| WHY PRISON MINISTRY? |
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| MY STORY |
| I find myself in a large cell holding twelve other men. I don't know them. I am alone and I really have no idea what is going to happen to me. I'm 44 years old, away from my family for the first time in 16 years. I miss my wife, my daughter, and my son. I worry about them and how they are holding up through all this. I wound up staying in this situation for another two months. My sentencing was finally scheduled and I was going to find out if I was going to prison or on probation. After all, I had never been in jail before and I only had three traffic tickets in my whole life! The sentencing came and I was on my way to the Wyoming state pen. During my wait I had only talked to my wife twice and my children once. The day after my sentencing, I went before the judge one more time. This time for a divorce. My wife had decided that she could not be with me anymore and that my children could not be with me either. The stress and depression of those two events one day apart were almost more than I could stand. I had been away from my family during Thanksgiving and Christmas and soon I would be away from them for a very long time. I needed to find some kind of solace from somewhere or go mad. |
| I could feel myself going deeper and deeper into depression as the date came for me to be transferred to the prison. I began, like a lot of others who have found themselves in my situation, reading a copy of the Bible. It helped but I had a hard time understanding most of it. I read it from cover to cover. My favorite book was the Psalms and I found comfort there. About three weeks before being transferred to the state prison, I was taken out of the cell and made a trustee. I had a hunch that God was already working in my life. One morning while I was waiting for a load of wash to get done |
| I was reading in the first part of the Old Testament and I asked God "what am I going to do now? What is going to happen to me now that my life , as I knew it, was over?" I heard a voice say, "Follow Me". I looked around and I was by myself. No guard, no prisoner, no one was there, and yet I heard that voice as plain as hearing anyone's voice. I began to weep. After being transferred to the state prison, the prison chaplain got in touch with me and I started to attend Bible study meetings. My thirst for the Word of God was growing to such an extent that I needed a more intensified study then I was getting. I asked the chaplain if there might be a correspondence course I could take in order to further my studies. He told me of a course that he was taking, and in about a month I was starting to work on my masters in |
| theology! This was a Godsend!!! I earned my masters while I was locked down. God had not only, as He had done with Jacob, made me forget all of the problems of my past life, He had also made me prosper in the land of my affliction! I finished my studies at the same time that I was paroled! Imagine that!!! During the year that I was on parole, I tried to reconcile with my ex-wife and I was able to see my children for the first time in a long time. That was wonderful, however my ex-wife didn't want anything to do with me and although I kept trying, she had other plans for her life. |
| I found a good Bible believing church and I started to become involved in various ministries through the church. I met the most wonderful Christian woman and after a short time we were doing ministries together. We went to a meeting held by the Prison Fellowship organization and we signed up to take the training necessary to begin to go into the jail in our home town to do Bible studies. I was |
| worried that I wouldn't be allowed to go into the jails because of my past record, but after a short investigation, I was allowed to take part in the Bible studies. Another Godsend!!!!! As a matter of fact, everything that happened to me after taking Jesus as my savior and Lord was a God- send!!! Right before I started seeing Cindy, that wonderful Christian woman who I had met at the church, my ex-wife let me know through my daughter that she was going to get married. All attempts at |
| getting back with my ex-wife stopped and I started to talk to Cindy and we dated for about a year. We were married and my life has not been better since! We continued to do our prison ministry and I even got to go back to the very prison I lived in to do Bible studies through the prison fellowship group. God has blessed me in so many ways. I am working at a job that pays about a third of what I used to make before prison, but we lack for nothing.. God provides for all of our needs and then some!!!! |
| We have seen many lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The blessings that come from this are untold!! This is why Cindy and I take part in prison ministry. We try to make sure that others can receive the blessings that we have received. " For I was hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick and and you visited me: I was in prison, and you come unto me. Then shall the righteous answer Him saying Lord when saw we thee hungered, and feed thee? or thirsty and give you drink? When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Varily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."( Matt. 26:34-40) With such a statement from our Lord Jesus Christ, we see the importance of reaching out to the poor, the lost, and the forsaken of this world. We must also remember the victims of foolish past behaviors and reach out to them also. This is why we do it, This is why we go out into the jails and prisons to try and reach the lost with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!! Be Blessed- Lee and Cindy |
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| If you are in need of someone to talk to regarding your eternal soul or need help in finding and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, please contact us at leeandcindy@juno.com |
Jesus said, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN-Mt 18:3. Two conditions are given for entering the kingdom of heaven. 1. A person must be converted. 2. A person must become childlike before Almighty God and before the Word of God. He must learn to receive correction as a little child would receive correction from his father, and not with a hostile, prideful, and hardened attitude. Many people "claim" they have been converted from this or that, to Jesus, yet there is no evidence. There is no evidence that they have been converted from the ways of the world to the ways of Christ. They claim they follow Jesus, yet they do not follow His ways. The evidence of a conversion in their attitude does not exist. 2-NEW BOTTLES It is written, AND HE SPAKE ALSO A PARABLE UNTO THEM; NO MAN PUTTETH A PIECE OF A NEW GARMENT UPON AN OLD; IF OTHERWISE, THEN BOTH THE NEW MAKETH A RENT, AND THE PIECE THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE NEW AGREETH NOT WITH THE OLD. AND NO MAN PUTTETH NEW WINE INTO OLD BOTTLES; ELSE THE NEW WINE WILL BURST THE BOTTLES, AND BE SPILLED, AND THE BOTTLES SHALL PERISH. BUT NEW WINE MUST BE PUT INTO NEW BOTTLES; AND BOTH ARE PRESERVED-Lk 5:36-38. A change is required in a person's life. A person needs to become as a new garment and a new bottle. This means a changed attitude must come forth. If that changed attitude has not occurred in a person, it is very positive evidence that the person has not been born-again or converted. Or at best, they are very worldly or carnal or lukewarm. |
