Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Our Readers write...

Thank you for the Bibles you provide for prison ministry. We use them in chapel services so that
we are all on the same page (pun intended!). The inmates use them to do Bible studies in their units. Many have recently read the book of Proverbs, finished the Bible studies and have received a certificate. One evening several inmates were sitting in the middle of the hallway. With their Bibles open, they were reading and helping each other to finish a Bible study I had given them in chapel earlier that day. The next day they shared with me how they enjoyed reading their Bibles and working together to learn and earn a certificate. May the Lord bless those who provide these Bibles and pray for prison ministries!—Mrs. R.

We have received two consignments of Bibles from LifeLight in the past, and they are well received by the inmate population of the jail. We have been using The LifeLight and How to Find God. Recently I received a copy of The LifeLight Message. I think it would be ideally suited for our situation since many of the inmates have a low reading level, and I think it would help them enormously. Would it be possible to receive a case of these Bibles? Since we have no budget allowance and are unable to purchase Bibles, we rely on the generosity and kindness of the Christian community to supply our needs. Thank you for your help in the past, and I hope that you will be able to continue to support our ministry.— Philip

I serve in The Salvation Army Correctional and Justice Services. I was looking through your copy
of How to Find God, and I find it to be a good level for many of my clients. I work with women and children who have been affected by the justice system in some way. Recently a new client, who had just received Christ, asked for a Bible, and I felt that How to Find God was perfect for her. Our program has limited funds, so I am writing to request a donation of some of your Bibles.—Sara

Upon receiving a shipment of Sports New Testaments, I realized the exciting potential of
these Scriptures. The athletes’ testimonies will be very appealing to many younger readers. These NTs will be distributed to inmates and youth in various settings. Thank you for making them available.—Lorne

I am an inmate, and a friend of mine (also an inmate), showed me a New Testament that I had never seen before: Hope for the Highway. I have been reading it and learning things I never knew before. My friend is going home soon, and I asked him where I could get one of these NTs. He gave me your address, so I’m writing in hopes of getting one for myself. I’ve been in here since September 2007 and, hopefully, I will get out in June. I asked our chaplain if we have these Bibles, but he said we didn’t, so can I please have one sent to me if it isn’t any trouble. Thank you very much.
—Brian

I am an inmate and first heard about The LifeLight New Testament through my ex-girlfriend. She is struggling in her life at this time and told me that she doesn’t understand the Bible when she reads it. She was asking me if I could get her this book because it gives a clearer understanding of who God is and about His Son, Jesus. It would be greatly appreciated
if you good people at LifeLight Ministries could send her this New Testament. —Kenneth

I am an inmate, and someone gave me a Journey of Recovery New Testament with the 12-Steps in it. Can you send me something else that talks about the 12-Step Program? I am a drug addict and about to lose my family. I have a long road ahead of me and look to others for help. I don’t
have any money, and my family is not willing to help. —Joel

I am presently incarcerated, and I have been reading the Bible. I find some things hard to understand, but I keep on reading. I ask the chaplain questions as much as I can, but I only get to see him for about fifteen minutes every Saturday. It would be nice to be able to talk to someone else concerning God, the way of life and what life is like having Him in it. If there is anyone who has time, could you please write back or come and visit me so I can learn more. —Eduard

Bike Show


As part of the ministry of House of the Risen Son, we do an annual motorcycle show at Stony Mountain. The inmates really appreciate the bikes, and this event lifts their spirits and, hopefully, also their morale. Each year we build relationships with some of the inmates, which leads to further visits, and often we get to share our faith.
On one visit I was discussing the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a man and what the Bible says regarding forgiveness. On my next visit I took a copy of the Serenity New Testament, and I left without it. On a future visit I found out that this inmate was sharing his Bible with the other men.
The inmates are there for crimes from fraud to murder. Some are gang members, and others are there just because they did something they shouldn’t have done. Many of them have never heard a personal story of Christ which they feel relates to them. As a rider, I can give them another view of the Christian faith. I am often surprised as to who will take a Bible and read it when they realize that it’s free—no strings attached. Jesus, inmates, bikers and Bibles!
Please support LifeLight Ministries, pray for those who distribute Scriptures, and always carry a few Scriptures with you to give away when God gives you the opportunity.
Chuck Sheridan
Director of House of the Risen Son, a ministry comprised of the Bondslave Motorcycle Club, Lazarus House (for men in addiction recovery), a food bank, Overcomers Outreach, a
prison ministry and a youth outreach program.

