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.
Some Road Blocks Are From God!
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.
OUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD
GOD IS ABLE! ABUNDANTLY ABLE!
I PRAISE GOD TODAY! FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE
FOR WHAT HE CAN DO AND FOR WHAT HE WILL DO IN OUR LIVES...
"GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN IS STILL GOD IN THE VALLEY!"
God on The Mountain..
"GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN IS STILL GOD IN THE VALLEY!"
Last night at the Discipleship class at the Georgia Prison I volunteer at a lady Correctional Officer Sergeant came in and asked me to come with her. She took me to another room.There sit 4 men both black and white guys then she with tears in her eyes asked will you please speak with these men and pray with them. I was shocked as she was a tough no-nonsense type of Correctional Officer Sergeant, the “Shorty Talcum” of the Rock at UCI back in the day.She then left and as I talked with the men and each one shared with tears and that brokenness I had not experienced in many years, I felt their pain.
One man from Michigan had a newborn baby in the hospital born without Kidneys and also his dad had just informed him he had a terminal illness. One of the other men shared his new born baby boy was in ICU at a Hospital in Georgia and was critically ill. He cried tears down his face as he said he might never get to hold his baby son. Another shared that he had just found out his aunt was close to death with the flu and she was like a mother to him. The other man shared that his mom had just found out she had cancer. By then with tears in my eyes and memories in my heart as I felt The deep pain and desperation of each of this men. Considering where I have been and where I am coming from, I know their pain, I had been there. In that same valley. I shared that it was no accident that the Sergeant Correctional Officer brought them out to share and pray. It was a true God Moment, and that the Lord JESUS CHRIST is more than just our comforter, but our SAVIOR.
Matt. 11:28 8 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
That even in that Prison, behind the Razor Wire and High Fence, I knew that no matter how dark, how messed up or how devastating life was that JESUS CHRIST IS THE PEACE AND COMFORT WE NEED. That as we prayed we found “ That God on the Mountain is Still God in the Valley.”
FROM THE JAIL HOUSE TO THE CHURCH HOUSE!
"FROM THE JAIL HOUSE TO THE CHURCH HOUSE: THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES"
Shouts of JOY and VICTORY resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! Ps. 118:15
What a day of Joy and Victory as we enjoyed the Wedding of Doug and Zegan who just 1 year ago were in jail and prison.
Their lives devastated and destroyed by drugs and sin. Until they found JESUS in the JAIL HOUSE. The Redeeming Grace of God
Reaches into the darkness of SIN and REDEEMS what Satan and Sin has destroyed and devastated.
This is why Stacy and I LOVE what we do in PRISON MINISTRY. Stacy did the flowers for the wedding, our daughter Bethany did the photography, and it was a true labor of LOVE. Several ex-inmates from the Georgia RSAT Prison Drug Program attended, as did numerous ex-inmates from the County Jail who are part of the Drug Program "Transformation" at Church.
Totally Awesome to See the Power of God's Glorious Grace though Christ in action.
There is a Life beyond Addiction, Beyond the jail cell and beyond the Prison cell.
Jesus proclaims in John 10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
A NEW LIFE! A NEW FREEDOM!
The OLD MAN IS GONE. THERE IS NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS.
GREAT LOVE: Submitted by an inmate.
GREAT LOVE
Once upon a time: There was an Island where all the feelings Lived.
Happiness, Sadness, Vanity, Richness and all the other feelings including LOVE.
One day it was announced to all that the Island was about to sink to the bottom of the Ocean.
So they all prepared their boats to leave the Island. But...Love was the only one that stayed.
She wanted to preserve the Island “Paradise”, until the last moment.
When the Island was almost totally submerged underwater. Then Love decided it was time to leave, so she began looking for someone to ask for Help.
Just as “Richness” was pulling out with his Grand Boat. Love asked “Can I leave with you?”
He replied, “I’m sorry, but I have lots of Gold and Silver on my boat and there is no room anywhere for you.”
Vanity was behind him pulling out and Love asked him “Can I please come with you in your Beautiful Vessel?” Vanity replied “I can’t help you, your too wet and you will damage my Beautiful Vessel.”
Soon after “Sadness “ came by and Love immediately yelled out to her, “Can I please go with you?” She replied quickly and said “I’m sorry Love but I just want to be by myself alone right now.”
Then came “Happiness” and she cried out “Happiness may I please come with you?”
But Happiness was so overjoyed that He didn’t hear Love cry out for help.
So Love, began to cry until she heard a voice that said, “Come Love, I will take you with me.”
Love looked up and saw it was “Mr. Elder” But she felt so Blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to get his name.
So when they arrived on land, Mr. Elder went on his special way. Suddenly Love realized how much she owed to Mr. Elder. So she searched for Mr. Knowledge, and she found him.
She asked Mr. Knowledge, “Who was the Elder that helped me?”
Mr. Knowledge said Oh! That was “Time”! Love then asked “Why did Time help me, when no one else would?”
