Have you ever felt an emptiness that nothing seems to fill? 00:00:01.36\00:00:04.93 Stay tuned to learn about 00:00:04.97\00:00:06.40 the only one who can fill that void. 00:00:06.43\00:00:08.60 They tried to change us from the outside in, 00:00:13.91\00:00:16.31 and that's never going to work. 00:00:16.34\00:00:19.51 Because I know that no matter 00:00:19.55\00:00:21.05 how hard and cold the exterior may seem, 00:00:21.08\00:00:24.25 I know that inside we hurt. 00:00:24.29\00:00:27.76 So we just want to come and share some hope with you 00:00:27.79\00:00:30.63 and let you know that we love you, 00:00:30.66\00:00:32.49 and that Jesus loves you 00:00:32.53\00:00:35.06 beyond anybody in this world. 00:00:35.10\00:00:38.90 We're not here today to judge you or condemn you. 00:00:38.93\00:00:40.87 We're today to tell you that 00:00:40.90\00:00:42.24 we love you and we understand the situation 00:00:42.27\00:00:44.57 that you're in. 00:00:44.61\00:00:46.01 Hello, I'm Jason Bradley, 00:00:53.65\00:00:54.98 and I'm so glad that you decided to join us. 00:00:55.02\00:00:57.45 I'm here with Lemuel Vega, 00:00:57.49\00:00:59.65 founder of Christmas Behind Bars. 00:00:59.69\00:01:02.66 A ministry that reaches men and women 00:01:02.69\00:01:05.23 that are incarcerated with the hope of Jesus Christ. 00:01:05.26\00:01:08.70 Lemuel, it's great to have you here. 00:01:08.73\00:01:11.67 I've had the privilege and opportunity of going 00:01:11.70\00:01:14.24 behind bars with you. 00:01:14.27\00:01:16.60 We got out the same day, 00:01:16.64\00:01:18.21 but we got to go witness and minister 00:01:18.24\00:01:20.08 to those that are incarcerated. 00:01:20.11\00:01:21.98 You know, Jason, I want to thank you 00:01:22.01\00:01:23.48 for your part here at 3ABN 00:01:23.51\00:01:26.01 to share the gospel worldwide with people 00:01:26.05\00:01:29.62 that are incarcerated that we can't see. 00:01:29.65\00:01:31.59 But I'm also thankful for the many miles 00:01:31.62\00:01:33.66 you've made along with the team from 3ABN 00:01:33.69\00:01:36.09 to come to the jails and prisons 00:01:36.12\00:01:38.13 and let them know there's hope for their life. 00:01:38.16\00:01:40.76 See it's people like you that can relate to them. 00:01:40.80\00:01:44.77 It's people like John Lomacang and Shelley Quinn 00:01:44.80\00:01:47.94 and all these other people 00:01:47.97\00:01:49.30 that maybe never been in prison, 00:01:49.34\00:01:50.71 but they can relate to, 00:01:50.74\00:01:52.41 and they can let them know that there's hope for their life. 00:01:52.44\00:01:54.41 So a relationship with Jesus has to start somewhere. 00:01:54.44\00:01:58.78 And it's like I've told people in the past that 00:01:58.81\00:02:01.78 I believe that this is one 00:02:01.82\00:02:03.35 of the last reachable people groups are men and women 00:02:03.39\00:02:06.76 that are behind bars. 00:02:06.79\00:02:08.16 Because see, Jason, they want internal change. 00:02:08.19\00:02:11.36 They've tried to change whether it's quit using drugs 00:02:11.39\00:02:13.86 or drinking or, you know, 00:02:13.90\00:02:15.73 no one wrote the judge letter and say, 00:02:15.76\00:02:17.57 your Honor, I want to go to prison 00:02:17.60\00:02:19.27 for years of my life. 00:02:19.30\00:02:21.40 I want to get rid of my job, 00:02:21.44\00:02:22.77 my house, my wife, my kids, 00:02:22.80\00:02:24.51 and my freedom, I want to go to prison. 