| EVIDENCE OF CONVERSION |
The Bible tells us, FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP (we are God’s workmanship-NIV), CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM-Eph 2:10. God has ordained that every born-again Christian should, in some way, work for the spread of the Gospel. Some of the last words Jesus spoke before ascending to heaven were these. GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE-Mk 16:15. GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS-Mt 28:19. AND YE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS-Lk 24:48. FEED MY LAMBS…FEED MY SHEEP-Jn 21:15-17. YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH-Acts 1:8. What is every born-again Christian to teach? We are to TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU-Mt 28:19,20. PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED. AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; IN MY NAME SHALL THEY CAST OUT DEVILS; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES; THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS; AND IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING, IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY SHALL RECOVER-Mk 16:15-18. AND THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM-Lk 24:47. Jesus said, FOLLOW ME. FOLLOW THOU ME-Jn 21:19,22. |
| SERVICE TO GOD |
| Therefore, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BE YE STEADFAST, UNMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD-1 Cor 15:58. Paul is saying, BE YE STEADFAST (firm), UNMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD (always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord). Note, it says, ALWAYS. Not just on Sundays. ALWAYS giving yourselves fully (totally, completely) to the work of the Lord. The book of Proverbs says, TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM (do you acknowledge Him in all thy ways?), AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. If you acknowledge Him in all thy ways, HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. BE NOT WISE IN THINE OWN EYES: FEAR THE LORD AND DEPART FROM EVIL-Pv 3:5-7. Have you worked for Jesus, but slowed down or ceased? Depart from the friendship of the world, and return to Jesus. |
Paul says, I URGE YOU, BROTHERS, TO SUBMIT TO SUCH AS THESE AND TO EVERYONE WHO JOINS IN THE WORK, AND LABORS AT IT-1 Cor 16:15,16 NIV. He is saying, submit or help those people who are doing the work of the Lord; people that labor at it. |
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| MOVE CURSOR TO PICTURE |
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| Man's problem rises from the fact that he has not only lost the way, but he has lost the address. Nicolas Berdyaev |
| SCRIPTURES ON HELL AND THE LAKE OF FIRE COMBINED DOCTRINES Hell is a place of consciousness-ref Lk 16:23,24; a place of DARKNESS-Mt 8:12; eternal separation from your loved ones-ref Lk 13:28; not the slightest hope of release-ref Mt 25:46. There is the torment of memory in hell. You may remember every single chance you had to repent, yet you refused-ref Lk 16:27,28. It is written, WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE-Rev 20:15; HELL FIRE-Mt 18:9; Mk 9:47; DEVOURING FIRE-Isa 33:14; EVERLASTING FIRE-Mt 25:41; a FIRE THAT NEVER SHALL BE QUENCHED-Mk 9:43; THE LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE-Rev 20:10; COALS OF FIRE-Pv 25:22; UNQUENCHABLE FIRE-Mt 3:12; FURNACE OF FIRE-Mt 13:42; VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE-Jude 7; RAGING FIRE THAT WILL CONSUME THE ENEMIES OF GOD-Heb 10:27 NIV; TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE-Rev 14:10; ETERNAL JUDGMENT-Heb 6:2; EVERLASTING BURNINGS-Isa 33:14; EVERLASTING CONTEMPT-Dan 12:2; EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT-Mt 25:46; EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION-2 Thes 1:9; TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER-Rev 20:10; THEY ARE BURNED-Jn 15:6; WHERE THEIR WORM DIETH NOT, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED-Mk 9:46; THE SMOKE OF THEIR TORMENT ASCENDETH UP FOR EVER AND EVER: AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT-Rev 14:11; SHAME-Dan 12:2; PAINS OF HELL-Ps 116:3; OUTER DARKNESS-Mt 8:12; WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH-Mt 8:12; WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH-Mt 13:42; HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS-Lk 16:23; AND HE CRIED...I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME-Lk 16:24; HAVE MERCY ON ME-Lk 16:24. This is the eternal destiny of most people. |
| The above can be a blessing or a curse, a place of growth or of death, a new beginning or a tragic end of a life. It can lead you to a place of refuge or a place of eternal Hell and separation from God. Most people think of prison as the last stop in a tragic life lead for hedonistic pleasures and self -indulgence. Some, like myself were and are blessed enough to know that even though we were sinners, Charist died for us, even though we may not have been looking for Him, Jesus picked us. He has said the He choses those who come to Him, not the other way around. We are a part of Him and He is a part of us! |
| Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:4 This world is bursting with those who have lost hope. Those who once had a song in their heart, joy in their steps, laughter on their faces, family that surrounded and loved them. What happened? The scenarios can be numerous but the outcome always the same. Someone stopped caring, and loving, and was too busy to step in and help. Whether they are imprisoned with bars or their souls are imprisoned they want to be free. They desire to laugh to love and be loved once again. Their agony often silent to our ears. Too often we refuse to stop, to help, to listen and to be a friend. What could possibly be so pressing in our lives that it surpasses our obligation to care for a hungry and lost soul? A few moments of our day that could make eternal differences. A little thoughtfulness in love that can restore a soul, rekindle a flame that has been snuffed out by sin, or renew a song that has been planted in a heart. Shedding the hope of Jesus Christ enlightening their darkness. Prayer Lord, change my attitudes and my priorities towards others. Fill my heart with your compassion; give me the wisdom and the ability to reach out in love to those caught in the trap of sin and hopelessness. Thank you for the opportunity to share the hope of you with others. Breathe fresh life into their dying souls. Amen. |