The Love of a Father

CBN.com - Problems at home can affect children's lives into adulthood. That was a case with a young man named Che Ahn. His father's constant rejection turned him into a drug addict and a high school drop out when he was 17-years-old. The rift in the family seemed irreparable. But as 700 Club producer Janet White tells us, its' never too late to find forgiveness.

Janet: It was 1956, just shortly after the Korean War had ended. A young father by the name of B. Young Ahn, was allowed to come to the United States as the first Korean Southern Baptist preacher. But the wife and two small children were not allowed to come. So he left them behind. By the time his family was allowed to join him two years later, his young son saw him as a stranger.

Che: In my little mind, I was interpreting this as - my father doesn't love me.

Janet: The young pastor worked two jobs while going to school.

Che: My mom had to work, and my sister was the one who baby-sat me and raised me. So I didn't see my dad, even when I came to the United States.

Janet: As the father tried to get ahead the son grew more and more resentful. Che knew the Korean cultures value on education was important to his dad. But Che was a mediocre student.

Che: My dad's reaction when I didn't get the grades was of course major disappointment, and I got spanked lot. A lot of times done in anger. My dad had a violent temper, and sometimes he went over the line in hitting me.

Janet: Che took that as more rejection, and by the time he was a teen, he rebelled.

Che: By the time I was 15-years-old I had every single kind of drug -- from heroin to cocaine. I was not an addict, but by the time I was 17, I was, and taking drugs every single day.

Janet: He dropped out of high school as a junior. This brought great shame to his father.

Che's father: I was so disappointed. I expected him to be a model pastor's son.

Janet: At the time, his father thought the strict manner of discipline was appropriate.

Che's father: All that I did was with love in my heart. And the best of my intentions and the best of my ability.

Janet: Although the father was disappointed with his son, he didn't stop praying for him.

Che: My parents prayed for me. And even though they didn't know how to communicate, they prayed fervently for me. My recollection of those days is that I remember just how much I hurt my parents. Even though I was bound to drugs, I didn't know how to reconcile with them.

Janet: Then at a party something happened that would change his life forever.

Che: I began to talk to God. I started to talk to him. I said, "God, I don't know if You exist.' But if you do exist, and if what you told me through my parents is true - that Jesus Christ died for me and he rose again and there is really a heaven and hell, and he's the way to eternal life -- I want to know. I ask you to reveal yourself. If you are God, just reveal yourself." And the moment I uttered the words audibly in this room by myself, the presence of God came all over me. I didn't know what was happening at that time. But now looking back, I know what happened. The Holy Spirit came over me. And I began to weep uncontrollably.

Janet: Although he turned his life to Christ and reconciled with his parents it was not until years later in the revival in Toronto that Che realized he still had unforgiveness toward his father.

Che: The first night I was there, I went under the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a gentle presence of the Holy Spirit. I wasn't shaking or laughing or anything like that. I said, "Lord, what are you doing?" And He said, "I want to show you your heart." And showed me my heart. And I had bitterness, some judgments towards not only my father, but also people in authority. It is amazing the way you relate to your dad is projected to other people who are in positions of authority.

Janet: He talked to his dad, and he was amazed at what happened. After that, his dad called him and told his son things he had never told him before.

Che: My dad's voice was so tender, and I couldn't believe what he said. He said, "Son, I want you to forgive me. What I did to you growing up was wrong. Would you please forgive me?" It was the first time he said "would you forgive me" for anything. To hear that was stunning. And then he said this for the first time in his life. He said, "Son, I love you very much and I'm very, very proud of you." After I had hung up, I realized what happened, and I began to cry and shouted and laughed all at once. But it brought such incredible healing.

Janet: That was the start of the renewed relationship. But it was not until "The Call" in Washington D.C. that they had complete reconciliation when his father washed his son's feet.

Che: For an Asian-Korean pastor conservative to untie my shoes was so humbling. I was weeping, and he took off my socks and he began to wash my feet in a very tender way. Then he took another step and he began to kiss my feet and we were weeping and sobbing and he was crying and I was crying and then he prayed a blessing over me.

Che's father: I was crying and crying. I needed to express that love.

Janet: Che pastors a church in Pasadena, California and has written a book on revival called "Into the Fire." Che and his father and Che's four children represent three generations who are now genuinely reconciled because of the power of God.

Che: And now, my dad and I are best of friends. When we see each other, there is so much love. He tells me all of the time he loves me. He hugs me and kisses me on the cheeks which was unheard of in our history.

Che's father: One thing to reconciliation is that it is not only our efforts. We need the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We can be with God because of the mediator Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, God is there.

Che: When the spirit of Elijah comes upon this generation of reconciliation, if we don't respond then judgment will come and if we do respond revival will break out. It brought revival to my family because we both responded.