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MANSFIELD — Richland County Commissioners recently recognized July 7th as “Global Forgiveness Day” with local clergy. Global Forgiveness Day was birthed in Canada in 1994 by the Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors as people began to identify with the need to forgive and be forgiven.
In the proclamation, the Commissioners cited a Mayo Clinic Staff report that stated forgiveness can lead to: healthier relationships, improved mental health, fewer symptoms of depression, a stronger immune system, and better self-esteem.
Reverend Larry Hill of Bethel Freewill Baptist has seen firsthand how forgiveness can change the health condition of a person.
“We had a woman in our congregation who went to the hospital physically sick because of her bitterness towards a man who had abused her daughter. She was naturally angry towards this man, but once she forgave him in her heart, she left the hospital with a clean bill of health. Clearly forgiveness set this woman free.”
The proclamation also stated that due to anti-social behavior, the United States has the highest number of lawyers per capita with one lawyer for every 300 people.
Reverend Jay Hill of Paradise Free Will Baptist believes what the Bible says about forgiving your brother. “Ephesians 4:32 instructs as to ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.’ Today in our culture we see family feuds leading to lawsuit and divorce as a result of bitterness of the heart. Forgiveness really ought to play a bigger part in our life.”
Interestingly, the first recorded court summons in Richland County history took place between two brothers with an axe to grind. Justice of the Peace Andrew Cofinberry cited his very own brother George for chopping wood on the Sabbath.
Both area pastors happen to be brothers and the two reminisced on their childhood upbringing.
“The two of us were closest in age so we had our quarrels; in the heat of the moment we would duke it out,” says Jay laughing. “Dad would line us up, make us forgive each other and hug each other. Then Dad would share with Larry and I the story of his brother who was murdered as a teenager and how Dad regretted his fights with his brother before his death.”
“Growing up, these stories created a special bond between Jay and myself. Our dad’s brother was gone. Dad told us how he had to ultimately forgive his brother’s murderer with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
Reverend Larry HIll
Bethel Freewill Baptist
Larry observes, “Growing up, these stories created a special bond between Jay and myself. Our dad’s brother was gone. Dad told us how he had to ultimately forgive his brother’s murderer with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
In addition, the proclamation also cited a study finding that forgiveness not only restored positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors toward the offending party, but the benefits of forgiveness also brought positive behaviors toward others.
Located at 1400 Paradise View, Reverend Jay Hill’s church has outgrown its existing facility. The congregation has a Vacation Bible School, an outreach to the homeless on the square, and also participates in the Starfish Project for those fighting substance abuse.
Reverend Larry Hill calls his position at Bethel Freewill Baptist at 3983 North Main Street “a dream come true,” serving five years as the Lead Pastor of the church he grew up in. His fellowship just finished a Vacation Bible School and provides transportation services.
Speaking of dreams come true, both ministers agree that a bitter feud between Founding Fathers and subsequent reconciliation account adds special meaning to Global Forgiveness Day on July 7th.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who co-labored together during the U.S. Revolution, became fierce political rivals which troubled Dr. Benjamin Rush, a close friend of both Adams and Jefferson. Dr. Rush had a dream about the two which he wrote down on October 17, 1809, and sent to John Adams.
The amazing accuracy and future fulfillment of several parts of Dr. Rush’s dream are astonishing. As described in his letter, Adams and Jefferson did again become close friends, and did indeed share correspondences over several years as described in the dream. Interestingly, seventeen years after Rush’s dream, Jefferson and Adams did “sink into the grave nearly at the same time” as the two men died within three hours of each other on the same day: July 4th, 1826 – the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Matthew Six, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
