Community Appeal

How can the church’s role in ending the horrors of South African apartheid inspire your faith leaders to witness social change in today’s issues?

Have You Heard From Johannesburg is seven documentary stories, chronicling the history of the global anti-apartheid movement that took on South Africa’s entrenched apartheid regime. This was not just a political battle; it was spiritual too. Have You Heard From Johannesburg? gives special attention to the role of the global church in the collapse of apartheid creating a stunning victory of democracy in South Africa.

Call to Action
Fact:  It took five decades of organized activism along secular and religious lines to end the South African apartheid regime. – Clarity Films

Have You Heard From Johannesburg can help your community:

• •Invite a faith leader who was active in the South African anti-apartheid movement to speak at your congregation and discuss current justice issues that need congregational support for effective change.

• •Use the witness of the global church in ending apartheid as a platform for new conversation around key justice issues needing community support in your local neighborhood.

• •Create a film series with educational programming to highlight the effectiveness of the combined efforts of religious communities working with secular activists to create change.

• •Learn about the system of apartheid as it was practiced in South Africa and actions taken to change it.

Resources
Watch Have You Heard From Johannesburg? and witness the role of the global church coming together with secular activists to end the human rights violations of the South African apartheid regime.

Grab this podcast of Desmond Tutu's recent interview with Krista Tippett on Speaking of Faith by clicking here. 

Bookmark this Organization:  Auburn recommends The Interfaith Alliance as a best practices organization to track issues of human rights, faith and freedom along religious lines. 

To keep the Have You Heard From Johannesburg? conversation going, Auburn recommends:

• • Purchasing this film for your community lending library:

• • Create curriculum to track the seven issues and themes explored in the documentary series.  Here are recommended discussion points.

• • Create a film series with educational programming to highlight the effectiveness of the combined efforts of religious communities working with secular activists to create change.  Auburn recommends contacting Active Voice to learn more about the important partnership between media and social change.

• • Organize a youth event based on each of the seven stories to track justice issues within your community and how the experience of the church in ending apartheid is a resource for future change. For more information on these seven stories click here.
   

• • Save the Date for summer curriculum planning!  Premiering June 2010, a free 4-part Curriculum Series for your religious community to accompany Have you Heard from Johannesburg?

Synopsis and Purchase Information 
Have you Heard from Johannesburg?, 2010

Have You Heard From Johannesburg is seven documentary stories, chronicling the history of the global anti-apartheid movement that took on South Africa’s entrenched apartheid regime. This was not just a political battle; it was economic, cultural, moral, and spiritual. The struggle came to many surprising venues: it was waged in sports arenas and cathedrals, in embassies and corporate boardrooms.  Thousands died, but in the end, nonviolent pressures played a major part in the collapse of apartheid and thus in the stunning victory of democracy in South Africa.

How Have you Heard from Johannesburg? Created Community Change
The New York City based Harlem Council for Presbyterian Churches used four of the film series for a Pentecost discussion.  They organized a screening at one central church and invited five neighboring Presbyterian Churches to join them for weekly fellowship and discussion.  The Council plans to create another documentary film series to talk about key issues facing social justice.

Shares  Elder Doug Howard.  "This was a very thought-provoking documentary.  There were so many thought-provoking facts revealed that were not known.  As Christians, did we do enough?  Could injustice like this occur today?  I wish more people could see this film and hearing the feedback from our discussion makes it clear that they have been enriched.  All churches should be exposed to this film."

To purchase a copy of Have you Heard from Johannesburg click here.

Follow this link to learn more information on Have you Heard from Johannesburg.