Pastor Simon: Freedom through forgiveness


Renowned Baptist Minister, Pastor Stanford Simon is pleading with fellow Grenadians to become a forgiving people.

Speaking on his weekly radio broadcast, "Today's Sermon," Pastor Simon addressed the concerns being raised by some people over the release of three members of the Bishop Killers as a result of the re-sentencing trial.

The three - Cecil Prime, Lester Redhead, and Christopher Stroude - were each given a 30-year prison sentence by High Court Judge Justice Francis Belle, but because of the time already spent behind bars, they were ordered to be released immediately.

The other thirteen men, including former Deputy Prime Minister, Bernard Coard were given forty years with hard labour. But due to the number of years already spent in prison, they are likely to be released in the next three years.

Left-leaning Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several of his Cabinet Ministers were executed on Fort George on October 19,  1983 following a power struggle within the ranks of the then ruling New Jewel Movement which ctarted the 1979083 Grenada Revolution..

Pastor Simon said there is a lot of people on the island who are still full of anger and resentment. He said that if Grenada was to move on, "we have to forgive the nineteen guys, release ourselves from that and let God deal with that."

"Folks, you (the people) need to move forward. You have to learn to forgive these guys (the Bishop killers). They have moved on," he added."These guys on the ŒHill' have moved on, and those guys who are out, they have forgiven, they have accepted responsibility, they have moved on. The problem is, many of us are still angry, and bitter, and full of things in our hearts that are hurting us every day.

"When is it going to stop? When is our country going to move from where it is? Twenty-three years are enough to hold something," he added. The convicts have accepted "moral responsibility for the tragic events of October 1983 but rejected the notion of being held "criminally responsible" for the massacre on the fort.

The Baptist Minister indicated that Grenada has reached a juncture where "we have a very important time ahead of us." Over the past week, following the decision of Justice Belle to free some of the revolutionary prisoners, Pastor Simon said there have been many angry people in Grenada, many of whom are Christians.

He stated that mankind has to understand that there is need to forgive people no matter what they have done."You don't want to forgive the thirteen on the ŒHill,' but you want God to forgive you. You don't want to forgive your neighbour, but you want forgiveness from God. It cannot work! For you to get forgiveness from God you must forgive," he quipped.

The clergyman pointed out that there are many in the country who are quick to say that Grenada is a Christian country, but their lives do not reflect that of someone living in a Christian country. He blamed the politicians for being the main instigators of hatred and bitterness in the country.

Pastor Simon drew examples of world events where, in the end forgiveness and healing materialized. He spoke of the genocide in Rwanda where over one million people were slaughtered and today their relatives have forgiven the people who committed those brutal acts.

He also made reference to former South African President Nelson Mandella who, after being jailed for 26 years knew how to forgive his political enemies."Nelson Mandella set a great example for the world and for his country," he said.

Pastor Simon said that following an interview he had with Prime, Redhead and Stroude, he has seen forgiveness coming out of their hearts. According to him, Stroude disclosed to him that he was the "Maxist Priest" in the revolution since he was the person who imposed marxism and made it known to soldiers under his command that there is no God.

The Baptist Minister said Stroude has now come to know while in richmond Hill prison that God does exist.   He spoke of the former Major in the disbanded People's revolutionary Army (PRA) indicating to him that there was bitterness, anger and hatred inside of him, but he then realized that he was only hurting himself.

Pastor Simon stressed the need for everyone to reflect on the past in order to chart the way forward. He said that forgiveness is not condoning what the person has done, but it means "removing the stench from your memory so you can exist although you were hurt."
He said the free-flowing river of forgiveness is one of expression of unconditional love.

"Where love and forgiveness are found, acceptance and wholeness and encouragement are found. We can choose to take the road of forgiveness, or we can continue to take the road of hatred, bitterness and anger," he added. Pastor Simon went on to encourage parents to be a model to their children by showing them forgiveness.

He noted that a lot of people are afraid of admitting their mistakes to themselves, their children and to people."I have reached the point where I can say, it is a great day for our country, we have a great time ahead of us because I have reached the point in my life that I have forgiven and I can move on. Many of you have reached the point where you can move on, but there are many of you still holding on," said Pastor Simon.