00:02:24.54\00:02:26.44 So their best efforts have gotten them in a place 00:02:26.47\00:02:28.64 where they don't want to be. 00:02:28.68\00:02:30.55 Donaldson Correctional Facility, 00:02:30.58\00:02:31.91 we were just there a few weeks ago, 00:02:31.95\00:02:34.15 and that's where you and I... 00:02:34.18\00:02:36.02 They were doing the program in the chapel, 00:02:36.05\00:02:38.09 and there were people 00:02:38.12\00:02:39.45 that couldn't come to the chapel, so... 00:02:39.49\00:02:42.22 We ventured out, 00:02:42.26\00:02:43.59 we went through the dorms everywhere. 00:02:43.63\00:02:45.99 We were all over that facility. Cell to cell. 00:02:46.03\00:02:49.16 We were just back there a couple of weeks ago. 00:02:49.20\00:02:51.83 Jason, we want to simplify the gospel. 00:02:51.87\00:02:56.77 I mean, in my mind, 00:02:56.81\00:02:58.54 we have to make it practical, 00:02:58.57\00:02:59.91 because see if we can get up there 00:02:59.94\00:03:01.48 and preach some great theological sermon 00:03:01.51\00:03:04.81 but many people have never opened the Word of God. 00:03:04.85\00:03:07.22 I mean, some people question 00:03:07.25\00:03:08.62 whether God is really alive or not, 00:03:08.65\00:03:11.99 because He died on the cross of Calvary 00:03:12.02\00:03:13.89 so they said, "No, He died. 00:03:13.92\00:03:15.26 He's in the tomb, how could He be alive?" 00:03:15.29\00:03:16.73 But He promised His disciples, 00:03:16.76\00:03:18.83 He said, "It's expedient I go into My Father, 00:03:18.86\00:03:20.76 as I go into My Father, I will send the comforter." 00:03:20.80\00:03:23.03 And so somehow, 00:03:23.06\00:03:24.40 we just want to share simple things with them. 00:03:24.43\00:03:27.84 Can you say a little bit about 00:03:27.87\00:03:29.77 your thoughts about passing out packages to those people? 00:03:29.80\00:03:33.27 It's incredible, you know, 00:03:33.31\00:03:34.64 you go in there to be a blessing, right? 00:03:34.68\00:03:37.45 And to bestow a blessing upon others, 00:03:37.48\00:03:40.05 but then you come out more blessed than 00:03:40.08\00:03:41.98 when you went in there. 00:03:42.02\00:03:43.35 It was absolutely amazing 00:03:43.39\00:03:44.95 to see the faces of the individuals light up. 00:03:44.99\00:03:48.69 And in those packages, these are like deluxe packages. 00:03:48.72\00:03:52.23 These are premium platinum packages, right? 00:03:52.26\00:03:55.06 So in these packages, 00:03:55.10\00:03:56.43 they're filled to the top, you have great snacks. 00:03:56.46\00:04:00.04 I'd be happy to get one of these packages. 00:04:00.07\00:04:02.64 You have great snacks, 00:04:02.67\00:04:04.01 you have spiritual food, 00:04:04.04\00:04:06.01 and you also have a letter 00:04:06.04\00:04:08.74 and an envelope in there 00:04:08.78\00:04:10.48 that includes things that can go out 00:04:10.51\00:04:13.01 to all kinds of ministries 00:04:13.05\00:04:15.12 that they can put back in that one envelope 00:04:15.15\00:04:17.65 and mail to Christmas Behind Bars. 00:04:17.69\00:04:19.69 They have glow tracts, Steps to Christ. 00:04:19.72\00:04:21.72 Your mom's actually donated some books to go into packages 00:04:21.76\00:04:24.43 that we're going to be putting in this week. 00:04:24.46\00:04:27.26 Jason, this is a... 00:04:27.30\00:04:29.73 Trash can. Trash can. 00:04:29.76\00:04:31.23 Before you go into the trash can, 00:04:31.27\00:04:33.13 I do want to ask you a question. 00:04:33.17\00:04:34.50 Yeah. 00:04:34.54\00:04:35.87 So why is it important that 00:04:35.90\00:04:37.71 all of those things can go back into that one envelope? 