Andy Little

Open-Air Mission

‘Holding fast the faithful word...’
(Titus 1:9)

Registered as a Charity: No. 215409

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‘Holding forth the word of life...’
(Philippians 2:16)

Andy Little

& Sandra

Open-Air opportunities in
Bedford, Cambridge, Luton

and Northampton

Click here to read

Andy’s Testimony

FATHER FORGIVE THEM

Forgiveness is a huge issue which seemed to come up repeatedly throughout last year in personal conversations. The questions that were raised were either ‘How can I be forgiven?’ or ‘How can I forgive someone who has wronged me?’ Both issues were a real concern to those asking the questions and opened up a depth of reactions and emotions. On the one hand, the enormity of the issue left a reaction that to forgive would be to not acknowledge the seriousness of the wrong and to betray the victim. On the other hand, to not forgive left the person in bitterness and hatred, which was eating them up like a cancer and spoiling their present and potentially their future life.

One 78-year old man in Bedford told me that he could not forgive another for something that had been done 30 years before. When Ted occasionally goes to church with his wife, he said he feels very uncomfortable when the prayer in Matthew chapter 6 is quoted and especially the words, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you”. Ted said that he knew he was wrong and that he needed to forgive, but felt completely unable to do so. It was a privilege to point him to the Saviour, who endured a far greater amount of injustice against Himself and who suffered and died to provide forgiveness for our wrong. Ted
then spoke of trying to live up to the teaching of Christ, so I tried to show him that we cannot do this until we have first trusted in Him for forgiveness; achieved through His death on the cross.

Very differently, it was lovely to meet a lady in Darlington who had trusted the Lord 2 years ago. Angela had been wonderfully delivered from drug and alcohol addiction and various issues associated with them. Her daughter had been taken from her due to Angela’s inability to look after her during her problems. The guardian was now refusing Angela any access, which she was pursuing through the courts. Through this trauma it was a delight to hear her speak of the complete trust and joy she had in the Lord and a positive attitude of forgiveness to those who were causing her grief. What a difference when we know God’s forgiveness in our own lives!