The Faith and Freedom Club of Medina met at the Rodney Camp Pavilion to hear faith-based presentations from two guest speakers.
John and Karen Hinds spoke about their experiences serving as missionaries in Senegal, West Africa. Their son, Shiloh, accompanied them to the meeting.
The Hinds spent four years living in a small village south of Dakar, where they worked among the local population and learned about Senegalese culture and religious practices. Senegal is approximately 95% Muslim, with the remaining population practicing Catholicism and Protestant Christianity.
John Hinds said Senegal was a challenging place to work. French is the country’s official language, but Wolof is the most widely spoken and understood native language.
Hinds said Wolof is difficult to learn and takes significant time to master.
He noted that Senegal has a population of approximately 18 million, with a median age of 17.
The country has a strong fishing culture, and many areas outside major cities lack access to electricity.
Both John and Karen Hinds come from medical backgrounds.
While in Senegal, they traveled to small villages to provide free medical services while sharing their Southern Baptist faith.
Churches in the region are typically small, and the family supported bivocational pastors by providing pastoral and discipleship training.
The Hinds also distributed Bibles and SD cards containing audio recordings of the Bible, a method suited to Senegal’s strong oral culture.
Storytelling and proverbs are commonly used to communicate biblical principles, as many Senegalese are auditory learners, Hinds said.
Hinds described Senegalese culture as one rooted in concepts of shame and honor, as well as fear and power.
He said the idea of a generous and forgiving spiritual deity is unfamiliar to many, and religious practices often rely on strong peer pressure.
He added that even among the Muslim majority, Islamic beliefs are frequently blended with traditional African spiritual practices.
John and Karen Hinds plan to return to Senegal in late spring.
The second speaker was Dr. Mike Barry, an author and expert on forgiveness. Barry is the author of The Forgiveness Project: The Startling Discovery on How to Overcome Cancer, Find Health, and Achieve Peace, which explores the relationship between forgiveness, health and healing.
Barry said that while forgiveness is valued across religions, Christianity uniquely requires it. He emphasized that unresolved anger can be harmful to spiritual well-being and can damage families, marriages and churches.
Barry also discussed the impact of forgiveness on physical health, citing medical, theological and sociological research, as well as his clinical experience at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
He said his research suggests a connection between forgiveness and immune system function.
Barry noted that few sources address forgiveness as a specific component of healing from serious illness, including cancer.
He emphasized that forgiveness benefits not only those who are forgiven but also the spiritual and physical health of the individual who forgives.
Barry encouraged attendees to reflect on their own lives and pursue forgiveness, noting that forgiveness is central to the Christmas message.
The Faith and Freedom Club of Medina will host Texas author Ben English at its January meeting. More information will be posted on the Medina Tx Community Chat.
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