00:04:37.74\00:04:40.64 That's so the inmate, 00:04:40.68\00:04:42.01 they don't have a lot of money and stamp 00:04:42.04\00:04:43.55 so they can send it to 10 or 12 different ministries 00:04:43.58\00:04:47.28 that offers material Bible studies 00:04:47.32\00:04:49.38 in that envelope, 3ABN is one of them. 00:04:49.42\00:04:51.65 They can put one stamp on there, send it to us, 00:04:51.69\00:04:54.32 and then we separate it and forward it 00:04:54.36\00:04:56.29 to all the ministries to save them postage, 00:04:56.32\00:04:58.69 and then they can begin receiving free materials 00:04:58.73\00:05:01.40 and 3ABN is an active part of that, 00:05:01.43\00:05:03.16 and we thank you for that. 00:05:03.20\00:05:04.53 That's huge. There's no trash in that. 00:05:04.57\00:05:06.23 That's premium stuff. 00:05:06.27\00:05:07.60 Now this, we've got the trash can here. 00:05:07.64\00:05:10.17 It's a trash can. 00:05:10.21\00:05:11.54 Do you have any scripture that ties in 00:05:11.57\00:05:12.91 with trash or detrash in our lives? 00:05:12.94\00:05:16.21 Well, you know, I think that a lot of times, 00:05:16.24\00:05:19.05 we don't recognize our worth, 00:05:19.08\00:05:20.95 because we're not looking at it 00:05:20.98\00:05:23.49 from God's eyes and God's point of view. 00:05:23.52\00:05:25.85 So I want to share this with you 00:05:25.89\00:05:27.56 from Psalm 139:13-14 and it says, 00:05:27.59\00:05:32.26 "For you formed my inward parts, 00:05:32.29\00:05:34.86 you covered me in my mother's womb. 00:05:34.90\00:05:36.97 I will praise you, 00:05:37.00\00:05:38.33 for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:05:38.37\00:05:41.00 Marvelous are Your works, 00:05:41.04\00:05:42.80 and that my soul knows very well." 00:05:42.84\00:05:46.64 The other thing I want to share with you 00:05:46.68\00:05:48.24 is Psalm 139:23-24, 00:05:48.28\00:05:51.85 which says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, 00:05:51.88\00:05:54.55 try me and know my anxieties, 00:05:54.58\00:05:56.82 and see if there is any wicked way in me, 00:05:56.85\00:06:00.22 and lead me in the way everlasting." 00:06:00.26\00:06:03.32 So I'm wondering 00:06:03.36\00:06:04.69 if there's any wicked way in this trash can. 00:06:04.73\00:06:07.53 You know, at some point in our life, 00:06:07.56\00:06:09.13 if we have problems that we need help with, 00:06:09.16\00:06:11.93 we have to be willing to 00:06:11.97\00:06:13.77 at least come to God 00:06:13.80\00:06:15.14 just as we are maybe filled with trash and we say, 00:06:15.17\00:06:17.37 Lord, would You help me? 00:06:17.41\00:06:20.41 For me it was drug addiction many years ago, 00:06:20.44\00:06:22.64 sick and ready to die, suicidal, 00:06:22.68\00:06:24.05 went to treatment, 00:06:24.08\00:06:25.81 they wanted to give me medication 00:06:25.85\00:06:27.18 for my drug problem. 00:06:27.22\00:06:28.55 I said, "No." 00:06:28.58\00:06:29.92 I said, "Dear Jesus, please help me." 00:06:29.95\00:06:31.85 And He helps us with that one problem 00:06:31.89\00:06:33.59 and that's what I want all these inmates to know, 00:06:33.62\00:06:35.86 is no matter what problem you're dealing with today, 00:06:35.89\00:06:38.36 there's hope for your life, 00:06:38.39\00:06:39.73 and it's through Christ, is you have that one problem. 00:06:39.76\00:06:41.60 Maybe it's a job, 00:06:41.63\00:06:44.53 maybe it's freedom getting out of here, 00:06:44.57\00:06:45.90 Lord, help me with that. 00:06:45.93\00:06:47.27 And then you can trust Him, He'll help you. 00:06:47.30\00:06:48.64 He'll begin to work in our hearts, in our lives. 