Each Friday, Christ John Otto sends out an email to the Belonging House fellowship. Each email promises to inspire, teach, and tell the story of what God is doing through Belonging House.

Thank you for your prayers.

For four years 

I walked away from the church.

And to be honest,

the church had done really terrible things to me.

Sadly my response was

"You hurt me, so I will drink poison to get revenge."

People do that alot.

That dark period in my life ended,

when I went to my priest

and made a confession.

I told him everything I did,

and he listened.

And he said,

"I don't know what to tell you,

and I don't have any answers for you,

but if you 

Listen to the Lord and do what He tells you,

God will give you a way out."

And then he pronounced forgiveness over me.

The seeds of Belonging House

were sown in the ministry of the forgiveness of sins.

After receiving forgiveness,

I felt such relief, and the burden was gone

(the problems weren't solved, by the way).

I sighed, and said, "Wow, that was easy."

Father Al pointed to the crucifix on his chest and said,

"No, it was not easy, 

but it is simple."

Jesus Christ won your forgiveness.

And then when he rose from the dead, 

the first words to his disciples were

"I give you the ministry of forgiveness.

Go forgive people."

And as I mentioned, 

I was hurt by the church.

Forgiveness is a two way street.

Over the years, I have had to forgive

those who hurt me,

and also forgive my part in the hurt.

I was not innocent.

And in forgiving and being forgiven

I have received healing and 

grace upon grace.

Forgiveness removes the barriers to healing,

and frees us to receive health and wholeness.  

Forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Amen.

He Never Fails,

—

Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House, a fellowship called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus Christ a throne in the earth.

We do this by laying a solid foundation of big ideas for those who are called to create and shape culture.

We are changing the world through changing the lives of artists and creative people.

—

Christ John Otto is on Substack: christjohnotto.substack.com

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