|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
06/09/2007
A lasting legacyFaith ministry videos fast becoming family treasuresEvery so often a new idea revolutionizes the way we see things, and in local religious circles, the new Faith Legacy Ministry is quickly becoming one of those ideas. Still in its infancy, the ministry that got its start in Petoskey is on the cutting edge of a new approach to addressing end of life issues and holds the potential to change the way we view death and funerals. In its few, short months, Faith Legacy Ministry has gained a foothold in northern Michigan and is quickly spreading across the country. Using remote video production technology, the ministry offers individuals the opportunity to leave loved ones a lasting legacy — the story of their life, told in their own words, along with words of comfort and assurance. The videos are fast becoming family treasures that provide consolation and healing to those left behind as well as a touchstone with the past for the generations to come. Considered the newest facet of pre-planning, the video, done well in advance, is included as part of a memorial service. Results are showing that while a loss is always grieved, the chance to see and hear the individual on video often offers a way to redirect the focus of the service from mourning the death to celebrating the life. Clergy who have been introduced to the videos are embracing the ministry. "This is a fantastic idea,” said Pastor Kenneth Bernthal of Christ Lutheran Church in Boyne City. "Instead of me getting up there at a funeral and talking about the deceased, the family can watch a short video of the person's life. "They hear the person tell, in their own words, who they are, what shaped their life and what's important to them. They talk about things they want the family to know about them, like how they came to their faith, what they value, what they believe about the hereafter. They tell the story of their life.” Christ Lutheran officially adopted Faith Legacy Ministry and is hosting a presentation by its founder along with church members who have already participated. The presentation from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Monday at the church, 1250 Boyne Ave., is for representatives of all denominations and individuals who would like to hear more. Bernthal has already done his own video and his congregation has established a fund to help others with production expenses. He found the experience pleasant and was pleased with the results that were edited and set to music. When completed, each story is saved to DVD and stored at participating churches until they are presented to family members on the occasion of a death. Expenses incurred are for the videography. The religious organizations do not charge to store the disks. The man behind both the camera and the ministry is videographer David W. Chaveriat, owner of Before I Go Celebrate Life, a video production company in Petoskey and co-founder of Faith Legacy Ministry and FaithLegacyMinistry.org. A Christian mission teacher with 20 years experience in broadcast and video journalism, David W, (he uses only a part of his name in his professional work) comes from a family of Lutheran ministers. His inspiration came during the funeral service for his mother-in-law. During the memorial, a family member showed a videotape of her playing the piano and singing her favorite hymn, "How Great Thou Art.” "As she sang each refrain, we started singing along, too, repeating it back to her just as if she were here singing with us again.” David W said. He instantly realized a need. "People are out there telling stories about their experiences in The Depression and the wars,” he said. "I though how important it would be to make maybe a 10- to 12-minute video of them talking about the things that matter most to them: their experiences, their greatest blessings, how their faith carried them through life. "We learned that on 9/11, people on the planes wanted the words in their last phone calls to be meaningful, and scribbled notes on that day expressed victims' most heartfelt thoughts to their loved ones. Miners in (the Sago mine disaster) in West Virginia left behind notes that reflected the substance from the hearts. They said what they believed.” As word spreads, David W. expects other production companies will jump at the opportunity, but competition doesn't concern him. Neither does the knowledge that people will make their own videos. More than anything, he says, he's an "idea man” who takes his greatest satisfaction in visualizing the presentation. But the ministry already has measures in place to insure that the videos are done tastefully and with respect. Currently in the process of filing for nonprofit status, Faith Legacy® is registered trademarked and Faith Legacy Ministry and FaithLegacyMinistry.org have patents pending. The plan is for the Web site to archive the memorial videos for future reference at no cost, but using stringent guidelines to maintain decorum and dignity while providing descendants with more than just the family album as a link to their heritage. "In effect, the Web site will serve as a reverent place or 'crypt' for the legacies to be safely stored,” he said. He added that professional videographers visiting the Web would be required to be licensed by the ministry to preserve the stories they produce for perpetuity. "This guarantees that no person's story is ever lost. Otherwise companies will do this work every which way and they'll be lost or scattered all over the Web or never find their way there,” he said. He expects that by the time the 20-year patent runs out, the Web site will be fully established. "Once society starts to build the Website, it will become almost sacred ground,” David W said. And he feels the timing is right, adding, "I think it fits with what America is today.” Those interested in attending the Faith Legacy Ministry presentation on Monday should call the church, 582-9301. To learn more about the ministry, call 348-5433 or email videoeducator@yahoo.com.
|
|
By Gretchen Murray
