BLOGMay 23, 2017

'Faithkeepers' Documentary Tells the Truth About Christian Genocide in the Middle East

Co-producers Roma Downey and Paula Kweskin joined Glenn on radio Tuesday with a timely message in the wake of the terrorist attack in Manchester, England. Their new project --- Faithkeepers --- is a documentary highlighting the genocide and violence against Christian people in the Middle East.

"Faithkeepers is a brand-new documentary film," Kweskin said. "And our goal is really to tell the story behind the headlines. As you mentioned, we get so overwhelmed with the horror that is coming out of the Middle East that we forget that there's men, women and children who are dealing with this reality every single day, Christians who are being persecuted for their faith, who are experiencing a genocide."

At a time when hope is fleeting, the message that we can stand up and be our brothers' keeper has never been more powerful and meaningful.

"All of the worst things in the world stopped because the West remembered who they were --- and we are people that have always followed God. The best way to serve God is to serve your fellow man. We truly are still the last great hope for the world and freedom. And if we don't remember who we are soon, the world can fall into profound darkness --- but it doesn't have to," Glenn said.

For more information about the documentary and how to get involved, visit Faithkeepers online.

Enjoy the complimentary clip or read the transcript for details.

GLENN: Coproducers of the new movie that opens up nationwide today called Faithkeepers, Roma Downey and Paula Kweskin.

Roma, Paula, welcome to the program.

ROMA: Good morning, Glenn.

GLENN: How are you?

ROMA: I'm grand. It's -- we're grand. Thank you. It's with heavy hearts every day that we open the newspapers and just hear what's going on around our world.

GLENN: What happened last night in Manchester, as you guys can testify -- and I'm so glad to have you on today -- because people need to realize that we are fighting against a people that -- that do not have anything close to our values, especially when it comes to children.

I believe -- I believe this arena was intentionally targeted to kill the children, to shock us and to horrify us.

ROMA: Well, from that point of view, it certainly succeeded. We are shocked and we are horrified and we are heartbroken this morning, as we start looking at the pictures coming out of Manchester. And our hearts and our prayers are -- are with the people of Manchester this day.

GLENN: So I watched your film yesterday from the Clarion Project called Faithkeepers. And it is -- I want to -- I guess I want to say it's stirring. It's not depressing. It is shocking. But it stirs you into -- into action, of at least at first recognizing what we're dealing with.

Paula, do you want to talk about a little bit what the movie is?

PAULA: Sure. So Faithkeepers is a brand-new documentary film, as you mentioned. And our goal is really to tell the story behind the headlines. As you mentioned, we get so overwhelmed with the horror that is coming out of the Middle East, that we forget that there's men, women, and children who are dealing with this reality every single day. Christians who are being persecuted for their faith, who are experiencing a genocide. And what we did was, we spoke to these individuals. We heard their stories of bravery and courage. And we're bringing those stories to Christians and Americans. And really trying to inspire them and have them stand up and be their brother's keeper.

GLENN: Yeah. It's truly amazing. And Roma, we've seen this. You've been involved, thank you so much, you and Mark, for being involved with the Nazarene Fund and Mercury One. But we've seen it firsthand. And the courage -- and you've captured it in this film, the courage of these -- some of them, you know, teenagers, that say, you know, every day we got a knock on the door. And if you want to explain that part of the movie, it's pretty powerful. It's how it opens up. And how there was no fear involved.

ROMA: Yes. Some of these stories that we have in this film are just chilling, Glenn, of the accounts that these Christian families went through, targeted because of their faith.

And, you know, those that we spoke to were the fortunate ones in that they were lucky enough to get away with their lives, when so many others did not.

And what we see -- what we were able to show in the film were not just the fear and the pressure on the lives of these people, but that there was a design at play to eliminate the footprint that they had ever been there. We see churches being destroyed. We see holy relics and holy books.

You know, this is the holy land. This is where our Christian religion started. And to see it just being erased over there is also very chilling.

GLENN: It's pretty amazing though the heroics that we have seen. We know firsthand -- and I don't want to give out too many details. But there was some very important Jewish relics in areas of the Middle East that ISIS was coming into. And the Christians gathered around and dug up all of these rel and I can say moved all these relics and buried them with GPS coordinates so you could go back and find them. But they would not leave another person's faith in the dust, to be destroyed and desecrated.

I mean, the people -- the people over there -- I don't know. They just -- I wish more of us were like -- were like them. I wish I was like them. The courage that they have is remarkable.

