Randall Bennett

Author’s Note

As a professional counselor for more than 25 years, I have come to view my office as a stage—a stage where human dramas unfold. On this rare, singular stage I have listened to countless narratives enabling me to develop a unique perspective of the human condition.

As John Steinbeck wrote, "We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the never ending contest in ourselves of good and evil." On my office stage I have witnessed this firsthand. I have observed the depravity of mankind. I have heard stories of rape, physical and sexual abuse, murder, betrayal and loss. I have met with mothers who had a child commit suicide and were the first to discover the body. Too often I have heard stories that have turned my stomach. I have viewed people in the fetal position on my floor. I have heard them cry out in anguish.

I have also had access to another stage – the continent of Africa. Here, over the course of five trips to various parts of the continent, I have witnessed oppression, extreme poverty, hunger, death, disease, violence, rape and war, up close and personal. I have done workshops in the slums of Nairobi. I have met with the poor and downtrodden in South Africa. I have counseled survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. I have done workshops on Post Traumatic Stress in both Rwanda and in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. I have attended the National Day of Remembrance at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center. I provided emotional support to the Memorial Center staff and Red Cross volunteers as they assisted people struggling with flashbacks to the trauma they witnessed during the genocide. This last was truly one of the most emotionally difficult days of my professional life.

At the same time I have witnessed the greatness of mankind. I have heard and been a part of truly inspirational stories of people rising above their circumstances and doing something great. I continue to believe that hope and love are greater than fear, anger and despair.

Faith Through Fire is one of these inspirational stories. It is so much more than a missionary memoir. It is the story of a man doing incredibly brave things at a time and place that historians have labeled "one of the most intensive killing campaigns in the history of the world." The missionaries themselves insist that they did not do anything special. Several have told me that events chose them. OK, events chose them. But once fate chose them what did they do? Why did they do what they did? How could they have had such strength of character to do what they did?

This story is of special interest to me—not only because of the human drama angle—but because of the strength and actions of the main character. To paraphrase from a description of Sir Thomas More, here is one who remains true to himself and his beliefs under all circumstances and at all times, despite external pressure or influence. This main character is also my brother.

Here is his story supplemented with stories of his colleagues.

- Randall Bennett