THE JUDGE CAN SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN GIVE US LIFE!

It was an experience I will never ever forget. I was at Hays State Prison in Georgia doing a Prison Ministry Bible Study with a group of men.  Hays State Prison is one of the hardest and toughest maximum security State Prisons in Georgia. Sitting in the class were two young men. As I shared from the Bible, one of the men said

“IT WAS HARD.” 

This young man, in his early 20’s just spoke out “It’s hard man.”

That it was hard to have ANY HOPE or to have any sense of meaning or purpose in here.

I asked “Why is That”? And he said, “because I have “Life Without.”  I was not sure what he had just said, and I asked him, What was that?  He answered, “I have Life Without Parole.” Then another man spoke up, “me too. I have Life Without.” 

My message that day was from Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  How crazy ironic Huh? God Knows our deepest needs.

I shared how God is able, abundantly able to help us and give us His Grace, His Hope and His Help in our deepest times of need.  After the Bible Study, as I left the prison that day on my drive back home, I cried and my tears began to flow as I hurt deep in my heart and soul for those young men.  I prayed that God would strengthen them and some day, some way their circumstances would change. For God to help them and give them that Hope of Calvary.

Standing before the Judge in the CourtRoom of Law you are shackled and chained and you stand there awaiting the Sentence from the Judge to be rendered.

It seems like a dream or some crazy nightmare that will not end. You never planned to be standing here today, it was not something you wanted or how you would have planned your life to end up. For real no one gets up one morning and decides I think I will go to Prison today. 

In reality it’s always a progression.Getting in prison is very often a consequence of bad choices, bad friends and poor judgement.

You ask yourself over and over again why? Why did I make such an awful choice or decide to let life take me down this road that led me here. There are many reasons and  causes. Some of them are often very hard to fully understand or comprehend. Maybe it was a poor home life, a bad childhood or very real problems adapting to society that only led to a life of poor choices and bad decisions.

Standing before the Judge and being sentenced to Prison is a hard and harsh reality to face regardless of the reasons and causes that got you there.

 In the Bible are many stories to share about men being in Prison and oftentimes at the very end of their ropes.

Joseph was one of those old testament bible characters. Remember the coat of many colors story you may have heard as a child in Sunday School. He was thrown in Prison and was innocent, yet spent many years languishing in the Egyptian jail house because he was framed and set up by his boss’s wife, who claimed he tried to rape her. But in that prison experience God came to Joseph and blessed him. He would eventually walk out of that prison and become a successful leader in the Egyptian society.

There is another amazing story in the Bible of a prisoner that got a big break. Perhaps the biggest break of all. He was on Death Row, awaiting his execution. Hard hearted and hopeless he was. His name was Barabbas. Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder. He was scheduled to die by being crucified on the cross along with a couple of thieves that were awaiting their gruesome fate.On the day of the Crucifixion, Jewish priests who were wanting Jesus Christ to be crucified pleaded with Pontius Pilate and the Jewish people to release  Barabbas and crucify Jesus Christ instead. Pilate had offered the people a choice, thinking surely they would choose Barabbas for death and not this man Jesus who had not committed any crime. But the cold hearted Jewish priests and elders got the people to cry out to kill Jesus and release Barabbas.

Barabbas was therefore released and let go. While Jesus was taken to the Cross of Calvary and crucified. The innocent paying the price for the guilty. That is what Jesus did. He died for you and I, so that He could pay the debt of SIN that we could not PAY.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. 

Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. “

“Houston we have a Problem!”

We are born in SIN because of the sin of Adam and GOD provides a way to cover that SIN in the Lord JESUS CHRIST.God leaves us a free will to choose. To choose to live in sin and reject the Love and Mercy of Christ or to accept HIM as our Savior and the one who paid the price for our SIN.

 DO YOU WANT GOD’S JUSTICE? OR GOD’S MERCY?

 Standing before the Judge in that CourtRoom of Law is a very frightful and emotional thing. You can cuss the Judge out, call him every name in the book, plead your innocence but in the end the full Sentence is rendered.  Stunned and shocked! You shuffle out of that CourtRoom chained and shackled on the next bus to Prison. The Bible says there is another day of Judgement coming for us and you and I will one day stand before GOD. 