00:06:48.67\00:06:50.77 And then we trust Him. 00:06:50.81\00:06:52.74 And finally, it comes to the point, Jason, 00:06:52.77\00:06:54.44 as you told me seven years ago, 00:06:54.48\00:06:55.81 you just said, Lord, take it off. 00:06:55.84\00:06:58.28 Take it all. 00:06:58.31\00:06:59.65 You gave your whole heart to Jesus. 00:06:59.68\00:07:01.28 So it starts, at some beginning point our lives. 00:07:01.32\00:07:04.45 And you know what? 00:07:04.49\00:07:05.82 He doesn't leave us empty. 00:07:05.85\00:07:07.69 He begins to fill us with the fruit of the Spirit. 00:07:07.72\00:07:13.56 Yes. 00:07:16.83\00:07:18.83 We have grapes. 00:07:18.87\00:07:21.24 Yes. 00:07:21.27\00:07:23.04 This is analogy 00:07:23.07\00:07:24.41 we just want to use to let the folk know that 00:07:24.44\00:07:26.68 He doesn't leave us empty. 00:07:26.71\00:07:28.04 He'll take all those old habits and He begins to fill us 00:07:28.08\00:07:30.98 and give us hope 00:07:31.01\00:07:32.35 and bring reality of the gospel into our lives. 00:07:32.38\00:07:35.55 And so whether we're at home 00:07:35.58\00:07:37.32 and we're dealing with whatever it is. 00:07:37.35\00:07:40.29 Problems at home or problems in prison, 00:07:40.32\00:07:42.62 God will help us with these problems. 00:07:42.66\00:07:44.43 And we want to say 00:07:44.46\00:07:45.79 thank you for your sponsorship for Christmas Behind Bars. 00:07:45.83\00:07:48.03 Thank you for your sponsorship with 3ABN. 00:07:48.06\00:07:50.30 And thank you for doing 00:07:50.33\00:07:51.67 what you can in your neighborhood 00:07:51.70\00:07:53.20 that you have an opportunity to bring hope 00:07:53.23\00:07:55.37 to those hurting souls in your sphere of influence. 00:07:55.40\00:07:58.74 You know you brought out an interesting point earlier 00:07:58.77\00:08:01.31 because you said when you were trying to give up drugs 00:08:01.34\00:08:03.68 they wanted to give you some more drugs. 00:08:03.71\00:08:05.55 Yes. Right? 00:08:05.58\00:08:06.92 It's interesting that we as human beings, 00:08:06.95\00:08:09.55 we try and fix our problems 00:08:09.58\00:08:11.62 and end up digging ourselves deeper holes. 00:08:11.65\00:08:13.96 And I'm not saying 00:08:13.99\00:08:15.32 there's not a right place for counseling 00:08:15.36\00:08:16.83 and perhaps medication 00:08:16.86\00:08:18.19 but if we could do it without Jesus, 00:08:18.23\00:08:20.86 we would need Jesus and Jesus is the only, 00:08:20.90\00:08:23.73 He's got to be the core of everything 00:08:23.77\00:08:25.97 that we do, whether it's counseling 00:08:26.00\00:08:27.54 or lifestyle, 00:08:27.57\00:08:29.77 Jesus has to be the center of that. 00:08:29.80\00:08:31.21 Absolutely. 00:08:31.24\00:08:32.57 Because He can change us from within, 00:08:32.61\00:08:34.68 and He loves us with that everlasting love. 00:08:34.71\00:08:36.88 As I have promised these people here. 00:08:36.91\00:08:39.81 They bam bam, they could do all kinds of wrong things. 00:08:39.85\00:08:42.45 They keep trying to behavior, 00:08:42.48\00:08:44.65 the outside in and it doesn't work that way. 00:08:44.69\00:08:46.82 As Christ comes in internally, 00:08:46.86\00:08:50.29 the external is going to come 00:08:50.33\00:08:52.29 into the conformity of the internal. 00:08:52.33\00:08:55.33 So the external bad things that we do 00:08:55.36\00:08:57.13 or did whatever 00:08:57.17\00:08:58.50 they're going to begin to change 00:08:58.53\00:08:59.87 as Christ is invited, decisions are made, 00:08:59.90\00:09:01.94 brought into the heart and life, 00:09:01.97\00:09:03.30 the external man, 00:09:03.34\00:09:05.17 humanity is going to begin to change 00:09:05.21\00:09:07.74 but it changes from the inside out. 00:09:07.78\00:09:09.64 It doesn't change just by locking someone up. 00:09:09.68\00:09:11.61 Yes, that's an opportunity for them to read and study. 