Week 51: A Pastor Healed by Forgiving His Father

In Tanzania, during a children’s blessing conference, something unexpected happened.
While the focus was on the children, God was also at work in the hearts of the adults.
One of them was Pastor Fabrice.

“I do not know how to thank you for coming to Tanzania,” he shared.
“You thought you were only training children, but it is I who was healed.”

For 19 years, he had served as a full-time pastor. Yet deep within him, there was a wound that had never fully healed.

“My father used to mistreat me in ways beyond reason,” he said.
“The pain was so great that my grandmother took me in to live with her.”

Years passed. Ministry continued. Outwardly, he was serving God faithfully.
But inwardly, something remained unresolved.

Then, during the conference, a moment came that changed everything.
“It was on that Saturday that I understood that I had not truly forgiven my father.”

The realization was deep and undeniable.
But with that realization came grace.

“Thank you very much,” he said.
“Since that day, my heart has been full of joy to have him as my father.”
What years of time had not healed, one moment of truth and release began to restore.

And it did not stop there.
“This week, I have decided to go and visit him and express how much I love him.”
A decision.
A step.
A restoration beginning.

When forgiveness is released, healing follows.
When honour is restored, identity is restored.
And when a heart is healed, even a pastor can become a son again.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32