A Pastor's Sister Forgave the Sunday School Teacher Who Abused Her
Her family wrote him a letter about forgiveness that his hospice nurse read to him before he died.
finds.life.church · Sick of Hypocritical Christians? Jesus Is TooOn his deathbed, a man listened as his hospice nurse read him a letter aloud.
The letter was written by the family of Pastor Craig Groeschel, led by his sister, who Groeschel said the man had abused for years while teaching Sunday School at their church.
The family, led by his sister, forgave the Sunday School teacher in the letter.
Groeschel said the man "never apologized and continued to claim he was a Christian his whole life."
The decision to forgive was not easy. Groeschel called forgiving what felt unforgivable "one of the most difficult things our family has ever done." He said it took years of counseling and praying, guided as he described it by God's Spirit, before the family was able to heal enough to write.
They explained in the letter why they forgave him and told him about their faith in Jesus.
When the letter arrived, he was on his deathbed, and his hospice nurse read it to him.
The family later learned that the man and the nurse were moved by the letter and prayed together. Groeschel said he does not know what happened to the man in that moment.
For his own family, the result was clearer. He said his sister "let it go," and "We were not going to let his hypocrisy keep us from living in the grace and forgiveness of Jesus," and "And we were not going to let the pain he caused keep us from living in the joy of the Holy Spirit."
Questions people ask
Does forgiving someone who committed abuse mean what they did was okay?
No. In Christian teaching and in counseling, forgiveness does not excuse the act or remove consequences. It means the victim chooses to let go of resentment, while the abuse itself remains wrong and can still be reported and punished.
What can a person do if they were abused by someone at church?
They can tell a trusted person, contact law enforcement if a crime occurred, and seek medical care and counseling. Many churches and victim advocacy groups also have hotlines and resources, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
What does a hospice nurse do?
A hospice nurse cares for people who are expected to live six months or less, focusing on comfort rather than cure. The nurse manages pain and symptoms, helps with daily needs, and supports both patients and families emotionally.