00:09:11.65\00:09:15.02 Medication could have its own place, 00:09:15.05\00:09:17.19 but it has to start internally and it starts 00:09:17.22\00:09:19.02 with a power greater than ourselves. 00:09:19.05\00:09:20.72 Yes. 00:09:20.76\00:09:22.09 What inspired you 00:09:22.12\00:09:23.46 to get Christmas Behind Bars started? 00:09:23.49\00:09:25.99 Well, sick and ready to die, 00:09:26.03\00:09:27.83 I said, "Dear Jesus, please help me." 00:09:27.86\00:09:29.50 He helped me with the drug addiction. 00:09:29.53\00:09:31.23 I said dear Jesus progressive. 00:09:31.27\00:09:33.23 I said, "I need a job." 00:09:33.27\00:09:34.60 He blessed me with a job where I was selling groceries 00:09:34.64\00:09:36.27 door to door to the Amish people. 00:09:36.30\00:09:37.64 So now I had granola bars, chips, snacks, cookies, 00:09:37.67\00:09:39.77 granola, I mean, fruit, 00:09:39.81\00:09:41.14 whatever and it was a pastor's wife's idea 00:09:41.18\00:09:43.88 down at the church that we were attending to make 00:09:43.91\00:09:46.11 some packages for these local folk down 00:09:46.15\00:09:48.12 at the county jail and we made 350 pack. 00:09:48.15\00:09:50.79 I remember the pain. 00:09:50.82\00:09:52.95 I remember the letters that didn't come, 00:09:52.99\00:09:54.59 I remember you didn't get fresh fruit in jail. 00:09:54.62\00:09:56.79 I remember the loneliness 00:09:56.83\00:09:58.76 and the internal change that I so desperately wanted, 00:09:58.79\00:10:01.03 but it wasn't until I met Jesus that 00:10:01.06\00:10:03.73 the internal change beginning inwardly, 00:10:03.77\00:10:06.20 and then the external wanted to reach out 00:10:06.23\00:10:08.54 and help people behind bars. 00:10:08.57\00:10:10.34 Amen. 00:10:10.37\00:10:11.71 How have you seen that grow over time? 00:10:11.74\00:10:14.58 How have you seen God bless that? 00:10:14.61\00:10:17.78 Oh, brother, it started with one jail 350, 00:10:17.81\00:10:20.75 then it went to 500, and then 800, then 900, 00:10:20.78\00:10:23.45 then 1000, then 1500, 00:10:23.49\00:10:24.95 then 1800, there was almost 3000. 00:10:24.99\00:10:27.06 And then the prison where I was in prison was 2000. 00:10:27.09\00:10:29.92 So over the years, they grew to 3000. 00:10:29.96\00:10:32.26 In that same year, 00:10:32.29\00:10:33.63 it was 3000 plus the prison where I was in prison. 00:10:33.66\00:10:36.13 And then it went to every prison 00:10:36.16\00:10:37.50 in the state of Indiana. 00:10:37.53\00:10:38.87 And now it's in Arkansas, and Alabama, and Tennessee. 00:10:38.90\00:10:40.87 I can't begin to tell you, 00:10:40.90\00:10:42.24 but it's not about how far we've been. 00:10:42.27\00:10:44.74 It's about each and every one 00:10:44.77\00:10:46.54 of these people here today and you at home 00:10:46.57\00:10:50.85 that will surrender your life to Jesus and say, "Here I am. 00:10:50.88\00:10:54.88 Please help me one problem at a time." 00:10:54.92\00:10:57.89 Amen. 00:10:57.92\00:10:59.25 So what you're saying is that God wants them. 00:10:59.29\00:11:02.42 God wants a relationship with them. 00:11:02.46\00:11:04.76 God wants to spend time with them. 00:11:04.79\00:11:07.60 God wants them to come to Him. 00:11:07.63\00:11:09.96 Yes. Absolutely. 00:11:10.00\00:11:11.33 In the Word of God, it says that we were shaping 00:11:11.37\00:11:12.70 in our mama's womb in iniquity. 00:11:12.73\00:11:15.20 So we were born with this handicap called sin. 00:11:15.24\00:11:18.17 We were created in perfection. 