Unburdened: Joey’s Journey of Forgiveness

By Dorcas Swartzentruber – Bondage to Freedom Volunteer

Joey* was quiet and sat in the back row at the Bondage to Freedom seminar. He seemed withdrawn and detached from what was happening at the front of the room, where several men were openly sharing their pain and finding healing. However, during the first lunch break on Saturday, he told my husband Jim and me that he planned to call his father. He said that as he watched other men experience freedom, he felt God telling him he needed to forgive his dad.

He called his father several times but was unable to reach him until after dinner. While it was a good conversation, it did not bring the resolution he had hoped for. On Sunday morning, Joey told Loyd, the main speaker for the seminar, that he wanted to talk and find healing, but there was no time before the noon break. He appeared angry, and Loyd worried he might not open up again after lunch. But Joey surprised us. He asked to speak privately with Jim, Loyd, and his friend Brad.

In the Bondage to Freedom seminar book, he pointed to the figure named Sir Self, burdened by baggage, and said, “That is me.” They talked for over an hour. Brad spoke plainly, telling Joey he needed to let go of the self-pity and forgive his father. In seven years of prison, his father was the only person who had visited him. They also urged Joey to forgive himself for not being able to make things right with his victim.

Later, during a time of sharing, Joey spoke about the need to forgive both his father and himself. That evening, we prayed for him and he found peace. When asked, he said the heavy burden he had carried was finally gone.

_{*name changed for privacy}