But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has
been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
2 Timothy 3:14
Yesterday, I felt like a proud father...
been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
2 Timothy 3:14
Yesterday, I felt like a proud father...
Anthony, one of the members of my church, gave the sermon. It was his first time preaching and sharing his testimony at length before a crowd of about fifty of his fellow inmates. And he did a fine job because God was with him.
I have watched Anthony grow into a mature Christian after having first surrendered to Jesus Christ about eight years ago while in prison. He's in his late thirties. According to Anthony, although he came from a loving family and has several children himself, he ended up getting addicted to crack cocaine and other drugs. He eventually became homeless and lived in city shelters when it was cold outside, and in the streets when it was warm.
Anthony burst into tears several times as he spoke from the pulpit. During his approximately thirty minute message, he told us about how his father had been suffering from heart trouble. When, one day, he went to check up on his dad and found him in the house dead, apparently from a massive heart attack. Anthony said his life went downhill after this. His mother, he added, later became a homebound diabetic after her son was arrested for murder. It was now her turn to give up on life once her son went off to prison, as Anthony explained it, just like he'd given up on life when his dad died suddenly.
Satan no doubt is exceptionally clever at causing people to think there is no hope, and no reason to go on living anymore. But today, Anthony proved Satan to be a liar. Instead, Anthony showed the congregation that Jesus Christ is the Savior. That Christ is able to deliver those who are bound by sin, and are weighed down with feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.
Seeing Anthony blossom into a mature Christian whom I believe has been called to preach the gospel as well as have a ministry of encouragement, has brought joy to my heart. I've said many times that the prison environment is such a place where men and women who are serious about serving the Lord can grow in their faith and in the knowledge of the Scriptures.
Yes, the rigors of prison life can be used by God to train and mold men and women into capable ministers. And this is what is happening to Anthony.
D.B.
I have watched Anthony grow into a mature Christian after having first surrendered to Jesus Christ about eight years ago while in prison. He's in his late thirties. According to Anthony, although he came from a loving family and has several children himself, he ended up getting addicted to crack cocaine and other drugs. He eventually became homeless and lived in city shelters when it was cold outside, and in the streets when it was warm.
Anthony burst into tears several times as he spoke from the pulpit. During his approximately thirty minute message, he told us about how his father had been suffering from heart trouble. When, one day, he went to check up on his dad and found him in the house dead, apparently from a massive heart attack. Anthony said his life went downhill after this. His mother, he added, later became a homebound diabetic after her son was arrested for murder. It was now her turn to give up on life once her son went off to prison, as Anthony explained it, just like he'd given up on life when his dad died suddenly.
Satan no doubt is exceptionally clever at causing people to think there is no hope, and no reason to go on living anymore. But today, Anthony proved Satan to be a liar. Instead, Anthony showed the congregation that Jesus Christ is the Savior. That Christ is able to deliver those who are bound by sin, and are weighed down with feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.
Seeing Anthony blossom into a mature Christian whom I believe has been called to preach the gospel as well as have a ministry of encouragement, has brought joy to my heart. I've said many times that the prison environment is such a place where men and women who are serious about serving the Lord can grow in their faith and in the knowledge of the Scriptures.
Yes, the rigors of prison life can be used by God to train and mold men and women into capable ministers. And this is what is happening to Anthony.
D.B.
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