Hebrews  9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” 

 Like hiking on a steep mountain trail or driving down a long winding road we will come to a place in life where we have to decide. If you walk blindly and don’t watch your step you will step off the Bluff and fall to your death. If you drive the wrong way or make the wrong turn you will drive off the cliff to your death. 

We each must make a decision about what GOD’s road signs tell us in LIFE.

The BIBLE tells us that we are sinners, and that we need a savior? 

That God sent His Son, JESUS to SAVE us from the judgement and penalty of SIN. 

You have to trust God’s word and Trust in Christ JESUS as your Savior. 

Admit and confess to GOD that you are a sinner and need the Savior JESUS CHRIST. 

Believe in your heart and soul that Jesus Christ died for you and your sins.

Change and Repent from your life of sin through the help and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Judge can sentence you to Life. ONLY JESUS CAN GIVE YOU LIFE!  

Even in Prison you can Be Free. 

Dr. Mickey Park, Dminn. Set Free To Serve Ministry P.O. Box 253 NEW HOPE, TN.  37380 www.setfreetoserveministry.org

(A servant & bond slave of Jesus Christ! Missionary to Jails, Prisons and the Lost, Shining the Light of Christ to a Dark world!) 

LIFE IN PRISON YET FULL OF HOPE IN CHRIST

I CAME INTO THE OFFICE THIS MORNING AND WAS WRITING A FEW LETTERS BACK TO INMATES WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE MINISTRY. I HAD 3 LETTERS ADDRESSED AND WHEN I LOOKED AT  THE NAMES IT DAWNED ON ME THAT ALL 3 WERE TO MEN AND A WOMAN WHO HAVE LIFE SENTENCES IN FLORIDA PRISON. BROKEN LIVES IN NEED OF HOPE AND HELP THAT ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN GIVE. THIS PHOTO IS A SNAP SHOT OF SOME OF THE LETTERS WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS YEAR AND THEY ARE SO TOUCHING. THERE IS HOPE BEYOND THE RAZOR WIRE.

"THERE IS HOPE BEYOND DOPE" & "VICTORY OVER ADDICTION!"

GOD IS USING THE BOOK MINISTRY IN AMAZING WAYS!

Dear Mickey & Stacy,

   Thank you so sooo much to give me the privilege to read Stepping Stones To Freedom. My name is Cassie and I am  22 years old. My story is very similar to Mickey's but my family wasn't like me. They were all semi-wealthy successful Godly people. I was a hoodlum and a very rebellious one at that. It started around the time I was in elementary school and got worse as I went into middle school and high school. I was on probation at 17 going on 18 but it didn't go on my record since the charge got put on me as a minor. I have two class E misdemeanors now, one for criminal trespassing and another for theft below 50. I have always been a good kid, a suck up, and a people pleaser. But I have mental disabilities as well. Schizophrenia and a personality disorder. It's a difficult situation and makes it hard to stay on the right path. I didn't use to like the life of living by the rules, I wanted the adrenaline. I started dabbling in meth and heroin (but I have never shot up any drug in my life). I stole from my parents and lied so much. I hurt people and hurt my family. My husband was atheist and I was Christian based but living the life of a druggy, taking things that weren't mine and bumming. All my life I've dealt with depression and self harm so extreme I'd have to have many stitches, I felt alone but I prayed often. I just didn't work for me. I used to think if I ask I'll get, but that isn't how it worked. I never changed my behavior nor listened to my conscience even though I knew what I was doing was wrong. I lost my mind, I lost my family, and I lost every single thing good inside me. We both decided to get clean on our free will 5 months ago, completely cold turkey. We don't have the urge for it and it makes us absolutely sick to even think about it. But even sober I was still struggling with some other stuff and had the wrong people remaining in my life. A few weeks ago I had got arrested for a capias (skipping court) and it was my first time in big girl jail. I was not expecting it to be as awful as it was. I was confined in a small room for 4 days with people I didn't know, people that were high on drugs, drunk, charged with attempted murder, assault, child abuse, etc... I did not fit in with those people whatsoever. I was raised with manners, respect, and loyalty but too caught up in this messed up world to remember that. I was transferred to the minimum security jail, that is where I found your book. Keep in mind that I have never read a book before in my life let alone finish one. I cannot read it is VERY hard for me and not to mention my attention span is worse than a chicken.  As soon as I picked that book up, it only took me a day and a half to complete it. I know for a solid fact that God used that book to speak to me. It related to me in so many ways, even the part about waiting on the magistrate to give me pretrial to let me go. (I actually picked up that book to try to pass the time while I was waiting) I got so into that book, I didn't eat, I barely slept, and to be honest I got kinda annoyed and impatient when someone tried to get my attention. I felt like I was drawn to thank book and something inside me changed after reading it. A day or two later I was released. It was as if I was drawn to that book, sentence after sentence and page after page it helped me gain my spirit back that I had lost all that time ago. I'm going to church every Sunday and even clean it up for them. My husband slowly converted over the years and can now say he's a child of God. My family can see the light in my eyes again and I'm back to my pure hearted down to earth self. I'm in a better place with nontoxic people around me. I got over my depression and found my motivation to keep moving forward. My life has taken a turn for the better and I am truly happy now thanks to you and your testimony. You both are an inspiration to me and always will be. You saved me at a young age and I am so mighty thankful from the bottom of my heart that I was able to read that book. I cannot thank you enough! I made sure to memorize the ministry email because I HAD to thank the people who changed my life. I have no luck when it comes to remembering anything so I know there was a reason I was able to. I feel holy again. I feel good. I know this is what you wanted to accomplish, telling your story to help others be saved, and you did more than that for me. I hope you come across this email and get to know how much of a blessing you both are and how you have impacted my life to the fullest. I don't expect you to respond, I'd say you're always busy with your own lives and the ministry. I just wanted you to know how much appreciation I have towards you. I thank you and I know God thanks you for straightening up his disobedient child. Have a good night and GOD BLESS!!

