Journey Toward Forgiveness
A documentary originally for ABC TV

Journey Toward Forgiveness was produced as a documentary for ABC-TV and has since aired on the Hallmark Channel and other cable networks. The documentary tells riveting stories of persons facing anger and forgiveness in the face of violent or wrongful death, near-death from racial injustice, terminal illness, and other stories.

The hour-long documentary powerfully demonstrates that those who are able to embark on a process towards forgiveness—though heartrending and difficult—find it to be the path to inner healing.

Production Information

Journey Toward Forgiveness is a production of the National Council of Churches, presented by the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission. Denominational partners include Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, Seventh Day Adventists, Church of the Brethren, The Mennonite Church and others.

Executive producers are Dave Pomeroy and Burton Buller. Producer is Jerry L. Holsopple.

Journey Toward Forgiveness is available on video (VHS and DVD) from Mennonite Media and other distributors.

A production of the National Council of Churches
Produced for the NCC by Mennonite Media
A presentation of the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission

Awards

Videographer Award
     Award of Excellence

U.S. International Film and Video Festival
     Second Place - Silver Plaque

The Columbus International Film & Video Festival
     Chris Award - Honorable Mention

Production Credits

People who helped produce Journey Toward Forgiveness:

• Burton Buller, executive producer.
  Buller is the director of Mennonite Media. He was formerly the director of Family Life Communications, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and founded two video/film production companies. He has produced such films such as The Amish and The Hutterites earning numerous CINE golden Eagle awards for his work.
• Dave Pomeroy, executive producer.
  Pomeroy is director of electronic media programming for the National Council of Churches in New York City and acts as liaison to the TV networks for programming supplied by the National Council of Churches and the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission.
• Jerry L. Holsopple, producer.
  Holsopple has been a video producer for 12 years, creating more than two dozen videos or video curriculum projects for Mennonite Media and earning numerous media awards including the Telly. Holsopple is now assistant professor of communications at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va., and enrolled in a doctoral media program through European Graduate School.
• Jim L. Bowman, videographer.
  Bowman lives near Hershey Pa. where he operates his own video production business, Bowman & Company. Since 1974, Bowman has traveled around the world videotaping and filming images for a variety of award-winning projects and previously was news cameraman/editor for Channel 21, CBS-TV in Harrisburg. He also served major market TV stations and CNN from the Harrisburg Capitol Newsroom.
• Wayne Gehman, video editor.
  Gehman is a photographer who worked formerly for the Daily News Record in Harrisonburg, Va. He has been a video editor, photographer and producer at Mennonite Media since 1996.
• Sheri Hartzler, associate producer.
  Hartzler has worked for Mennonite Media for 12 years in a variety of roles; she is also one of the founders of Patchwork Pantry (a local food pantry) and is booking agent for Ted & Lee TheaterWorks of Harrisonburg.
• Melodie Davis, writer.
  Davis has been a writer/producer for Mennonite Media for the past 26 years and is a syndicated columnist whose column appears in the Daily News Record and 12 other newspapers. She is the author of eight books, and editor of Valley Living and Together periodicals for Shalom Productions.
• Barbra Graber, narrator.
  Graber received her masters in theater from the University of Southern California; she is currently associate professor of theater at Eastern Mennonite University and has provided voice work on numerous audio and video projects.
• Nate Barker, researcher.
  Barker is currently a full time student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Va, and previously worked as a researcher for the documentary and has also produced an award-winning video, Beyond the News: Facing Death, for Mennonite Media.
• Lauren McKinney, web content developer.
  McKinney has a Ph.D. in English from Temple University and is now a freelance writer and mother, and has been an assistant professor of English at Eastern Mennonite University
• Russ Neufeld, webmaster.
  Neufeld, originally from British Columbia, has been the webmaster for Mennonite Media since 1999.
• Original flute music by Terry Sakoieta' Widrick, Manitoba, Canada.
• Closed Captioning provided by Tempo Captioning, Tucson, Arizona.