Ugandan-born Archbishop Of York Dr John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu’s ‘Agape Love Stories’ looks at lives that have been transformed by God’s love – from lifeboat volunteers to people who have seen family members murdered.
The book was launched at St Michael le Belfry church last week, when the Archbishop thanked those who took part in the book, and for their work and bravery in speaking out.
Agape is a Greek word for God’s love, Dr Sentamu said: “These agape love stories are really about the transforming power of the God who came to us in a little child called Jesus.”
Among the contributors is Richard Taylor whose 10-year-old son Damilola was murdered in London in 2000, and Maureen Greaves, whose husband Alan Greaves, a church organist, was attacked and murdered on his way to a Christmas Eve service in Sheffield in 2012.
Alan Greaves, 68, was brutally murdered on his way to play the organ at his local parish church for midnight mass. Two men Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster, both 22, were later jailed for the killing in which they battered Alan to death with a pick-axe in an unprovoked attack.
But in this book, Alan’s bereaved wife Maureen, speaks courageously about her “real and true forgiveness” of the killers.
“Of course I haven’t murdered anybody but I have done wrong in my life. One of the wonderful things about Christianity is you have a God who truly forgives you.
“Therefore it’s through God’s forgiveness and mercy that I have been able to extend true forgiveness to Ashley and Jonathan.” He says.
John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu was born in Uganda in 1949. He was appointed Archbishop of York in 2005. The position of Archbishop of York is the second most senior clerical position in the Church of England after that of Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
