There is a designer coat 00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70 like no other coat known to mankind. 00:00:02.73\00:00:05.33 Stay tuned to find out more about this coat 00:00:05.37\00:00:07.80 that leads to eternal life. 00:00:07.84\00:00:09.77 They tried to change us from the outside in, 00:00:14.28\00:00:16.54 and that's never going to work. 00:00:16.58\00:00:19.71 Because I know that no matter 00:00:19.75\00:00:21.45 how hard and cold the exterior may seem, 00:00:21.48\00:00:24.79 I know that inside we hurt. 00:00:24.82\00:00:28.02 So we just want to come and share some hope with you 00:00:28.06\00:00:31.03 and let you know that we love you, 00:00:31.06\00:00:32.76 and that Jesus loves you 00:00:32.79\00:00:35.36 beyond anybody in this world. 00:00:35.40\00:00:39.37 We're not here today to judge you or condemn you. 00:00:39.40\00:00:41.27 We're today to tell you that we love you 00:00:41.30\00:00:42.80 and we understand the situation that you're in. 00:00:42.84\00:00:45.71 Hello, I'm Jason Bradley, and I'm so glad 00:00:55.62\00:00:57.95 that you decided to join us once again. 00:00:57.99\00:01:00.16 I'm here with Lemuel Vega, 00:01:00.19\00:01:02.56 founder of Christmas Behind Bars, 00:01:02.59\00:01:05.06 an organization that shares the hope of Christ 00:01:05.09\00:01:07.96 with people that are incarcerated. 00:01:08.00\00:01:11.00 Lemuel, you and I have had quite a few conversations. 00:01:11.03\00:01:15.50 Behind bars. 00:01:15.54\00:01:16.87 That's right. Behind bars. 00:01:16.91\00:01:18.31 Praise the Lord. We're able to go home. 00:01:18.34\00:01:20.01 We are able to go home. 00:01:20.04\00:01:21.58 But I want you to talk to us about 00:01:21.61\00:01:23.18 somebody who became a Christian behind bars. 00:01:23.21\00:01:27.32 You were telling me a story. 00:01:27.35\00:01:29.25 You know, Jason, 00:01:29.28\00:01:30.62 there's this man that stands out, 00:01:30.65\00:01:32.39 it's resonated in my life. 00:01:32.42\00:01:35.29 He was actually in the same prison 00:01:35.32\00:01:36.69 where I was in prison, maximum security prison. 00:01:36.73\00:01:39.53 And as he begin to share his testimony, 00:01:39.56\00:01:42.36 this man shot a Christian in the head. 00:01:42.40\00:01:47.64 The Christian didn't die. 00:01:47.67\00:01:49.00 This man was arrested and went on the run. 00:01:49.04\00:01:53.68 They captured him, they brought him back, 00:01:53.71\00:01:55.34 they took him to the court and there it was set. 00:01:55.38\00:01:58.78 In the courtroom, 00:01:58.81\00:02:00.22 the Christian came to the court hearing 00:02:00.25\00:02:02.82 and the Christian said, "I forgive you." 00:02:02.85\00:02:07.29 And that man began to think, 00:02:07.32\00:02:08.66 yes, he was sentenced to prison to many, many years 00:02:08.69\00:02:10.99 and he went to prison. 00:02:11.03\00:02:12.36 He was involved in gangs and different things like that, 00:02:12.39\00:02:15.30 but his conversion experience was based on a Christian 00:02:15.33\00:02:18.97 who got shot in the head and said, "I forgive you." 00:02:19.00\00:02:22.70 And that started to resonate in his life 00:02:22.74\00:02:24.57 and he said, man, if he can forgive me, 00:02:24.61\00:02:26.91 that he wanted to taste and see and experience 00:02:26.94\00:02:30.38 and that's and now he's standing 00:02:30.41\00:02:31.88 for Jesus in prison. 00:02:31.91\00:02:33.31 He's sharing his faith, 00:02:33.35\00:02:35.18 and no longer involved with the gangs. 