Forgiveness plays a central role in our Christian walk, serving as a cornerstone for our faith. But it’s a concept that extends far beyond theology; it’s an act of transformation embedded in the teachings of Jesus. It offers believers a path to redemption, reconciliation and spiritual growth.
Pastor James Dargin is a father and grandfather, who lives in Warilla, New South Wales. He carries with him a powerful message of forgiveness and works as a team member of the i4Give Foundation, an initiative started by the Abdallah family after the loss of their 4 children in February 2020.
The Power of Forgiveness
James is an indigenous man of God, who has himself experienced the power of forgiveness, healing and restoration. He recently joined us on 20Twenty to share his mission to communicate this message of love and unity throughout our society.
James grew up in a non-Christian home, and it wasn’t until the age of 50 that he finally met Jesus. As a child, he suffered extensive abuse and carried that trauma well into his adult life. After turning to drugs and alcohol, James also inherited a hatred against white people from his family.
‘When the Lord came to me, I had nobody,’ says James. ‘I was in a dark place. I got to a point where the Lord just lifted me up. People ask me, how did you get off drugs and alcohol, and I say the Lord took it off me.’
Holy Spirit Guidance
James had no Christian friends or mentors in his life, and came to rely on Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide him. His heart was filled with unforgiveness, so he cried out to the Lord for help. ‘I cried and I said, Lord, forgive me for all the hatred that I had against white people of different nationalities.’
James now travels around to many different churches, asking people to forgive him for the things he said that may have been offensive to others. ‘I have sinned and I’m accountable for my words,’ says James. ‘It says in the Bible that we’re accountable for our words on judgement day. And so, I just ask people to forgive, because the Lord has given me revelation after revelation.’
Memories of racial abuse are still very vivid for James, and he especially experienced it as a child at school. It got to the point where he wouldn’t even walk into a shop for fear of being judged. He was chased down by white people, and verbally abused by the police.
God’s Beloved
‘But now God has taken that away,’ says James. ‘I recently spoke at Parliament House last month, and the Lord put it on my heart to call them beloved Senators. None of them expected me to call them beloved. But the Lord told me they are still His children. I have to show respect and honour to the politicians.’
James has experienced a miracle in his heart, and he believes God has helped him choose forgiveness over hatred. Now he wants to continue spreading this message of love and forgiveness to as many people as possible.
‘I pray that I get to continue to speak about forgiveness, unity and love,’ says James. ‘Because reconciliation is important.’
‘But first, we have to reconcile with Jesus before we can reconcile with each other.’
Listen to James’s full interview on 20Twenty below:
