He was abused, trafficked, and told no one would believe him — then God rewrote his story.

In this powerful episode, Mike Chestnut sits down with Pastor Mark Sowersby, author of Forgiving the Nightmare, to discuss a topic most men stay silent about: childhood abuse and the long road to forgiveness. Mark was abused from age 7 to 14 — physically, emotionally, sexually, and trafficked by his own stepfather. The lie that haunted him most: "It was your fault. And no one would believe you."

Mark shares how he found Jesus at 15, how the Holy Spirit led him to face his abuser decades later, and why forgiveness doesn't mean approval — it means freedom.

What you'll hear in this episode:

Why the enemy traps us in our story — and how it becomes God's story
The moment Mark told his dying abuser "I forgive you because Christ forgave me"
The Bob Ross analogy that changed Mark's entire perspective on healing
Why men cover up abuse, self-medicate, and suffer in silence
Practical first steps if you're stuck in shame and don't know where to begin

Key Quotes:

"Forgiveness is not approval." — Pastor Mark Sowersby "Once I could acknowledge it, the enemy no longer had my ear." — Mike Chestnut "We go through a mess and God gives us a message. We go through a test and God gives us a testimony." — Pastor Mark Sowersby

📖 Get Mark's Book: Forgiving the Nightmare — available now

📖 Also by Mark & his wife: Letters to the Weary

🎙️ Connect with Forgiving the Nightmare Ministry: https://forgivingthenightmare.com

⏱ Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & meeting Mark Sowersby

1:50 – Mark's story: abuse that started at age 7

5:01 – Mike shares his own experience with abuse

10:21 – How Mark began the journey toward healing

13:55 – "Forgiveness is not approval"

15:33 – Why the church stays silent on abuse

18:17 – What Mark would say to someone still struggling

22:00 – The Bob Ross painting analogy (powerful)

23:35 – Getting started when forgiveness feels impossible 29:33 – Suicidal ideation and the "shake it off" lie

34:50 – The peace that comes from sharing your story

42:04 – About the Forgiving the Nightmare ministry

💬 Let us know in the comments: What part of Mark's story hit you hardest?

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