Members of Congress Inspired by Amazing Grace

"What we've seen on Capitol Hill, and in state capitols, is that both parties...love Wilberforce."

Pete Winn/AH (Mar 5th, 2007)

The new film depicting the life and inspirational stand of William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, is apparently making an impact on members of the U.S. Congress.

Giving the movie a standing ovation, is Sen. Sam Brownback from Kansas. "Wilberforce has been a model for me for many years," said Brownback. "I've studied his life and what he did—and bringing, in a positive way, his active faith into the public square and the fight for human dignity."

"It is a fabulous film," he added. "It is a modern-day story of commitment and grit, and active faith in the public square."

Likewise, Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado, agreed that the film was an "inspiration" to fight for what is right—for as long as is needed. "It may take years, it may even take decades," Lamborn said. "This story is a real inspiration, because we have those kinds of issues today that really need to be turned around."

The movie was recommended to other members of Congress at a recent bipartisan prayer breakfast, by Rep. Todd Akin. According to the Citizen Link report, Erik Lokkesmoe, the project manager for Bristol Bay Productions, producer of the film, pointed out its bipartisan appeal.

"What we've seen on Capitol Hill, and in state capitals, is that both parties—Republicans and Democrats—as well as conservatives and liberals in each of those parties, love Wilberforce," he said.

The producers of the film also created The Amazing Change campaign to expose the harsh reality of modern-day slavery—in the form of human trafficking. Lokkesmoe says, "We've seen 75,000 people sign petitions to end modern-day slavery. We've seen people give money to organizations working to end slavery."

Similar to what Wilberforce did in the movie, the producers of Amazing Grace plan to present the petitions to members of Congress on the third week of March.

Sen. Brownback, who has also been working to stop human trafficking, said the petitions would be welcome. "We've got to be active in banning this trade," he added, warning that modern-day slavery is "expanding in some regions of the world."

Source: Citizen Link