00:11:18.21\00:11:20.11 In the Garden of Eden in Christ's image 00:11:20.14\00:11:22.34 we were created. 00:11:22.38\00:11:23.71 Adam and Eve sinned and so now we're born 00:11:23.75\00:11:25.55 with a handicap and it's called sin. 00:11:25.58\00:11:27.52 It's not drug addiction, 00:11:27.55\00:11:28.88 not alcoholism, not whatever it is. 00:11:28.92\00:11:33.05 We're born with this handicap called sin 00:11:33.09\00:11:34.99 and that's where Jesus comes in 00:11:35.02\00:11:36.89 and He meets us where we're at. 00:11:36.93\00:11:39.49 And my responsibility, 00:11:39.53\00:11:42.50 when we went to prison was to be a camera person. 00:11:42.53\00:11:47.40 Going into prison was... 00:11:47.44\00:11:51.24 And seeing everything inside was not exactly 00:11:51.27\00:11:55.31 what I was expecting. 00:11:55.34\00:11:57.08 What impacted me the most was to see people's reactions. 00:11:57.11\00:12:03.08 See the tears coming out of people's eyes, 00:12:03.12\00:12:07.29 I guess the sadness of being in prison 00:12:07.32\00:12:11.69 and realize that, you know, you've made so many mistakes. 00:12:11.73\00:12:15.60 And I think I believe as a Christian, 00:12:15.63\00:12:19.40 we all have to be involved in some kind of ministry. 00:12:19.43\00:12:24.24 And prison is one of the things that God asked us to do. 00:12:24.27\00:12:28.58 To visit people in prison and anybody 00:12:28.61\00:12:32.05 that wants to either just go and visit them 00:12:32.08\00:12:37.09 or have become a PayPal to one of the prisoners 00:12:37.12\00:12:40.82 is a sacred experience because many people 00:12:40.86\00:12:45.09 are living without any hope 00:12:45.13\00:12:47.73 just because they don't know Christ. 00:12:47.76\00:12:49.50 And if you have the chance to let some of them know that 00:12:49.53\00:12:54.67 there is hope, there's forgiveness 00:12:54.70\00:12:57.07 and I think is a big blessing for anybody. 00:12:57.11\00:13:03.08 What would you say to somebody that is looking to do something 00:13:03.11\00:13:08.42 for the Lord, but they feel like, 00:13:08.45\00:13:11.25 you know, their past is still haunting them? 00:13:11.29\00:13:16.66 Pray, God has a special plan for each and every one of us. 00:13:16.69\00:13:20.93 Whether it's helping people detrash their lives, 00:13:20.96\00:13:24.97 I don't know what it is that God has 00:13:25.00\00:13:26.50 for each and everyone, 00:13:26.53\00:13:27.87 but He has a special plan 00:13:27.90\00:13:29.24 for each and every one of our lives. 00:13:29.27\00:13:30.81 Amen. 00:13:30.84\00:13:32.67 I hope that more people will get involved 00:13:32.71\00:13:35.38 in spreading the gospel 00:13:35.41\00:13:37.01 and sharing the good news 00:13:37.05\00:13:38.38 of Jesus Christ and maybe volunteer 00:13:38.41\00:13:41.58 with Christmas Behind Bars 00:13:41.62\00:13:43.32 or one of the organizations for sure. 00:13:43.35\00:13:45.95 Thank you for what you do, 00:13:45.99\00:13:47.52 and going and sharing this hope 00:13:47.56\00:13:50.19 with the men and women that are incarcerated. 00:13:50.23\00:13:52.19 Thank you for providing them 00:13:52.23\00:13:53.66 with the spiritual materials that you do. 00:13:53.70\00:13:55.40 And thank you 00:13:55.43\00:13:56.77 for these wonderful practical illustrations. 00:13:56.80\00:13:58.50 I can't believe our time is just about up, Lemuel. 00:13:58.53\00:14:01.80 We want to thank you for joining us 00:14:01.84\00:14:03.81 and until next time, 00:14:03.84\00:14:05.97 may God richly bless you. 00:14:06.01\00:14:07.34