By Dr. Tim Orr

In this story, I am sharing a moment that tested my faith and reaffirmed my understanding of grace—a moment that unfolded in a courtroom where justice, loss, and mercy collided in unexpected ways. Eight years ago, a man named Anthony killed my brother in a drunk driving accident, and now I sat in a hearing to determine if he would be released from prison four years early. I entered that room carrying the weight of grief, the ache of loss, and the hope that justice would prevail. But what I encountered was something far more profound. This is not just a story about tragedy; it’s a reflection on forgiveness, the transformative power of grace, and how healing can begin in the most unlikely of places.

Wrestling with Obedience

Last night, I debated whether I should travel to Terre Haute for Anthony's hearing. I debated and prayed, and in the quiet of that moment, I felt the unmistakable prompting of the Holy Spirit. God wanted me to be there, not only to speak on my brother’s behalf but also to share His love—a love that has transformed my life—in a way that might touch Anthony’s heart. Eight years ago, I had forgiven Anthony, but God placed a love in my heart for him last night that I couldn’t explain. I didn’t know the outcome, but I knew I had to obey.

Memories of My Own Brokenness

When I walked into that familiar courthouse around 1 p.m. this afternoon, a flood of memories came rushing back. Thirty-six years ago, I sat in that same courthouse as a lost, broken 20-year-old. At the time, I weighed 145 pounds, and for years, I had contemplated ending my life. The day before my hearing back then, I had totaled two parked cars while driving drunk, fleeing the scene only to be arrested hours later in my grandmother’s living room—with her sitting there, watching. I didn’t know it then, but my life was about to change. Six months later, I encountered the gospel of Jesus Christ, and everything shifted. I had nothing to offer God. My sinfulness was undeniable, and I could no longer hide from it. I needed mercy—a mercy and grace that only Christ could bring.

The Power of the Gospel

The gospel touches the human heart in ways nothing else can because it speaks directly to our deepest need—forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. It reveals our rebellion toward God and our subsequent brokenness while pointing us to the One who can heal and transform us. But brokenness is not the root of our problem; sin is. Sin is rebellion toward God, and that rebellion leads to human brokenness. That’s why repentance and turning to Christ is not optional but necessary. When I came to Christ, I realized that no amount of striving or goodness could earn God’s favor. I needed Jesus. The gospel's message—that Christ died for sinners and rose again to give us new life—reaches into the darkest corners of our lives and offers hope where there was none. It shows God’s power to save, change, and make everything new.

God at Work in Broken Places

I have seen this power firsthand. During my years of ministry in East Chicago and Gary, Indiana, I witnessed God move in extraordinary ways. These cities were filled with brokenness—violence, addiction, and despair were all too common. Yet, in the midst of it, God’s power was displayed. I remember men who had spent decades in cycles of crime and incarceration finding freedom through the gospel. I saw families reconciled, addictions broken, and hope restored where everyone else had given up. God’s love penetrated hearts hardened by years of pain and sin, transforming lives.

A Tale of Two Paths: Eladio and Mo Mack

Anthony’s plight can go one of two ways. He can go the way of Eladio, a guy I visited in jail at the behest of his grandmother. She asked me to talk to him while he was locked up and to visit him when he was released. When I reached out, I invited him out to lunch. When we met, he asked me whether I needed a new pair of shoes. He had just broken into a sports store and stolen many shoes. The second question was whether I owned a gun. To him, everyone owned one. “Not me,” I told him. I saw a lot of Eladios during my time in East Chicago and Gary—men who fell deeper into rebellion and never broke free.

However, Anthony can also go the way of Mo Mack. I helped guys like Mo Mack, who escaped jail and turned their lives around. I will never forget the first time I visited Gary to pick him up. Four guys stopped me in the street and wouldn’t let me pass. They asked if I was “5-0,” meaning the police. I told them, “I’m Mo Mack’s pastor.” They let me by, and I never had any problems again. It was clear that Mo Mack had street cred. I learned early on that to make a difference in a culture where I was an outsider, I needed to find a person of peace. Mo Mack became that person. We ministered together for four years, grew the church, and helped change lives.