00:02:35.22\00:02:36.89 And so, that's what the transformation of God does. 00:02:36.92\00:02:39.89 One person shot in the head said, "I forgive you." 00:02:39.92\00:02:45.49 But it goes way higher than that. 00:02:45.53\00:02:47.60 On the cross of Calvary, Jesus hung there and He said, 00:02:47.63\00:02:51.00 "Father, forgive them, 00:02:51.03\00:02:53.77 for they know not what they do." 00:02:53.80\00:02:55.54 And so we find pardon and forgiveness on the cross. 00:02:55.57\00:02:57.77 So that's what 3ABN represents. 00:02:57.81\00:02:59.81 That's what Christmas Behind Bars 00:02:59.84\00:03:01.34 wants to share is hope with the homeless. 00:03:01.38\00:03:03.58 And I just tell you, it's a joy and a blessing to be here. 00:03:03.61\00:03:06.75 We have something, a scripture probably to go 00:03:06.78\00:03:09.72 with our little illustration today. 00:03:09.75\00:03:11.52 That's right, we do, and it's taken from Isaiah 61, 00:03:11.55\00:03:15.92 and I'm just gonna read verse 1. 00:03:15.96\00:03:18.39 Okay. Right now, okay? 00:03:18.43\00:03:20.06 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me 00:03:20.10\00:03:22.86 because the Lord has anointed me 00:03:22.90\00:03:25.07 to preach good tidings to the poor. 00:03:25.10\00:03:27.77 He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, 00:03:27.80\00:03:30.81 to proclaim liberty to the captives, 00:03:30.84\00:03:34.08 and the opening of the prison 00:03:34.11\00:03:36.31 to those who are bound." 00:03:36.34\00:03:40.42 You know, it's not just literal jails and prisons 00:03:40.45\00:03:43.28 of incarceration across our country, 00:03:43.32\00:03:45.65 but it's a spiritual bondage 00:03:45.69\00:03:47.56 that sometimes we find ourselves in. 00:03:47.59\00:03:49.09 We're locked up and without Christ, 00:03:49.12\00:03:50.66 there's no hope. 00:03:50.69\00:03:52.03 And so that's the opportunity that we have. 00:03:52.06\00:03:54.30 You know, 3ABN goes into jails and prisons and places 00:03:54.33\00:03:57.40 where we'll never maybe be able to give them 00:03:57.43\00:03:59.47 a package from Christmas Behind Bars. 00:03:59.50\00:04:01.34 But one of the analogies 00:04:01.37\00:04:02.70 that we've used with the prisoners 00:04:02.74\00:04:05.71 is we asked them to come up, 00:04:05.74\00:04:07.48 and actually this brother here, 00:04:07.51\00:04:09.51 would you come up here, please. 00:04:09.54\00:04:12.75 And what we like to talk about, Jason, 00:04:12.78\00:04:14.75 is we like to talk about the transformation. 00:04:14.78\00:04:17.62 That is where we come to Christ just as we are. 00:04:17.65\00:04:20.89 And we're tired, we're hurting, we're lonely. 00:04:20.92\00:04:24.56 We feel like we messed up big time 00:04:24.59\00:04:26.86 and we don't feel like we can get back. 00:04:26.90\00:04:29.46 But, Brother, at some point, you gave your life to Christ. 00:04:29.50\00:04:32.93 Thirty five years of age, I was tired of that old life. 00:04:32.97\00:04:36.14 Thirty five years old, tired of what? 00:04:36.17\00:04:39.37 Tired of all the rigorous rule of life, right? 00:04:39.41\00:04:42.11 And it seemed like when I used to see people 00:04:42.14\00:04:44.88 that were Christians, 00:04:44.91\00:04:46.51 you know, they had a character about themselves, 00:04:46.55\00:04:48.65 they carried, like they were carrying, 00:04:48.68\00:04:50.42 you know, it's just like seeing Christ 00:04:50.45\00:04:52.25 and I wanted that. 00:04:52.29\00:04:53.62 So at 35 years old, 00:04:53.66\00:04:55.09 you were willing to take off your coat. 00:04:55.12\00:04:57.63 And you said, "Lord, would You give me yours?" 00:04:57.66\00:05:00.73 Amen. 00:05:00.76\00:05:02.10 And you begin to walk in a newness of life 00:05:02.13\00:05:04.27 with Christ. 