                          Sincerely, Cassie

KEEP THE FLAMES OF HOPE BURNING

“Keep the Flames of Change Burning”

I am praying that all this new effort of Prison Reform Restorative Justice movement will help bring real change. 

1 John. 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

That is what I see a true need for: Restoration through Redemption in Christ.

Many Prison Ministries want to go in prisons and preach, sing, dance  and teach to their captive audience but very few want to help someone beyond that.

What I have noticed is often the zeal and commitment ends at the Prison Gate.

They don't want to help them get out, or help them if they do get out to stay out. 

I am seeing a real dark hole as we try to help a few folks find RE-Entry places or programs. 

Our ministry is trying to help a lady in Florida prison who has done 16 years and is getting out soon and has no help, no place to go.

That is a real hard reality to face.

The Prison Systems does nothing to help these folks. They Give them a bus ride to NO WHERE.

It is very difficult to find help for them.

Many of those released have no family, no money and no place to go.

The Prison system did nothing to rehabilitate them. No educational, no vocational and no real life skills.

The current model of our Prisons of mass incarceration are only warehousing prisoners, not helping people. No rehabilitation or redirection of lives.

It is so easy to just look the other way. 

Ignoring the problem does nothing to fix the problem.

A prisoner needs more than just a Bible and good word, they need more than a sermon and a song. They need help getting out and getting a new start with a new life or the chance of ending up right back where they came from is very real and one more reason why there is a 75% to 80 % recidivism rate. They need more than just a bus ride to no where.

Most of my friends have Life Sentences and LIFE IN CHRIST.

“JUSTICE SHOULD NOT BE VENGEANCE” THE NEED FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE!

“JUSTICE SHOULD NOT BE VENGEANCE” THE  NEED FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE!

The letters that I get from Florida inmates vividly share the need for Florida Prison Reform. The stories of the horrific prison conditions,corrupt and  brutal correctional officers, rampant drug use, violence and active gangs is heartbreaking. The Florida Department of Corrections has become Institutions of Mass Incarceration with no real productive programs, no real vocational or educational programs. Several groups on Social Media  are pushing for Florida Prison reform. Yet, many opponents respond with well "They Get What They Deserve." To me as a minister If that be the case we all deserve HELL, yet Christ Jesus offers us Redemption. What many are saying really is about a need for Second Chances. A need for a Parole System and a Correctional System not based on Vengeance but upon Restorative Justice. 

The need to focus on redemption with Education, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Vocational Programs and real life skills for Re-Entry needs after incarceration.

 The “Lock Em Up and Throw Away the Key” model is a Dismal failure.

The system is broken, and sadly Politicians are in the deep pockets of Lobbyist, Private Prisons and Correctional Service Vendors, Sheriff's and State Attorneys who do not want true change, they want to make it harder on sentencing and harder on doing time. Mass Incarceration is their model.

