It's been 200 years since the Abolition of Slavery, but why is it still
happening?
Today – we look at an event that changed the history of the
world
- The abolition of slavery.
We’ll focus on a
man known as the Hero of Humanity, William Wilberforce. We’ll
find out why today’s political leaders are being exposed to a
new
movie that celebrates how Wilberforce used his Parliamentary influence
to end slavery.
The movie is called Amazing Grace – named for the famous old
hymn
written by a repentant slave trader, John
Newton.
Today we’ll find out how this look back at history is being
used
to inspire a work against modern day slavery.
You’ll be
shocked where today’s slaves are trapped.
Slaves
harvesting the chocolate we may eat, the clothes we may wear, weaving
carpets, while the world sits unaware. We’ll
feature an
interview with a man who has personally rescued hundreds from 21st
century slavery – you don’t want to miss
it!
Dr. BOB BELTZ oversees film
development for the Anschutz Corporation, parent company of the
Anschutz Film Group and Walden Media (Holes, Because of Winn-Dixie, The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Formerly, Beltz spent 20 years in
ministry, first as founding and teaching pastor of Cherry Hills
Community Church in Denver, Colorado; then as senior pastor of High
Street Community Church in Santa Cruz, California. Beltz is a graduate
of Denver Seminary where he earned both his Master of Arts and Doctor
of Ministry degrees. He is the author of several books, including
Somewhere Fast and Becoming a Man of Prayer. He and his wife live in
Denver, Colorado. In addition to revising the book, Beltz
will donate
all author royalties to The Dalit Freedom Network (which fights for the
rights of the Dalit people of India), carrying on in the spirit and
passion of Wilberforce’s battle for justice.
About Bob Beltz’s Book:
William
Wilberforce is considered one of the greatest reformers in history for
his tireless efforts to abolish slavery in Britain during the 18th
Century. In 1797, Wilberforce wrote a book titled Real
Christianity,
which challenged Christians to understand and apply an authentic faith
in their daily lives. This book was one of the tireless efforts of
Wilberforce that eventually led to the abolition of slavery in England
in the 1800’s. Wilberforce’s life is the subject of
the film Amazing
Grace releasing to theaters on February 23, 2007.
Bob Beltz, one
of the producers for the film, has released a modern paraphrase of
Wilberforce’s classic book Real Christianity. The revision
challenges
Christians today to stand bold on the same principles and fight against
injustice to mankind. Beltz says, “Real Christianity is my
attempt to
faithfully take the words of Wilberforce and communicate them in a way
the modern reader can understand. I pray this modern adaptation might
have some measure of the same effect and outcome as the
original.”
Readers
of Real Christianity will discover Wilberforce’s passionate
examination
of what it means to have authentic faith today and discover how the
concepts of sin, evil and depravity have been distorted, and how to
live out a genuine faith. Although written more than 200 years ago, the
timeless truths in this book will speak to readers today and serve as a
checklist of the authenticity of spiritual values.
The
theatrical release of Amazing Grace tells the inspiring story of how
one man’s passion and perseverance changed the
world. Wilberforce was
elected to the House of Commons at 21 and took on the issue of slavery,
successfully assembling a diverse coalition that went up against the
most powerful men of the time. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense
opposition from members of Parliament who feel the slave trade is tied
to the stability of the British Empire. Several friends, including
Wilberforce’s minister, John Newton (Albert Finney), a
reformed slave
ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, urge him to see
the cause through.
Dr.
Henry Allen is Professor of Sociology at Wheaton College in Illinois
and he joins us from Chicago to discuss with us the mark that the
legacy of slavery has left on North America.
Hard
though it may be to believe, slavery continues in many forms and places
around the world. National Geographic recently documented that
“there
are more slaves today than were seized from Africa in four centuries of
the trans-atlantic slave trade.”
One of those places is
Ghana, Africa, where ancient tribal practices of families enslave young
girls. Virgin daughters are given to village priests in
payment for
the sins of past generations. They are forced to serve the
priests as
slaves by day, and sexual partners by night.
Reverend Walter
Pimpong in Ghana has helped to free hundreds of those slaves, and he
joins us today with John Denbok, the executive director of I.N. Network
Canada.
Today’s program bothered me a
lot.
Slavery – existing in the world today? Products I
use
produced by slaves? Today let’s close with the
reminder of
Amazing Grace. The old poem, the song we know, were the words of John
Newton, a wretched slave trader turned poet and preacher. His passion
to share Christ’s amazing grace affected a politician who
went on
to champion the abolition of the British slave trade in 1807. What
stands the test of time that an individual encountered the truth of God
inspired human dignity for all. Christ’s forgiveness for a
slave
trader and his young friend, a rowdy political upstart, was so real
that encounter with Christ went on to change history. We need that
encounter again. I need it, you need it, those faith dynamics are still
available for the current crisis the globe faces. To find out more
about Amazing Grace and William Wilberforce go to our website at listenuptv.com
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On April 30, 2005 Lorna was privileged to receive an honorary Doctorate of Christian Ministries from Canada's largest Christian university, Trinity Western University. Lorna was recognized for the witness and leadership that Listen Up TV has provided in public messaging: "a leader in the voice of evangelical life in Canada."
