GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!

Anonymous (due to the nature of the situation)

Two years ago, I was falsely accused of horrible things by someone I hadn’t seen in over 6 years (”Pat” - name changed). A police investigation followed and hovered like an ominous cloud before I was completely cleared of any wrongdoing in December 2005.

In the middle of the investigation, my son died tragically in a car accident. Grieving his loss was made all the more difficult due to the allegations beyond my control.

Despite being vindicated legally 16 months ago, the relationship with Pat’s family had been shattered. Pat had been a member of my youth group in the midwest for three years, and Pat’s parents and I enjoyed a close personal relationship. Pat’s father was a pastor in the same community and we had collaborated on city-wide ministry efforts, which made the accusation even more painful. How could someone who knew me so well, who had worked me me and experienced first hand my love for people, have believed such a lie?

It would have been easy to stay bitter and resent Pat and Pat’s family. But the God I love and serve is first and foremost a God of forgiveness and reconciliation. So he arranged what I never could have imagined, never mind achieved.

My friend attended an Encounter retreat at Word of Christ International Church last year, and for twelve months urged me to go as well. The only weekend that worked for my schedule was this past weekend, March 30 - April 2. So he and I flew down to Tampa from the Northeast. Friday night we were sitting in the first session when I saw a familiar face. Pat’s father, whom I hadn’t seen since our ministry days in the mid-late 90s, was now sitting three seats to my left at a retreat in Manatee County, Florida.

He was there and so was I. I freaked to say the least. I was totally unprepared for such a thing. I found my friend and told him who was there. He got Pastor Vin, who was leading the retreat, and I briefly shared what was going on and about the false accusation. Pastor Vin gave me the choice to run, but really encouraged me to stay. This was something that no man could orchestrate and he felt God had set us up, so we prayed and I agreed to stick around.

At the end of the session that night I was in back writing something down when Pat’s dad came up to me. He extended his hand and expressed deep regret for our loss of my son. That was huge because he knew my son well. We had lived in in the same neighborhood only 1/2 a mile from one another. His three children were in my youth group. His church supported our ministry, and together we would pray for our community. Our families did so much together and I realized that I had really missed his friendship.

Due to the awkwardness of the situation and all that was going on, we basically exchanged pleasantries and separated. We didn’t speak for the majority of the weekend, so I asked pastor and some of the volunteers to pray that God would do something that only He can do for us. We agreed to let God do it in His time and not stage anything.

On Sunday afternoon, at the closing of the retreat, Pastor Vin prayed for the pastors and ministers. I was the last in line and ended up on the floor – don’t ask. When I began to get up I was on my knees — a good place to be — and a man fell to the floor in front of me and embraced me.

It was Pat’s father. We cried and prayed together.

He told me that I was released from his and his wife’s suspicion, along with the “need to know” that had driven him. I released him from the weight of the false accusation. There was no anger to be found. Just reconciliation. We sat together at the evening service and worshiped God together, which was especially gratifying because we had done that often when we co-labored in the 90s.

My heart has grown heavy for Pat, Pat’s father, and their family, who desperately need a reconciliation miracle with one another. This Easter weekend, please join me in praying that this past weekend was the beginning of a season of healing for them!!!

Because of the accusation I was unable to properly grieve my loss of my son. That was fully taken care of this past weekend! Thanks, Sam!  Thanks to all who helped love us through this.

GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!!!