Viewpoint: Finding Forgiveness

In the Sermon on the Mount, we read to “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” In Luke, Jesus cries out while hanging on the cross “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

On April 10, I shared those verses in chapel before our speaker, Roy Willmon, gave a powerful testimony on forgiveness during our “Struggles of the Faith” series.

The idea for Mr. Willmon to speak came in November 2018 when I attended the annual Christian college president’s meeting held this school year at Oklahoma Christian University. As part of our activities, we went to a private viewing of the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial at the Murrah Federal Building.

While I was observing the displays at the memorial, Clint LaRue, executive director for budget and financial services at OC, came up to me and asked how long I had been at Harding and if I had ever heard of Carla Willmon.

I was thinking of her just then as the Oklahoma City bombing and her death are joined together in my mind. I had just returned from her memorial chapel service when I learned of the bombing. He asked if I knew the rest of the story.

LaRue is from Mount Pleasant, Texas, the same town as the Willmons, and he gave me their number. We talked, and Mr. Willmon agreed to come and speak about their incredible journey to this point. He sent me his proposed manuscript for his speech, and I shared it, with his permission, with the magazine staff. They felt this remarkable story of forgiveness needed to be shared with our readers.

Dr. Kevin Stewart led us in “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” to begin chapel that day, a fitting song for the Willmons’ incredible story of forgiveness and the power of God to change lives.

Read Mr. Willmon’s words here . Also check out a story from the past , Honors happenings , and a life of service .

—President Bruce McLarty