Easing suffering with faith

Sherilyn F. Schneekluth

In his work as a genocide investigator for the United Nations, Gary

Haugen has seen some of the greatest atrocities against the people of

India, Rwanda and other places where human rights are violated on a

daily basis.

But, Haugen says, a strong faith in God can provide hope and courage and

help find a peaceful solution to these and other cruel acts against

humanity.

Haugen also directed the U.N. genocide investigation in Rwanda and worked

in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department.

He will speak about “Exploring the Passions of God: Justice and Global

Witness” at 7 a.m. April 18, during a Women of Vision Prayer Breakfast at

the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

“I want to speak to people about how our faith brings hope to our world,

and how God can use his people to provide advocacy for people who are

oppressed,” Haugen said.

As president of International Justice Mission in Washington, D.C., Haugen

also studied abuses in Haiti, the Phillipines, South Africa and Thailand.

.

“At International Justice Mission, we have stories of real victories, of

God transforming lives,” he said. “Hundreds of children in India have

been set free from bonded slavery in India, young girls in Thailand who

were kidnapped and made to work in brothels have been given shelter, and

both men and women subject to illegal detention in Haiti have been

returned to their families through IJM and its international commitment,”

he explained.

Haugen also served on the executive committee of the National Initiative

for Reconciliation in South Africa, a movement of Christian leaders

chaired by Bishop Desmond Tutu who are devoted to racial reconciliation

and political reform.

Referring to the biblical directive found in Isaiah 1:17, Haugen relates

the impetus for the ministry: “to seek justice, rescue the oppressed,

defend the orphan and plead for the widow.”

“Something seems to have shifted positively in the North American

church,” he added. “Now is a time when people in the church are eager to

hear what Christians can do to make a difference in the world. People

used to think that religious faith was a matter of personal piety or the

work of the government programs.”

While investigating the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Haugen was left

speechless when confronted with the evidence of the brutality.

“My first reaction was of the utter poverty of words when you encounter

thousands of human beings slaughtered by their neighbors,” he said. “No

words can bring tidy meaning to that and the usual question, ‘Where was

God?’ I believe God is present in the midst of suffering, the question to

people of faith is “Where were we, where are we?”’

Haugen said a small amount of intervention from the international

community could have brought the genocide of 10,000 to 20,000 people a

day to a halt. With the ability to transmit e-mail images of injustices

and slavery worldwide almost instantaneously, “the question is not

whether we have the knowledge, but what we’re going to do about it.”

“The needy in the world suffer simply because they don’t have a voice,”

he added. “Lawyers, as well as law enforcement people, can advocate for

those victimized, helping to build the Kingdom of God.

“Looking at promises from Scripture and incidents of miracles taking

place around the world, we can encourage people of faith to step forward

and provide advocacy for people who are in oppression.”

Sometimes this critical intervention takes place at the highest

government posts. Recently ,former U.S. President Jimmy Carter

successfully intervened with senior world leaders to secure the release

of male and female prisoners illegally detained in Haiti.

“Jimmy Carter takes his faith seriously as a Christian. Carter is

courageously engaged in how faith is relevant in a world of human rights

abuses, not only looking at suffering and oppression in the world, but

wrestling hard with the question of what it calls forth from him as a

Christian,” Haugen said.

“Good News About Injustice” -- presented as a book, workbook, and

videotape series authored by Haugen -- is being studied in several

hundred churches and religious groups throughout the country. One such

study group was held for four weeks at the home of Women of Vision member

Betsy Tarbell of Newport Beach.

“Our workshop resulted in a greater awareness that we’re not powerless,

but we can be advocates for those who are suffering,” Tarbell said. “We

learned how we can be aware of coercion, deception and exploitation in

our own state, as well as worldwide.”

“Haugen’s book was mind-boggling, and his taped interview with Jimmy

Carter was heartwarming,” said Marilyn McIntyre of Newport Beach, who

attended the sessions.

FYI

WHAT: Women of Vision Prayer Breakfast, with guest speaker Gary Haugen

WHEN: 7 a.m. April 18

WHERE: Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach

COST: $10

CALL: Karen French at (949) 494-3765 by Wednesday for tickets.