00:05:04.30\00:05:05.63 Amen? Amen. 00:05:05.67\00:05:07.00 Amen. 00:05:07.04\00:05:08.37 Now, Brother, you're actively involved in a jail 00:05:08.40\00:05:10.74 and prison ministry not so very far from here. 00:05:10.77\00:05:13.68 And you know, you go up there on a regular basis, 00:05:13.71\00:05:15.94 and you've shared hope with lots and lots of people. 00:05:15.98\00:05:18.08 Christ takes our wretchedness. 00:05:18.11\00:05:21.38 Christ takes our unmanageability 00:05:21.42\00:05:23.89 and then we have His robe. 00:05:23.92\00:05:26.09 That's the transformation that takes place. 00:05:26.12\00:05:28.42 We don't have no statute, 00:05:28.46\00:05:30.09 we don't have no reason other than He died for us, 00:05:30.13\00:05:32.86 and He loved us. 00:05:32.89\00:05:34.23 Now, Brother, you know, your wife passed away 00:05:34.26\00:05:35.93 some time ago, 00:05:35.96\00:05:37.37 and you continue to stay true and faithful to the pole. 00:05:37.40\00:05:41.17 And I'm thankful for that, Brother, 00:05:41.20\00:05:42.60 you represent to us Christians, who still have our loved ones. 00:05:42.64\00:05:46.34 And so I thank you, for ministering, 00:05:46.37\00:05:49.04 for staying true and faithful to Jesus. 00:05:49.08\00:05:51.21 I never forget the time 00:05:51.25\00:05:52.81 that I was asked to be a part of prison ministry, 00:05:52.85\00:05:55.55 me and my wife, 00:05:55.58\00:05:56.92 and it's been a blessing ever since. 00:05:56.95\00:05:58.69 Even through her passing and everything, 00:05:58.72\00:06:00.66 you know, the letters that I got from the prisoners, 00:06:00.69\00:06:02.82 I have some now at home. 00:06:02.86\00:06:04.49 Sometimes I read through them, right, 00:06:04.53\00:06:06.06 and it brings back tears in my eyes, 00:06:06.09\00:06:08.20 and what a blessing is being 00:06:08.23\00:06:09.60 to be a part of prison ministry. 00:06:09.63\00:06:11.50 And when we die in Jesus, we'll be resurrected, 00:06:11.53\00:06:14.50 and you have the opportunity to be with your wife forever 00:06:14.54\00:06:17.31 because Jesus died for you. 00:06:17.34\00:06:18.67 Amen. God bless, Brother. 00:06:18.71\00:06:20.04 Thank God for the coat. Thank you. 00:06:20.08\00:06:21.54 Amen. Yes. 00:06:21.58\00:06:23.41 I hope you don't think he's gonna keep my coat? 00:06:23.45\00:06:25.35 Well, you never know, you have enough, Brother, 00:06:25.38\00:06:28.78 but that is a powerful illustration. 00:06:28.82\00:06:31.49 You know, I want to share a story with you, Lemuel. 00:06:31.52\00:06:34.06 There was a young man that was on death row. 00:06:34.09\00:06:38.53 He committed a heinous crime when he was younger. 00:06:38.56\00:06:42.53 He got convicted of this crime. 00:06:42.56\00:06:44.30 He got sentenced to death row, and later on down the line, 00:06:44.33\00:06:47.54 they were trying to overturn the conviction 00:06:47.57\00:06:50.64 that led to death row 00:06:50.67\00:06:53.11 to where he would have a stay of execution. 00:06:53.14\00:06:56.08 It was coming down to the wire. 00:06:56.11\00:06:58.28 This young man had made a difference 00:06:58.31\00:07:00.28 in so many people's lives. 00:07:00.32\00:07:02.18 He had like 500 or 600, pen pals or something 00:07:02.22\00:07:05.92 and he had mentored the individual 00:07:05.95\00:07:08.36 that actually ended up hosting 00:07:08.39\00:07:10.73 a program on 3ABN's Dare to Dream Network. 00:07:10.76\00:07:14.30 And then he became a pastor, 00:07:14.33\00:07:16.43 not the individual that was incarcerated, 00:07:16.46\00:07:18.43 but Pastor Aaron Chancy ended up becoming a pastor. 00:07:18.47\00:07:23.17 He hosts the New Journey. 