Then Mr. Knowledge smiled, and with deep sincerity and wisdom, He replied:
“BECAUSE ONLY TIME IS CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING HOW GREAT LOVE IS!”
PRISON MINISTRY TEAM TENNESSEE
A TIME OF REVIVAL AND FELLOWSHIP REACHING INTO THE JAILS AND PRISONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE & GEORGIA
“1 Thess. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
THE LORD SO BLESSED OUR 4 DAYS OF PRISON MINISTRY REVIVAL AS THE WORD OR GOD AND HOPE OF GOD WAS PREACHED TO MEN AND WOMEN IN THE JAIL IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE AND THE STATE PRISON AND DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY AT WALKER STATE PRISON IN ROCK SPRINGS, GA. NOT ONLY DID WE ENCOURAGE AND BRING HOPE TO PRISONERS BUT ALSO EACH OTHER IN THE LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE OF CHRIST!
WHAT AN AWESOME TIME WITH SCOTT & CINDY HEBURN of SCOTT HEBURN PRISON MINISTRY, LANETTE & CISCO ESCOBAR of GOD'S TRIAL'S MINISTRY, MICKEY AND STACY PARK of SET FREE TO SERVE MINISTRIES, DOUG MORRIS AND ZEAGAN HARRIS OF FREEDOM CHURCH, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.
GREAT FOOD, GREAT FELLOWSHIP!
FREEDOM IN CHRIST JESUS!
"CHRIST JESUS TAKES YOU FROM ROCK BOTTOM TO THE ROCK OF CALVARY!"
JESUS GIVES US REST AND HOPE.
JESUS GIVES US PEACE AND COMFORT.
“KICKING THE DOPE HABIT!”
“KICKING THE DOPE HABIT!”
There’s an epidemic in our midst! A plague so ominous, so black so evil hovers over this modern day age. Its victims are consumed, to the very depths of their being they are snared and held in bondage, tormented and tortured inside out. THis Plague knows no social barriers, it consumes rich and poor alike and is color blind as it grabs hold of one’s life. As it gains control to the depths of the soul.
This vile disgusting creature is called Dope, it’s the derivative of hell and a concoction of satanic bondage and destruction. It can be “Heroin, Meth, Crack, Spice, K2, Oxy’s, pills, powder or rocks. It promises you the moon and gives you emptiness and misery instead. IT deceives you. It holds you in a demonic bondagae of twisted satisfaction, pain and torture. It offers you a fleeting euphoria that turns in the end to despair and emptiness.
Like a deadly Cobra it spits poison: fear, paranoia and mental insanity. Its victims become slaves, prisoners, captives held in bondage to the craving for the need for a taste, for that momentary elusive euphoria or high. Prisons are full, grave yards are packed to testify of the heinous effects of addiction.
The fact is that this plague is Satanic. The Bible depicts, portrays and shows the character of Satan and his influences. For instance in John 8:44 he is described as a murderer from the beginning. This is evident as we see the deaths caused through drugs and alcohol, violence and sin. This verse also states, that Satan is a liar, this is so, so true. He is the master of deception and has deceived millions and multitudes to seek false satisfaction through a drug or alcohol high. But this is all a lie! There is no real satisfaction in a drug high. It’s all Satanic deception and the end result is pain, emptiness and inner misery. Torment of the soul, not peace, joy or tranquility.
Further on in the Bible in John 10:10 Satan is portrayed as a thief who has come to steal, kill and to destroy. Dope and the drug high, the partying lifestyle is one of the numerous tricks, methods or techniques he utilizes. I see and talk to the men and women incarcerated in jail and prison. I’ve seen the pain as I’ve looked in they eyes of 17 year old prostitutes, and the young people who will steal from their parents in order to get high. Yes, I’ve seen and experienced the reality of Satan’s tactics. He’s out to rob, kill and destroy. But there’s a cure! There’s a solution to the the plague that rumbles in our midst. There is a source that will supply the Joy, Peace and Freedom for which the soul of man craves.
My friend that source is JESUS CHRIST. As one comes to HIM, experiences His love and the forgiveness that’s through His Blood He shed for you upon Calvary’s CROSS, you find real freedom and true satisfaction. John 8:36 says, “If the SON therefore shall set you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Only in JESUS can we find the peace, joy and liberty the soul seeks. He is the ROCK that never falters. As one comes to HIM, Admitting they are sinners and asking God’s forgiveness, receiving His love, mercy and redemption they taste of God’s Grace. Which is more powerful than any taste of satanic dope andy drink of booze and alcohol. As one repents or turns from their sinful wickedness and rejection of God’s love and turns toward God they experience the peace of God which passes all understanding and the Glory of God’s Mercy and the Joy of HIS Salvation..
JESUS is the cure. He is the solution to the emptiness and pain of your soul. Pray and ask God to set you free, trust fully in the Blood bought redemption of JESUS CHRIST. There’s freedom in HIM and PEACE that passes all understanding. Bible verses for Help: Matthew. 11:28-30; John 5:24; 14:6; 14:27, Romans 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 1:25-31; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9.
