News

Peacemaking Through Forgiveness

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Author, Michael Henderson, speaks about forgiveness with the launch of his new book "No Enemy to Conquer" in a Perth home on 28th November. Lindsay Cartwright reports...


There was a responsive audience when Michael Henderson spoke in Perth on Saturday 28 November on the subject, “Peacemaking through forgiveness”. Among those present were a well-known Imam and people from the Jewish community.
At the outset, Michael recalled his visit to Perth in 1970 with the Initiative of Change musical “Anything to Declare”. A special song for Perth was written entitled “City of a thousand sunny days”
During a time for questions one person asked, “How can forgiveness move from the head to the heart?” In response Michael said “It takes time. You have to wait for the right moment. You don’t have to ask for forgiveness. Wait on God for his leading”
Penny Herd leapt forward and gave two examples of forgiveness from the women’s Creators of Peace Conference in Sydney. She told of a Russian who asked forgiveness of an Afghan and of an Indonesian who asked forgiveness of a delegate from East Timor.
There was an interlude in Michael’s speech when a trio led by Mick Vertigan on the guitar presented the songs, “It’s better to light one candle” and “One Word of Truth. outweighs the world”.
Michael was on hand to inscribe his new book “No Enemy to Conquer” and all available copies were sold. One person who could not attend the evening bought a book and asked for it to be inscribed by the author as a Christmas present for his wife.