Holocaust speaker at River of Life Church on Sunday

River of Life will host a unique opportunity for learning and understanding on Sunday, September 17 at 6 p.m.

Irene Gut Opdyke was a courageous Polish woman who helped others survive the Holocaust during Nazi Germany. River of Life Assembly of God has the privilege of hosting a meeting with her daughter Jeannie Opdyke Smith. Jeannie is part of a new generation of Holocaust Speakers who share life stories from their parent's first-hand experiences.

She is a member and speaker for the Oregon & Washington Holocaust Speakers Bureau, a regular speaker for the Anti-Defamation League as well as the Bearing Witness Program, international speaker for the Jewish Federation of North America and speaks to various groups across the United States and Canada.

In November 2015, Jeannie was one of the Honorees at the Anti Defamation League’s "Houston in Concert against Hate" where she was awarded a Civil Rights Medal. She travels to schools, churches, camps, organizations, fund raising groups and clubs throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK.

Her mother Irene was named one of the “Righteous Among Nations” by the Israeli Holocaust Commission and her story is part of a permanent exhibit in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.

Opdyke was famous for saying: “Stand up against hate in all forms - be willing to step up - speak out and become actively involved in showing love, compassion, and human decency to all."

Pastor Mark Phillips invites everyone in the community to this historic opportunity. “I believe it is important to hear these stories of courage and compassion. They can inspire us to better lives and more empathetic living,” he said.