As I reflected on Anthony’s situation this afternoon, I was reminded again that everyone has a choice. Anthony’s road ahead is not easy, but it is possible. I have seen lives change when the gospel takes root in someone’s heart, and I believe the same can happen for Anthony if he chooses to turn to Christ.

A Powerful Moment in Court

One moment that still stands out to me was a young man who had grown up with no father and no direction. He came to our church because his mother begged him to. At first, he resisted. But as he heard the gospel week after week, something changed. God softened his heart. One day, he stood before our congregation and shared how he had given his life to Christ. He said, “For the first time, I know I have a Father who will never leave me.” That was the power of God at work.

This was why I came today. The gospel resonates so deeply with me because I have lived it. I’ve been forgiven a lot, and God asks me to extend that same forgiveness.

The courtroom began to fill as the hearing drew near. Anthony was brought in with the other inmates. It was clear from the start that his situation was dire. I learned during the hearing that he had received 12 write-ups and was even charged with a drug offense while in prison. Yet he claimed he had turned his life around. After a decade of urban ministry, I’ve seen many men like Anthony who grew up without being taught to take responsibility. The systemic sin of urban life has often placed the burden of agency on women while excusing men. It’s a pattern that leaves so many broken lives in its wake.

Over the years, I have sat in countless courtrooms as a pastor, often pleading on behalf of young men at the request of their mothers. Many times, I saw no real change. And today, if I’m honest, I wasn’t convinced Anthony was ready. But God had not asked me to determine his readiness; He had asked me to love him.

When the judge called me to speak, I shared my story. I told the court why I was there—to see Anthony succeed and turn his life around. I shared that I had forgiven him and that I loved him. I spoke to Anthony directly, and as I said those words—“I love you”—tears welled up in his eyes. Perhaps it was the first time in his life that a man had spoken those words to him. Anthony cried, and through his tears, he looked at me and said, “I’m sorry.”

I also told him that he needed to serve his remaining days and take that time to change. This was an opportunity to turn his life around—not just for himself but for those who looked up to him and for God’s glory. Real change requires honesty, humility, and deep transformation, and I encouraged him to use this time wisely.

A Final Act of Grace

As I returned to my seat, the judge turned to me. “That was the most moving speech I have heard in my 18 years on the bench,” he said. Then he announced he would decide on Anthony’s case within 24 hours.

In that moment, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a powerful scene from Les Misérables—when a man caught stealing is forgiven by a priest who not only lets him go but blesses him with even more than he had taken. That grace transforms the man’s life. I felt compelled to do something small but meaningful as I left the courtroom. I put $20 into Anthony’s account at the jail. It wasn’t much, but I prayed it might open the door to walk alongside him.

I’d already decided to add the money during the hearing as I reflected on how God’s grace has carried me when I’ve fallen short. I thought about all the times I’ve been forgiven—more than I could ever count. And here was my chance to extend just a sliver of that same grace to Anthony.

After reading my statement during the hearing, I looked at Anthony and told him that his life still had a purpose and that his story wasn’t over. I shared a verse that had been a lifeline for me in my darkest moments: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It wasn’t much—just a small crack of light piercing through years of darkness. But sometimes, that’s all grace needs.

A woman sitting behind me, there to support Anthony, had interrupted the judge earlier in the hearing. She was angry, defensive, and ready to fight. But after the hearing ended, she approached me, her eyes brimming with tears. “What you said was beautiful,” she whispered, her voice trembling. I could tell something in her heart had softened.

As I pray for Anthony tonight, I realize something profound: Grace changes not only the one who receives it but also the one who gives it. A final act of grace doesn’t close the book; it opens a new chapter.

Tim Orr is a scholar of Islam, Evangelical minister, conference speaker, and interfaith consultant with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry. He holds six degrees, including a master’s in Islamic studies from the Islamic College in London. Tim taught Religious Studies for 15 years at Indiana University Columbus and is now a Congregations and Polarization Project research associate at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University Indianapolis. He has spoken at universities, including Oxford University, Imperial College London, the University of Tehran, Islamic College London, and mosques throughout the U.K. His research focuses on American Evangelicalism, Islamic antisemitism, and Islamic feminism, and he has published widely, including articles in Islamic peer-reviewed journals and three books.