The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 7:59-60, “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying,

‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, lay not

this sin to their charge.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Preaching throughout the world and in many different churches,

I learned a tremendous lot about pastors and churches. It was not

immediately evident, but in time, I came to understand that the

greatest sin that exists within the church is the lack of forgiveness.

People that claimed Jesus had forgiven them were unwilling to

forgive others. Stephen knew what he had preached to the Jews

had angered them. Yet, it was the truth that they could not deny.

In horrible anger, then encircled him and threw stones at him

until he died. In his dying moments, Stephen forgave them for

what they were doing. His words were a strange parallel to the

words of our LORD Jesus, who said, “Father, forgive them, for

they know not what they are doing.” Anger momentarily erases

all thoughts of wrong-doing. Stephen’s lack of anger gave clarity

to his thoughts and he forgave his persecutors. Think of those

who have wronged you; let go of the anger you harbor, and you

will discover peace in your life. The lack of forgiveness only hurts

the one who fails to forgive.

We love you and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas