Participants: Greg Morikone (Host), Brian Hamilton (Host), Lemuel Vega, Amos Kropf, Tyler Morris, Retina Kropf
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY017016A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Hello, and welcome to another 3ABN Today program. 01:10 We are so glad that you've joined us today. 01:13 As you do each and everyday, 01:15 you may even be driving in your car 01:17 and you can't actually see the video going on right now, 01:18 but thank you for joining us on 3ABN radio. 01:22 But thank you again for your prayers 01:23 and financial support to the ministry of 3ABN. 01:26 Because, of course, we always point to the Lord Jesus Christ 01:29 who's providing for all of our needs, 01:31 but if it weren't for you 01:32 and your financial support to this ministry, 01:34 many souls would not be won to the kingdom. 01:36 So it's a blessing, isn't it, Brian, 01:38 to be part of the ministry of 3ABN? 01:40 I don't have my wife, you are not my wife. 01:42 Jill's not able to be on the set with us today. 01:44 Your wife's not able to be on the set today. 01:46 So, Brian, we're hosting and co-hosting together 01:49 and this is a really special ministry 01:52 that we're gonna be talking about today is Prison Ministry. 01:54 And, of course, Brian is the director, 01:56 of course, of our financial department 01:58 here at 3ABN. 01:59 But he's also involved with 3ABN Prison Ministry. 02:02 We're not talking just about 02:03 3ABN's prison ministry outreach, 02:05 we're talking about Christmas Behind Bars today. 02:08 So for some of you this may be an update 02:11 because you follow Christmas Behind Bars for, 02:14 for many years or for some of you 02:16 this may be the first time 02:18 that you've heard of Christmas Behind Bars. 02:19 So we're gonna be talking with Lemuel 02:22 and a couple of other guests he has. 02:23 This is gonna be a fast-moving program today 02:26 because we have several rolls 02:27 that are just, wow, really powerful. 02:30 We're gonna be switching out guests 02:32 in between somewhere in the middle of this program. 02:34 So it's gonna be a really packed program today. 02:36 We have pictures as well so, 02:38 this is gonna be really fun, Brian. 02:39 Yup, looking forward to it. For sure. 02:41 I have a text here that kind of launch us out. 02:44 Oh, good. 02:45 You know, Peter right after Pentecostal 02:47 delivered a powerful sermon, 02:50 and when he got done the people were, 02:52 this is the Holy Spirit had pricked them 02:54 in their hearts. 02:56 And that says, "Now when they heard this," 02:59 this is Acts 2:37, 03:01 "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart 03:04 and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 03:06 Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 03:08 "What shall we do?" 03:09 And Peter answered them, "Repent and be baptized." 03:14 Amen. 03:15 One of the blessings of prison 03:17 and I say it's a blessing of prison 03:19 is it gives individuals a timeout 03:23 and during that timeout 03:24 is when the Holy Spirit pricks them 03:26 in their conscience, 03:27 no more do they have the alcohol, the drugs, 03:30 or the other addictions, 03:32 you know, they have been put a little bit out of their life 03:36 and the control has come back to their life 03:37 in a prison setting 03:39 and the Holy Spirit uses that time to prick them. 03:42 And so it, you know, tells them about 03:44 what the issues are, and then, their response is, 03:47 Lord, what shall we do, what can I do, 03:50 I know I want something different, what? 03:52 And henceforth God brings in ministries like 03:56 Christmas Behind Bars to bring a message to all of us. 03:59 No, you're absolutely right. 04:01 And we want to welcome you, Lemuel, 04:02 I know you are the director, president, I don't know, 04:05 I know titles, you always shy away from those, 04:07 but you are the director of Christmas Behind Bars, 04:10 and I know that we got a little box here 04:13 that's in between us here, 04:15 and it says Lost and Found on it. 04:17 I know that's the key thing for you with prison ministry 04:19 you've sort of set that as a theme 04:20 even for today's program as lost and found. 04:23 But, Lemuel, welcome, 04:24 we've got couple of other guests with us. 04:27 We have Renita, I think is it Kropf, 04:30 and your husband Amos, we're glad that you are here. 04:32 We're gonna package your story in a little bit. 04:35 But, Lemuel, for the first time viewer 04:37 that says oh, 04:38 what is Christmas Behind Bars? 04:39 Sounds great. 04:41 I know what Christmas is, behind bars, 04:42 something with prison. 04:44 So, Lemuel, just kind of unpackaged, 04:45 give it a brief description. 04:47 Christmas Behind Bars 04:48 is one of the actual loneliest times 04:50 for ones persons of incarceration 04:52 so there you are the holidays are come and go. 04:55 But Christmas you're just you're lonely. 04:57 And so the meaning of Christmas Behind Bars 04:59 is sharing the gospel, 365 days a year with those folk 05:02 that are in prison. 05:04 Brian said that when you put folk in prison 05:06 you kind of get a timeout. 05:07 I told my wife 05:09 basically the same thing about a year ago. 05:10 We're on our way to supermax prison 05:13 and it was early in the morning, 05:14 and I said, honey, I believe 05:16 that this is one of the last reachable people groups 05:19 in the United States of America because they want change. 05:22 They've tried to change, and they feel like a failure 05:24 so they feel lost. 05:25 Lost and found box, 05:27 what do you normally find in a lost and found box? 05:28 What would you say? 05:30 You might find a watch. 05:32 No watch, what about cell phone? 05:34 Yes. Cell phone. 05:35 May be a pen? A pen. 05:37 We got a pen, car keys, loss and found box. 05:38 Yeah, yeah. Glasses. 05:40 Glasses, glasses. What about $100 bills? 05:43 Once in a while you do find $100 bill. 05:47 We'll donate it to Christmas Behind Bars. 05:49 Amen. 05:50 So lost and found box, stuff is lost 05:52 and people are seeking to find their lost things. 05:54 Right. 05:55 Jesus is seeking to find the lost. 05:57 Amen, the Good Shepherd. 05:58 And so when you are in prison, you're either lost 06:01 or you're found. 06:03 And so Christmas Behind Bars we wanted to be a ministry 06:06 to bring hope through Christ to those that are lost. 06:10 If they are found and they already know Jesus, 06:12 then we want to bring them inspiration, 06:14 and encouragement, and hope. 06:16 And that's were people like Amos and his family 06:19 and different people come into sing, 06:20 make cards and things like that. 06:22 Why don't we go to the warehouse quick 06:23 before we meet our guest? 06:25 Okay. Okay. 06:27 I have some pictures here. 06:29 Christmas Behind Bars is a non-for-profit 06:31 outreach ministry 06:32 and it started about 20 years ago. 06:34 And we have a warehouse, it's been donated, 06:36 we have a truck. 06:38 We have some different things here that, 06:41 the Lord has worked it out, 06:42 it's a borrowed truck, it's not our truck. 06:44 This is at your warehouse? 06:45 This is at the warehouse, yes, in Bluffton, Indiana, 06:47 Central Indiana. 06:48 Nice truck, the trailer, let's go inside the warehouse. 06:52 The next picture here is the trailer 06:54 that you just saw outside but it has a problem. 06:57 It leaks. 06:58 People have donated it 07:00 but we actually need a new trailer, 07:01 we don't want our packages to get wet. 07:04 So we'll go to the next picture here. 07:06 This is my wife in the semi trailer. 07:08 And people have sponsored Bibles, 07:10 we need Bibles to give to the prisoners. 07:11 And we want to say thank you for your sponsorship, 07:14 but certainly we don't want them to get wet. 07:16 In this black bags, in this semi trailer 07:18 are gift packages 07:19 that have been put together for inmates across the country. 07:22 So it's just pretty amazing 07:24 how the Lord as worked this whole thing out. 07:26 This next picture here is actually Donna my wife 07:29 in front of 2,000 packages 07:31 that have been made specifically for Florida. 07:33 They only allow them to have hygiene items 07:36 but also the devotional material 07:38 that's the ingredient, 07:40 so whether it's Ramen noodles, cookies, snacks, and chips 07:43 or whether it's hygiene 07:44 and the devotional materials so that's a great blessing, 07:46 and we appreciate the sponsors 07:48 that have donated those materials. 07:50 Again here's a semi truck, 07:52 I got my CDL license about a year ago, 07:54 never dreamed possible with a third grade education 07:57 I could study or pass any kind of test. 07:59 So that's a great blessing to have, 08:01 have that piece of equipment. 08:02 Nate, great blessing young man comes in everyday, 08:05 volunteers his time, works at the warehouse, 08:07 drives fork truck and some other things. 08:10 He's one of the few that have a driver's license. 08:12 There's toilets to clean, sinks to scrub, 08:14 and so there's lot of things 08:16 that go on day-to-day at the warehouse 08:17 to make the prison business possible. 08:20 This is really interesting, you're gonna meet Tyler here 08:22 in the next segment of this program. 08:24 Tyler is no longer on the wrong side of the law. 08:27 Here he is standing next to law enforcement officer, 08:29 but he'll be here little bit later so stay tuned. 08:32 Tyler's actually ministering at the warehouse to some lady 08:35 that got out of prison, 08:37 six months early addicted to meth, 08:39 have a lot of problems, 08:40 but she has community service for 20 hours a week. 08:43 So she comes in, Tyler had the opportunity 08:45 to minister to her, 08:47 before we came to the program today. 08:50 There he is, there by the truck. 08:53 I hope he'll stay and continue to help us 08:55 at the warehouse. 08:56 So it's great blessing. 08:57 He actually was in prison and received the package. 09:00 Craig has a CDL license, he comes in regular basis to, 09:05 make deliveries for us and picks up 09:06 and so the Lord has just brought 09:08 a multitude of volunteers together 09:10 to bring hope to the prisoners, 09:11 young and old alike, it's a great blessing. 09:13 Yeah, amen. That's amazing so. 09:15 So how long has 09:17 Christmas Behind Bars been in existence? 09:18 It's started about 20 years ago with one county jail, 09:21 and then it has continued to grow. 09:23 And now it's in multitude of states 09:25 and that's kind of where Amos comes in, 09:27 to bring packages and hope, the love of Christ. 09:29 You know, what I think is really neat, Brian, is, 09:31 you know, we participated at our local church 09:34 at Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist church, 09:35 you saw all of those big black plastic bags 09:38 and inside of those are all kinds of smaller little bags 09:41 and inside those bags, Brian, what are in those bags? 09:43 In those little paper bags? 09:45 Yeah, for us there were paper bags. 09:48 Yeah, that's where the hygiene or the snacks, 09:51 but also the real nourishment which was a spiritual food 09:54 and we get to gather usually once or twice a year. 09:58 And Lemuel brings the product and items down 10:02 and we put in our gym, make assembly lines 10:05 and Sabbath afternoon church comes out 10:07 and we package those gift bags for our local prisons here. 10:12 It's really fun. 10:13 I'd like to say something, 10:14 if anybody be interested in having Christmas Behind Bars 10:16 to come to their state, 10:18 we'd love to bring product and get it organized 10:20 and maybe visit a prison. 10:22 So if anybody is involved in prisons already, 10:24 prison ministry, we'd like to help 10:26 because the beauty of Christmas Behind Bars 10:28 is there is many prison ministries that go in 10:31 but you only get to minister 10:32 to the 18, 20, 30, 50, may be a 100 10:35 out of the 2,000 inmates that come out. 10:37 But with Christmas Behind Bars, 10:38 every inmate receive the package, 10:40 Muslim, atheist, Hindu, non-believer, a Christian, 10:43 every inmate receives the package 10:45 and that's the beauty 10:46 and that's what sets Christmas Behind Bars aside. 10:48 You know, I think the key part too, Brian, 10:49 as you mentioned and you too, Lemuel, 10:51 is that in there is the spiritual pamphlets, books 10:55 but there's also a card and that's critical too, 10:57 because it's just not okay, now I'm blessed, 11:00 now what do I do. 11:01 There is actually contact card inside of each package 11:05 and that goes back to Christmas Behind Bars. 11:07 And then Donna opens everyone of them 11:09 and she sends out all the different book requests, 11:11 Bible study offers, 3ABN has one in there, 11:13 so the inmates can go on and start studying 11:15 and learning, so that's a great blessing. 11:17 We always know when Lemuel's hit a new prison. 11:21 Our mail volume increases all of a sudden 11:24 from one particular spot. 11:26 So they are sending them in? 11:28 Yeah, they are. Yeah, we know that so. 11:29 That's amazing. Yeah. 11:31 Yeah, it's tremendously blessed, 11:32 it is a real blessing, 11:33 I know that just recently 11:35 Jill and I and, you and your wife, 11:38 and your wife and see 11:41 who else was in that group was there others 11:43 that went with us on there, anyway there is a whole group 11:45 that went North. 11:46 I have had the opportunity of helping to package 11:49 some of this bags, oh, number of years ago. 11:52 But actually get to go in with Christmas Behind Bars, 11:55 wow, I caught the bug and it's not the flew bug. 11:59 It's prison ministry brings, that such a thing 12:01 and hopefully it's contagious. 12:03 What a tremendous opportunity to go into this women's prison 12:07 and actually participate. 12:08 Thank you for the invitation. 12:10 Thank you too, Brian, to actually hand them out 12:12 and to touch the inmates one-on-one. 12:15 That is a totally new experience 12:18 and totally it has changed my life forever 12:20 and wow, very, very blessed. 12:22 Well, the Lord has blessed that way 12:23 to where when people volunteer and share. 12:26 They're able to share blessing by God's grace 12:29 but then we're blessed by it as well. 12:31 And we just want to stop for a moment, 12:32 we want to send a shout out to all the inmates 12:34 wherever they are, watching this program. 12:36 And let them know if they feel lost, 12:38 Jesus is the answer. 12:39 This weekend we're at a prison and this man, he said, 12:42 do you think if I would pray that Jesus would hear me 12:45 and forgive me. 12:46 And I said, absolutely, so that's a great blessing. 12:48 So we want to say hello to all of those watching. 12:49 Amen. 12:51 Well, Lemuel, you brought two guests 12:52 Amos and his wife Renita who're with us today. 12:57 And you folk are from the Amish Mennonite community? 13:01 Right. 13:02 You know, there is one thing, a few months ago, 13:05 number of months ago now, 13:07 I had a chance to go with Lemuel to Arkansas. 13:10 Is that home territory for you, folks? 13:12 Amen. Amen. 13:13 I spent 40 years there so kind of our home state. 13:16 Yeah. 13:18 And, Lemuel, and myself and then, 13:23 three of your volunteers, 13:27 your people came and joined, or we joined with them, 13:31 put it that way, to do this Christmas Behind Bars 13:36 event in ministry. 13:37 Yeah, it's truly a blessing 13:39 when people from various beliefs 13:41 and groups get together, 13:43 you know, the Holy Spirit is there 13:45 and just, I've heard it numerous times 13:47 like people get together 13:49 and just like they can feel the presence of God. 13:53 It says my prayer will go with you. 13:56 Yeah, amen. 13:57 You know, I'm gonna say something 13:59 and I hope our viewers don't take this wrong, 14:03 but often times our teachings and our theology 14:08 tend to separate us or divide us. 14:10 Amen. 14:11 And, I'm a firm believer that you have to have truthful, 14:17 honest, Bible based teachings, that's important. 14:22 But when Jesus sits on the throne of His glory, 14:27 Matthew 25, and He calls the nations before Him. 14:32 And He starts dividing the sheep 14:34 from the goats, okay. 14:36 What makes the big divide? 14:39 He doesn't question them on their teachings, 14:42 false teachings, wrong teachings, 14:43 were they were mistaken on teachings. 14:45 Right. 14:46 What He questioned them on 14:48 is their loving outreach to each other. 14:55 You know, I was in prison and you visited me. 14:57 I was naked and you clothed me. 15:00 I was hungry and you fed me, okay. 15:02 Those were the things he questioned them 15:04 and then judged them on. 15:06 Not, oh, did you have this right? 15:07 No, you didn't have it right, so you got to go 15:09 and you got to write but so you're a sheep. 15:11 Amen. 15:13 No, it was that, you know, that's interesting. 15:14 You know what I love about that scripture is, he says, 15:17 as you done it unto the least of this, my brethren, 15:21 so Jesus equates Himself with the least of this 15:24 by His standards 15:26 And you have a personal reason 15:27 or how we got connected 15:29 with prison ministries a tragedy. 15:30 Yeah, it was really a tragedy and '09 her brother, 15:35 Renita's brother who had a lost life, 15:39 you could be in religion and still be lost. 15:42 He was a member of the church but through that, through the, 15:45 I call it the enemy 15:47 'cause the enemy comes to steal, 15:48 kill, and destroy. 15:50 That's right. 15:51 And he destroyed that family's life 15:52 and got them in a downward path, 15:54 but I believe it was her brother 15:56 heard Lemuel talk on one of the shows 15:58 and so when we had a family member incarcerated, 16:02 it was like a death in our family, 16:04 but we didn't know what to do. 16:06 And so we've heard about Christmas Behind Bars 16:08 and gave Lemuel a call, he come down and it was just, 16:13 we was blast as much as maybe our brother-in-law was, 16:18 our brother in prison, you know, 16:19 and through that outreach we're going to numerous prisons 16:23 and still do to members of our, not members of our family 16:27 but people that have grown to be in our family of God 16:31 that we treasure and put a lot of value in that. 16:36 So, Renita, so you go in too? 16:38 Yes, I do if I can. 16:40 We have small children right now 16:42 so I can't every time, but I miss it. 16:45 I mean... It's a blessing, isn't it? 16:47 We get a blessing out of it, I mean, 16:50 when my brother was incarcerated 16:52 it was a tragedy to our family. 16:57 His wife lost her baby in a month, 16:59 and a couple months later my mom had a heart attack, 17:03 and it was devastating. 17:05 And if it wasn't for Christmas Behind Bars 17:08 and brother Lemuel, I don't know 17:09 how we would have made it. 17:12 But he came down, he was a blessing, 17:15 but, you know, it was, the whole thing 17:18 the tragedy it was turned into a blessing. 17:22 And I like that verse in Isaiah 61:1, 17:25 it's one of my favorite verses where God says, 17:28 "He turns the ashes into beauty." 17:32 Yeah. Yeah. 17:33 And, you know, I never, I thought, you know, God, why? 17:36 Why did you let this happen to us, 17:38 I mean, you know, I never expected it to happen. 17:41 You worry about lot of things 17:42 but what you don't worry about happens. 17:45 But he turned something awful into blessing, 17:50 into something beautiful because now we go in there 17:52 and I mean, I received a probably more of a blessing 17:57 then even the prisoners do. 17:58 I mean, I heard some of those prisoners pray, 18:02 they pray out of their sincere heart, 18:04 I mean, it's awesome how they pray 18:07 and it teaches me a lesson, you know. 18:10 Had the same experience, we got a phone call one evening 18:14 that change the course of our life. 18:16 Phone call told us that our son was arrested 18:18 and facing charges of murder, 18:22 and anyway he's incarcerated today 18:27 and been for 6 or 7 years and facing 50 years, you know. 18:31 So I, as you were sharing, I know from personal experience 18:37 that shock, that impact, 18:41 but being able to go in and minister 18:43 has brought healing to our own hearts. 18:44 Oh, definitely it does. 18:45 And I would guess to your hearts too. 18:48 Prison isn't that, you can find God, 18:50 you can be free indeed, 18:53 as many people are in the... 18:54 maybe in the outside world I know are more incarcerated, 18:57 more in prison than those that... 19:01 God isn't a finder for prison wall. 19:04 And I think the package is, I just like to think 19:07 everyone is packages of love. 19:10 Some are little, some are big, 19:11 and we as humans we like the big ones 19:13 but it's something about it 19:15 and I like that passage you had that 19:18 now both groups said they did something 19:21 but one didn't have love. 19:22 It says, Lord, did we not go. 19:25 He says, no, I never knew you. Yeah. 19:27 It's kind of like the saying, 19:29 people don't care how much you know 19:31 until they'd know how much you care. 19:33 Yeah, that is so true. 19:34 That is very powerful. 19:36 I'd like to say something here. 19:38 This couple not only has a love for their brother 19:41 because her brother was transferred to other prisons 19:43 throughout the state, 19:44 but they kept sponsoring financially 19:47 and coming with their group 19:48 to sing to other people's brothers or children. 19:51 So even though their brother was transferred, 19:54 they still continue to go to those other prisons, 19:56 so that's beautiful. 19:57 Well, it just like you said. 19:59 It's a bug, I mean you catch it and you can't get rid of it. 20:02 That's right, it's a good thing. 20:03 It's a good bug. It's a good bug. 20:05 Yeah. 20:06 But the experience that I had going to Arkansas, 20:09 you know, and joining with your folk there. 20:12 Yeah, it just showed me how the love of God, 20:16 so rich and pure, you know, it unites. 20:19 It did. 20:21 Mission, helping others 20:23 who are hurting unite us, you know. 20:26 Maybe there're doctrinal differences 20:28 but, boy, when you... 20:30 We serve one God. 20:31 When you serve one God 20:33 and you are going in to bless others 20:34 who are hurting, you know, and need you it unites us, 20:39 it was such a sweet fellowship to be there that day. 20:43 I joined the choir, 20:45 I'm not necessarily noted 20:47 to be greatest singer in the world, 20:49 but I joined the choir and we sang, 20:51 and we shared our testimony, 20:53 and gave the gifts and... 20:56 You know, the love of God touches all people 20:59 because there was a Muslim man 21:00 in one of the prisons we were at 21:02 and he stood up and he told all the volunteers 21:04 and everybody else, 21:05 he said, I'm a Muslim, 21:07 he said but the words have been conveyed, 21:08 the songs have been sung, he said touched my heart. 21:11 And that's the power of God, so he proclaimed to be a Muslim 21:13 but he said, that he had received something, 21:16 so it's really beautiful. 21:17 So how many are in your group, your prison ministry group? 21:19 You go once a month? 21:21 It varies from time to time we vary from 9 to 30 21:24 and that's the beauty of it. 21:26 All the churches in Arkansas, and Texas, 21:28 and Okalahoma we have a group that don't go again alone 21:32 'cause we want to go with you, 21:33 and so some come on a Sunday morning service 21:37 and some come when we go with the Christmas Behind Bars 21:40 and it is grown from just a little network, 21:44 we have about 50 or 100 group that, you know, 21:46 now we have little text group, and, 21:48 hey, we got a volunteer date coming up, 21:50 we want a help and now we're busy volunteers, 21:53 so not everybody can come every time. 21:55 Sure. 21:57 But you can pray in your sponsorship too 22:00 that the Word of God would go out 22:02 and accomplish the thing that He wants it to prosper in. 22:06 Yeah, you gonna say something, Renita? 22:07 Well, it's just wonderful, I mean, 22:09 the volunteers have no idea how, how the support, 22:13 how big it feels to us, you know even, I mean it. 22:17 I mean, I don't know, it's not, you can't explain it is, 22:20 the support is absolutely phenomenal. 22:24 I mean... 22:25 So, Lemuel, question for you, so you, you know, 22:27 we're looking at those trucks you said, 22:29 I think you said Bluffton, Indiana is where 22:31 Christmas Behind Bars is... 22:32 Central Indiana. 22:34 Yes, it's where it's located, its headquarters. 22:35 So Arkansas is not just next-door, 22:38 so you're taking semis, is that correct, 22:40 or some of your Bosch trucks 22:41 to deliver these goods from your warehouse 22:44 because a lot of the packages I believe are packaged, 22:47 put together in Bluffton, they are loaded into the semis, 22:50 and then you go off to like this prison 22:53 that they are ministering to. 22:54 So to get from there to Arkansas 22:58 and other places too, Brian, right? 22:59 Around the country. Virginia. 23:01 Baltimore, Maryland, South Carolina, Alabama. 23:04 Florida. Florida. 23:05 Costs money, that's what I'm getting that, you know, 23:07 feeling all that. 23:08 So I just want to put this out there, 23:09 get your pencil and pen ready 23:11 because we are gonna show some ways, 23:12 tell you some ways, 23:14 and to give the contact information 23:15 of how you can support Christmas Behind Bars. 23:17 They have some specific needs so keep that handy 23:19 'cause we'll give that to you in here shortly. 23:21 Anything else here, Lemuel, on this, 23:23 I like the lost and found 23:24 because that's really what it's all about, 23:25 isn't it, prison ministry. 23:27 And it's interesting because you have the program 23:29 "Free indeed". 23:30 It's interesting, isn't it, 23:31 how you can be behind bars but yet be free. 23:34 You can be outside of the bars, yet be in prison so to speak. 23:38 Yeah. Amen. 23:39 I would like to say that, I think, Amos, 23:41 what would you say, 23:42 what percent of an inmate population would come out 23:44 when Christmas Behind Bars comes? 23:46 It's voluntary, 23:47 they don't have to come out to hear the message 23:49 or to receive the bag. 23:50 But what percentage would you say come out? 23:51 It's not about a package, you know, 23:53 I don't care how big or little but they here, 23:56 I talked with my brother-in-law last week 23:58 and I ask him little, 24:00 we come some times with that, I said, 24:02 well, do the people still, 24:03 the inmates want Christmas Behind Bars? 24:05 He said, you never have to worry about that, 24:09 they also they wanna know when are they coming. 24:11 When are they coming? 24:12 And, you know, the thing that I like to, Greg, 24:14 join with you is we've tried, you know, 24:17 occasionally just go to Sam's wholesale 24:19 and buy a little, 24:20 but I mean one little package just four little items 24:24 cost a lot of money and the items that he gets, 24:28 you know, he can get big Wal-Mart bag for all that, 24:31 I would even like it, 24:33 you know, lot of time we take it for the staff 24:35 and as the staff does that it has a lot of value there 24:38 that maybe a 2,000-bed prison 24:41 if you go by it would cost $20, 000 that you can, 24:45 I like to think little is much when God is in. 24:48 Amen. 24:50 Yeah, just the lost and the found 24:51 that the $1 can be $100 to someone. 24:54 No, we went to the prison just north here few months ago. 24:58 I think, just about everybody came out, 25:00 didn't they, to receive the package. 25:02 Oh, yeah. 25:03 99%, yeah. 25:04 Yeah, if we're looking at percentage, 25:06 obviously, 99 %. 25:07 It was with Dr. Yvonne, she did some ministry music, 25:09 Jason went, and of course the rest of the team 25:11 and it was really a blessing for sure. 25:13 Amos, you just shared with me earlier 25:17 before we started the program that, 25:19 and Lemuel had said that you are helping to sponsor, 25:22 and sponsor means helping financially. 25:25 And not just in this case prayer, 25:27 but you are actually 25:28 and how the Lord blessed you on that? 25:29 Share a little bit about that? 25:31 Yeah, it was truly a miracle that humbled me 25:34 that I want to give God the glory. 25:35 We had went to little prison called Little Tucker Max, 25:39 there's two prisons but we went to Tucker Max 25:41 and there was about 500 men there mostly, 25:46 a max unit 25:48 but you could feel the spirit of God there, 25:50 I mean, when we arrive, you know, 25:52 we took the packages in, 25:53 and we went and did the program. 25:55 And each inmate got their package 25:57 and that night we had a voluntary church service there. 26:01 It was a little chapel, a lot smaller than this room 26:03 even but it was packed 26:05 and in the end Lemuel asked the prisoners 26:09 that they would share 26:10 what Christmas Behind Bars meant to them. 26:13 But one of the inmates prayed that God would bless us 26:15 tenfold for what our efforts was 26:18 and that night after it was done 26:20 I decided I would donate $3,000. 26:24 Didn't really know if the money was, 26:26 I didn't check my bank account to see 26:28 but I trusted God that it would work 26:31 and get the money. 26:33 So I called my wife, 26:34 she was staying in the family and said, 26:37 did you give the mail today. 26:39 And she said she didn't, so I said, 26:40 well, I'll get it when I get home 26:42 and it's about a three-hour drive. 26:43 And I got home about 12, 12:30 26:45 and just kind of quick glance through the mail. 26:48 I've seen there's one envelope was, you know, 26:50 how you can see when there is a check in it 26:51 so I thought I'd open that check 26:53 and there was a check for over $22,000. 26:57 And I absolutely had no idea. 26:59 That prayer got answered... 27:01 It just humbled me that God had his timing perfect, 27:05 and my verse is prove me here what saith Lord of host, 27:09 see if when I open you the windows of heaven 27:12 and pour you out a blessing, 27:13 that there'd be not room enough 27:15 in my storehouse to contain it. 27:17 And I just give God the glory that 27:19 he act or remembers us poor mortals 27:24 and his timing is perfect. 27:25 I mean, God knows so much more than we do, 27:28 give God the glory. 27:30 The prayer had been answered beforehand 27:31 because this guy had forgot, 27:33 he'd forgot that this person 27:35 everyone owed him money from long time ago 27:37 and that's our prayer today 27:38 that people would see value in this ministry 27:40 and help that may continue to grow, 27:42 we're willing to go. 27:43 Amen. 27:45 Lemuel, I'm just thinking too 27:46 'cause we have a roll we wanna go to but, 27:47 you know, thinking about, you know, 27:49 your experience in prison, you know, and your time. 27:51 When I was in prison? 27:52 When you were in prison, correct. 27:53 And how God has taken you 27:55 to where you are now with this ministry. 27:56 Isn't it amazing, you know, 27:58 to see how God has worked in your life 27:59 to the countless inmates 28:01 that you have reached through this 20 years. 28:04 And I'm just excited about what's in store 28:06 for Christmas Behind Bars, 28:07 but I know there's a video you put together 28:09 with one of our directors here Brad Walker 28:10 and he's been participating in this prison ministry 28:12 for a while too, 28:14 but set this video up for us and then we'll through it. 28:15 Okay, this video is about, well, actually, 28:19 let's just go to inside the prisons, 28:21 it just shows the power of the gospel, 28:24 goes back to the lost and found box, 28:26 folks that are been lost, 28:28 are been found baptisms and lot of things, 28:30 there are testimonies, there are songs. 28:31 So we just thank out all the sponsors 28:33 who helped 3ABN and Christmas Behind Bars. 28:35 Okay. 28:36 And then I know we're gonna switch out 28:37 so we want to thank you, Amos... 28:39 Thank you. 28:40 Thank you. We enjoyed it. 28:41 Thank you for being here and God continue to bless you all 28:43 in your ministry there, 28:44 and it's a blessing to be partnering, 28:46 I know with Christmas Behind Bars 28:47 and with you all, too. 28:48 Same here. 28:50 We pray God will bless 3ABN and Christmas Behind Bars 28:51 as we look at the miracles that God has. 28:53 And, Amos, I just want to say thank you 28:55 'cause you helped us get that semi truck 28:57 and you've helped us diligently, 28:58 you helped us with some of our insurances stuff, 29:01 so just thank you so much, and God bless you. 29:02 You're welcome. 29:03 Thank you for what you did for us 29:05 and our family and for Anthony's family. 29:07 Well, look, how the gift is still giving 29:09 because now you are doing for many other families 29:11 that are incarcerated and so we thank you. 29:13 So God bless you. Praise the Lord. 29:14 All right, so let's go to that video now 29:16 that gives the update of Christmas Behind Bars. 29:21 What inspired you to make that commitment for Christ 29:23 less than a year ago? 29:26 Agape love. 29:28 People that come in here like you 29:29 and you do it out of love, 29:32 unmerited love. 29:33 We don't deserve this from you, 29:35 it's through Jesus Christ you come here 29:36 and you share this agape love with us. 29:38 And it's a treasure that we'll cherish 29:40 for the rest of our lives. 29:45 I can tell you from the years 29:48 that I've had Christmas behind Bars at my facilities. 29:52 It is the biggest program that after you guys roll out, 29:56 the thank you notes come in like wow. 30:00 I mean, hands down. 30:02 I don't get near the thank yous from the offender population. 30:05 Christmas Behind Bars is a wonderful program. 30:15 Finally, hit rock bottom and there was no hope. 30:17 I sat in the cell I'd already see they shaved my head, 30:21 they take away your dignity, 30:22 they give you an orange jumpsuit, 30:24 you go into a cell. 30:25 And the shock of reality setting in that 30:29 this was my life for the next 15 years 30:31 was just overwhelming. 30:33 I heard this hymns and I thought I was in heaven. 30:36 It was beautiful singing, it was a cappella 30:38 and I looked out my window of the cell 30:42 and I saw these group of people 30:46 singing together men and women. 30:47 And then after the singing of a few hymns, 30:51 a speaker came forward and started to speak 30:53 which happened to be Mr. Vega. 30:56 I sat there and the thing that struck me was the message 31:01 and the message was on Jesus. 31:02 The message was on... 31:05 no matter what you've done there is hope. 31:08 I realized at that moment that I had been forgiven, 31:13 that despite all I'd done, 31:19 despite all the hurt I'd caused, 31:22 that Jesus wanted me home. 31:28 We enforce the rules here, we lock people down, 31:33 we discipline people for their actions. 31:37 There are quite a few inmates in our facility, 31:39 they pick up more charges for the bad choices 31:41 they make even after they're incarcerated. 31:44 But Christmas Behind Bars 31:46 brings a certain amount of peace 31:48 and tenderness within this facility, 31:50 for some people for hours, other people for days, 31:54 other people for maybe months or even years, 31:57 and there is no doubt in my mind, 31:59 there are some of those people 32:01 for the rest of their lives will remember the kindness 32:03 that was shown on that day. 32:05 I would have Christmas Behind Bars 32:07 in my facility on a daily program basis, 32:10 if I could get somebody to volunteer and do it. 32:14 For me, just for me, 32:17 just for me! 32:22 This Behind Bars, this was amazing. 32:24 We felt Jesus in here walking around us and, 32:28 God just let's to get right there. 32:30 Every one of us felt it and we... 32:33 I walked into my cell and saw, not because I was sad 32:36 because I felt him and it even felt beautiful. 32:39 And I'm just, I'm just so blessed 32:42 because I could be rotting in a cell and nobody cares, 32:45 and I know that, that's just. 32:50 I'm free to behind bars I mean, 32:54 I'm free and I'm in behind bars 32:56 and that's a beautiful feeling. 33:04 These people don't have to do things that they're doing. 33:06 They're taking time out of their day to come, 33:08 you know, help out strangers, you know, 33:11 to so attentive to people that, you know, 33:14 I kind of feel like we'd have forgotten. 33:16 You know, people look at as, you know, 33:17 they put a tag on us as criminals. 33:19 And, you know, we've done some bad things 33:21 but that doesn't define who we are, 33:23 so for these people to take time out of their day 33:26 and give us a chance, you know, 33:28 I really appreciate it. 33:47 I need Your glory 33:50 Okay. Hey, come out big. 33:51 Take it down, brother. 33:53 I want Your glory 33:57 Less of me and more of You 34:02 Is what I need 34:07 Show me Your glory 34:11 Lord, show me Your power 34:17 Less of me and more of You 34:21 Is what I need 34:26 Yes. 34:27 I need your glory Lord, I need 34:31 I want Your Glory My God, less of me 34:36 Less of me and more of You is what I need 34:43 My God show me Your glory 34:45 Show me Your glory 34:48 Show me Your power, Lord 34:49 Show me Your power 34:52 My God, less of me 34:54 Less of me and more of You 34:58 Is what I need 35:03 So many times I strayed away, rejecting Your love 35:09 And Your warm embrace 35:11 See, I realized 35:14 I need You more and more each day 35:21 I need Your glory I need, yes 35:25 I want Your glory Less of me 35:30 Less of me and more of you is what I need 35:36 Is what I need 35:38 Show me YOUR glory, Lord. 35:40 Show me Your glory 35:42 Show me Your power Show me Your power 35:45 I need less of me Less of me 35:49 Less of me and more of You is what I need 35:54 Is what I need 35:56 So many times I strayed away, rejecting Your love 36:03 And Your warm embrace 36:05 See, I realized 36:07 I need You more and more each day 36:15 More each day 36:19 I need Your glory 36:22 I need, my God I want Your Glory 36:25 Oh, Lord, less of me 36:28 Less of me and more of You is what I need 36:34 Is what I need, yeah. 36:39 Indeed if you feel like I do 36:42 Let Him know that Let Him know that you are hungry for Him 36:45 That you're thirsting for Him 36:47 That you are longing for Him 36:51 My God, lift up your voice and sing 36:54 I need Your glory 36:59 Oh, Lord, I've got to have it, yes. 37:02 Your glory 37:03 Everyday I know, I need, yes, Lord. 37:06 Your glory Oh, Lord 37:11 I need Your glory I need Your love 37:15 Your glory 37:17 I need it every morning, every night 37:20 Your glory Every minute of the day 37:22 I don't think I'm doing right 37:24 Your glory My God, I know. 37:26 Wow! 37:29 I need Your glory To live right 37:33 Your glory To get right 37:35 Your glory To feel right 37:37 Your glory Hanging on me, Lord 37:40 Your Glory Stand and count on me 37:42 Your glory Yeah, yeah 37:46 I need Your glory I need Your glory 37:51 I need Your glory I need 37:55 Your glory I need 37:57 Your glory I need 38:00 Your glory 38:05 My God 38:07 I'm on my knees every night praying for You, Lord 38:11 I know I need You to get me right 38:15 I need, I need 38:21 Show me Your love 38:28 Thank you, Jesus. 38:33 Wow. Amen. 38:35 I tell you Christmas Behind Bars, 38:36 what a ministry. 38:38 And you saw some lot of footage in there. 38:40 You saw some of the assembly lines 38:42 that are putting these packages together, 38:43 baptisms, people coming to the Lord, 38:46 you heard the music, I mean, 38:48 even Behind Bars they form these music groups, 38:49 don't they, Brian? 38:51 Right. Yes. 38:52 Some amazing music that comes from behind the prison bars, 38:54 and what a ministry of Christmas Behind Bars. 38:56 Thank you, Lemuel. Thank you. 38:57 You know, it's all honor and glory goes to Jesus, 38:59 you always tell us that. 39:00 Yeah. 39:02 And so, of course, we've added 39:03 a couple of new people on the set. 39:04 I don't wanna disrespect to you, Lemuel, 39:06 but your better half. 39:07 Yeah. Your dear wife, Donna. 39:09 Donna, it's so good to have you here too. 39:11 Good to be here. 39:12 And I'll tell you, 39:14 you and Lemuel are just a fantastic team 39:16 for Lord Jesus Christ. 39:17 And I believe only in heaven, 39:18 where we truly know that impact, right? 39:20 Amen. 39:22 ..Of Christmas Behind Bars and all these ministries 39:23 and your participation too. 39:25 Thank you so much because of your support, 39:27 I know many of you have been supporting 39:28 Christmas Behind Bars through the years. 39:30 Thank you very much. 39:32 We've also added Tyler Morris. 39:34 We're gonna hear a little bit of your story as well. 39:37 But, Donna, I wanna just go to you, you know, 39:38 'cause your husband of course, 39:40 he's very busy with the Christmas Behind Bars. 39:42 This isn't something you just do at Christmas time. 39:45 No. So it's Christmas Behind Bars. 39:47 It's actually 24 hours a day. 39:49 Did you say 24 hours a day? 39:51 He does find a little time to sleep. 39:53 Basically, that's all day 39:55 'cause there's no more than 24 hours a day. 39:57 So your participation with Christmas Behind Bars, 40:00 I know that Lemuel goes out on the road a lot, you know, 40:02 delivering these packages 40:03 going out ministering to many prisons, 40:06 but I know you get a chance to go, 40:07 you know, sometimes. 40:09 Yes. 40:10 But I know that you're blessed, 40:11 so you can tell us a little bit about that, 40:13 but also when you're staying home, 40:14 you're involved in some office work 40:16 that's very important. 40:17 Tell us a little bit about that? 40:18 Yes, I get to go to the mailbox 40:20 and gather the letters and write to them, 40:23 and there's a couple other people 40:24 that help writing us. 40:26 It's very exciting. 40:27 It's a great blessing. 40:29 It is, isn't it? 40:30 Because then you get to actually, 40:31 you're realizing the impact just a little bit of the impact 40:33 that Christmas Behind Bars... 40:35 Yes. 40:36 ..is making in people's lives. 40:37 And it's a blessing, doesn't it? 40:39 You enjoy being to participate and being a part 40:41 in such a big way of Christmas Behind Bars. 40:43 Actually, I hope they're blessed one eighth 40:46 as much as I am. 40:48 Yeah, it's a true blessing. 40:49 I feel I get the blessing. 40:51 Well, I know that 3ABN is very blessed 40:53 to being able to participate with Christmas Behind Bars 40:55 through all the years 40:57 and it's just neat to see you guys 40:58 moving as a team together, you know, as husband and wife, 41:01 and how God has blessed, Brian... 41:02 Yes. Amen. 41:03 ..in this ministry for sure. 41:05 Great friends of ours. 41:06 Aren't they now? Yes. 41:07 For sure. 41:09 Well, I know you've known a little bit of story of Tyler. 41:10 Yeah, Tyler shared a little bit and I'm gonna... 41:12 we don't have a long hair 41:14 but let me just put it in a capsule form. 41:18 Tyler was raised in a Christian home, 41:20 Christian environment. 41:21 Yes. 41:23 But he saw sometimes what we profess 41:24 and how we live are two different things 41:26 and that brought some disillusionment into his life. 41:30 And through that experience, 41:33 he began getting involved 41:35 in a little bit of a life of rebellion. 41:37 Oh, yeah. 41:38 And that led him into drugs, 41:42 and he spent a couple of different times in prison. 41:47 I know that there was a time 41:49 where he was supposed to have a court case, 41:51 he decided to skip the court case, right, Tyler? 41:53 Yeah. Yes. 41:54 Skip it? 41:56 That's not a good thing, right? 41:57 In a stolen car, with 9 millimeter gun, 42:00 some drugs, and high a bit himself, 42:03 and in the process got stopped. 42:05 And then found yourself back into jail again. 42:08 Yeah. 42:10 So pick us up from there, Tyler. 42:11 Tell us how... 42:12 You don't look like that kind of person today. 42:14 No. 42:16 I would never believe it if I saw it. 42:17 So tell us what happened? 42:20 How things changed for you? 42:21 Well, after they had found me after the vehicle wrecked 42:28 and they picked me up, 42:33 sat in county 42:35 and was looking on trying to get a bail 42:40 and didn't quite work out. 42:42 But after I had sobered up, 42:47 I spent a lot of, in a 23 hour-lockdown at first, 42:53 and only with one hour out to, to do your basic stuff 42:58 that you needed to do and... 43:02 But after I had sobered up, I, 43:04 I got sent up to the block 43:05 where you're not on 23 hour-lockdown anymore. 43:11 It's formal, I went to the bathroom 43:12 and just looking back on my life, 43:16 and as I seen my life unfold, 43:22 chronological order from 43:24 when I was a kid messing up to then, 43:27 while I was sitting in that bathroom. 43:30 And it's almost like, you know, 43:34 I was seeing this view of my life, 43:37 but it wasn't like it was from my eyes, 43:38 it was almost like it was from a different set of eyes 43:41 filled with grief. 43:42 And was then that I realized 43:47 I had that privilege of seeing through God's eyes, 43:54 see how much grief He feels toward people 43:59 who get caught up in that life of sin 44:02 and just to experience it in that way was 44:07 it brought me to my knees, 44:08 I was weeping, and I just finally, 44:11 that's when I said, 44:12 I asked Christ to come back into my life. 44:14 Amen. 44:16 And I just told Him that I was sorry, 44:18 that I doubted and from there 44:20 it was such a transformation, 44:24 it's like wow. 44:25 So how did, 44:27 you somehow got connected with Christmas Behind Bars. 44:29 How did that happen? 44:30 That's, well, after about a year in county, 44:34 I got sentenced and then sent to 44:38 New Castle Correctional Facility level one. 44:40 Okay. 44:41 And shortly thereafter, 44:46 Lemuel and a whole bunch of people came 44:49 and just passing out Christmas Behind Bar sacks 44:53 and it was truly amazing. 44:58 He doesn't recall it, 44:59 but I just remember him 45:01 holding this toothbrush above his head 45:04 and that's the way he made his presentation. 45:09 Yeah. 45:10 I mean, he got up on the table, 45:12 he doesn't recall this 45:13 but it was only for a short minute, 45:14 that's how he started his presentation. 45:16 And it was very captivating, 45:18 I think he had pretty much everybody's attention... 45:20 Yeah. 45:22 ..from that point. 45:23 You know we met in prison 45:25 but tell him how we met just not very long ago. 45:29 We met a couple of weeks ago. 45:31 Probably, yeah, on a Tuesday. 45:35 I had come with my church and it was awesome, 45:40 I've seen him and he was putting people where they, 45:43 you know, where there is help needed and... 45:45 This is at the facility... Yes. 45:47 So your church was coming there until I volunteer or help out. 45:49 Yes, to volunteer with the assembly line 45:51 and or putting bags together, 45:53 and I seen him and I'm like "Hey, I know you." 45:55 So we connected there, but just tell our viewers 45:58 where you were just a couple of days ago. 46:00 We just got a couple of minutes left. 46:01 Yeah. 46:05 Thank God I was actually able to go back into the prison, 46:09 where I was incarcerated and I got to share my testimony 46:15 and seen several people there that I was incarcerated with 46:19 and they were just blown away. 46:22 And so it's like, I just thank God so much. 46:26 Isn't that neat, Tyler? 46:27 I mean, you think about that. 46:28 Here you were incarcerated, 46:30 you were blessed by Christmas Behind Bars 46:32 from Lemuel at the very first, 46:34 he was standing on a table with a toothbrush 46:35 and that was his object lesson. 46:36 Yeah. 46:38 You know, I know that 'cause you've also held up a roll, 46:39 toilet paper roll also as an object lesson. 46:41 Yeah. 46:42 But anyway, so you get out your church you go 46:44 and volunteer at Christmas Behind Bars. 46:46 "Oh, I remember you", then, Tyler, 46:48 you get the opportunity to go back 46:50 into the very correctional facility you were at, 46:53 and to deliver. 46:54 Isn't that blessing, Brian. 46:56 That's nothing but a miracle. 46:57 Packages from Christmas Behind Bars. 46:58 And now, this is the icing on the cake. 47:00 Now you're here to share hope with inmates 47:02 around the world 47:03 and other people that there's hope 47:04 through making that decision that you did in that bathroom, 47:07 that you went from lost to found... 47:10 Yeah. 47:11 And now you continue on to proclaim the gospel message. 47:13 You know, 47:15 Tyler, if the Lord can do that for you, 47:18 anyone listening or watching who feel lost right now, 47:22 I just want you to know that God knows where you're at, 47:25 so you're not lost with from Him. 47:27 And He will take you on a whole new journey, 47:30 if you just make that decision just like Tyler did. 47:33 Yeah. Amen. 47:34 And praise the Lord. 47:35 It goes back to this whole thing. 47:37 Brian, doesn't it? 47:38 This little box in between us here that says lost and found, 47:40 and it's like, yeah, I tell there is always hope. 47:42 Isn't there? 47:43 That was neat, I know in that nine minute video we saw, 47:44 they're talking about that one gentleman who was just, 47:46 you know, crying emotional was talking about the hope 47:49 and forgiveness that God has. 47:50 We have another roll that we're gonna wanna go to, 47:52 we're running out of time here, so let's go to that right now. 47:57 And you guys are being a good example 47:59 to the Christian community out there 48:02 on how to be the spearhead, 48:06 the leaders of helping the people of society 48:09 that most people believe don't deserve help. 48:14 We don't have a fancy home, matter of fact, 48:16 we're known in our community as trailer trash. 48:19 We live in a little mobile home district 48:21 and it is not a very good mobile home park 48:24 but you know what? 48:25 We're happy because we have Jesus. 48:27 That's exactly right. That's all you need. 48:29 And a lot of times we'll sleep in the back of the van 48:32 or the truck to save money, 48:34 and we want our sponsors to know that 48:35 every dime that's donated to this ministry is 48:39 put into the work. 48:41 And we wanna say thanks to our sponsors 48:43 that make this possible because it's not us. 48:46 And that's what we believe Christmas Behind Bars 48:48 free indeed is all about because we're casting our time, 48:51 our resources, our efforts, 48:53 our skills, and abilities 48:54 that God has blessed us with. 48:56 I feel like He blessed us with a talent, 48:59 and we put that talent back into the marketplace 49:01 for the furtherance of the kingdom of heaven. 49:03 And we thank 3ABN and the work that they have done 49:06 to make free indeed possible, 49:08 a living reality of the foundational work 49:11 that Christians Behind Bars has done. 49:12 For many years by God's grace, 49:14 His strength, His endurance, 49:16 and His sponsorship to you. 49:18 Well, this is an opportunity for people 49:20 to see what the love of Christ is, 49:23 and how everybody has an opportunity to change 49:27 and live as God intended for them to live. 49:29 To be completely whole in Jesus Christ, 49:32 and you're doing that. 49:35 Christmas Behind Bars is doing that 49:36 and encouraging people, you know, in these prisons. 49:39 And we're behind you in a small little way. 49:45 Listen to Lord's voice and be obedient to that. 49:48 I just encourage you to get involved with the ministry 49:51 if you have an opportunity to, 49:53 especially to visit in the prison 49:55 to see the faces of the people and to spread the hope 50:00 and to further God's kingdom. 50:02 Your work doesn't come in your failures or your past, 50:05 it comes straight from heaven. 50:07 And just remember that, 50:09 that you're created in His image, 50:11 and He loves you. 50:12 He has send His Son down, 50:14 while we were all yet sinners to save us. 50:17 And so thank you. 50:21 Wow. Amen. 50:22 Another powerful roll, it's neat, isn't it, Brian? 50:24 Yeah. 50:25 To be able to participate and spreading God's Word 50:28 and touching lives for eternity. 50:29 That's for sure. 50:30 Now, Lemuel, there's couple at the end 50:32 they're very special to you 50:33 and Donna in Christmas Behind Bars. 50:35 I know you have a couple more pictures. 50:36 So tell us about this couple 50:37 and then share us those pictures? 50:39 You know, Greg, volunteers come in all forms. 50:41 Amos comes, many volunteers help with all kinds of things, 50:44 this couple donated their warehouse, 50:46 and they don't charge us any, they let us use it, 50:49 they don't charge us no electric, no gas, 50:51 they're diligently helping us be on the frontline, 50:55 so that's what sponsorship is for this ministry 50:57 keeping us on the frontlines. 50:58 We're willing to go 51:00 and it's the sponsors that make it possible. 51:01 That's right. We have a few pictures. 51:03 Yeah. That's right. 51:04 Okay. Yes. 51:05 This is one of our volunteers at the warehouse. 51:07 Her name is Brandy. 51:08 She's a blessing in a lot of different ways. 51:10 I got another picture here. 51:12 If you look at Brandy right here closely. 51:14 Brandy never smiles, 51:15 hardly ever at all in a picture. 51:17 We got one more picture here. 51:19 The reason why is 51:20 because her teeth are rotted out 51:21 from drug addiction, she has about eight months... 51:24 How much time does she have clean now? 51:26 This is a short period of time. 51:28 She's clean now. 51:29 Her husband's in prison, 51:30 and we're trying to get some financial support 51:32 to get her teeth fixed. 51:33 It's about $3,100. 51:35 And we, as a team, Christmas Behind Bars, 51:38 it started 20 years ago, 51:39 we've been able to help many, many people 51:41 in many different aspects of their life. 51:43 And so we'd like to help with this dental work for Brandy. 51:45 Yeah. 51:46 Also Bibles, we need Bibles. Yes, amen. 51:48 Because the inmates the Word of God at RDC, 51:50 Tyler can tell you the value of a Bible at RDC, 51:53 so we need help with Bibles, get packages, 51:55 maybe someone wants to help sponsor a prison 51:57 or with these medical bills 51:59 for the dental work for Brandy and so. 52:01 I tell you what we wanna do right now, Lemuel, 52:03 is we want to go to our address roll 52:06 to tell you how you can, 52:07 you saw earlier they're talking about the trailer, 52:09 that was leaking and they need some funds for a new trailer, 52:11 we're talking about some medical help for Brandy, 52:14 dental work. 52:16 And there's many ways, 52:17 the fuel to travel around to these different prisons. 52:20 So we wanna give, go to that contact information 52:22 so you can support Christmas Behind Bars. 52:27 Christmas Behind Bars 52:28 shares Christ love to those behind bars 52:31 not just on Christmas, but 365 days a year. 52:35 If you would like to learn more, 52:36 you can contact them at PO Box 474, 52:40 Bluffton, Indiana, 46714. 52:43 That's PO Box 474, Bluffton, Indiana, 46714. 52:49 You can call them at 888-536-8342. 52:54 That's 888-536-8342. 52:58 You can also visit them online at ChristmasBehindBars.org. 53:02 That's ChristmasBehindBars.org. |
Revised 2017-03-23