Forgiveness News
Man Serving 40-Year Sentence Is Forgiven by Woman Who Lost Her Family
Idaho Statesman – Nine years ago, a man who was not a drinker, became intoxicated, traveled 98-miles-per hour down the wrong side of the road, and killed Natalie Marti’s husband and infant daughter. She, too, sustained serious injuries requiring 3 years of patient healing. Despite all of this, Natalie offered forgiveness to Edgar Vasquez, currently serving a 40-year sentence for the crime. Mr. Vasquez’s life has changed considerably, and for the better, because of this bold act of forgiveness.
Read the full story, “Fatal DUI crash shows both sides of forgiveness.”
“I Forgive You” – True Stories of Forgiveness
In an effort to facilitate healing through forgiveness, the gmc television network will air a documentary series called “I Forgive You” that premieres Nov. 18.
This emotional, uplifting and compelling series provides individuals the opportunity to forgive someone who has hurt them or a loved one. Whether the affliction is physical or emotional–the murder of a family member, an estranged parent, or sibling, infidelity, or bullying–the series brings two parties together to try to facilitate healing, overcome hatred, anger and revenge from real-life traumatizing events. Each story will showcase the “forgiver” and the “receiver” of the forgiveness before, during and after an act of forgiveness.
“I don’t know of anywhere on television where you get to see the raw, gripping emotions that stem from the act of forgiveness,” Brad Siegel, gmc TV’s vice chairman said of the network’s first unscripted series.
According to Emmy-winning producer Arnold Shapiro, “Forgiveness has the drama of any Shakespearean play. There is suspense, emotion, drama, uncertainty…. tears.”
Siegel added, “Viewers will come away from “I Forgive You” feeling enriched, inspired and amazed at these true stories that show the best in human nature.”
The gmc channel is available on Dish Network on channel 188, on DIRECTV channel 338, Verizon FiOS channel 224 and on many local cable networks. Newsmagazine Hollywood Today outlines the series at “Forgiveness is a complicated gesture.” Channel Guide Magazine provides summaries of the stories in the Nov. 18 premiere at “Bullying, murder victims offer forgiveness in GMC’s ‘I Forgive You.'” Watch video outtakes from the series at the gmc (uplifting entertainment) website.
Former Miss South Carolina Forgives Her Sister’s Killer
Statesville Record and Landmark, Statesville, NC – It would be easy to understand if Dawn Smith Jordan talked about sadness, anger, even vengeance.
Instead, the former Miss South Carolina chooses to speak of serenity, faith and forgiveness.
That was tough for Dawn to do at the age of 21 when her 17-year-old sister, Shari, was kidnapped from the driveway of her Lexington, S.C., home and murdered in 1985.
During the five days between the kidnapping and when her sister’s body was found, the killer called the Smiths eight times, each time talking with Dawn. He told her he planned on doing the same thing to her that he did to Shari.
Several years later, with the killer on death row, Dawn decided she needed to forgive. “You can’t live your life to the fullest if you’re stuck in unforgiveness,” she said.
Dawn said she learned about forgiveness from her mother. “She lost her daughter in a horrific manner and she forgave. She pressed on because she had two other children that needed her,” she said.
Dawn, who shares her forgiveness philosophy as a Christian singer, songwriter, author and speaker, is also the founder of Dawn Smith Jordan Ministries, Inc. According to her website, Dawn has learned “to not only forgive her sister’s murderer, but to daily choose forgiveness as a path to healing and wholeness. The brightest future will always be based not on a forgotten past, but on a forgiven past.”
Read more about Dawn’s decision to forgive: “Message of forgiveness buoys her, decades after tragedy” 0r visit her website.
Police Officer Shot and Killed, Family Forgives
WXYZ-TV, Southfield, MI – Just before the end of his shift on Sunday, Sept. 9, Police Officer Patrick O’Rourke responded with his fellow officers to a domestic dispute case. Minutes later, he lay dead–shot and killed by Ricky Coley, a heavily-armed man who held off the other officers for nearly 24-hours before surrendering. Officer O’Rourke left behind a wife and four young children.
During a television interview this week, Amy O’Rourke said she felt strongly that her husband forgives the shooter. Asked if she is able to forgive yet, Amy responded,
“Oh yes, almost immediately really. To not forgive just hurts us, I think when you carry un-forgiveness, it just makes you sick, physically, emotionally, mentally. And that’s why God wants us to forgive people, because he knows it’s going to affect who we are and how we feel. We have to let go of that stuff, give it up to him.”
Read more and watch the television interview with Amy and her children: “The family of Patrick O’Rourke shares their heartache, hope and forgiveness.”
Mother to Sell Heirlooms to Help Gang Members Who Killed Her Son
The Daily Mirror, London, England – A grieving mother whose son was stabbed to death by gang members has pledged to sell her family heirlooms to give his killers a better life.
Fatemah Golmakani’s son, Milad, was ambushed by four gang members last April while he was playing soccer in London, England. The 22-year-old was knifed 14 times and left to die. His four killers — three 19-year-olds and one 17-year-old — were all jailed last month and will be serving between 19 and 22 years before release.
The mother of four has vowed to open a charity in Milad’s memory to not only support other troubled teenagers and gang members, but also to help his son’s killers while they are imprisoned and when they get out. She said she plans to fund the charity by selling her diamond earrings, her grandmother’s watch and a crystal chandelier that has been in her family for more than 200 years.
“This charity will be a present to the killers,” Golmakani said. “I want to replace their knives and guns with flowers. I want to bring their humanity back even if my son is gone.”
Though Golmakani admits that she was once bitter and angry about her son’s untimely death, she says she has learned that forgiveness is the greatest remedy for grief.
Read the full story, “Mum of knife victim plans to sell off heirlooms to help son’s killers.”
