About two weeks ago, our youth group went to see the movie “Amazing Grace”. The movie chronicles the life of William Wilberforce, a famous British abolitionist who spent his life (and health) working to abolish slavery in Great Britain. Turns out, he succeeded, along with the help of countless friends and supporters. Wilberforce’s great dilemma in life was the choice between serving the Lord as a minister or working in the public sphere to create a more just world. Through the influence of his pastor, John Newton (former slave trader and author of the song, “Amazing Grace”), Wilberforce became convinced God was calling him to make a difference in the world by working against slavery. It was a great message about serving the Lord with your life in every aspect…and about how you don’t have to become a pastor to make a significant difference for the Kingdom!
The movie, itself, was inspiring, but did drag in parts. One of my junior high boys entertained himself during the slow parts by “fake snoring”. Yet, in the end, I think most everyone was touched and inspired by the film…minus a few junior high boys; I comforted myself with the fact that most everything--of significance--is lost on that age/gender bracket! I would recommend the movie to anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. It was a good and powerful TRUE story; that 'true' part is what spoke most powerfully to me. This is not something "made up". It happened. Someone actually made that kind of difference in the history of the world. Wow! Albert Finney’s performance as John Newton, alone, was worth the cost of the movie. My favorite quote—from Finney’s character, John Newton: “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” Amen!
The thing that is most powerful to me, however, is what I have discovered since viewing the movie. I have read some extraordinary statistics on slavery, specifically from the website: www.amazingchange.com which is an outgrowth of the movie, serving to continue Wilberforce’s unfinished work of ridding the world of slavery. That site (which I highly urge you to visit) states: "It's estimated that 27 million people are in slavery around the world". Seriously? Still? I feel so uninformed, so blind, really.
I am pasting some statistics directly from www.amazingchage.com (below). At least go to the site and sign the petition against modern day slavery. If you have time, look around at some of what they have there. It is eye-opening…especially when you had no idea your eyes were shut so tightly to the suffering of the world.
Statistics on Modern Day Slavery:
27 Million: Number of people in modern-day slavery across the world
Sourced by the UN, New York Times, Amnesty International, The Christian Science Monitor, and Free The Slaves, among others.
The movie, itself, was inspiring, but did drag in parts. One of my junior high boys entertained himself during the slow parts by “fake snoring”. Yet, in the end, I think most everyone was touched and inspired by the film…minus a few junior high boys; I comforted myself with the fact that most everything--of significance--is lost on that age/gender bracket! I would recommend the movie to anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike. It was a good and powerful TRUE story; that 'true' part is what spoke most powerfully to me. This is not something "made up". It happened. Someone actually made that kind of difference in the history of the world. Wow! Albert Finney’s performance as John Newton, alone, was worth the cost of the movie. My favorite quote—from Finney’s character, John Newton: “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” Amen!
The thing that is most powerful to me, however, is what I have discovered since viewing the movie. I have read some extraordinary statistics on slavery, specifically from the website: www.amazingchange.com which is an outgrowth of the movie, serving to continue Wilberforce’s unfinished work of ridding the world of slavery. That site (which I highly urge you to visit) states: "It's estimated that 27 million people are in slavery around the world". Seriously? Still? I feel so uninformed, so blind, really.
I am pasting some statistics directly from www.amazingchage.com (below). At least go to the site and sign the petition against modern day slavery. If you have time, look around at some of what they have there. It is eye-opening…especially when you had no idea your eyes were shut so tightly to the suffering of the world.
Statistics on Modern Day Slavery:
27 Million: Number of people in modern-day slavery across the world
Sourced by the UN, New York Times, Amnesty International, The Christian Science Monitor, and Free The Slaves, among others.
800,000: Number of persons trafficked across international borders each year
Sourced by the US State Department, International Justice Mission, and Antislavery.org, among others.
Sourced by the US State Department, International Justice Mission, and Antislavery.org, among others.
17,500: Number of foreign nationals who are trafficked into the U.S. every year
Sourced by the US House Of Representatives, and the Polaris Project, among others.
Sourced by the US House Of Representatives, and the Polaris Project, among others.
91: Number of cities in the United States with reported cases of trafficking
Sourced by Georgia State Representative Jack Kingston, Freetheslaves.net, and Polaris Project, among others.
Sourced by Georgia State Representative Jack Kingston, Freetheslaves.net, and Polaris Project, among others.
50: Percent of all victims are children
Sourced by the US House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, and the US Department of State, among others.
Sourced by the US House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, and the US Department of State, among others.
$50 Million: US Government budget for efforts against human trafficking
Sourced by the US State Department.
Sourced by the US State Department.
$19 Billion: US Government budget for efforts against drug trafficking
Sourced by the White House Drug Policy website.
Sourced by the White House Drug Policy website.
218 Million: Estimated number of children working aged between five and seventeen
Sourced by the International Labor Organization.
Sourced by the International Labor Organization.
126 Million: Estimated number of children who work in the worst forms of child labor - one in every twelve of the world's five to seventeen year olds.
Sourced by the International Labor Organization, UNICEF, and the US Embassy in Uruguay, among others.
Sourced by the International Labor Organization, UNICEF, and the US Embassy in Uruguay, among others.
300,000: Estimated number of child soldiers involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide, some younger than 10 years old.
Sourced by UNICEF, the BBC, and Amnesty International, among others
Sourced by UNICEF, the BBC, and Amnesty International, among others
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