Hi, I'm C.A. Murray.
And this is Free Indeed.
00:00:01.74\00:00:05.57
A different kind of ministry.
00:00:05.58\00:00:07.74
The men and women that
00:00:07.75\00:00:08.75
you'll meet in
this particular program
00:00:08.76\00:00:10.30
have found Jesus in
very trying circumstances.
00:00:10.31\00:00:15.02
They're gonna
tell you their story.
00:00:15.03\00:00:16.67
Their own personal
journey of their walk of faith.
00:00:16.68\00:00:20.29
We haven't changed their music
00:00:20.30\00:00:21.73
and we haven't
changed their words
00:00:21.74\00:00:23.80
because it's their
personal testimony.
00:00:23.81\00:00:26.69
It's their walk of
faith with Jesus Christ.
00:00:26.70\00:00:29.37
So you're gonna
meet some people,
00:00:29.38\00:00:30.44
some men and women, who've made
00:00:30.45\00:00:31.86
some mistakes in their lives,
00:00:31.87\00:00:33.75
but they're
trying to change that
00:00:33.76\00:00:35.36
through the
power of Jesus Christ.
00:00:35.37\00:00:37.87
You'll meet men and
women who have found
00:00:37.88\00:00:40.01
as we have found that
freedom is not really--
00:00:40.02\00:00:42.85
doesn't have much
to do with way you are.
00:00:43.61\00:00:46.17
It is more what you are.
00:00:46.18\00:00:48.63
You'll find as they have found,
00:00:48.64\00:00:50.54
that in Jesus you can
indeed be free indeed.
00:00:50.55\00:00:54.70
We're calling today's program
00:01:10.58\00:01:12.00
"Amazing Grace and Redemption."
00:01:12.01\00:01:14.42
In fact, that's the first song
00:01:14.43\00:01:15.55
you'll hear the prisoner sing.
00:01:15.56\00:01:17.16
Amazing Grace,
how sweet the sound,
00:01:17.17\00:01:19.74
that saved a wretch like me.
00:01:19.75\00:01:21.69
I once was lost,
but now am found.
00:01:21.70\00:01:24.19
Was blind, but now, I see.
00:01:24.20\00:01:27.19
Those words
written centuries ago by
00:01:27.20\00:01:29.22
a slave-ship captain
have freed so many individuals
00:01:29.23\00:01:31.98
over the eons of time.
00:01:31.99\00:01:34.77
They've become a
rallying cry for those
00:01:34.78\00:01:36.69
who believe in the second
chance, given to us by God.
00:01:36.70\00:01:40.30
You're gonna meet
Brian today and Steven,
00:01:40.31\00:01:43.15
Sylvester, Steve,
and a wonderful sermon
00:01:43.16\00:01:47.40
by William
Bumphus, a former offender,
00:01:47.41\00:01:50.22
who is now free in
his heart and in his life
00:01:50.23\00:01:54.08
and is trying to
free his fellow offenders,
00:01:54.09\00:01:57.10
from the life of
crime and a life of prison.
00:01:57.11\00:02:00.92
You're gonna hear
how he was trapped
00:02:00.93\00:02:02.65
and how God has set him free.
00:02:02.66\00:02:04.08
Then we're gonna hear
message from Shelley Quinn
00:02:04.09\00:02:06.40
and an appeal by J.
D. Quinn all in an effort
00:02:06.41\00:02:10.55
to say to those who are trapped,
00:02:10.56\00:02:12.95
you can be free in Christ Jesus.
00:02:12.96\00:02:15.17
Amazing Grace. I
think about Amazing Grace,
00:02:18.52\00:02:22.46
I think about Jesus Christ.
00:02:22.47\00:02:24.59
I wonder how if it was
for God to send His only Son.
00:02:24.60\00:02:28.65
God, and He died for our sins.
00:02:28.66\00:02:30.27
And we'll talk about amazing.
00:02:30.28\00:02:32.47
Let's just think about
how amazing God was in--
00:02:32.48\00:02:34.84
in showing His love
for us to Jesus Christ.
00:02:34.85\00:02:40.68
Amazing Grace,
how sweet the sound
00:02:40.69\00:02:52.40
That saved a wretch like me
00:02:52.41\00:03:04.39
I once was lost but now am found
00:03:04.40\00:03:16.71
Was blind, but now I see
00:03:16.72\00:03:28.04
When--when I
heard about Free Indeed
00:03:28.05\00:03:30.70
coming to the facility,
I--I had no idea what it was.
00:03:30.71\00:03:33.50
I knew that Mr.
Bagger was a part of it
00:03:33.51\00:03:35.53
and I knew that
3ABN was a part of it,
00:03:35.54\00:03:39.09
which I read a
little bit about them.
00:03:39.10\00:03:42.20
It was--it was an exciting time.
00:03:42.21\00:03:44.34
A lot of people were
really looking forward to it.
00:03:44.35\00:03:48.16
They were--they
were looking for--
00:03:48.17\00:03:50.90
for more blessings
from this--from this chapel.
00:03:50.91\00:03:53.15
How precious did
that grace appear
00:03:53.16\00:04:06.10
The hour I first believed
00:04:06.11\00:04:10.20
My chains are
gone I've been set free
00:04:10.21\00:04:16.07
It was--it was--
it was an amazing
00:04:16.08\00:04:18.95
outpouring of
unconditional giving.
00:04:18.96\00:04:22.43
I--I--I was--I was
blessed here at the facility
00:04:22.44\00:04:26.37
to be able to
experience prison ministry
00:04:26.38\00:04:30.72
and I think that's what
really set me on my walk.
00:04:30.73\00:04:33.74
My Savior has ransomed me
00:04:33.75\00:04:39.46
And like a
flood, His mercy rains
00:04:39.47\00:04:50.90
Unending love, Amazing grace
00:04:50.91\00:05:01.97
I was able to join the praise
team a little over a year ago
00:05:01.98\00:05:05.76
and--and made such an impact
in my personal walk with God,
00:05:05.77\00:05:10.75
to be able to use the gift that
00:05:10.76\00:05:12.36
He gave me, to encourage
and to lead others to worship.
00:05:12.37\00:05:19.87
That's what I feel my
job is as a music minister.
00:05:19.88\00:05:23.90
If I spent an hour
I'll be a music minister
00:05:23.91\00:05:25.71
or maybe worship person and to--
00:05:25.72\00:05:28.93
to be up here on this platform
00:05:28.94\00:05:31.41
and then watch the congregation
00:05:31.42\00:05:33.69
worshipping God in this place,
00:05:33.70\00:05:36.34
where there is just
a lot of people think
00:05:36.35\00:05:40.05
there is not much
reason to worship anything,
00:05:40.06\00:05:42.99
is really uplifting.
00:05:43.00\00:05:48.32
Sylvester
Yarbrough, would you please
00:05:48.33\00:05:50.21
come up here, Sylvester?
00:05:50.22\00:05:51.34
This is your first
time-- this is your--
00:05:51.35\00:05:53.99
the first time he was imprisoned
00:05:54.00\00:05:55.37
was for robbery
and attempted murder.
00:05:55.38\00:05:56.84
Yes sir. Okay.
00:05:56.85\00:05:57.91
This is your second time down.
00:05:57.92\00:05:59.71
So the first
time you didn't like--
00:05:59.72\00:06:01.20
it didn't like go real good.
00:06:01.21\00:06:02.45
So now you got a ten to five.
00:06:02.46\00:06:04.09
But you have a
message for the believer
00:06:04.10\00:06:05.75
and the non-believer.
00:06:05.76\00:06:07.01
Would you please share
that with us what that is?
00:06:07.02\00:06:09.10
Yes, sir. I first
give it out to God,
00:06:09.11\00:06:11.02
who's the leader
and inherit my life.
00:06:11.03\00:06:14.08
You know, once I
heard a song that says,
00:06:14.09\00:06:15.81
"I don't believe He
brings me this far to leave me."
00:06:15.82\00:06:18.21
I believe that
God, He closes one door,
00:06:18.22\00:06:20.45
and He opens another.
00:06:20.46\00:06:21.99
About two and a half years ago,
00:06:22.00\00:06:24.08
I was lost in sin and
I was catch in a case,
00:06:24.09\00:06:27.23
drug dealing case.
00:06:27.24\00:06:28.81
They put me in Marin County,
00:06:28.82\00:06:30.21
and Marin County
is a rough place,
00:06:30.22\00:06:31.98
very rough jail, one of
the roughest jails we got.
00:06:31.99\00:06:34.98
We got two of them.
00:06:34.99\00:06:36.00
But anyway, God was with me
00:06:36.01\00:06:38.03
and He end up
putting me in a one of the--
00:06:38.04\00:06:40.45
a nicer dorm in the jail.
00:06:40.46\00:06:43.20
In this dorm, they were having
prayer circles every night.
00:06:43.21\00:06:47.83
First I didn't want to go,
00:06:47.84\00:06:48.95
but I had a friend
who coerced me into going.
00:06:48.96\00:06:51.27
I was going because my
friend wanted me to go.
00:06:51.28\00:06:53.93
But one night, I decided
to go because I wanted to go.
00:06:53.94\00:06:56.73
You know, I mean, now
this particular night that
00:06:56.74\00:06:58.21
I wanted to go, God
stepped and He blessed me.
00:06:58.22\00:07:01.18
Stepped into my
heart. My hands raised up.
00:07:01.19\00:07:03.54
I started crying. I
gave it over to God.
00:07:03.55\00:07:05.84
He started blessing me.
00:07:05.85\00:07:07.00
I'm proud to tell
you guys to this day
00:07:07.01\00:07:08.90
I'm still doing a
prayer circle over my dorm.
00:07:08.91\00:07:11.24
I'm running a
prayer circle every night.
00:07:11.25\00:07:12.86
God is still
working miracles in me.
00:07:12.87\00:07:14.89
You know, I mean, He's a
good God. You know, I mean.
00:07:14.90\00:07:17.26
When God stepped into my life,
I started working miracles.
00:07:17.27\00:07:20.03
I started doing things,
you know, what I mean, that
00:07:20.04\00:07:21.67
I never thought I would do.
00:07:21.68\00:07:22.70
I made up with my baby mama.
00:07:22.71\00:07:24.35
You know, so many of us have
problems with our baby mama.
00:07:24.36\00:07:27.07
I wrote her a
letter, and I told,
00:07:27.08\00:07:28.49
"Look, I'm sorry
for what I've done.
00:07:28.50\00:07:29.83
You know, what I
mean. Please, forgive me.
00:07:29.84\00:07:31.54
She started writing me back.
00:07:31.55\00:07:32.56
Now we have a
beautiful relationship.
00:07:32.57\00:07:34.12
God is a good God all the time,
00:07:34.13\00:07:35.73
you know, what I
mean. I'm here to caress.
00:07:35.74\00:07:37.39
I'm talking to the
believer and a non-believer.
00:07:37.40\00:07:39.42
Sylvester, what would
you share with the person
00:07:39.43\00:07:42.61
suffering with drug
addiction or alcoholism
00:07:42.62\00:07:44.76
in the world today, that
maybe doesn't believe in God.
00:07:44.77\00:07:46.84
Can you share a moment of hope
with them in closing? Yes, sir.
00:07:46.85\00:07:51.22
To those particular
people, I like to say,
00:07:51.23\00:07:52.82
God died on cross
especially for you.
00:07:52.83\00:07:55.21
You know, I mean.
That's what He came.
00:07:55.22\00:07:56.61
He came to serve not to
be served, you know, I mean.
00:07:56.62\00:07:59.18
So God is a good
God. He came to die.
00:07:59.19\00:08:01.82
He died on cross, just for you,
00:08:01.83\00:08:03.20
for your drug addiction.
00:08:03.21\00:08:04.21
He can do all
things-- we can do all things
00:08:04.22\00:08:05.96
and Christ would
strengthen us. Amen.
00:08:05.97\00:08:08.84
If a--if a person is
willing to submit to the Lord,
00:08:08.85\00:08:13.69
He opens so many doors.
00:08:13.70\00:08:16.23
I never in my
wildest dreams ever thought
00:08:16.24\00:08:18.88
I'd be on
television to begin with.
00:08:18.89\00:08:21.27
I never thought I would
be singing worship songs.
00:08:21.28\00:08:25.19
That's going to go around
the world. That's just amazing.
00:08:25.20\00:08:29.12
I just still can't really,
00:08:29.13\00:08:31.91
I guess, 'cause
I haven't seen it.
00:08:31.92\00:08:34.06
Other than, you know,what
we do it and I haven't it.
00:08:34.07\00:08:36.17
I just haven't really.
It still boggles my mind.
00:08:36.18\00:08:40.68
That I, an inmate, in Indiana,
would in some small way--that
00:08:40.69\00:08:45.91
that I could in some
small way make an impact
00:08:45.92\00:08:48.94
on someone in a foreign country.
00:08:48.95\00:08:50.59
It's just amazing. Just amazing.
00:08:50.60\00:08:54.95
So I first went to
prison when I was 17.
00:08:54.96\00:08:57.63
They didn't send me
to the juvenile facility.
00:08:57.64\00:08:59.51
They sent me to a
men's facility Putnamville.
00:08:59.52\00:09:02.98
A 17 years old. Amen.
00:09:02.99\00:09:04.63
And when I got
there, I found that is
00:09:04.64\00:09:06.44
where my friends were. Amen.
00:09:06.45\00:09:08.55
So you know, I
didn't--I didn't learn.
00:09:08.56\00:09:10.51
And they wanted to know.
00:09:10.52\00:09:11.54
But they didn't
want to learn anything.
00:09:11.55\00:09:12.65
You know, a man can only
do what a man want to do.
00:09:12.66\00:09:14.88
God can't violate your will.
00:09:14.89\00:09:16.27
It's up to us, amen,
00:09:16.28\00:09:17.80
to be persuaded
by the Spirit of God
00:09:17.81\00:09:20.46
and whatever persuaded by
us, what we always become.
00:09:20.47\00:09:23.13
So I wanted to
live a life of crime.
00:09:23.14\00:09:25.88
I don't want to do
nothing else. You understand.
00:09:25.89\00:09:27.50
And so I studied
with those youngsters,
00:09:27.51\00:09:29.99
and who is open to
that life of crime.
00:09:30.00\00:09:31.76
And of course, I got out.
00:09:31.77\00:09:32.80
You understand, I
came back at age 19,
00:09:32.81\00:09:35.56
on a broken down robbery charge
00:09:35.57\00:09:37.50
and didn't know
nothing about Jesus.
00:09:37.51\00:09:39.55
Nobody in my family
ever was born again.
00:09:39.56\00:09:41.56
Nobody was sane.
Everybody was crooks.
00:09:41.57\00:09:44.22
And so when I came
back at 19 years old,
00:09:44.23\00:09:46.02
you understand, you know,
00:09:46.03\00:09:47.16
I got hooked up
with a organization,
00:09:47.17\00:09:49.09
called the Nation of Islam.
00:09:49.10\00:09:50.10
I'm talking about myself. Amen.
00:09:50.11\00:09:51.66
And so I got into that.
00:09:51.67\00:09:53.01
And that was my
religion if you will.
00:09:53.02\00:09:54.35
But then I got hung
up also, you understand,
00:09:54.36\00:09:57.04
first time I ever
put drugs in my arm,
00:09:57.05\00:09:59.61
heroin was in Putnamville
on at--at 19 years old
00:09:59.62\00:10:03.49
and they used to have a dorm--
there used to be dorms there.
00:10:03.50\00:10:05.74
Dorm 4 and they hit
me on my arm with some--
00:10:05.75\00:10:08.73
heroin, you understand,
00:10:08.74\00:10:09.94
and that began 13
years of heroin addiction.
00:10:09.95\00:10:12.36
And so when I got out of there,
00:10:12.37\00:10:13.36
you understand what I'm saying,
00:10:13.37\00:10:14.36
I just, you know, got
back in to that lifestyle.
00:10:14.37\00:10:17.36
Doing all my
crime and everything,
00:10:17.37\00:10:18.84
you understand
and not looking for
00:10:18.85\00:10:21.01
Gees or anything--
Jesus or anything like.
00:10:21.02\00:10:22.59
I guess, just trying to
get all the money I can get.
00:10:22.60\00:10:23.96
You know, what I mean,
straying as high as I could get.
00:10:23.97\00:10:26.33
And then I wound
up, you understand,
00:10:26.34\00:10:27.99
going to the federal joint.
00:10:28.00\00:10:29.77
I went to Terre Haute Federal
Penitentiary you understand.
00:10:29.78\00:10:32.16
By this time I was
the youngest guy there.
00:10:32.17\00:10:33.78
I was 23 years old. It
was my third time down.
00:10:33.79\00:10:37.47
And they had
stated, you understand,
00:10:37.48\00:10:39.20
that any hope of me ever been
anything else, was very dismal.
00:10:39.21\00:10:44.02
Anti-social
behaviors what they said,
00:10:44.03\00:10:45.86
you know, and that's because
00:10:45.87\00:10:47.02
every prisoner had certain time.
00:10:47.03\00:10:48.17
I mean they had a time
in a whole, in the dungeon
00:10:48.18\00:10:50.22
and they're placed so that
they can hide out at, amen.
00:10:50.23\00:10:53.11
And so when I got
there, you understand,
00:10:53.12\00:10:54.72
I mean, I just looked around
00:10:54.73\00:10:55.90
and I seen that all the religion
00:10:55.91\00:10:57.85
and all I had
learned and all that,
00:10:57.86\00:10:59.45
still got me in penitentiary
00:10:59.46\00:11:00.67
so I made up my mind
then that there was no God.
00:11:00.68\00:11:04.28
And so I say if he's a
God, I'll meet him when I die.
00:11:04.29\00:11:07.46
And I say I know my problem is
00:11:07.47\00:11:09.18
and probably
you've been there too.
00:11:09.19\00:11:10.40
I say my problem is I'm
a doffing, I'm uneducated.
00:11:10.41\00:11:13.48
Always get a wrong girl
and live in wrong neighborhood.
00:11:13.49\00:11:17.03
So I feel--so I would
know only about two years.
00:11:17.04\00:11:19.34
I said now give
me some education
00:11:19.35\00:11:20.61
so it'll give me
a good job. Right?
00:11:20.62\00:11:21.92
That's what you
say get your education.
00:11:21.93\00:11:23.54
So I said give
me education so can
00:11:23.55\00:11:24.92
I give me a good
job, when I get out.
00:11:24.93\00:11:26.53
And my family wanted
nice square girls. Amen.
00:11:26.54\00:11:29.23
And then we go move way out,
00:11:29.24\00:11:30.70
we bowl them,
people down on a corner
00:11:30.71\00:11:32.76
'cause I come
back to penitentiary.
00:11:32.77\00:11:34.80
Well, I did and
I got my GED. Amen.
00:11:34.81\00:11:37.50
Didn't want it,
but I got it anyway.
00:11:37.51\00:11:39.66
But I lost that
shield while I was in there.
00:11:39.67\00:11:42.34
I took all the weed I could get.
00:11:42.35\00:11:43.67
You know, what I mean.
00:11:43.68\00:11:44.79
Took so much acid in it
that I literally tripped out.
00:11:44.80\00:11:48.25
And thought that I was gonna
be discovered--be discovered
00:11:48.26\00:11:51.20
as the first
black Picasso. Amen.
00:11:51.21\00:11:53.25
But anyway, you understand,
00:11:53.26\00:11:54.75
so finally, one
day they let me out.
00:11:54.76\00:11:57.16
Which was a shock to
me when they let me out
00:11:57.17\00:11:58.76
'cause I was
locked up in block down
00:11:58.77\00:12:02.54
when they let me--
when they let me out.
00:12:02.55\00:12:04.84
And before I got home, they'll
say that was already had.
00:12:04.85\00:12:08.64
And then of course
out there what I say,
00:12:08.65\00:12:10.59
they're going to find
me, find me a nice girl
00:12:10.60\00:12:12.47
that would put a
life, we moved way up.
00:12:12.48\00:12:14.61
But the problem
is not anybody else.
00:12:14.62\00:12:16.41
The problem is us.
And so even that did good.
00:12:16.42\00:12:19.86
Got me a job for the
first time in my life. Amen.
00:12:19.87\00:12:22.07
I worked a job nine months,
00:12:22.08\00:12:23.48
didn't shoot no dope
except on the weekends, amen.
00:12:23.49\00:12:26.38
And I thought
everything was going fine.
00:12:27.83\00:12:29.17
Everything was going
fine you understand and then,
00:12:29.18\00:12:32.05
one day I get a
knock on a door, amen.
00:12:32.06\00:12:34.20
And the guy wanted me to
take him to get some dope.
00:12:34.21\00:12:36.97
And, you
understand what I'm saying
00:12:36.98\00:12:38.28
I couldn't stand
to see people sick.
00:12:38.29\00:12:39.48
You understand what I'm saying.
00:12:39.49\00:12:40.48
But I don't want
nobody know what I was doing,
00:12:40.49\00:12:42.30
so I told him, "No, man.
00:12:42.31\00:12:43.30
I'm not taking you get no dope.
00:12:43.31\00:12:44.59
I stopped, get a
black folk, you know.
00:12:44.60\00:12:46.75
But he kept on
begging, you understand,
00:12:46.76\00:12:48.27
so I went on and
took him to get some dope.
00:12:48.28\00:12:50.36
Well, and next
thing I know to come
00:12:50.37\00:12:52.39
running out of dope man's house.
00:12:52.40\00:12:54.00
They would end in stuck
up the dope man in my car.
00:12:54.01\00:12:57.31
Now well, my
car, how many do of us
00:12:57.32\00:12:59.37
got to have my car now, right.
00:12:59.38\00:13:00.98
So we have a man
which is a half of it.
00:13:00.99\00:13:02.78
All I got was some
cocaine and some heroin.
00:13:02.79\00:13:05.40
Anyway I go down on
the street to sell that
00:13:05.41\00:13:07.45
and come to fan, and
they got a contract on me.
00:13:07.46\00:13:09.61
I ain't ready to deal with that.
00:13:09.62\00:13:11.24
So make a long story
short, you understand,
00:13:11.25\00:13:13.05
I locked myself up in
my house, me and the girl,
00:13:13.06\00:13:14.92
you understand,
with all this dope.
00:13:14.93\00:13:16.68
Now you know, what happened?
00:13:16.69\00:13:18.00
Three weeks later, we
had to break the apartment
00:13:18.01\00:13:19.94
ourselves, amen, 'cause
I had shot all the dope.
00:13:19.95\00:13:22.75
So then I hit the
street, you all understand,
00:13:22.76\00:13:24.81
and finally after two years,
they catch me and my partner
00:13:24.82\00:13:28.39
back at the man's driveway
00:13:28.40\00:13:30.14
with all his
merchandise in our car.
00:13:30.15\00:13:32.35
Well, I go on the road, I
was on the road for four years,
00:13:32.36\00:13:34.48
amen, married this
girl, you understand,
00:13:34.49\00:13:36.75
'cause a wife can't
tell on her husband.
00:13:36.76\00:13:38.69
And then over to
her sister's house,
00:13:38.70\00:13:41.91
we get a little argument,
00:13:41.92\00:13:42.91
'cause I'm
talking about everybody
00:13:42.92\00:13:44.07
and her sister
winded up shooting me.
00:13:44.08\00:13:46.44
But when she shoot me, and now--
now I can't go to the hospital,
00:13:46.45\00:13:49.17
'cause I'm on the run. Right?
00:13:49.18\00:13:50.80
But now I got
this stuck on my mind.
00:13:50.81\00:13:52.11
I got to kill the girl.
00:13:52.12\00:13:53.87
I mean, you don't shoot
no player in legal. Right?
00:13:53.88\00:13:56.32
And so I'm planning
on that, you understand.
00:13:57.59\00:13:59.11
In the meantime they
know it, so they set me up.
00:13:59.12\00:14:01.76
And I moved to my
mother's house, you understand.
00:14:01.77\00:14:04.27
I stole the girl's
car and I'm planning on
00:14:04.28\00:14:06.68
sticking up this
bank in the morning.
00:14:06.69\00:14:07.98
And if I get away
with it, I may leave town.
00:14:07.99\00:14:09.62
If I don't, you
understand, then they go,
00:14:09.63\00:14:11.42
I'm just going have a shoot out,
00:14:11.43\00:14:12.42
'cause I'm not going
back to penitentiary.
00:14:12.43\00:14:14.11
The girls called
the police on me.
00:14:14.12\00:14:15.59
Next thing, I know police
00:14:15.60\00:14:16.59
come in there,
bust the whole house.
00:14:16.60\00:14:18.75
I'm down to jail. It's over.
00:14:18.76\00:14:21.53
My partner already
got two 20s out of it.
00:14:21.54\00:14:23.42
I've been on the
run for four years.
00:14:23.43\00:14:24.79
So you know, I
ain't going nowhere
00:14:24.80\00:14:25.93
and here I am in
a state like that.
00:14:25.94\00:14:28.11
And I hear the gospel.
00:14:28.12\00:14:29.32
I'm in a jail and so a
preacher comes down in here
00:14:31.32\00:14:33.41
and he gets to talking about how
give your life to Jesus Christ
00:14:33.42\00:14:36.02
and everything
will be all right.
00:14:36.03\00:14:37.33
Well, I wanted
everything to be all right,
00:14:37.34\00:14:39.00
but I didn't believe in Jesus.
00:14:39.01\00:14:40.43
I didn't believe in the Bible.
00:14:40.44\00:14:41.45
But I wanted a prayer
so I got to pray anyway.
00:14:41.46\00:14:44.28
He didn't lead us in those
sentences of prayer anything.
00:14:44.29\00:14:46.42
Anyway I get to the jail.
00:14:46.43\00:14:47.70
I found out they've
decided to give me 60 years.
00:14:47.71\00:14:50.80
They'll give me 20 for
the theft, 10 for--I mean,
00:14:50.81\00:14:53.69
10 for a theft,
20 for the burglary,
00:14:53.70\00:14:56.02
and 30 years for
being habitual criminal,
00:14:56.03\00:14:58.40
and they're going run it, wow.
00:14:58.41\00:15:00.08
It means, I may had do to 10,
00:15:00.09\00:15:01.70
then do to 20,
and then do to 30.
00:15:01.71\00:15:04.55
And I'm lying up in there
like that, but here's the key.
00:15:04.56\00:15:06.74
There was a Bible study
going on in a sale block.
00:15:06.75\00:15:09.83
And End Brothers
reached out to me, saying,
00:15:09.84\00:15:11.72
Shane that was unsay to heathen
00:15:11.73\00:15:14.33
and began to
share the gospel with me
00:15:14.34\00:15:15.96
and in about a
week, you understand,
00:15:15.97\00:15:17.20
I'm arguing with them,
I wanted what they had.
00:15:17.21\00:15:20.50
I couldn't
understand the gospel,
00:15:20.51\00:15:21.74
didn't understand the Bible,
didn't understand, none of it.
00:15:21.75\00:15:23.75
But I see they had
some peace in their life.
00:15:23.76\00:15:25.83
They was facing electric
chair. They had capital crimes.
00:15:25.84\00:15:29.52
And he was
talking about Jesus Christ
00:15:29.53\00:15:31.11
that made a
difference in their life.
00:15:31.12\00:15:32.37
If I give my
life to Jesus Christ,
00:15:32.38\00:15:33.75
and hear what they told
me, I won't get no 60 years.
00:15:33.76\00:15:36.61
I mean that sounds good. Amen.
00:15:36.62\00:15:39.18
That's what the Bible
calls good news. Amen.
00:15:39.19\00:15:41.09
And so after about a
week, arguing with them,
00:15:41.10\00:15:43.79
I finally asked a guy, man
how will I get to be like you?
00:15:43.80\00:15:46.84
And I thought,
thought he is going
00:15:46.85\00:15:47.84
to teach me some real deep.
00:15:47.85\00:15:48.87
He said, man, all
you got to do is ask
00:15:48.88\00:15:50.68
Jesus Christ to
come in to your heart.
00:15:50.69\00:15:53.04
I said, okay, well, how
do you know Jesus is alive?
00:15:53.05\00:15:55.27
And how do you know that the
Bible is the only word to God?
00:15:55.28\00:15:58.51
Well, being good Christians,
they quoted Romans 10 and 9.
00:15:59.51\00:16:02.24
They said, man, the Bible said,
00:16:02.25\00:16:03.30
that if you will confess
with your mouth to Lord Jesus,
00:16:03.31\00:16:05.56
believe me, in your
heart that God has raised
00:16:05.57\00:16:07.23
him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
00:16:07.24\00:16:09.68
Then that sounded
good, but in the religion
00:16:09.69\00:16:11.17
that I was in, I
didn't believe that God
00:16:11.18\00:16:12.59
will raise you
from the dead, amen.
00:16:12.60\00:16:14.22
'Cause I, you know, I
just didn't believe that.
00:16:14.23\00:16:16.23
But I knew they
still had something.
00:16:16.24\00:16:18.33
So I was okay, man,
break that down for me.
00:16:18.34\00:16:21.12
And he broke it down like that.
00:16:21.13\00:16:22.38
He said man,
here's what that means.
00:16:22.39\00:16:23.71
That means if
you ask Jesus Christ
00:16:23.72\00:16:25.08
to come in your
heart and He don't come,
00:16:25.09\00:16:28.38
then it means, He's not
alive and the Bible's alive.
00:16:28.39\00:16:31.43
He said but if
you're serious about it,
00:16:31.44\00:16:32.81
you ask Jesus Christ come
to your heart and He does come.
00:16:32.82\00:16:36.02
Then it means, Jesus is alive
00:16:36.03\00:16:37.87
and the Bible is
the only word of God.