Irregardless that the model of Mass Incarceration has drastically failed. 

The streets and cities are not safer. Our inner cities are  still gang, crime and drug infested. They are more violent and more out of control today as ever. 

Put money and effort into interdiction and diversion and rescue those that are the future inmates of your failed prison system. 

Break the cycle not by Mass Incarceration but by getting to the root of the problem and bringing real change to broken impoverished lives and those at risk and on a pathway into the prison system.

It is very political and usually the one with the most Money Wins. 

So change is not going to happen until enough folks who vote have a real voice. In Florida there are over 13,700 inmates with LIFE Sentences, most of those Life Without Parole. On top of that there are about 5,500 or more with indeterminate long sentences with "Buck Rogers Dates"  who will die in Prison since there is No current Parole system under the current sentencing guidelines. 

The Florida Prison System is truly a Hot Mess. With no true Hope. A deep pit of systemic failure.

Currently today there is No pathway out of the dark dismal hole that presently exists with Life Without Parole, indeterminate sentences and long mandatory minimum sentencing. They have cut programs and services to nothing for many. I write an  inmate who has a life sentence and he can't even get his GED or take any Vocational or Educational classes. They are considered walking dead men like modern day zombies of Mass Incarceration. That is the failure of the current system. 

What  I have seen work in my 37 Years of Prison Ministry is Restorative Justice. Giving the tools to those inmates that are willing to work hard and prove that change and redemption is possible and allowing them to prove that in prison and out of prison. Giving a path way to a second chance model works and has proven to be successful more often than not.  Justice should not be Vengeance. Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Dr. Mickey Park, Set Free To Serve Ministry.

Some Road Blocks Are From God!

"I DON’T NEED A GENIE IN A BOTTLE!"

Hearts Searched:

Ps. 44:21 1 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Ps. 94:11 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Ps. 139 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Prov. 5:21 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

Prov. 16:2 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Prov 17:3 3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

Prov. 21:2 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

Prov. 24:12 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?

Luke 16:15 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Acts 1:24 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Acts 15:8 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

1 Thess. 2:4 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

My friend God Searches our hearts. He knows where we are and what we are going through. He is able, abundantly able to Comfort us, to give us Peace in our hearts and Rest in our Souls.

Regardless of circumstances or situations CHRIST JESUS is there to comfort and Help us in our time of NEED. Call on Him and Trust Him to whisper His sweet Peace, Comfort and Love to your hurting heart. He can and will calm the storms of your life. Be the light in your darkness.

John 8:12 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life

HOW GOD USES PEOPLE MORE THAN ANYTHING AND ANYWHERE:

GOD BLESSES BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS

“We have a God of Great Grace and of Great Mercy”

We have a God of Great Grace and of Great Mercy. Yesterday as I was writing to inmates in a Florida Prison, I was thinking about how the Lord has Blessed us in so many unimaginable ways. Then last night Stacy and I were driving to Nashville to the Airport to pick Bethany up from her trip out to Escondido California, we got to talking about the old days and how even at UCI in 1984 God was moving in our Lives and how the Lord brought good Godly people into our lives in a season of deep need. There was one man Johnny who was a successful Engineer and Businessman who would drive from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Union C.I. Raiford, Fl. to visit me and mentor me. He did this 2 or 3 times before I was transferred to ACI West Unit. Then while at UCI, Mr. Weston, the Carpentry Paint shop instructor and part-time Baptist Preacher would let me come down to his shop and he would disciple me, give me books to study and to read and challenge me to grow in Christ. When Stacy and I became engaged, she moved down to Florida and she and another inmate’s fiance Sharlene actually stayed at their house in Starke until they each got their own place. After I got out we stayed in contact. Amazingly the Weston’s later moved to Tallahassee which was near us and he was one of the minister’s that married us. He and his wife were like Family to us, and were some of the first ones to hold Bethany as a newborn baby. Also, we recall when I was moved to Holmes C.I., God sent a couple from Panama City, Debbie and Gary. They were our Prison Ministry family both while I was in and after I was released. They were in our wedding and were there to celebrate the birth of our daughter Bethany. God blessed us with family in prison and out.  

Looking back, Stacy and I see the hand of God in so many ways, and in so many people. On the drive to Nashville, we were sharing about the Ministry and how now the Lord is using us to go into the prisons to be that light and spark of hope in the darkness like those folks did for us.

