A Pastor Whose Pregnant Wife was Murdered Wants to Share Jesus With Her Killers

Pastor Davey Blackburn believes God can use even the tragedy of his wife's death to bring new life to others.

Davey Blackburn, pastor of Resonate Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, lost his pregnant wife to a vicious murder, and now says that he wants to see the three men responsible come to know the Lord. In fact, says Pastor Blackburn in an interview at NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina, he wants to be the one to share the Gospel with them.

Amanda Blackburn was 12 weeks’ pregnant when she was murdered on November 10, 2015 by three intruders at her home, reports Christian Today. According to ABC6 News, the three men — Larry Taylor, Jalen Watson and Diono Gordon — will face multiple charges in Amanda’s death, including felony murder, burglary and criminal confinement.

After seeing the men arrested who slaughtered his pregnant wife, Pastor Blackburn knew his tremendous anger would make forgiving very difficult. “What I realized was that forgiveness isn’t an emotion,” he says, “… I wasn’t ever going to feel like forgiving them … forgiveness is a decision. And it’s not just a one-time decision, it’s a daily decision.”

Blackburn says that he decided to forgive the men, in part, because anger and resentment would only harm him and mean nothing to the criminals. “I just didn’t want to be eaten up by unforgiveness and bitterness,” he says.

While he admits he doesn’t know how he would do it outside of God’s grace, Blackburn hopes to have the chance to talk to the men about the Lord. “I really hope I get the opportunity to share the gospel with these guys. I really do. … Imagine if these three guys met Jesus. Okay? Imagine the kick in the n**s it would be for the enemy!”

The pastor says out of tragedy and sadness something glorious can happen. In her restoration business, Amanda would bring new life to old furniture, saying nothing would be wasted. Now, Blackburn says the same about his heartbreaking loss. “Scripture tells me in Jesus’ Story Nothing is Wasted, even the most tragic of situations,” he writes on his blog. He says that lives have already been changed because of Amanda’s story. People are walking with the Lord more closely, and some have even come to know Jesus because of what happened. “Truly,” he says, “Nothing is Wasted.”