Heart Touchers - The Gift of Forgiveness

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{Heart4Teens.com} *The Gift of Forgiveness*

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If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of teenagers everywhere! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, you can join Heart4Teens.com readers around the world by visiting:

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http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories

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The Gift of Forgiveness

By Kim Book

Each time the barbed-wire fence closes behind me and I see the
men sitting in a circle waiting for me, I begin to pray, "Please
Lord, I want them to see You in me."

I'm often asked to speak to inmates about being the victim of crime.
On March 23, 1995, my 17-year-old daughter, Nicole, opened the door
of her father's house to a 16-year-old young man named LeVaughn
whom she knew. LeVaughn came into the house and they began to
argue over drugs.

LeVaughn picked up the butcher knife from the kitchen counter and
stabbed Nicole to death. My only child lay dying on the floor of the
living room, her eyes still open. The last sight she saw that day was
the face of the young man who was killing her. This young man whom
I had never met in my life, came into my life that day and changed my
life forever.

I buried my daughter, and one week later the District Attorney informed
us he was asking for the death penalty for LeVaughn. He began telling
us how he wanted to try the case, and then he proceeded to ask us
if we believed in the death penalty. Everyone said, "yes," except for
me. I said "no."

I don't believe in murder. Murder is murder, no matter how you look at
it. It was no more right for me to take LeVaughn's life then it was for
him to take Nicole's life. I did not need revenge.

I waited one year to be faced with the young man who had changed
my life forever. He was hostile and angry during the trial. My greatest
fear was that he would get the death penalty and that I would then have
to fight to never allow that to happen. But God knew that wasn't
how He wanted me to spend my time. LeVaughn was found guilty of
second-degree murder and sentenced to thirty-eight years with
no probation.

God had other plans for my life. LeVaughn still looked angry when
he was sentenced two weeks later. Only now, he was sitting right
next to me as I stood at the podium to address the court and the
judge, but I was warned not to address LeVaughn. I was told I
couldn't speak to this person who had changed my life forever,
and he was sitting right next to me.

I began reading what I had written and then God spoke to my heart.
I needed to talk to this young man. It might be my only opportunity. I
turned and looked into his face. This was the face that my daughter
saw as she lay dying on the living room floor just one year ago, and
now I was looking into that same face. I told LeVaughn that I was not
angry with him, but that I felt very hurt. I told him that I had
compassion for him and that I hoped that he could somehow find
a way to turn his life around.

And lastly, I told him that I would be praying for him. The face that
was so full of anger was now looking at me in disbelief, and the
anger was gone.

When I walked away from the courthouse that day, I knew that God
had given both of us a gift. It was the gift of forgiveness. I was able to
forgive the young man who murdered my daughter. Not because he
asked me too, but because it was what God wanted for both of us.
God was never going to be able to use me if I was angry. Forgiveness
brings peace. And with that peace comes overwhelming joy. The joy
of knowing that God will forgive me just as I have forgiven.

Two years ago, I became a Prison Fellowship volunteer. I also
volunteer for the Pre-Release Programs in several prisons in
my area. I do a Parenting Program, Personal Development
Program and the Victim's Sensitivity Program. I have also become
a trained mediator, mediating minor offenses for the District
Attorney's Office, and I'm currently working on a program to do
mediations between victims and offenders of violent crimes. I
believe in rehabilitation.

As I walk out of the prison I feel so much peace. I don't see
myself as a victim. I see myself as someone who has had
something happen in my life, and I chose to let God use it so
that I might be of greater service to Him. There is a sense of
God's presence in prison. God is everywhere, even in prison.
And to think I might never have known that -- if I wasn't able
to forgive.

Kim Book
JOCKOKIM@aol.com

Send Kim an email and let her know what you thought of her story!

Kim Book is a prison volunteer in Delaware for Prison Fellowship
Ministries, Pre-Release Program, Parenting Program, Personal
Development Program and the Victim's Sensitivity Program. She
is a trained mediator, mediating minor offenses for the District
Attorney's Office. She is currently working on a program to do
mediations between victims and offenders of violent crimes.
She may be contacted at e-mail: JOCKOKIM@aol.com.

