Family members and congregants of deceased Minnesota Pastor Verlyn Strenge openly forgave the man responsible for the late preacher’s death during a Nov. 24, hearing, shocking a judge and moving a prosecutor to tears.
“We forgive you,” Jayme Nelson, Strenge’s daughter, said to David Nelson, the man who crashed his truck into her father’s car last year.
Nelson was reportedly going nearly 70 mph and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.267—three times the legal limit. He will be heading to state prison for three years after being found guilty of vehicular homicide.
“As hard as it was at first, we want you to know that we have been praying for you for the past year, because we know your life has been impacted by the biggest mistake of your life,” Jayme Nelson continued.
The kindness and compassion didn’t end there, according to Inforum.com.
Rick Moore, a member of the First Baptist Church, where Strenge preached, said he and others at the church had been “forgiven so much” and proclaimed, “How could we not forgive you?”
These words were also met with actions, as Strenge’s family—including his widow and children—later walked up to Nelson, gave him a hug, and affirmed their forgiveness.
“I forgive you, David,” Strenge’s widow, Merry Gale, said while embracing Nelson. “Please forgive yourself.”
Strenge’s daughter also offered a heartfelt promise: “I’ll be praying for you and your family.”
Watch these touching moments unfold in the above video. {eoa}
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