Burning with a powerful message of forgiveness, Dean Smith of Enumclaw not only asks his audiences – Could you forgive and love the man who murdered your mother? – but….he has lived it.

Little did he know that at a very young age he would be hurled head long into an event that would rip him to the core with a life challenge that would weigh on him into his young adulthood. Life for Smith (who lived in Enumclaw with his family at the time of the event) changed drastically on February 11, 1986, when his pastor got him, his sister and step-sister out of school to take them to Harborview where they saw their mother who had been brutally beaten by their stepfather. Their mother died as they cried at her bedside.

For his part, Smith’s stepfather, Bob, had called 911 to report what he had done and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his crime. Released in 1998, Bob faded into the background while Smith boiled in hidden anger for years, contemplating what he would do to the man who murdered his mom.

As the years passed through being an athlete who excelled in high school sports as well as played basketball in Europe, and then through the dark days of drugs and alcohol, Smith slowly began to heal to the point where he realized that forgiveness might be the only answer to his freedom. And then…God challenged him.

Approximately 22 years after the murder of his mother, Smith was prompted to contact and reunite with his stepfather, Bob. The journey has been earthshaking – to say the least – and ultimately touched and inspired many lives all over the world.

Today, Smith’s ministry – Live To Forgive – brings a message of forgiveness through Christ – no matter the sin, guilt, or past. Written in the ministry’s brochure is the following: “Our goal is to create an army of forgiveness warriors whom have both received God’s forgiveness and forgiven others. The Live To Forgive movement stands on the premise that as God has forgiven us and extended His grace, we too must spread and inspire forgiveness in our own lives and our circle of influence.”

Smith will be ministering at Maple Valley Presbyterian Church, located at 22659 Sweeney Rd. SE in Maple Valley (corner of SE Petrovitsky Rd. and Sweeney Rd. SE), on Sunday, January 22, at the 9 & 10:45 a.m. services. Then Sunday night from 6-8 p.m. he will show his film – Live To Forgive – a powerful documentary film of the events of his life leading up through forgiveness that won the 2011 Most Inspirational Documentary at the Hollywood Christian Film Festival, and 2010 Best Narrative Film at the International Christian Film Festival. It has also received the highest rating from The Dove Foundation with 5 Doves.

“We are hearing countless stories of transformed lives and restored relationships through the inspiration people are getting from the movie,” said Smith.

Childcare will be available during the evening event for children 0-5 years old.

For more information, please call Maple Valley Presbyterian Church at 425-432-4399.

Pictured: Dean Smith from Live To Forgive ministry has lived the life and is now bringing a powerful message of forgiveness to Maple Valley Presbyterian Church on Sunday, January 22.