ROMA: Oh, I think it absolutely is remarkable. And the upsetting thing is that I'm sure that many of them feel forgotten by us over here. The enormity of this genocide that's occurring, we are a people that are half awake to the issues. And I remember as a little girl, Glenn, at school in Ireland reading -- it was part of our reading curriculum, reading the diary of Anne Frank. And I was just a child, and I was so upset by the book, of course. By the story. By my young understanding of the -- of the scale of what had happened.

And with the innocence of a child, I said, "Well, what was everybody else doing? Like, where was the world? Why was nobody else helping?" And I feel a little bit like that now. It's like, "Where are we? And what are we doing?" There's just so -- I think what has happened is so much fear has been generated. And certainly justified by events like last night in Manchester, that emotionally we start to close down to these bigger issues, I think.

This film, Faithkeepers, is really a way to let people see these stories, to feel these stories, to get to know, you know, one person at a time. We've told a number of personal stories in this film, to help an American audience really understand what's going on over there.

GLENN: So you've had to have -- and you've done a great job in this, balancing. You know, we have -- through the Nazarene Fund, we have moved a lot of people out of the Middle East. But we also started something called Operation Underground Railroad. And this is all about the slave trade that's happening all over the world.

And we really wrestle with, how do we get people to pay attention?

And the thing that I struggle with is, it's really easy for people to say, "Oh -- you know, in the case of slavery -- oh, all of our founders, they were rich, white slave owners, and they just didn't care.

Slavery right now is -- is four times the problem than it was over a 400-year period during the western slave trade. So it's much more prevalent. But people don't want to see it because it's overwhelming and they don't -- they just don't want to think about it because it's so horrible.

When you were making this film, how did you balance that in -- in getting people to see it, without shoving it in their face so they just can't look?

PAULA: Well, I think that the film does a good job of balancing that incredible resilient spirit. And so what inspired me through making the film was showing that even when there, it seems like all hope is lost, there are -- there are miracles that happen. There's the kindness of strangers. And there's just an incredible will to carry on. So there's one story in the film, where a woman was kidnapped and raped for being a Christian. And she was told that she needed to convert to Islam, which she refused to do. Then her husband was beheaded in front of her. And ironically, she escaped with her children to Syria.

But she never lost her faith. And I think that those stories are the ones that moved me. And I think that those are the stories that will move audiences, when they view the film.

GLENN: Roma Downey and Paula Kweskin.

Where is the movie being seen? Is it open everywhere today?

PAULA: We have a limited nationwide release at churches. And I would love to encourage all your listeners to go to faithkeepersmovie.com to continue to sign up for screenings. This is really a grassroots campaign. And the Clearing Project and Lightworkers have put so much into this, to make sure that people feel empowered to bring these stories back to their home communities. So faithkeepersmovie --

GLENN: Go ahead. Faithkeepersmovie.com?

PAULA: .com, correct.

GLENN: So if my church isn't one of the churches that is signed up for it, can I -- can I register to have my church? And does it cost my church anything to run it at the church?

PAULA: Absolutely. Absolutely, they can continue to sign up. We're going to be pushing for screenings throughout this summer. It's practically no cost. We're doing some tickets at $8 a pop. But we're really just wanting to open it up to as many churches and as many communities as possible. So it's not too late to sign up now for a screening for your own church or community center.

GLENN: I can't recommend this highly enough. We -- you know, the -- you know, the underground railroad -- slavery stopped -- all of the worst things in the world stopped because the West remembered who they were. And we are people that have always followed God. And the best way to serve God is to serve your fellow man. We truly are still the last great hope for the world and freedom. And if we don't remember who we are soon, the world can fall into profound darkness. But it doesn't have to.

And it will happen in the churches. So please, I -- I watched it yesterday. It is really good. It is something that everybody needs to see. Something that can wake your community up. And there are action steps as well. There are many ways that you can get involved and help save the Christians and the Yazidis and the women and children over there that are facing absolute horrors. This is -- this is the Holocaust of our time. And hopefully, we stop it before it gets any worse and travels. But we need to stop it now. Go to faithkeepersmovie.com. Faithkeepersmovie.com. And Roma and Paula, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

ROMA: Glenn, thank you so much for having us on. We really appreciate you.

GLENN: You bet. God bless.

ROMA: Thank you. God bless you.

