In the chapel of Missouri Baptist University a few years ago, Dr. Curtis McClain – Professor there of Bible and Christian Studies — proclaimed a message to the students regarding forgiveness.
Shortly thereafter, his pastor father was murdered while helping and feeding a man in need in the basement of the church he served!
(A friend wondered aloud if he was going to forgive the man who murdered his dear father.)
Dr. Curtis provides the answer in this time of radio that I requested, wondering about the experience several years ago … and how he is doing today. I was very pleased upon hearing details of the tragedy that I had never before heard.
I become additionally impacted in this radio conversation upon learning that Curtis and his dear wife received his parents into their home and cared for them for years … in the parents late years. It appears to be a scenario that has happened to many evangelical pastors upon retirement: they live on meager incomes in serving God’s smaller congregations. They often minister throughout their lifetimes in a church-owned parsonage. When retirement time comes, they often don’t have a house of their own. Such was the case of the senior Pastor McClain and his wife. So for years the home of Godly Bible Professor and his wife became the home of their parents! He was pastoring a small part time church when the murder occurred!
The word of God commands us to “… honor our father and mother … ” As a committed-to-Jesus couple, they obeyed God … and did just that!!
“Links” to stories regarding different aspects of forgiveness … Available for anytime listening …
To hear Terri Stipanovich tell her story of forgiving her father, titled “My father stole $150,000 from us. I went to him, forgave him, led him to Christ before he died.” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2018/09/17/my-father-stole-150000-from-us-i-went-to-him-forgave-him-led-him-to-christ-before-he-died/ … (Visit Terri’s ministry website — www.faith-that-works.org);
To hear … “Alex of Rwanda saw family murdered; in orphanage given OCC shoebox, received Jesus, forgave killer” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2013/11/17/alex-of-rwanda-saw-family-murdered-in-orphanage-given-occ-shoebox-received-jesus-forgave-killer/;
To hear … “Mark Whitacre: FBI ‘Whistleblower,’ suicidal, imprisoned; found forgiveness, peace; tells others how” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2014/05/09/mark-whitacre-fbi-whistleblower-suicidal-imprisoned-found-forgiveness-peace-tells-others-how/;
My own (HHH) brief story: “Drawn to faith in Jesus brought me joy, forgiveness, purpose, inner-peace, abundant & eternal life” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2015/01/06/drawn-to-faith-in-jesus-brought-me-joy-forgiveness-purpose-inner-peace-abundant-eternal-life;/
O hear … “Brian Miller, driving drunk, killed best friend; Mom Carla Carrabino forgave; now they help others” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2011/02/04/brian-miller-driving-drunk-killed-best-friend-mom-carla-carrabino-forgavenow-they-help-others;/
To hear … “Brain surgeon David Levy; wrote “Gray Matter” offering to pray with patients; see www.drdlevy.com” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2012/01/09/brain-surgeon-david-levy-wrote-gray-matter-offering-to-pray-with-patients-see-www-drdlevy-com/; (As a brain surgeon, he grew into asking apprehensive family members of patients as a part of his spiritual help: “Do you need to forgive anybody?” That question would often up “floods” of release among the surgical patients loved ones!) … and …
To hear … “Alex of Rwanda survived war, received OCC shoebox, visits St. Louis w/ message of love & forgiveness” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2016/04/15/alex-of-rwanda-survived-war-received-occ-shoebox-visits-st-louis-w-message-of-love-forgiveness/.
Dr. McClain is the administrative overseer of some other MBU Adjunct Bible Professors. They include a young man – Dr. Mark Grossmann — who I saw grow up as a member of Parker Road Baptist in Florissant, MO. Three brothers of the Great Grossmann family — Dr. Roger Grossmann, Pastor David Grossmann and Dr. Mark Grossmann — were all three International Mission Board Missionaries at the same time! Mark was once a Seminary roommate with our son, David Hendrick. Mark with his family became an African Missionary for 20+ years, with his family seeing “Bible book of Acts” type amazing works of God! Credible death threats to kill his whole family brought them back to the USA, “bathed” in many tears regarding their broken hearts upon leaving the African people they loved so dearly!
Related “Links” for Anytime Listening …
To hear … “Longtime IMB missionary Mark Grossmann shares inspirational Gospel summary, “Creation to the Cross” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2016/08/26/longtime-imb-missionary-mark-grossmann-shares-inspirational-gospel-summary-creation-to-the-cross/;
To hear … “Dr. Mark Grossmann/David Hendrick; specialist Mark defines strategic importance of Biblical orality” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2017/01/22/dr-mark-grossmanndavid-hendrick-specialist-mark-defines-strategic-importance-of-biblical-orality/ ;
To hear … “Effective missionaries Roger & Vicki Grossmann; planting their lives in Guatemala, giving their all” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2016/10/28/effective-missionaries-roger-planting-their-lives-in-guatemala-giving-their-all/;
To hear … “Missionary friend Mark Grossmann (1): African “Bible storying” – saw ”Book of Acts” works of God” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2015/07/12/missionary-friend-mark-grossmann-1-african-bible-storying-saw-book-of-acts-works-of-god; ;
To hear … “Son David Hendrick impacted by number of friends who have given their lives for their faith in Jesus” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2017/02/12/son-david-hendrick-impacted-by-number-of-friends-who-have-given-their-lives-for-their-faith-in-jesus/ … and …
To hear … “With IMB in Russia, son David Hendrick discovered IMB colleagues Dr. & Mrs. Yi murdered, martyred!” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2017/02/04/with-imb-in-russia-son-david-hendrick-discovered-imb-colleagues-dr-mrs-yi-murdered-martyred/.