You don’t have to rot in jail, prison or face a life of torment and torture of dope, drug and alcohol addiction. You can find the “Freedom” that you so desperately crave.
You can find “Deliverance” that you so desperately need. My friend if you will turn to the Lord JESUS CHRIST and seek Him and the power of His Love, Mercy and Grace you will be “Set Free!” When the Dope Man and the Homeboys and all the attempts in the world can not help you, JESUS CAN! CHRIST JESUS CAN HELP YOU.
YOU CAN KICK THE DOPE HABIT!
YOU CAN SEE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE!
THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU!
THERE IS A FUTURE FOR YOU!
“PRAY AND ASK GOD TO HELP YOU!”
“PRAY AND ASK GOD TO SAVE YOU!”
TURN YOUR DARKNESS TO LIGHT IN CHRIST!
HOPE IS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL!
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” Hebrews 6:19
www.setfreetoserveministry.org
ON THE DOORSTEP OF HELL
There are many doors that one enters thru in life. Some of these doors are oftentimes doors to a life of defeat and failure. There are a lot of doors in life that one addicted to drugs and alcohol often goes through. The front door of a home broken and devastated by a life controlled by Drugs. Alcohol, Violence, Substance Abuse and Crime.
Then there’s the back door of broken hearts and the past hurts to those we love and that love us.
There is the door to the Bars and Liquor Stores that one enters into to get that bottle of alcohol that controls and consumes their life. That life controlling demon that drives them deeper and deeper into the pit of inner misery. That demonic influence that destroys families and lives.
There is that door to the dope house we go thru and where we buy the drugs that we so desperately crave.
Drugs are just another demonic tyrant that now controls us instead of us controlling it. The drug addicted knows that the drug is no longer for fun as it now controls them and like the fires of Hell it consumes them.
There’s the door to the Hospital where you have had episodes of overdose, alcohol poisoning or Psychosis. Many times this becomes a revolving door where you go in and out over and over again.
There’s the door to treatment programs where they try and help you work out your addiction.
Then there’s the Jail cell door that one often ends up going through over and over and over again.
Then comes the Courthouse door where the Judge and the Courts have to deal with you and your addicted life.
Then there is the Prison Door that will close behind you as your addiction and life style has devastated and destroyed your life to the point of total ruin.
Then there is that final door that many will enter through. That is the door at the Morgue where your drug addicted alcoholic abused body will eventually pass through.
When I think of all the different doors of life that we pass thru it reminds me that most of my life I was truly on the doorstep of HELL. The Bible shares the solid truth that Hell is Real! It also shares that there is a way of Life what I often call that Highway to Hell that is also real. There is a real Hell and a real highway and lifestyle to get us there. It’s not just that old Rock Song from AC/DC “A Highway to Hell”. If you have been on that Highway to Hell like my family, my home life and my past you know that it is real. The bible shares in Isaiah 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Looking back on our life many will be able to recall and remember times in their sin addicted lives where they were so close to death. On that doorstep of Hell. Maybe it was a car wreck, while high and wild. Maybe it was bar room fight. Maybe it was getting shot or shot at. It could have been a dope deal gone bad. It could have been an overdose, or an alcoholic blackout. It could have been a hit of bad dope.
There are so many exits on that Highway to Hell where it could very well end up your last breath. On that doorstep of Hell yet God had mercy on you. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
On that doorstep of Hell we see many times the mercy and longsuffering of a loving God who loves us so much and so deeply. The message of the Gospel is loud and clear to us even when we are blindly rejecting His love and running from Him as well as His Love, Mercy and Grace.
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.
There is a door that Jesus Christ offers us that we can go in. John 10:9-10 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This door is a door of “FREEDOM” from that past of sin and demonic bondage. This door is a door of “Hope” from that life of Hopelessness. This door is a door of “Peace” from a life full of torment. This door is the door of “Mercy” from a life destined to Hell.
You can step away from the doorstep of Hell and step up to the doorstep of Calvary.
Rev. 3:30 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
As you read this my friend, the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart and challenging your soul to open that door. You can step away from the doorstep of Hell to the door of His Love, Mercy and Grace.“
That door is open if you will open it as the Lord Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking.
Friend the steps of freedom, salvation and receiving the Grace of God is simply and sincerely:
- A-Admit you're a Sinner:
- B–Believe Christ died for your sin:
- C-Confess this to God :
SET FREE TO SERVE MINISTRY P.O. BOX 253 New Hope, TN. 37380 www.setfreetoserveministry.org
JESUS CAN SET ONE FREE FROM DRUG & ALCOHOL ADDICTION
NO Matter how busted up and messed up we find ourselves in LIFE, JESUS CHRIST is the ONE WHO IS ABLE TO SET US FREE. JOHN 8:36 "IF THE SON SHALL THEREFORE MAKE YE FREE YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED".
THERE IS HOPE! JESUS CHRIST IS THE ANCHOR OF OUR SOUL Heb. 6:19