Tombstones and Banana Trees: A True Story of Revolutionary Forgiveness
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A True Story of Radical Forgiveness
If any one had a reason to be bitter and vengeful, Medad Birungi of Uganda would be that man. And he was that and more for over 20 years of his life.
As a young boy he was beaten and ridiculed by his father and eventually abandoned at a very young age, his father leaving with his other wives and children. His family and neighbors treated him, his mother, and siblings as less than dirtâÂÂmore like âÂÂmaggot valley.â The poverty became worse, and his hope and future appeared empty.
He had received some teaching from the Bible about Jesus, His miracles, and His love from one Christian wife of his fatherâÂÂs and some of the Christian ladies at the local church. He was taught to repent, forgive and pray every day. So he knew Jesus saw their plight.
When Medad finally got to high school, he began to live a double life that he kept hidden from his mother and school administrators. He describes this journey of his life in great detail, and it will touch you deeply inside as a friend, mother, father, or sibling.
But God had way different plans for Medad than he could have ever imagined. Medad describes how he went to each person who was on his âÂÂhit list,â forgiving each one after he became a Christian in 1980, despite how bitter he had been. Only by the grace of God was he able to accomplish this feat. And wait until you read about the results!
Revolutionary forgiveness like this can change relationships, communities and countries. He calls you to find your healing from your own emotional scars by coming to Christ, repenting, forgiving and praying.
Pick up MedadâÂÂs book and find that freedom for your own life! Then share it with others!
This book was provided by Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, at The B&B Media Group, in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.
August 30, 2011
journey along the winding road of forgiveness
Medad was a typical six year old boy in a typical village in western Uganda. Medad's father had five wives and the home compound was crowded. His father decided to relocate and abandoned Medad's mother and family, pushing them off the trucks as they were leaving. Medad's mother was a Tutsi who had fled Rwanda and the Hutu. They were left alone and shamed.
So begins Medad's story, one he says shows âÂÂhow a boy who begged to die by the side of the road grew to be a man who was able to forgive.â (24)
They had no clothes but on their backs. They didn't even have a pot to cook in. But God provided. Nonetheless, Medad tells of the curses and spells placed on them and how he hid from those who would beat him. Some of his relatives were Christians and helped them, but there were some âÂÂChristiansâ were not good to them.
He did well in primary school and was accepted into high school, the fees to be paid by his oldest sister. But as he went to her house to collect the money, he was met by a messenger telling him she had been murdered. Some of his other sisters were raped.
His mother finally scraped together the money for high school fees and he worked for his room and board. He became involved in a gang. He was confronted with the unconditional love of God at a concert and after struggling with the concept of forgiveness for some time, was converted. He began to forgive those who had hurt him and his family.
He began giving his testimony. He prayed for his father and they were eventually reconciled. He finished his schooling, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, married, worked for various ministries, got fired and called a heretic, was refused ordination in the Anglican Church (was commissioned as a lat evangelist, then was finally ordained in 2004), and now has a fruitful ministry.
His life is a testimony to the power of forgiveness. He says, âÂÂUnforgiveness not only gives demons the right or ability to torment us, but it also prevents God from forgiving our sins. Now this is serious...â (152) âÂÂIf you have a hard time forgiving others, the love of Christ isn't flowing through you. ⦠Start working on your relationship with your heavenly Father so you can come to know of His great love for you...â (154)
He calls his life âÂÂa journey along the winding road of forgiveness...â (187) He is convinced, âÂÂOf all the people in the world, there are none stronger than the people who are able to forgive.â (196)
Medad's is an encouraging story. It also says much about the people of Uganda and the church there. It is also a call to forgiveness each of us needs to hear.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
July 21, 2011
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