Review of Amazing Things     

by Dale Russell

We finally have a moment to reflect on all the blessings that came out of the historic Radical Reconciliation Tour a couple of weeks ago. We were engaged in six meetings during the week-long trip around Oregon.

Our guests were Pastor Nelson Vargas and Carlos Colón from Chicago, whom have been featured in our Forgiveness presentations over the years. Nelson, once a major drug dealer, and his son were deeply involved in crime. Carlos, a gang member at the time, tragically shot and killed Nelson’s son. Both men ended up in prison — and both found the Lord as their Savior behind those walls. By God’s prompting, they eventually sought each other out.

The original video of their story captures the very moment they met face-to-face for the first time since the tragedy. The emotions were raw and overwhelming — tears, tension, questions — yet also an undeniable move of the Holy Spirit. In that small room, forgiveness came alive. Carlos humbly asked for forgiveness, and Nelson, through tears, said,

“I lost a son, but now you are my son.”

You can’t get deeper into forgiveness than that — and they’ve since shared their testimony together in prisons across the country. (Keep a bit of tissue handy when you watch!)

At the conclusion of the visit, I asked Nelson and Carlos what stood out to them the most.

They shared:

• The openness of the men to hear the message and respond. (Across 6 facilities, 125 men made decisions to forgive, accept Christ, or rededicate their lives.)
• How the Holy Spirit guided their words differently at each presentation.
• The surprising impact of the VOH Art Program on the AICs.
• The joy of being used by God in such a unique way.
• How easily they could relate to the men, having spent a combined 30 years in prison themselves.
• The incredible worship teams and music at each location.
• Experiencing Oregon’s beauty — waterfalls, mountains, the Pendleton Underground Tour, and even Oregon’s prisons!

For those who watched the rich exchange of wisdom between Nelson and Carlos, several truths rose to the surface—insights that deeply impacted Sandy and I.

Holding On for the Wrong Reasons

Some of us might have grown up in homes where offenses were collected and stored like keepsakes—tucked into little plastic bags so the pain stays “fresh.” Again and again, we pull them out, reliving the hurt as if it happened only yesterday.

But forgiveness is a powerful solvent that cuts through even generations of hatred, years of guilt, and deep-rooted spirits of bitterness.

Enlist God’s Help to Forgive

Our natural impulse is to pay people back. That desire comes from the flesh. To truly forgive, we must remember why we forgive at all: God tells us to forgive because we have been forgiven. We don’t do it in our own strength—we invite God into the process.

Pray for the Person Who Hurt You

A simple test of readiness: Can you pray for them? If you cannot yet pray for the one who hurt you, your heart is still being prepared. Keep praying—not for their sake at first, but for God to soften and steady your heart.

Decide to Forgive

Forgiveness, like love, is a choice. It asks us to move beyond our emotions and step into obedience. And obedience is rarely easy. Once God shows you that you need to forgive someone, delaying that obedience becomes its own form of resistance. Taking the step may feel like one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make—but it is also one of the most freeing.

The Beautiful Bonus of Forgiving

After you forgive, you’ll discover a surprising surge of strength. Holding onto hurts drains energy and stunts spiritual growth—it’s dead weight. But when you release it and trust God enough to obey Him in this tender area, you experience His power in a fresh way. God renews you, and your desire to walk in obedience grows.

We all came away deeply grateful for how powerfully and creatively the Lord brought these two men and this tour together. Two years in the making, it proved once again how faithful God is to complete what He begins. He demonstrated truly amazing things!

“In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged.

Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers

to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! ” 

Romans 5:5