Kirk Franklin’s Father Passes Away Weeks After Reunion

Like many who have been given up for adoption, gospel superstar Kirk Franklin found it difficult to shake the sense of abandonment he felt when is biological parents decided they wouldn’t be able to raise him. After learning of his biological father’s terminal illness, the Grammy-winner reached out in the spirit of forgiveness, reuniting with father, Dwight Allen, just last month.

 

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So….. Two days ago, I received an anonymous call that my biological father, who I never knew, has 3-6 months to live. I’ve lived my entire life hating this man. He and my biological mother gave me up for adoption, and it left me never feeling good enough….to this very day. I took my hate for him and used it as fuel to be the best father I could be for my own. But what I did wrong, is I never took that fuel, and turn it into forgiveness….and that is wrong. Wrong for him, me, and the God I proclaim to represent. How can I preach what I don’t practice. So I flew to Houston yesterday to do that. It’s painful, it’s a process, but how disappointed I would be in myself for this man to leave this earth without being forgiven. He deserves to receive what God gives me everyday. Pray for him, and for me. God this is hard…I weep as I write.

A post shared by Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin) on Sep 16, 2018 at 7:11am PDT

Today, the songwriter has shared the sad news that Allen passed away last night, opening up to followers about his decision to forgive him before it was too late.

“So many emotions. Being abandoned, being adopted, and when I got that call, I knew I didn’t want to continue living in that. So, I fought past it, moved past it and got on the plane, and I’m so glad I did. I just got a call tonight that he passed.

“I want to encourage anybody that may have a hard time moving in forgiveness. It’s painful, but it’s necessary. It’s necessary because they deserve it, you deserve it, and both of ya’ll deserve the same grace that we all want God to give us. That amazing grace.”

Watch Franklin share the news below.

 

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Do you remember the call I received a few months ago….? Dwight Allen 9.12.52.-10.15.18.🙏🏾

A post shared by Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin) on Oct 16, 2018 at 12:37pm PDT