An Ongoing Drought

In my eleven years of ministering at the Winnipeg Remand Centre (WRC), I have experienced a vast change in the profile of residents—not in terms of their charges but in terms of their personal and communal foundations. The great majority, especially those in their twenties, seem not to have had any upbringing in the Scriptures and seem not to have lived within a religious tradition/community.
While this lack of scriptural knowledge might indicate no need for the Bible, it is quite the contrary! I firmly believe that the increase in requests for Bibles over the last decade is due to an ongoing drought and pain felt within the hearts of inmates, where God’s Word has been written—in its entirety! People who have no history of faith, scripture and religious community are responding to their hearts!
WRC was built in 1992 to hold a maximum of 275 residents; last week we were 400. We’ve gone through a lot of Bibles from LifeLight Ministries, as well as Bibles from other wells. We certainly need a well that keeps providing Scriptures!
I am grateful for the generosity of LifeLight donors who give so unselfishly so that many have the opportunity, often for the first time, to read and hear God’s Word.
Joseph Lintz, Chaplain

Volunteer Gives Hope

John* walked into the room. It was supposed to be the last time he would see anyone. Tonight was going to be the night where he would free himself from his old demons of the past, present and future. What future? he wondered. I’ll be dead.
As he joined in a game of darts in the prison programs area, his spirits lifted. He noticed a volunteer who was visiting. The volunteer came up and introduced himself, and from that moment something changed. Hope! The volunteer treated him as a person, not a number or an inmate. Every day, for the past seven years he had been in prison, had been humiliating. Every day he experienced rejection, shame, hurt and loneliness. The burden had become too much to bear, and John had come to the point where he could see no way out.
John found it interesting that a “new” man had come to the prison. The group had not had a volunteer for many years, so this was unique, as well as challenging, since this guy was now in his “home” and on his turf.
John wondered whether he should continue the conversation. He decided he had nothing to lose or gain. Slowly the talks progressed, over months and years, as the volunteer continued to visit the prison evening program. Should he tell him about his family? Could he trust the volunteer not to laugh at his weaknesses and failures in his life, jobs and family? He decided to open up and see if the volunteer would laugh or run! Instead, at the end, the volunteer asked, “May I pray with you?” He also offered him a Bible to read about God’s hope and love. John accepted the Bible because he believed this volunteer was genuine.
John has now been released into the community, is reading his Bible (Life Recovery Bible), is working full time, and is a believing member of a local fellowship. John is one of many whom the Lord Jesus loves deeply.
* Name has been changed
Gerard Scott-Herridge
Presiding Elder of Bride of Christ Ministries

Jesus Walks the Halls

Prison is a lonely place, a place where many suffer from depression and hopelessness. For those who are locked in a cell for twenty-four hours a day, life can be extremely dreary. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to talk with these desperate men and pray with them. In the darkest hours of life, Jesus is walking the halls and reaching out to prisoners. Chaplains have a wonderful opportunity to help inmates find their way to God.
It is a joy to give Bibles to men who are asking for help. In our last chapel service the volunteer who was leading the service asked if anyone wanted a Bible. At the end of the service a young, sad-looking man asked me for a Bible, and I was able to put a copy of Free on the Inside from LifeLight Ministries into his hands. What a privilege to give a Bible to a young man searching for hope!
The stories the inmates share of an abusive childhood break one’s heart. No wonder so many young people get into trouble and end up in prison! Through God’s Word they can find hope and purpose in life. There really is a God who values them! Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, including those wayward souls who sit behind prison walls.
I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matthew 25:36). Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. And remember those who are treated badly as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3).
Pray for those behind prison walls. Pray that God will open their hearts to His Word and save them.
Chaplain Earl Cathers

Lessons from Prison

Selfish reasons initially drew me to prison ministry. In 1975 I was into risk and adventure. When an ad appeared by way of a poster at my university asking for volunteers to meet with prison inmates at a local church once per week, I was there!
My immature “us-and-them” mentality quickly gave way to “Hey, these guys are us!” They had families, emotions, educated opinions, hopes and dreams, insight, and usually a great sense of humour.
One night sticks out in my mind as if it were yesterday. The night’s activity was a “Trust Walk.” We were divided into groups of two. One person was blindfolded while the other one led the more vulnerable one around the natural physical obstacles inside the church, as well as outside.
In our daring duo, I led first. My partner, Mark, was fairly tall, while I was (and still am) five feet nothing! At one point he asked me to slow down. “So you don’t trust me,” I quipped. And the challenge was on!
We came to a low doorframe, and guess who made it through and who bumped his head! At this point Mark slowly took off his blindfold and said, “I think your turn starts now.” Mark did a much better job of leading me around. He described the environment around us, told me the distance between objects and even stopped to let me feel them. He made sure I stayed safe. He also asked me about my faith and discussed his, wondering where he could get a Bible he could understand.
It’s now 2008. Inmates are no longer allowed out in groups to visit local churches during weeknights, but the question is still the same: “Do you have a Bible I can understand?” Thanks to LifeLight Ministries, I can answer with an enthusiastic “Yes!” In fact, if I walk up to a cell unit with five or more Scriptures, they are gone in less than sixty seconds! The female inmates I now minister to also ask me to deliver copies to their families on the outside.
The sad fact is that we do not have enough Bibles, but thanks to donations from people like you, we hope to obtain more easy-to-read Bibles soon. Thank you, LifeLight Ministries, for heeding God’s call to provide others with easy-to-read Scriptures.
Shon Louise McLaren
Shon has been involved in prison ministry in Ontario, Manitoba and the USA for more than thirty years. She and other staff from Inner City Women’s Ministries International Inc. offer Sunday worship services to female inmates at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and follow-up with Bibles studies/support after the inmates are released.

