Our Newest Substack Story: “Hidden: The Salt and Light of Silence”
Illustrated by Wade McComas
A little over a year ago, we launched Salt and Light Stories, a graphic novel published on Substack that shares the lives of modern-day “saints”– people who have inspired us by their pursuit of the common good and the welfare of their cities. Through our eight completed mini-comics, we hope to give Generations Z and Alpha, who are increasingly drawn to story, beauty, and imagination, models for their pursuit of the common good in a divided, divisive culture.
This project is an extension of our broader mission at the Clapham Group. Inspired by our namesake, we believe in the power of media and storytelling to uncover common ground, pursue common cause, and advance the common good. Our sister company, MORE Productions, brings this mission to life in the world of film, developing projects that spark conversations around issues that matter– the meaning of life, happiness, and human flourishing.
Nearly a decade ago, Clapham and MORE Productions partnered with Cave Pictures Productions to invest in the film Silence, Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Shusaku Endo’s novel about the persecution of Japanese Christians in the early 17th century. Starring Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson, and Adam Driver, Silence was nominated for an Oscar and is regarded by Variety as Scorsese’s best film.
The film wrestles with honest, hard truths – attempting to answer yet also raising real questions about suffering, persecution, religious liberty, and healing. Surrounding the film were men and women who lived lives of salt and light in their own vocations. Artist, author and activist Mako Fujimara created an accompanying book, Silence and Beauty, along with exhibits inspired by the hidden faith of Japanese Christians. Endo, one of the most significant novelists of 20th century Japan, sparked conversation on suffering, history, and faith. And the film invited new audiences into that conversation, bridging faith explicit themes with mainstream storytelling through Scorsese’s direction.
These stories of courage, conviction, and creativity are the foundation for our newest Salt and Light Story.
Over the next month, Salt and Light Stories will release a comic page a week for Hidden: The Salt and Light of Silence, exploring the period of time before Silence begins, when Christianity was first embraced in Japan and then outlawed. Each Wednesday, we’ll share a new comic page, followed by a short essay on Friday. These will include exclusive conversations between Mako Fujimara and Clapham’s “vicar” Nace Lanier, the head chaplain for Washington’s two international airports, exploring the making of the film and its historical context.
We invite you to subscribe to our Substack to receive new pages and reflections delivered to your inbox. You can also find us on Instagram @saltlightstories for exciting announcements, new content, and sneak peeks.
Silence is a story that has been impactful to each of us. At Clapham, it has shaped how we think about religious liberty, suffering, and the responsibility we have to our neighbors. Thank you for joining us on this journey, we pray it is an inspiration to you.
For future viewing or reading, see:
Intro Essay to the Comic Series: By Mark Rodgers
Page 1: Written by Mark Rodgers, Illustrated by Wade McComas
Silence and Beauty: By Mako Fujimara