00:16:37.88\00:16:40.25
Right then, at JIC I
made my mind above the fan
00:16:40.26\00:16:42.85
and I found myself is
Jesus who we say He is.
00:16:42.86\00:16:46.03
And I prayed and as
Jesus Christ come to my heart,
00:16:46.04\00:16:48.08
what everything that's in me
and when I prayed that prayer
00:16:48.09\00:16:50.86
I knew that I knew
that I knew that I knew
00:16:50.87\00:16:52.81
that I knew that Jesus is alive
00:16:52.82\00:16:55.49
and that the Bible
is only word of God.
00:16:55.50\00:16:59.24
As I stayed in that
word, I told my attorney man,
00:16:59.25\00:17:02.61
tell him, you know,
I mean, I plead guilty,
00:17:02.62\00:17:04.99
I'm looking for a
deal, 'cause I'm guilty
00:17:05.00\00:17:06.84
I'm believing God for a miracle.
00:17:06.85\00:17:08.09
He said well you need a miracle.
00:17:08.10\00:17:09.51
He said they're
gonna prosecute you
00:17:09.52\00:17:10.80
to the fullest
extent of the law.
00:17:10.81\00:17:12.66
We had three pre-trails,
you know, what I'm saying,
00:17:12.67\00:17:14.48
go down, come back until
you following the third one.
00:17:14.49\00:17:17.57
My attorney said,
man, may even there is God?
00:17:17.58\00:17:20.27
He's called they
said, they'll drop that 60
00:17:20.28\00:17:22.50
and give you five years.
00:17:22.51\00:17:24.34
I screamed at him,
"Hurry up go get them papers,
00:17:24.35\00:17:26.66
you know, before
they change their mind."
00:17:26.67\00:17:28.61
But then I remembered the girl.
00:17:28.62\00:17:29.71
You know, the girl
sneezed on me, right?
00:17:29.72\00:17:31.32
She was on the second floor.
00:17:31.33\00:17:32.39
Before I got born again,
00:17:32.40\00:17:33.43
I'll try to have
something done to her.
00:17:33.44\00:17:35.08
But now that I'm
saying I love everybody, amen.
00:17:35.09\00:17:37.49
So I say, no, tell
them, I'll take that five,
00:17:37.50\00:17:39.43
if they cut the
girl loose, amen.
00:17:39.44\00:17:41.26
But if they don't
cut the girl loose,
00:17:41.27\00:17:43.32
tell them, I'll
still take that five.
00:17:43.33\00:17:44.73
How am I doing,
I'm talking? Amen.
00:17:44.74\00:17:46.30
And they wind up
giving me four years.
00:17:46.31\00:17:49.69
I went to Michigan
City, rubbed my Judge
00:17:49.70\00:17:51.78
a lot after I got there.
00:17:51.79\00:17:53.26
Ten months
later, you understand,
00:17:53.27\00:17:54.40
I went to court
and they released me
00:17:54.41\00:17:56.21
on short probation, on
the grounds they believe
00:17:56.22\00:17:58.70
that I was a
born again Christian.
00:17:58.71\00:18:00.83
Now that has been 33 years ago.
00:18:00.84\00:18:02.46
I had no dope in 33
years, no alcohol in 33 years.
00:18:02.47\00:18:06.45
Met my wife, when I got outside,
00:18:06.46\00:18:08.12
been married 33 years, amen.
00:18:08.13\00:18:09.97
I traveled all over the world,
00:18:09.98\00:18:11.73
talking about Jesus
and nobody pays me a dime.
00:18:11.74\00:18:14.55
I'm here to let you know today,
00:18:14.56\00:18:15.93
and encourage you
that Jesus is alive
00:18:15.94\00:18:19.41
and if you want a
change in your life
00:18:19.42\00:18:20.90
that's all the way going to go.
00:18:20.91\00:18:22.76
The only way He's
going come is by you having
00:18:22.77\00:18:24.65
a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:18:24.66\00:18:26.90
And so I pray, you understand,
00:18:26.91\00:18:28.49
as they close this program
that the law being spoke to you
00:18:28.50\00:18:31.69
in some way, may be in music,
00:18:31.70\00:18:33.06
you understand sub mile say it,
00:18:33.07\00:18:34.42
that make you a quality
decision for Jesus Christ today.
00:18:34.43\00:18:37.80
God bless you all. Thank you.
00:18:37.81\00:18:39.26
Steven, this program
is called Free Indeed.
00:18:43.38\00:18:46.13
And you're getting
ready to be free indeed
00:18:46.14\00:18:47.93
'cause you fixing
to go home. Yes, sir.
00:18:47.94\00:18:49.92
What would you
like to share to that
00:18:49.93\00:18:51.13
alcoholic that's still
suffering in society today?
00:18:51.14\00:18:53.93
Well, I would like
to share our hope that,
00:18:53.94\00:18:55.98
by something I may
say or something that's
00:18:57.54\00:19:00.15
happened in my life, keep
you from having say 30 years,
00:19:00.16\00:19:03.68
to realize that, there's hope.
00:19:03.69\00:19:06.86
There's promise and maybe
if you come out of the bottle,
00:19:06.87\00:19:11.14
come out of the streets,
and you can be a ray of hope
00:19:11.15\00:19:13.54
for somebody else
and somebody else's life.
00:19:13.55\00:19:16.11
Steve, is that hope for
you through Jesus Christ--
00:19:16.12\00:19:18.67
Yes, sir. As
your personal savior?
00:19:18.68\00:19:20.94
But Steve, I know--I know that
you're fixing to go home soon
00:19:20.95\00:19:23.97
and the Lord has opportunity
for each and everyone of us
00:19:23.98\00:19:26.81
starting in here
and He'll transfer
00:19:26.82\00:19:28.49
that out to the free world.
00:19:28.50\00:19:29.96
God bless you and
thank you very much.
00:19:29.97\00:19:31.61
Thank you.
00:19:31.62\00:19:32.61
You know, I watched
you, as you filed in here.
