes last night, describing the battle on Attu, a remote Aleutian Island. After killing the Japanese soldier during battle, the American soldier realized they had much in common, and […]

Posted in Peacemaking | Comments Off on Daughter’s Forgiveness Brings Soldier Peace

Countries Can Apologize Too

March 29, 2019 – 8:09 am

Countries can apologize too. PRI’s The World did a story last night on what might be called “the national apology,” when a government apologizes. Australia has had a “Sorry Day,” May 26, for twenty years, to express its regret for mistreatment of Aboriginal people. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made several apologies, including just […]

Posted in Apologies | Comments Off on Countries Can Apologize Too