RADIO

How to interact with TRUMP-HATING family members this Thanksgiving

Sunny Hostin of “The View” recently argued that people may be justified in refusing to see their Trump-supporting relatives this Thanksgiving because he’s just that bad. But that’s a terrible message, Glenn says. Politics should NEVER come before family. Glenn responds to a post from BlazeTV and “Fearless with Jason Whitlock” contributor Shemeka Michelle, who is dealing with a similar situation – friends refusing to speak to her because of her support for Trump.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: So the holidays are -- are such an important time for us to be able to come back together at the table. And there are people on all sides saying, I can't -- I can't get back together with my family.

Let me tell you something.

My family has my traditional family. You know, from way back when I was growing up.

My family.

And now, my family extended and -- and even, you know, with me and my kids.

We've gone through really rough times.

The last few years, have been just deadly.

To my family.

And we are in the struggle of holding absolutely everything together.

And it is hard. But it is worth it, in the end.

My biggest fear, honestly, is becoming my dad. I always wanted to be my dad, in many ways. Because he was always very open-minded. And he was really, really brilliant.

He always questioned everything.

He was very tolerant. And he was hard-working. But in the end, he just became very, very bitter.

And the family -- I mean, he just blew up the family at the end.

And my biggest fear is becoming my father. And I just -- I was awake all last night. Just thinking about that.

All -- tossed and turned for maybe three hours. Just thinking about that.

Because our family is -- we're just having problems.

And all I want is my family to be together.

Be together for the holidays. Be together for Christmas.

And even if we're mad at each other or whatever.

Still, just family is the only thing that you have at the end of your life. That's it.

And so people are now encouraging others. The ladies The View.

At least they disagreed on this. On skipping family Thanksgiving.

Play cut 12.

Let me just play this real quick.

VOICE: Whatever your reason is. I would never let my politics be the reason I don't show up to see my family.

VOICE: I'm going to disagree. I completely understand her point.

Because I really do feel that this candidate, you know, President-elect Trump. Is just a different type of candidate.

From the things he said, and the things he's done. And the things he will do. It's more of a moral issue for me. And I think it's more of a moral issue for other people.

We're just -- you know, I would say it was different when let's say Bush got elected. You know, you may not have agreed with his policies.

But you didn't feel like he was a deeply flawed person -- deeply flawed by character, deeply flawed in morality.

STU: Yeah. They called him a terrorist all the time.

VOICE: They called him flawed.

GLENN: Okay. Stop.

So the going back and forth on this. First of all, if -- if -- no matter which side you're on, I think we can say, it's a moral issue. On both sides.

You can say, it's a moral issue.

He's Hitler. Well, he's not. Well, if you really believe he's Hitler. It's a deeply moral issue.

But it was a deeply moral issue on our side too. Your candidate was for killing babies, all the way up until and in some cases, after birth. There can't be a bigger moral issue.

Your candidate was going after people, because they disagreed with them.

They called Catholics. And parents, showing up at parent meetings. At school. And called them terrorists.

It was a deem moral issue for us too.

You're -- you're mutilating children.

So don't take the moral high ground, that you were the only ones that thought it was a moral issue.

We did are too.

We just disagreed. Now, what does that have to do with me being your father. Or your uncle.

Or your brother?

Your dad?

What does -- what does that have to do with thinking?

Because this too shall pass.

But what won't pass ever, throughout all of the eternities, is our relationship with one another.

We have become so small, that -- that we think that this is the -- this is the most important thing.

It's not.

Do you know who sha Mika Michelle is?

STU: She's on the Jason Whitlock show.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: She posted something the other day. She said, I have a, air quotes, friend who wasn't sure how to hold space for me.

Those are quotes.

As someone who supported Trump. After the election, she stated she needed to protect her peace, and we haven't spoken since. When she comes to her senses, and I know she will, should I welcome her back with open arms?

Because honestly, I'm thinking about giving her the finger, like, F-U.

After we've been through, you sided with baby killers, and those willing to castrate kids.
Go to hell. She asked for thoughts.

And so, Shemika, if I may, I understand how you feel. I really do. I really, really do.

But I think maybe because my family has been divided politically for so long, because of what I do.

You know, it started way before -- you know, it started with Barack Obama.

No. It started with George Bush.

And so I've been going through this the whole time. That I've built in a little bit more armor.

Whatever. Whatever.

It doesn't -- whatever.

This is not important.

Not going to argue with you.

And I'm not going to try to change your mind.

I'm going to try to be a peacemaker.

Last -- one of the holiday. No. It was during the holiday reunion.

There were two members of my family that vote radically different than me.

And see life, radically different than I do.