00:19:35.77\00:19:38.73
And I'm glad I did
because right now the light is
00:19:38.74\00:19:41.42
blinding me where I
can hardly see your faces.
00:19:41.43\00:19:44.24
But I'll tell you
something as I watched you
00:19:44.25\00:19:46.41
walk in here,
you know, what I saw?
00:19:46.42\00:19:49.49
I saw somebody's brother.
Many of you are my brother.
00:19:49.50\00:19:54.52
I saw somebody's
husband. I saw somebody's son.
00:19:54.53\00:20:00.92
And I know I saw God's
sons walking through here.
00:20:00.93\00:20:06.20
John 3:16, The Bible said,
"For God so loved the world
00:20:06.21\00:20:12.39
he gave his only begotten son."
00:20:12.40\00:20:17.41
When we think of
grace, Jesus Christ
00:20:17.42\00:20:21.57
is the greatest gift of grace
00:20:21.58\00:20:24.58
that God has ever
given to human kind.
00:20:24.59\00:20:28.59
And He gave him
why? So that none--
00:20:28.60\00:20:33.69
Whoever would believe
in Him, should not perish.
00:20:33.70\00:20:38.16
He's not just talking
about perishing here now.
00:20:38.17\00:20:41.76
He's talking about
perishing for eternity.
00:20:41.77\00:20:44.54
But He says, whoever believes
in Him should not perish.
00:20:44.55\00:20:48.79
But would have everlasting life
00:20:48.80\00:20:51.06
for God did not send
His son into the world
00:20:51.07\00:20:54.24
to condemn the
world, to say you're guilty.
00:20:54.25\00:20:58.25
He sent him into the
world, that through Him,
00:20:58.26\00:21:02.34
we might be saved and
rescued from this darkness.
00:21:02.35\00:21:07.91
It says, "He who believes
in Him is not condemned."
00:21:07.92\00:21:11.66
If you believe in
Jesus, society may have
00:21:13.05\00:21:15.83
condemned you for what you've--
00:21:15.84\00:21:18.17
wrong choices you made,
but if you accept Jesus,
00:21:18.18\00:21:22.82
God accounts His
righteousness to you.
00:21:22.83\00:21:25.89
And God does not condemn you.
00:21:25.90\00:21:27.73
He finds you
innocent, because Christ
00:21:27.74\00:21:30.80
perfect record of obedience
is accredited to your account.
00:21:30.81\00:21:34.51
He took his sins, our
sins and put them on Jesus
00:21:34.52\00:21:39.35
at the cross and
gave Jesus perfect record
00:21:39.36\00:21:42.40
of righteousness
to us. Hallelujah.
00:21:42.41\00:21:45.15
The Bible says in
James 4, 7 and 10.
00:21:46.43\00:21:50.74
"Submit yourself to God.
00:21:50.75\00:21:53.96
Resist the devil, and
He will flee from you.
00:21:53.97\00:21:59.15
Draw near to God and
He will draw near to you.
00:21:59.16\00:22:03.33
Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
00:22:03.34\00:22:04.89
purify your
hearts, you double-minded.
00:22:04.90\00:22:07.19
Humble yourselves in
the sight of the Lord.
00:22:07.20\00:22:10.47
And he will lift you up."
00:22:10.48\00:22:12.48
There's a scripture that says,
00:22:12.49\00:22:14.30
"God gives grace to the humble."
00:22:14.31\00:22:17.78
Maybe that's why, it's so
hard for us to accept grace.
00:22:18.81\00:22:23.42
It's because it's hard
for us to humble ourselves.
00:22:23.43\00:22:27.43
I want to share one
of my favorite scriptures
00:22:27.44\00:22:29.19
in the short
time that I have left.
00:22:29.20\00:22:32.09
It's from the Prophet Micah
and is Micah 7:7 through 9.
00:22:32.10\00:22:36.53
He says, "Therefore I
will look to the Lord,
00:22:36.54\00:22:38.75
I will wait for the
God of my salvation,
00:22:38.76\00:22:41.94
my God will hear me.
00:22:41.95\00:22:43.58
Do not rejoice over
me, my enemy, when I fall,
00:22:43.59\00:22:47.14
I will arise,
when I sit in darkness,
00:22:47.15\00:22:49.40
the Lord will be a light to me.
00:22:49.41\00:22:51.05
I will hear the
indignation of the Lord,
00:22:51.06\00:22:53.64
because I have
sinned against Him,
00:22:53.65\00:22:56.49
until He pleads my case
and executes justice for me.
00:22:56.50\00:23:01.78
He will bring me
forth into the light,
00:23:01.79\00:23:04.56
and I will see
his righteousness."
00:23:04.57\00:23:07.82
There's one other quick
scripture I want to read.
00:23:07.83\00:23:13.09
A lot of you have
received that light.
00:23:13.10\00:23:15.50
Some of you will
be getting out to go
00:23:15.51\00:23:18.30
and share that light or
to share the light here.
00:23:18.31\00:23:21.83
I want to read to you from
00:23:21.84\00:23:23.78
Philippians 2, I
begin with verse 13.
00:23:23.79\00:23:27.89
It says, "It is
God who works in you
00:23:27.90\00:23:30.66
to will and to do
His good pleasure."
00:23:30.67\00:23:32.78
You can't change yourself.
00:23:32.79\00:23:34.77
You've got to have
God working in you.
00:23:34.78\00:23:38.11
And he says, "Do all things
00:23:38.12\00:23:40.03
without
complaining and disputing."
00:23:40.04\00:23:42.26
That's a little
difficult, isn't it?
00:23:42.27\00:23:44.58
But then He says,
"That you may become
00:23:44.59\00:23:47.40
blameless and
harmless children of God
00:23:47.41\00:23:50.07
without fault in the midst
of a crooked and perverse world.
00:23:50.08\00:23:54.81
You shine as
lights in the world,
00:23:55.90\00:23:59.72
holding fast the word of God."
00:23:59.73\00:24:02.54
As we, you know, the moon
doesn't have a light of its own.
00:24:02.55\00:24:06.97
The moon only
reflects the light of the sun.