2008 Fur Auction

Trappers come from all over northern Manitoba to sell their furs at the annual fur auction in Thompson. Fur buyers examine the furs and offer a price to the trappers. Coming to Thompson just before Christmas is an exciting time for trappers who may have spent many days and nights alone on the trap line.
A few years ago a friend of mine who is on the board for the Thompson Fur Auction invited me to have a LifeLight Scripture display at this event, and I was delighted to do that. This was the fifth time I have had this display, and it was good to see familiar faces, as well as some new ones. My wife, Caroline, and our grandson Tyson Kroeker came with me.
The auction took place in a large church hall, and it was impressive to see the trappers walk in carrying their sacks of furs. As their number was called, they approached the first fur buyer and continued around the room.
There were fewer trappers this year than there have been other years. I was told that part of the reason for this was the late frost, which resulted in the low-lying areas not freezing up on time. Even with the lower attendance, we gave away 225 Scriptures and 50 LifeLight newsletters. Whatever was left we donated to Continental Mission; they will be used at Moak Lake Camp this summer.
The local RCMP also made a couple of rounds in the hall, and Tyson had a new experience when he presented one of them with a Peacemakers New Testament (and it was accepted!).
Besides the furs, there was also a variety of crafts for sale: mukluks, mitts and other leather goods. Canadian Tire sold goods needed by trappers and other northerners, such as sleds, tarpaulin enclosures, mitts and flashlights. A raffle, with valuable prizes to be given away, generated excitement.
The annual fur auction is a wonderful opportunity to meet trappers from remote northern Manitoba areas, as well as local people, and offer them the greatest gift of all: God’s Word.
Peter & Caroline Loewen

Just What We Needed!

In the last issue of the newsletter we featured a request for free Scriptures from a church in downtown Vancouver. They wrote, “Every week we have many requests for Bibles, and we never seem to have enough to go around.” Shortly after this, we received a call from a women’s group who wanted to give a donation to LifeLight Ministries in memory of someone who had passed away recently. I mentioned this need to them and suggested that their donation could go for this project. What perfect timing!
Immanuel was so appreciative of the Scriptures we sent them. He sent a note of appreciation to the women’s group:
“Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. The Bibles are just what we needed and are filling specific needs for specific people. Many have already benefited and were so delighted to receive a Bible. As soon as we opened a box there was someone who wanted and needed one right then and there. PTL! She had asked for a Bible, in the New Living Translation, but we didn’t have any. To her delight, the Bibles we received were in that translation!
“We have a small distribution table and someone is stationed there to help people get what they need. Some of the Scriptures deal specifically with addictions. The person at the table was delighted but, at the same time, a little reluctant to suggest to people: ‘This one is helpful for addictions,’ not wanting to offend anyone. However, several people came and asked for that particular one, with comments like ‘May I have one too?’ and ‘I hear you have Bibles for addicts.’
“The person at the table was excited! The next Sunday he wanted us to announce that we had Scriptures available specifically to help people with addictions—so he went from wanting to be very discreet to boldly advertising it!
“I am sharing these experiences with you so you can rejoice with us in the lives that are being touched. We are grateful that we can work together as one body in Christ, impacting people for eternity. God bless you abundantly.”
Immanuel

2008 Fur Auction

Trappers come from all over northern Manitoba to sell their furs at the annual fur auction in Thompson. Fur buyers examine the furs and offer a price to the trappers. Coming to Thompson just before Christmas is an exciting time for trappers who may have spent many days and nights alone on the trap line.
A few years ago a friend of mine who is on the board for the Thompson Fur Auction invited me to have a LifeLight Scripture display at this event, and I was delighted to do that. This was the fifth time I have had this display, and it was good to see familiar faces, as well as some new ones. My wife, Caroline, and our grandson Tyson Kroeker came with me.
The auction took place in a large church hall, and it was impressive to see the trappers walk in carrying their sacks of furs. As their number was called, they approached the first fur buyer and continued around the room.
There were fewer trappers this year than there have been other years. I was told that part of the reason for this was the late frost, which resulted in the low-lying areas not freezing up on time. Even with the lower attendance, we gave away 225 Scriptures and 50 LifeLight newsletters. Whatever was left we donated to Continental Mission; they will be used at Moak Lake Camp this summer.
The local RCMP also made a couple of rounds in the hall, and Tyson had a new experience when he presented one of them with a Peacemakers New Testament (and it was accepted!).
Besides the furs, there was also a variety of crafts for sale: mukluks, mitts and other leather goods. Canadian Tire sold goods needed by trappers and other northerners, such as sleds, tarpaulin enclosures, mitts and flashlights. A raffle, with valuable prizes to be given away, generated excitement.
The annual fur auction is a wonderful opportunity to meet trappers from remote northern Manitoba areas, as well as local people, and offer them the greatest gift of all: God’s Word.