But I love them. They're good people.

I just love them.

And they were like, you know, uncle Glenn. We can talk to you.

We just want to understand some things.

And I'm like, good. Because I want to understand some things too.

And we just had a really good open conversation, where neither of us were trying to win, we were just trying to understand each other. Because we knew in the end, we will always be related to each other. And I don't have enough family to blow them off.

You know, it's not like my grandfather. I think my who can't understand mother had 18 children. Fourteen of them lived.

And I don't have that. I have two sisters. I have a few nieces and nephews.

I have two grandchildren. I have four children. I don't have enough!

They're all valuable to me. I would ask, and it's -- it will be easier for us because we're -- we're the winners this time.

So it will be easier for us to say, you know, get over it. What's the big deal?

It's still a big deal to people. And you really have to understand, you know, if you've read my book. Propaganda Wars.

You know the brainwashing that's gone on.

I mean, we talk about it, in the book.

And we show you, how to dismantle that in your own life, to make sure you're not a part of it.

You're not spreading it. And it hasn't affected you.

How to find the truth.

These -- these -- actually feel sorry, for not the ones who know what they're doing.

But for the ones that actually believe that they're going to round people up that disagree with them. Because I will be on the front lines. And I think you could probably say this true.

If they started rounding people up because they disagreed. I will be on your side. I will stand with you. I will be with you. They start with the Bill of Rights, and it's in gross ways. I am with you.

I'm for the Bill of Rights. I'm for all of your rights.

I hope you're for all of mine. We're going to disagree on policies. We're going to disagree on how to get there. But my there, should be your there.

I believe all men are free. All men are created equal. You know, you come into this world equal. You leave equal. You leave with nothing!

Except what you've done in your life. And how you lived your life. Who you worship. How you worshiped. Did you serve?

Did you ask for forgiveness? Did you work that forgiveness in your life?

I have more stuff in my life to apologize for than to Pat myself on the back or say, well, thank you. That was a great went I did. I have many more things to apologize for, than any of that. We're all flawed. We're all just trying to figure it out.

We don't want to control people's lives.

Don't miss this opportunity.

Be the peacemaker. Blessed be the peacemakers.

But remember, peacemakers are the ones who stand up for other people's long-term peace. You may have to say things that are true, that are tough.

GLENN: Don't give any ground on truth, but there might be other ways to say the truth, that they can hear it. And you don't have to say everything.

But if you want to be a peacemaker in your life, you have to stand for what is true, universally true.

So others -- our children, our children's children can have peace in their day. That's what it means to be a peacemaker.

But it comes to your family, don't ever listen to anybody who says, don't talk to your family.

That's what cults do.

RADIO

7 ways to know you're being LIED TO

The Legacy Media has been lying to you and it's clearer than ever after the 2024 election. But how do you know who to trust? Glenn gives 7 tests that his research team uses to evaluate media sources and separate the truth from the propaganda. These 7 tests are explained further in Glenn's new book, "Propaganda Wars."

12,000,000 DEPORTED by a DEMOCRAT? Truth about the freakout over Trump’s deportation plan

Many Democratic politicians and media pundits are freaking out over Donald Trump's plan for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. But if they knew history - even recent history - they would have no reason to fear monger. Glenn heads to the chalkboard to reveal the shocking truth: The president who oversaw the biggest mass deportation operation in recent years - 12,000,000 people deported or voluntarily removed - was a DEMOCRAT.

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

Debunking Progressive MYTHS About Christianity | Eric Metaxas | The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 236

“The liberals hate my guts because I told the truth about Bonhoeffer,” says Eric Metaxas, author of “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” He joined "The Glenn Beck Podcast" to spread the word about Angel Studios' latest film about the German pastor turned coconspirator in a plot to assassinate Hitler. It's a movie, he says, "Jew-hating lunatics" will love to hate, which is why anti-Semites get free tickets. Eric makes the case that Trump is, in fact, not Hitler and explains why Christians should live out their faith in the public square without fear of being called “Christian Nationalists.” Theocracy, Eric says, is “anti-Christian,” but, like in Nazi Germany, there does come a time when the church should oppose a tyrannical state. Church attendance is down, but Eric suggests that just may be a good thing and that perhaps it’s time to consider Bonhoeffer's proposition of “religionless Christianity.” In the end, both Glenn and Eric agree that there is a "warrior side of Jesus,” and “God knows your theology by how you live.”

Get your tickets to "Bonhoeffer" at https://Angel.com/beck.

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