(AP) – An eastern Missouri man has his prized gun back thanks to an apparent change of heart by the thief, following an emotional appeal on Facebook.

Chad Smith of Troy discovered Saturday that his Smith & Wesson pistol had been stolen. The gun had been handed down to him from his father.

Both Smith and his dad worked as pastors. Smith currently runs a ministry for troubled kids. He suspected one of them may have stolen the gun.

Smith posted a video offering forgiveness for the thief. Word spread through friends and strangers about the video.

On Sunday – Father’s Day – the gun turned up on Smith’s porch.