Thoughts on the movie “Woodlawn” and Billy Graham’s influence on the Civil Rights movement

Quote at the beginning of the movie “Woodlawn”.

“Darkness does not drive out darkness only light can do that.   Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.”   Martin Luther King, Jr.

My brother Al McCarn shared with me about his recent visit to the Billy Graham museum in Charlotte, NC.  Yesterday, I watched the 2015 movie called “Woodlawn”.  It is the true story about Birmingham, Alabama football star Tony Nathan (a dark brown young man) and the transformation that took place at Woodlawn High School.  Nearly all of the football team gave their life to Messiah (Christ) after a gospel message given to them by Hank whose life was transformed in Texas at a Billy Graham event when the message of love and peace invaded his life.   At the end of the movie, they had an actual clip of Billy Graham speaking.   And then it hit me, the Jesus Revolution of the late 60’s and early 70’s busted down the racial divide and brought love and peace to all colors of people.  In this Jesus Revolution, Billy Graham had a major role to play.   Racial tensions were high at Woodlawn High School during the beginnings of forced integration or desegregation.   But, the football team became a living example of God’s love for each us through Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ His Son).  One of the most powerful parts of the movie was seeing the head football coach Tandy Gerelds walk into a church filled with dark brown faces.  Here, he wept and shared how he accepted Christ and how Tony Nathan and other football players were instrumental for him to make that decision.  He asked to be baptized that morning in the church.   Could it be that we in Ephraim have lost this message of love and mutual respect for one another?  Do we subjugate people through control and manipulation (The adversary can provide plenty of resources to do this!) so that our way of thinking can reign supreme?   My brothers Ken Rank and Hanoch Young are leading another “revolution”.   Is this “Revolution of Restoration” the next wave to bring Ephraim back to the place of love and harmony with others in Ephraim?   This forced desegregation was used by our Heavenly Father to till the ground and make ready for the seed of the Gospel message in public schools throughout the South.   Is the B’ney Yosef National Shabbat a type of “spiritual desegregation” to push us to the place of love, acceptance, and mutual respect?  Many will continue to walk the path of forcing their doctrines upon others.   Yet, despite the detractors along the way the transforming love of Yeshua will usher in a new wave of a “Revolution of Restoration” that will change the world!  Will you walk with me?  This is what I believe to be one of our first steps on our journey back home to Israel.

—
Chazak Chazak v’nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!
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