Festo Kivengere (1919-1988) and his wife Mera attended a Good Friday service at All Souls Church in London. The sermon centered on Jesus’ words from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23.34). Festo carried in his heart hatred for one of the 20th century’s most brutal dictators who had terrorized his country and plotted Festo’s death. A year earlier, Festo and fellow Anglican bishops in Uganda wrote to dictator Idi Amin challenging his human rights abuses. Festo preached on “The Preciousness of Life” to high government officials and rebuked the state for abusing the authority given it by God. Days later, a close friend and fellow bishop was murdered because he spoke out against illegal executions. Festo’s friends warned that he was next on Amin’s hit list. He and Mera fled to neighboring Rwanda where he continued his message of reconciliation while nursing hatred in his heart. The enormity of Jesus’ prayer for his betrayers at the Good Friday service at All Souls Church couldn’t be avoided. He hadn’t let go of the bitterness and resentment that was eroding his soul. He remembered praying, “Lord, I am here and now forgiving Idi Amin.” A deep sense of release and empowerment come over him in that moment to extend forgiveness. He later wrote a book with the shocking title, I Love Idi Amin. A reporter asked him how he could compose a title about a man often described as Africa’s Hitler. Festo said, “I may not like him, but I am obliged as a Christian to forgive him. As long as he is alive, he is still redeemable.” Jesus’ forgiveness prayer and Festo’s contrition invite us to pray a 7th century prayer of forgiveness:
Festo Kivengere
O Lord,
let your forgiveness come from above.
May it comfort us in our misery,
may it cleanse us from our offences,
may it be granted to the penitent,
may it plead for mourners,
may it bring back those who wander from the faith,
may it raise up those who are fallen into sins,
may it reconcile us to the Father,
may it confirm us with the grace of Christ,
may it conform us to the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.