Book sheds new light on the power of forgiveness.
Columbus, OH – December 20, 2010 — We hear about senseless crimes every day. For no good reason, people are hurt or killed, children’s lives are lost or ruined, victims and their families are devastated. Our first response is sorrow or horror, followed by a burning desire for hard justice and punishment.
But for one victim of such a crime, the response has been surprisingly different. When a four-pound rock thrown from a highway overpass crashed through Dr. Johannes Christian’s windshield one night, it shattered more than glass. Striking him in the face, it fractured his skull and jaws, blinding him in both eyes, and permanently disfiguring him. The criminal? A fifteen year-old kid from a nearby neighborhood. The motive? There wasn’t one. Just reckless teen behavior. The media and the prosecutors cried out for justice. Christian’s family–especially his son–wanted to “kick that kid’s ____,” and cried out for revenge. Doc Christian cried, out of blinded eyes, for forgiveness. “Christianity isn’t a belief,” he told his son, “it’s a lifestyle.” That lifestyle led to Doc Christian reaching out to the young perpetrator, even as he served a 12-year sentence for the crime. It’s also led to a new life mission: to share with the world the healing power of forgiveness.
Dr. Christian’s new book, The Face of Forgiveness, reveals a depth of compassion and faith nearly unprecedented in modern culture. But what does his story have to do with our lives? It is a blueprint for improving the quality of our mental, physical and emotional health, our relationships, and yes, our faith. It sets the bar higher but shows us how to get over it. And it is a worthy standard to aspire to, not just because it will make the world a better place, but because it frees us from what’s holding us back from living our lives to the fullest.
As an author, it is my desire to be able to inspire and instill into the lives of teenagers across the state of Ohio, my story that is now in book form; “The Face of Forgiveness-A Memoir”.
I am a four time adoptive parent of children that have come through the foster care system and have served kids in my home since 1972 throughout the United States. Most recently, twenty two years with the Youth Advocate Services Inc. in Columbus, OH, where I have served as a treatment foster parent. I believe that my story of the fifteen year old boy who viciously threw the rock that made contact with my face, altering my appearance for life and the heroic act of the fifteen year old youth who was in the foster care system, intertwined with my act of forgiveness, can leave a powerful message with those who are currently in the custody of children care services. This is a story of survival through pain and the endurance of a life changing incident that will lead youth to know that they can triumph over tragedy.
It is my desire to place a copy of this book into the hands of these teenagers who are going through the foster care system across the state of Ohio Children Services.
I have set a goal of a minimum of one thousands books for donation to be met by December 19, 2010. I have been a ble to meet my funding goal thank to the support of the Dave Thomas Wends foundation Columbus, ohio. Books have already been distributed to the Franklin County Children Services. Distribution is set for Columbus public schools, Department of Youth services Siota villege, Foster care networks in Cleveland, Springfield , Dayton Youngstowns, and other citys accross the state of Ohio.Cincinnati. This project may be the turning point to some youth in the Foster care networks programs making a favorable change and adopting a more positive outlook in his/her personal development process during this transitional period.
visit the Face of Forgiveness website at www.faceofforgiveness.com, for more informationVersion Release Date: 12/06/10
Dr. Johannes J. Christian
614-253-7385
Consumers: Link toi buy the book:
http://www.faceofforgiveness.com/Main.html
Media
Contact: Johannes J. Christian
Media@MentorEquityPress.com
http://www.faceofforgiveness.com/Media.html
http://www.faceofforgiveness.com
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