On the way to the Airport in Nashville, we have to go by the Metro Davidson County Jail Detention Complex there in Nashville, and that is where as a Prison Ministry we go in sometimes to minister, and Stacy remembers last time how we were visiting confinement cells and sharing and praying with guys. One big dude was in a holding cell cage, and we were sharing with him and I asked him if he wanted me to pray with him. It was a holding steel cage for the shower, he couldn’t reach out his hand because it didn’t have any open bars, so I put my finger up to the little triangle opening of the cage and he put his finger up to the other side of the little open triangle in the cage and we prayed...The Spirit of God was so real there, and even today Stacy and I   tear up when we recall that touching moment.

That is how amazing the Lord is, he sent us to that guy and allowed us to minister to him. Even when the barriers of steel were between us, the Spirit of God was able to move beyond that and encourage that man in his hour of need. We will never forget that day.  

Over and over again Stacy and I look back at how God moved in our lives even back in 1984 at Union Correctional Institution “The Rock” one of the worst prisons in America. Yet, the Spirit of God was moving on brothers, and we had great chaplains and powerful Chapel services and Prayer circles.

It was Awesome. It was Amazing and It was the Life Changing hand of God.

Stacy and I thank God for where we are today, but we also Praise God for where we have been.

Because in the dark and hard times we have seen God work in our hearts and lives. We experienced the comfort and hope that can only come from the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

We are preparing for a Prison Revival for the 4th of July weekend going into the Georgia Prison for a Revival Service July 4 and 5th.

Praying that the Spirit of the Lord will be real and many hearts, souls and lives will be saved and changed for eternity.

Please Continue to pray for us and for the Ministry.

“VICTORY IN CHRIST”

 1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 2 Cor. 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

“REVIVAL IS REAL AS WE GET REAL WITH CHRIST JESUS!” “VICTORY IS REAL AS WE GET REAL WITH THE LORD!”   “HOPE IS REAL AS WE GET REAL WITH THE LORD!” 

“FROM ROCK BOTTOM TO THE ROCK OF CALVARY!”

“FROM THE GUTTERS OF SIN & ADDICTION TO A MOUNTAIN TOP THERE IS HOPE!”

I am a walking testimony of the Power of God’s Grace to change and transform a LIFE. If He can change my life my friend I know HE CAN CHANGE YOURS. HE CAN AND  WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION YOU FACE! JESUS CHRIST CAN WORK HIS MIRACULOUS WORK OF GRACE IN YOUR LIFE. 

REVIVAL AND VICTORY FOR YOUR HEART, SOUL AND MIND IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU.

LET THE SPIRIT OF GOD REFRESH YOU AND RENEW YOU WITH THE POWER OF HIS AMAZING GRACE. LET THE LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD SPEAK HOPE AND VICTORY TO YOU TODAY.

LET THE LIGHT OF CHRIST JESUS SHINE IN YOUR DARKNESS. Jn. 8:12

From daylight to dark, from Sunrise to Sunset the Lord Jesus Christ will walk with you in this life. Trust Him, give Him your worries, your pain, your hurts, your past, your present and your future. Give Him the keys to your heart, life and soul.   

             “Get Real with CHRIST JESUS and He will Get Real with you.“ 

RISE UP AND PRAISE HIM TODAY...HE DIED FOR YOU ON CALVARY, SO YOU CAN LIVE FOR HIM IN VICTORY TODAY. THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD WILL REVIVE YOU, RENEW YOU AND REJUVENATE YOU AS YOU DRINK FROM THE LIVING WATERS OF HIS WELL! AS YOU WALK IN THE GLORIOUS GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!

The True JOY OF CHRISTMAS IS CHRIST JESUS AND GIVING NOT GETTING!

Our Ministry was able to share Christmas with 2 boys of a Tennessee Inmate this year. It truly made our season more meaningful and fulfilling than any of the gifts under our tree. The dad is in our correspondence mentoring program and truly growing in the Grace of God in Christ. They are such sweet boys being raised by their Great Grandparents.

"CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES!

Bethany's Ministry to the Homeless

BETHANY HAS A TRUE HEART FOR CHRIST AND A PASSION FOR THE HOMELESS

OUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD

JESUS CHANGES LIVES!

VICTORY IN JESUS! IT IS MORE POWERFUL THAN DYNAMITE!

"THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL"