the goma film project...
last night chris and i had the privilege of hearing from a couple of missionary - activist - community developers who work with heal africa in congo. they are actually the parents of friends in our community group, and we were blessed to learn about their work and their hearts for holisitic healing and development in an area that is home to what has been called the deadliest war in the world with four million casualties since 1998. the goma film project is an effort to raise support and awareness for this growing crisis that has caught very little media attention.again and again as i am presented with these incomprehensible atrocities, i am stuck wondering a couple of things: (1) how is it possible in this day and age, with all the ways we've 'progressed' in knowledge and understanding, that people can treat other human beings with such blatant disregard for their basic humanity? and (2) what in the world provides the steadfast perseverance and hope held by people working for justice in the face of such rampant depravity and darkness?
the tragedy reminds me how close we are to treating each other with savage brutality- there is such a thin line between our modern civilities and our primal proclivity for violence. but thankfully, people like the andersons remind me that in the midst of what would be overwhelmingly insurmountable to many, there is somehow an underlying hope for peace and compassion that flows through faith in christ.
John 1: The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
