It was 15 years ago – October 2, 2006 – that the school shooting at the West Nickel Mines School took place. I made a video looking back at that day, but especially focusing on what came afterwards – the forgiveness shown by the Amish. The forgiveness story went around the world, covered in media far and wide. In the book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy*, the authors cite some Amish thoughts on the good that may have come out of the events of that terrible day:

“Sometimes some of our people think we should do more evangelistic work or begin a prison ministry,” said one Amish farmer, reflecting on all the press coverage of forgiveness. “But this forgiveness story made more of a witness for us all over the world than anything else we can ever do.” Gid agreed: “Maybe this was God’s way to let us do some missionary work. Maybe He used the media to help us spread the word.” Not every Amish person drew this missionary-minded conclusion, but some clearly did. “The message [of forgiveness] really was a light to the world,” said Amos, the minister. “We’re supposed to be a light to the world, but we’re not supposed to say, ‘See what I’m doing.’…It’s important that we put the honor where the honor belongs [to God].” (p. 52)

Runtime: 7:10.

 

*Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher

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