Link Press
Christian Japanese journalist Kenji Goto’s inspirational Twitter messages recently went viral after he was beheaded by the ISIS in late January, 2015.
Goto wrote the message of love nearly five years ago which seems to foreshadow his death at the hands of the ISIS terrorist group in Syria long before the horrific gruesome murder video was leaked online on January 31, 2015.
“Closing my eyes and holding still. It’s the end if I get mad or scream. It’s close to a prayer. Hate is not for humans. Judgment lies with God. That’s what I learned from my Arabic brothers and sisters,” wrote Goto on Twitter on Sept. 7, 2010.
The 47-year old slain Japanese journalist’s message is similar to Jesus’ message of forgiveness and love on the cross when the Son of God asked his father to forgive his transgressors at his crucifixion.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” said Jesus to God, according to Luke 23:34.
“[Goto was] devoted to reporting what should be reported with a firm conviction,” said Chofu Church of the United Church of Christ Pastor Hiroshi Tamura, according to a Japan Times report last month just before his former congregation member was murdered.
“[He had] a strong sense of justice . . . and [he was always] conscious of vulnerable people, including children.”
Goto was kidnapped by ISIS in October 2014 after entering the nation of Syria by means of Turkey in hopes of rescuing his friend and future fellow hostage, Haruna Yukawa.
Goto accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1997 and was a member of the Denenchofu Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan.
(c) Breathe Cast