Reprinted by permission of Kim Book (c) 2000, from "Chicken Soup
for the Prisoner's Soul" by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and
Tom Lagana.

In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of
this story may be reproduced without prior written consent. All
rights reserved.

"Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" is NOT available in bookstores.
To receive a copy of "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul"
autographed by co-author Tom Lagana, please send a check for
US$20 (includes shipping and handling by Media Mail) payable to
"Tom Lagana," along with the name to autographed it to, shipping
address, and mail to:
Prisoner's Soul
PO Box 7816
Wilmington, DE 19803
E-mail: Success@TomLagana.com
Web site: http://www.TomLagana.com
(For shipments outside the USA, please contact Tom.)

To sponsor a box of 24 books to help inmates find a positive purpose
in our safer society, please send a tax-deductible donation of $200
payable to "C-Cubed Institute" and mail to:
Prisoner's Soul
PO Box 7816
Wilmington, DE 19803

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Let's Go Surfing Dude!

Do You or a Friend Have an Eating Disorder? - If you or a friend are dealing with an eating disorder, or if you want to know if you have an eating disorder, then visit:
http://www.heart4teens.com/eating_disorders

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Thought For The Day:

"Seek God first and the things you want will seek you."

Verse for the Day:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you." -- Matthew 6:33

Teen's Thought For The Day:

"When you're lost, it's better to stand still than follow the wrong path."

Parent's Thought For The Day:

"Home is the place where the great are small and the small are great."--Glen Wheeler

Coach's Thought For The Day:

"Those that know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how
to make proper use of their victories." -- Polybius

Deep Thought For The Day:

"I always keep a coathanger in the glove box -- just in case I locked my keys
in the car."

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Author MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.Heart4Teens.com

Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 25 other inspirational books.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

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ALL-STAR Ministry

--The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI

If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8:00 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerne Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 3 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.)

All-Stars: 6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights! Open to all youth grades 9-12.

The Outlet: 6:30 - 8:00 PM Sunday nights in the Multi-Purpose Room! Open to all youth grades 6-8.

Currently we have students from Edgerton, Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Marshall, Franklin, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager.

Upcoming Topics:

Sunday April 23 -- Spring Creek Players Present: The Last Convert (Play starts at 6 PM, but come early to be sure you can get in because the place will be packed!)

Sunday April 30 -- The Choices We Make

Sunday May 7 -- Special showing of Narnia: "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". Invite your friends! Free movie, free popcorn, and free soft drinks!

Sunday May 14 -- No All-Stars! It's Mother's Day so stay home and do something special for your mom!

Sunday May 21 -- Finding God in Narnia

Sunday May 28 -- Who Would Die For You?

UPCOMING EVENTS

Xtreme Teens Camping Trip! -- June 12-17 -- Nicolet National Forest

We will be leaving church at 6 am on Monday June 12 and returning to the church about 7 or 8 pm on Saturday June 17. Xtreme Teens will need their bible, sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush and toothpaste, clothes to last the week, two pairs of shoes, swimming suit, and whatever else they think they need to survive a week in the wilderness!

Youth Missions Trip! -- July 9-16 -- Tijuana Mexico

Annual Fall Retreat -- September 15-17 -- Phantom Ranch in Mukwonago, WI

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Teen Community Groups
6:30 - 8:00 PM Wednesday nights (September though May)

These groups are limited to no more than ten teens and are split into Jr. High and High School ages. This night is for those teens who want to dig deeper than what we do in All-Stars, but may not be ready to be a part of the Xtreme Teens. These cell groups will also be doing special activities with each other as the year goes on to build community.

Jr. High age meets at Kent and Rachel Martin's house: 1324 E. Racine St. (Call 373-0886 if you have any questions!)

High School age meets at Matt and Kristi Kauffman's house: 4339 Fox Hills (Call 758-1243 if you have any questions!)

Xtreme Teens

Xtreme Teens meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 8:00 PM all year round at the Powers' house. This group is very extensive with weekly homework, memorization, service projects, etc. Students interested in this group will have to fill out an application, provide references as to why others think they should be involved with this, and sign an agreement as to what is expected of them. Admission into Xtreme Teens is on a case by case basis. Contact Pastor Michael for more details!