Peter & Caroline Loewen

From Riches to Prison!


A universal need
Teenager convicted of manslaughter sent to prison—Newspapers are full of headlines like this and, every day as we watch the news, we hear about horrendous crimes. In the mind of many, these criminals are stereotyped as being cold, mean and unrepentant. Society does not easily embrace those in prison. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a common viewpoint.
As chaplain for The Salvation Army, I visit four correctional institutions in the Winnipeg area each week: Stony Mountain, Headingley, the Remand Centre and Rockwood. There are approximately 1700 men in these four institutions, sitting in 7 x 9 foot cells, sometimes two per cell, some of them locked up for 23 ½ hours each day.
Many times when I listen to a man tell me about his thoughts, desires, temptations, sins, I see a reflection of myself—not because I have committed murder or violated the laws of the land. But I’m able to connect with my own nature and acknowledge that I have sinned: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We are sinners, but God’s grace and forgiveness sets us free, whether we’re inside or outside of prison.
God has placed in all of us the longings for security and significance. Many who are in prison, in their attempts to have these longings met, have resorted to criminal methods—joining gangs, addictions, violence, lust for money or sex. Many men outside the prison walls try to find their significance and security through their work, their material possessions, their achievements or hobbies. As I hear the stories of how men try to meet these needs, I am reminded of my own struggles in this area in my younger years.
A life of leisure
In 1992, when I was living in Vancouver, I started to work for a major winery, tasting and evaluating wines. After five years I had worked my way up to the position of winemaker. Life was going well. In the mid-90s I started to invest my money in the stock market. My investments were doing so well that I decided to quit my job and become a full-time stock investor, so this became my full-time occupation. My priority was to live a comfortable, stress-free life and make lots of money. My life primarily consisted of playing golf a few times a week, visits to the gym, and sleeping in. After eight months of this lifestyle, I thought to myself, Is this it? The euphoria of living a life of leisure was quickly fading.
Around that time the stock market started to take a big dive and, seeing my vast portfolio shrink quickly, was very depressing. I often felt like not waking up, knowing that I had just suffered another day of big losses, and sank into a very painful depression. …Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).
I was attending church; however, I was a “Sunday Christian.” I never prayed or read the Bible outside of church. That summer my pastor stated in a sermon. “If you are not moving forward in your faith you are actually moving backwards.” I realized that my faith was stagnant and that this had gone on far too long.
An awakened faith
It took a great test of faith for me to decide that I wanted to have God at the centre of my life. On October 22, 2000, I truly accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I was excited about fully trusting Him, yet frightened at not knowing where He would lead me. Who could have known at that time that he would lead me to prison!
During this awakening of faith, my portfolio continued to spiral downward. During that time I realized that God had given me a valuable experience. He gave me wealth, something many people aspire to as their lifelong goal, but when I got to taste what I thought I wanted, it really didn’t satisfy. Through the financial losses, I felt the pain and despair that many other people feel in their lives. It was God’s way of preparing me for future ministry. I realized that the things of this world easily pass away, but I knew that I could find true peace with God and that I am loved regardless of my achievements or bank account statement, without having to earn this love from Him.
A new focus
After I committed my life to Christ, my focus shifted to volunteer work, and I started helping at Union Gospel Mission. This gave me insight and empathy for people in distress and provided the opportunity to discuss spiritual and deep-rooted issues with the youth, yet I did not feel qualified for this ministry. After much prayer and counsel, I answered God’s call to enter Providence Seminary to study counselling.
As I conduct weekly chapel services at Headingley and Stony I often think what a blessing it is to share God’s love and hope with people who are often forgotten by most of society. There is a big need in correctional institutions for the love of Jesus to be made known to the prisoners. LifeLight Ministries plays an important role in this by providing Bibles such as How to Find God, Life Recovery Bible and Journey of Recovery. Over the years I have had many favourable comments from inmates telling me how much these Bibles have aided in their understanding and application of Scriptural truth to their own lives.
Harold Park
Correctional Chaplain, Salvation Army in Winnipeg