Laymen United for Truth Ministries
PO Box 1159
Troy, Montana  59935
Phone: 406-295-1505

 

Newsletters

LAYMEN UNITED FOR TRUTH

PO BOX 1159

TROY, MONTANA 59935

(406) 295-1505/ FAX (406) 295-9403

WEBSITE: LAYMENUNITED.ORG

Newsletter 177 –August/September 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 As I sit at my desk to compose this months newsletter I have just returned, once more, from the prison ministry in Nevada.  What is amazing to me is that this phase of our ministry is now sixteen years old!  How the time flies, but I must confess, this is a duty that I always relish.

 It has been such a blessing to go and minister to the men and women at the prisons in Nevada all of these years.  Literally, I have met hundreds, if not thousands, of inmates in this work.

 It is easy and comfortable to associate with known friends and family.  However, we all have a bit of an apprehension to purposely go and work with the outcasts and criminals of society.  It has truly been an awakening to me to interact so personally with these convicts and realize that, even though they have done despicable acts, they still have souls for which Jesus died to be saved.

 It would be easy and convenient to just ignore and be glad that these people are incarcerated and fulfilling the old adage – “out of sight, out of mind.”  However, in Matthew 25 aren’t we given instruction from the Saviour that there is a work to do for “the least of these?”

 Hence, I applied to be a chaplain many years ago, and I have not been sorry that I have been blessed to serve in this capacity.

 I am sure that we all have preconceived ideas about who these men are, but I have been surprised many times as I truly get to know these souls on a personal basis.  Such is the case of one of the inmates at Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City, Nevada.   He is an older gentleman, approaching 80 years old.  I purposely do not ask the men what crime they committed to be incarcerated.  Honestly, my goal in interacting with them is to introduce them to Jesus and give them the opportunity to repent and set their house in order with the help of the Holy Spirit.  That is why I like to look at what they can be with the Lord’s leading, not the sordid details of a life of crime in the past.

 David Massey is one of the most gentle, and polite men I have ever met.  If you could meet him you would also wonder what he could have possibly done to end up in this institution?

 As David has given his heart to the Lord over the years I have known him, he was blessed with a gift of being able to write beautiful prose and poetry.  I want to share with you a poem that I heard last month in the prison and I requested him to send to me.  It is unabashedly and unapologetically the story of his life.  It is entitled “The Blessings of a Storm.”

I did not know His love before,

The way I know it now.

I could not see my need for Him,

My pride would not allow.

I had it all, without a care,

The “self-sufficient lie.”

My path was smooth, my sea was still,

Not a cloud was in the sky.

I thought I knew His love for me,

I thought I’d seen His grace.

I thought I did not need to grow,

I thought I’d found my place.

But soon my way grew rough and dark,

And storm clouds quickly rolled.

The waves began to rock my ship,

My anchor would not hold.

The ship that I had built myself

Was made of foolish pride.

It fell apart and left me bare,

With nowhere left to hide.

I had no strength, nor faith to face

The trials that lay ahead.

So I simply prayed to Him,

And bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me,

And then He helped me stand.

He said, “You still must face this storm,

But I will hold your hand.”

So through the dark and lonely night,

He guided me through the pain.

I could not see the light of day,

Or when the storm might wane.

Yet through the aches and endless tears,

My faith began to grow.

I could not see it at the time,

But my light began to glow.

I saw God’s love in a brand new light,

His grace and mercy too.

For only when all self was gone,

Could Jesus love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm,

I sometimes questioned, “Why?”

At times I’d thought, “I can’t go on”

Then I would hurt and doubt and cry.

But Jesus never left my side,

He guided me each day.

Through the pain and strife, the fire and flood,

He helped me all the way.

And now I see, as never before,

How great His love can be.

How in my weakness, He is strong;

How Jesus cares for me!

He worked it all out for my good,

Although the way was rough.

He only sent what I could bear,

And then He cried “enough!”

He raised His hand and said, “Be still;”

He made the storm clouds cease.

He opened up the gates of Joy,

And flooded me with peace.

I see His face, now clearer still,

And I felt His presence strong.

I found anew, His faithfulness;

He never did me wrong.

Now I know more storms will come,

But only for my good.

For pain and tears have helped me grow,

As naught else ever could.

I still have so much more to learn,

As Jesus works in me.

If in the storm I’ll love Him more,

That that’s where I want to be.

Dear friends, this is what has come from the mind of a convicted felon.  One who, most likely, will only leave the prison in his casket!  My question -- is there any hope for these violators of the laws of society?  Can Jesus’ redeeming love be manifest even to individuals like this?  Are any of the inmates worth our efforts?  I think brother David Massey has answered these questions.

 Upcoming Present Truth Meetings:

 October 23, 2010 – Fort White Advent Ministries, Fort White, Florida.  Contact David and Dawn Oliver (352) 281-8694.

 Dennis and Mary Crystal

Laymen United for Truth