00:07:23.20\00:07:24.64 And he was taken 00:07:24.67\00:07:26.47 under the wing of this individual 00:07:26.51\00:07:28.18 that ended up on death row. 00:07:28.21\00:07:29.54 Was on death row, right? Yes. 00:07:29.58\00:07:31.18 So a changed life, you know, the impact that one can have, 00:07:31.21\00:07:35.72 we all have an influence. 00:07:35.75\00:07:37.09 Amen. 00:07:37.12\00:07:38.45 And so this young man ended up using his influence, 00:07:38.49\00:07:40.79 though he was in a place that was, 00:07:40.82\00:07:43.83 a place of darkness. 00:07:43.86\00:07:45.56 He was spreading light within those walls. 00:07:45.59\00:07:47.86 And I think that's a powerful testimony 00:07:47.90\00:07:50.47 of what God can do 00:07:50.50\00:07:52.17 in the life of someone who accepts Him. 00:07:52.20\00:07:54.84 I have some people I know personally, 00:07:54.87\00:07:57.97 that have been arrested and incarcerated. 00:07:58.01\00:08:01.68 And if I'm being honest, 00:08:01.71\00:08:04.65 I've not been the most compassionate 00:08:04.68\00:08:07.32 towards them in my heart. 00:08:07.35\00:08:08.68 I feel like I had a harsh attitude towards them 00:08:08.72\00:08:12.65 and I think it was me going to prison 00:08:12.69\00:08:15.66 and seeing these inmates, 00:08:15.69\00:08:18.73 and just listening to them that I realized 00:08:18.76\00:08:20.70 that these people that are a lot like me, 00:08:20.73\00:08:23.77 I'm just like these people. 00:08:23.80\00:08:26.77 And so, seeing that, and it really just hit me hard, 00:08:26.80\00:08:31.21 especially when I saw young girls there 00:08:31.24\00:08:34.31 that were close to my age, 00:08:34.34\00:08:36.51 and just hearing how easy it is to end up 00:08:36.54\00:08:38.95 in a place like they're in. 00:08:38.98\00:08:40.62 It's so easy. 00:08:40.65\00:08:42.18 What if God treated me 00:08:42.22\00:08:45.05 the way that I'm thinking about these people? 00:08:45.09\00:08:48.22 Like, well, Jewlee, 00:08:48.26\00:08:49.72 you messed up, you had your chance, 00:08:49.76\00:08:52.46 but you put yourself in this situation. 00:08:52.49\00:08:56.87 What if God treated us that way, 00:08:56.90\00:08:58.47 but He doesn't and He's a compassionate God, 00:08:58.50\00:09:01.37 who's very forgiving. 00:09:01.40\00:09:03.14 So if we mess up, 00:09:03.17\00:09:04.51 He's always there to forgive us. 00:09:04.54\00:09:06.01 And when we're struggling, 00:09:06.04\00:09:07.84 He'll pick us up and He'll carry us 00:09:07.88\00:09:09.61 and I feel like that's showing us 00:09:09.64\00:09:11.68 what we need to be doing as Christians. 00:09:11.71\00:09:13.95 If, especially when someone is struggling 00:09:13.98\00:09:17.62 or when they've messed up, 00:09:17.65\00:09:19.25 we should be there for them and we should encourage them 00:09:19.29\00:09:21.89 and help them up 00:09:21.92\00:09:24.53 when they're going through a rough time. 00:09:24.56\00:09:26.83 Your sphere of influence 00:09:26.86\00:09:28.36 is wherever you're at to share Christ. 00:09:28.40\00:09:30.67 Our world is also in bondage. 00:09:30.70\00:09:32.53 Our world is in a pandemic of sin. 00:09:32.57\00:09:34.87 It's not just a virus situation. 00:09:34.90\00:09:36.94 Our world is hurting, there are people hurting, 00:09:36.97\00:09:39.21 seeking to fill that void in their life. 00:09:39.24\00:09:41.38 And you and I, and you at home, 00:09:41.41\00:09:43.28 we know it's only, it's the Christians, 00:09:43.31\00:09:46.21 you have the opportunity to set the world aside. 00:09:46.25\00:09:50.39 You know, I was on my way to church one time. 00:09:50.42\00:09:52.52 I had a bunch of oranges in the van for these packages 00:09:52.55\00:09:55.72 and they were going to freeze 00:09:55.76\00:09:57.16 and the truck broke down and I've got it fixed 00:09:57.19\00:09:59.66 and I called the elder of the church. 00:09:59.69\00:10:01.96 And I said, "Look, would you come down 00:10:02.00\00:10:03.33 help me unload these oranges." 00:10:03.37\00:10:05.43 He said, "Well, right now 00:10:05.47\00:10:06.80 I'm watching a good Western, a good old Western." 00:10:06.84\00:10:08.84 He said, "When I'm done with the Western, 00:10:08.87\00:10:10.84 I'll come down and help you." 00:10:10.87\00:10:12.31 And I'm thinking to myself, 00:10:12.34\00:10:13.68 because see, I got rid of secular TV. 00:10:13.71\00:10:15.74 I got rid of secular music 00:10:15.78\00:10:17.11 because I didn't want that way of life no more. 00:10:17.15\00:10:19.65 And so, I got to take what's good about a Western, 00:10:19.68\00:10:22.85 they kill one another, they shoot, 00:10:22.88\00:10:24.49 rob, whatever, steal cattle, 00:10:24.52\00:10:26.15 then they ride into town, 00:10:26.19\00:10:27.52 and then they do whatever at the bar. 00:10:27.56\00:10:28.89 And then they have a shootout, 00:10:28.92\00:10:30.26 rob the bank and have a shootout with the sheriff 00:10:30.29\00:10:31.79 where they ride out of town. 00:10:31.83\00:10:33.63 I'm thinking, man. 00:10:33.66\00:10:35.23 So we have to be a peculiar people. 00:10:35.26\00:10:38.03 We have to represent like that brother said 00:10:38.07\00:10:40.37 he saw a Christian, 00:10:40.40\00:10:41.80 he saw a Christian and they had character, 00:10:41.84\00:10:43.71 they had something different. 00:10:43.74\00:10:45.07 So we as Christians, not to condemn 00:10:45.11\00:10:47.94 but we as Christians 00:10:47.98\00:10:49.31 just need to represent Christ in the marketplace, 00:10:49.34\00:10:51.75 wherever we are. 00:10:51.78\00:10:53.45 And you can reach out to somebody that's hurting. 00:10:53.48\00:10:56.08 Maybe it's your neighbor that needs groceries, 00:10:56.12\00:10:58.25 maybe you can shovel their driveway. 00:10:58.29\00:11:00.09 Maybe you got a property dispute 00:11:00.12\00:11:02.22 with your neighbors. 00:11:02.26\00:11:03.59 Hey, look, I'm sorry, 00:11:03.63\00:11:04.96 this property don't mean nothing. 00:11:04.99\00:11:06.33 So we have an opportunity to represent 00:11:06.36\00:11:07.70 Jesus wherever we're at. 00:11:07.73\00:11:09.06 Amen. 00:11:09.10\00:11:10.43 I want to share this other scripture 00:11:10.47\00:11:11.80 with you, Lemuel. 00:11:11.83\00:11:13.17 Isaiah 61:10, and it says, 00:11:13.20\00:11:15.17 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, 00:11:15.20\00:11:17.61 my soul shall be joyful in my God, 00:11:17.64\00:11:20.98 for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, 00:11:21.01\00:11:25.75 He has covered me with the robe of righteousness 00:11:25.78\00:11:29.28 as the bridegroom decks himself with ornaments 00:11:29.32\00:11:32.22 and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." 00:11:32.25\00:11:37.13 And you know, that's the only way our brother 00:11:37.16\00:11:38.76 was able to share with us 00:11:38.79\00:11:40.13 that committed his life to Christ 00:11:40.16\00:11:41.86 and even though his wife passed away 00:11:41.90\00:11:44.47 that he's still true and faithful, 00:11:44.50\00:11:46.84 because he's covered with Christ's righteousness. 00:11:46.87\00:11:48.87 Yes, and it becomes contagious. 00:11:48.90\00:11:50.57 Like you can't help 00:11:50.61\00:11:51.94 but to want to spread the gospel. 00:11:51.97\00:11:54.11 Like why would you hold on to that good news? 00:11:54.14\00:11:56.58 You know, you think about people 00:11:56.61\00:11:58.38 see something on television, 00:11:58.41\00:11:59.95 they might see a movie on TV or something like that 00:11:59.98\00:12:03.39 and then they go tell their friends about it 00:12:03.42\00:12:05.02 or they go to a restaurant, 00:12:05.05\00:12:06.62 and they taste some delicious food 00:12:06.65\00:12:08.96 and then they go tell their friends 00:12:08.99\00:12:10.39 about that place. 00:12:10.43\00:12:11.76 How could you not tell your friends about Jesus? 00:12:11.79\00:12:15.86 Amen. Yeah. 00:12:15.90\00:12:17.83 It's more than just a formalism. 00:12:17.87\00:12:20.94 It's a relationship. 00:12:20.97\00:12:22.54 And as we begin to have that friendship, 00:12:22.57\00:12:24.47 we want to kick it, we want to walk together, 00:12:24.51\00:12:26.44 we want to grow together. 00:12:26.47\00:12:27.81 And that's what Jesus is wanting 00:12:27.84\00:12:29.81 from each and every one of our lives. 00:12:29.84\00:12:31.41 What would you say with our viewers, 00:12:31.45\00:12:32.95 wherever they are, 00:12:32.98\00:12:34.32 and that relationship with Jesus? 00:12:34.35\00:12:35.68 What would you share with them in closing? 00:12:35.72\00:12:37.89 I would just like to say that 00:12:37.92\00:12:39.52 it's the most important relationship 00:12:39.55\00:12:42.16 that you could ever form. 00:12:42.19\00:12:44.73 You talk about wanting to change, 00:12:44.76\00:12:46.80 you talk about things, 00:12:46.83\00:12:48.56 you wanting things to become different in your life, 00:12:48.60\00:12:51.30 you talk about, 00:12:51.33\00:12:52.67 you know, wanting to walk in the newness of life. 00:12:52.70\00:12:55.60 Well, Christ can bring about that change in your life 00:12:55.64\00:12:58.61 and He's the only one who can do it, 00:12:58.64\00:13:01.14 but you have to go to Him, 00:13:01.18\00:13:02.51 He's not going to force you to accept Him. 00:13:02.54\00:13:04.51 He's not going to force you to walk with Him. 00:13:04.55\00:13:07.52 He loves you and so love does not force. 00:13:07.55\00:13:11.45 But love will continue 00:13:11.49\00:13:13.99 to beckon at you to call you, 00:13:14.02\00:13:17.89 to draw you near. 00:13:17.93\00:13:19.49 So Christ wants you to be close to Him 00:13:19.53\00:13:22.33 and wants to spend that time with you. 00:13:22.36\00:13:25.03 Just give Him a chance. 00:13:25.07\00:13:26.40 Taste and see, as we're willing. 00:13:26.43\00:13:28.70 It's good. He's able. 00:13:28.74\00:13:30.07 Amen. 00:13:30.11\00:13:31.44 Thank you so much, Brother, and for our sponsors at home 00:13:31.47\00:13:33.31 that support 3ABN and Christmas Behind Bars. 00:13:33.34\00:13:35.34 We thank them 00:13:35.38\00:13:36.71 because as the ministries continue to grow, 00:13:36.75\00:13:38.81 we're willing to go, 00:13:38.85\00:13:40.35 but it's our sponsorship at home 00:13:40.38\00:13:41.82 that makes these programs and things like this possible. 00:13:41.85\00:13:44.12 That's right. We couldn't do it without them. 00:13:44.15\00:13:45.49 Praise the Lord. 00:13:45.52\00:13:46.86 And there's been a lot of lives, 00:13:46.89\00:13:48.59 Lemuel, that have been touched, 00:13:48.62\00:13:49.96 a lot of lives that have been transformed 00:13:49.99\00:13:52.23 as the result of both ministries, 00:13:52.26\00:13:54.56 but as the result of, you know, the Holy Spirit 00:13:54.60\00:13:57.97 working through our sponsors, 00:13:58.00\00:13:59.93 through our viewers and working on the lives 00:13:59.97\00:14:03.20 of those who these programs are reaching. 00:14:03.24\00:14:05.61 So we want to thank you. 00:14:05.64\00:14:06.98 Thank you for what you're doing for the cause of Christ. 00:14:07.01\00:14:09.38 We'll see you next time. 00:14:09.41\00:14:10.75