Pastor Chris Edmonds delivered a powerful and moving presentation at the opening of I·SERIES 2024-2025 at The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. He shared the extraordinary legacy of his father, Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, whose courage as a WWII prisoner of war saved over 200 Jewish American soldiers.

Pastor Edmonds spoke passionately about his father's defiance of Nazi orders, a moment of bravery that continues to inspire the fight against hatred and injustice. Through his own journey to uncover his father’s heroism, captured in the award-winning documentary Following the Footsteps of My Father, Pastor Edmonds urged the audience to honor this legacy by choosing right over wrong, standing up for what’s just, and embracing compassion in the face of adversity.

The evening left the audience inspired by the power of one individual’s actions to change the course of history and challenged them to live with courage, integrity and love for all.