00:24:06.98\00:24:09.65
But as we turn our eyes
to the sun of God, His light,
00:24:09.66\00:24:16.83
His glory would be in
us and we can reflect that
00:24:16.84\00:24:20.67
and I want to
challenge you today
00:24:20.68\00:24:23.56
to share the light, that
God has shared in your life
00:24:23.57\00:24:27.90
and we find that
light in His word.
00:24:27.91\00:24:31.53
This word is a
light to our feet,
00:24:31.54\00:24:33.62
and a lamp to our path.
00:24:33.63\00:24:35.29
And I thank you so
much for being here today.
00:24:35.30\00:24:37.64
One of the lessons
that I missed growing up,
00:24:40.64\00:24:44.28
it says, "Draw near to God and
then He will draw near to you."
00:24:44.29\00:24:51.72
The way that I understood
it somewhere or the other,
00:24:51.73\00:24:54.59
God you prove yourself to me.
00:24:54.60\00:24:57.29
And once you
prove yourself to me,
00:24:57.30\00:24:59.65
then I'll grab--I'll jump
on the train and ride with you.
00:24:59.66\00:25:03.36
Boy, I was
deceived. Don't be deceived.
00:25:03.37\00:25:07.95
Draw near to God, which
takes that step of action.
00:25:07.96\00:25:11.10
And if you don't know what I'm
talking about it's very simple.
00:25:11.11\00:25:14.37
Father, I just
give myself to you.
00:25:14.38\00:25:16.32
If your will just let me know.
00:25:16.33\00:25:20.00
I love this
particular phrase here,
00:25:20.01\00:25:21.80
and I use it all
the time, every moment.
00:25:21.81\00:25:23.61
I give you
permission to work in my life.
00:25:23.62\00:25:28.21
I give you permission and then--
00:25:28.22\00:25:31.83
then just step back
and see what He does.
00:25:31.84\00:25:35.98
Give Him permission,
I love you my brothers
00:25:35.99\00:25:40.01
and there's something
special we're all brothers.
00:25:40.02\00:25:43.17
We're all broken
inside someway or the other.
00:25:43.18\00:25:46.28
Our
responsibility is just to merely
00:25:46.29\00:25:49.24
be there to
encourage, no more no less.
00:25:49.25\00:25:54.00
And then hold on, because
the Lord's gonna tell you.
00:25:54.01\00:25:57.21
He's gonna use
you, then you're gonna
00:25:57.22\00:25:59.49
find yourself sobbing sometime.
00:25:59.50\00:26:01.92
They were right. You
did have a plan for my life.
00:26:03.20\00:26:07.46
Thank you, Jesus, that
I took that step of action
00:26:07.47\00:26:11.33
and gave you
permission to work inside of me.
00:26:11.34\00:26:14.90
Some of you may know
my name is Lemuel Vega.
00:26:16.14\00:26:18.43
And I work with Christmas
Behind Bars Outreach Ministry,
00:26:18.44\00:26:21.36
which carries the gospel message
00:26:21.37\00:26:23.23
literally around the
world, 365 days a year.
00:26:23.24\00:26:26.58
We've come to a
really critical point.
00:26:26.59\00:26:29.22
We need Bibles at this point
and we are asking for your help.
00:26:29.23\00:26:33.42
Do you have any idea as
how we can get 700 Bibles
00:26:33.43\00:26:36.54
every month, to put
into these people's hands?
00:26:36.55\00:26:39.61
We have a
warehouse, it's been donated.
00:26:39.62\00:26:41.95
And we have skids of
material in that warehouse.
00:26:41.96\00:26:45.68
Bibles, the skid is empty.
00:26:45.69\00:26:47.77
700 every month
and we need your help.
00:26:47.78\00:26:49.78
A new Bible costs
$3, 3 simple dollars.
00:26:49.79\00:26:53.21
To put a brand new Bible
into these people's hands.
00:26:53.22\00:26:56.48
Is there anybody here
00:26:56.49\00:26:58.53
that would like a
Bible, but don't have one?
00:26:58.54\00:27:01.93
We're trying to get
more Bibles, brothers.
00:27:08.18\00:27:10.67
Little children
brought in dollars.
00:27:10.68\00:27:13.70
One girl gave a
$100, a young girl
00:27:13.71\00:27:17.83
that these Bibles
could be purchased.
00:27:17.84\00:27:20.36
So if you don't have one,
00:27:20.37\00:27:21.82
please pray that we
can get more Bibles.
00:27:21.83\00:27:25.40
You can contact us at
ChristmasBehindBars.org or
00:27:25.41\00:27:30.13
Facebook.com/
ChristmasBehind Bars.
00:27:30.14\00:27:36.28
At this point,
we're asking for your help
00:27:36.29\00:27:39.15
combined with God's grace
I know that the word of God
00:27:39.16\00:27:42.22
in these inmates many of them,
00:27:42.23\00:27:44.01
will be in the
kingdom of heaven,
00:27:44.02\00:27:45.38
because you were willing
to serve in this capacity.
00:27:45.39\00:27:47.76
Thank you very much.
00:27:47.77\00:27:49.24
Put down 37 years.
37 years now. 37 Years.
00:27:56.33\00:28:00.04
And you say, you've seen
00:28:00.05\00:28:01.04
a lot of church groups
through here, but what?
00:28:01.05\00:28:03.05
First time I've ever seen
00:28:03.06\00:28:04.82
anything like this,
especially the testimony.
00:28:04.83\00:28:07.06
It's the first time you
ever seen anything like this.
00:28:07.07\00:28:10.28
So, you know what, it's
not me though, man, I'm just--
00:28:10.29\00:28:13.35
Oh, I could tell
it by your testimony--
00:28:13.36\00:28:15.45
Yeah, I mean, it's a
Lord working on our life
00:28:15.46\00:28:18.51
and He'll do for you,
what He's done for me.
00:28:18.52\00:28:21.45
He'll do for me,
what he did for Noah.
00:28:21.46\00:28:24.07
He'll do for you what
He did for day and night.
00:28:24.08\00:28:26.37
So there's no
limitations on God.
00:28:26.38\00:28:29.04