"We have no certain dwelling place."
1 Corinthians 4:11
Earlier today I was told the sad news that one of my dearest brothers and friends...
1 Corinthians 4:11
Earlier today I was told the sad news that one of my dearest brothers and friends...
...a fellow prisoner who has been such a faithful helper and prayer partner, is being transferred to another facility.
Right now, it feels as if a part of my heart is being ripped out. This man, "Dee," is a deacon in our prison church. He loves the Lord, and I have seen him mature so much in the ten or so years he has been here.
Dee and I have prayed together, fellowshipped, served the body of Christ at Sullivan Correctional Facility. We shared so much of our lives. He and I went through many a spiritual battle together against the forces of evil, who are always trying to hurt our congregation. This is one true soldier who is going to be missed by me. Dee is a faithful brother and a hard worker.
A number of years ago, when I was working in the chapel, he also worked alongside me. Then, when it was time for me to leave my position as Chaplain's Clerk, I purposely moved aside so that he could get the job. I knew at the time that he was ready to take on the responsibility. The Lord was with Dee, and he did a fine job.
But now he is leaving. This is always a painful aspect of prison life: the transfer process. For it makes prison life so unstable. None of us ever know, from day to day, who is going to suddenly be transferred at any time, and without any advance notice. I am here today. But tomorrow I could be transferred to a prison at the opposite end of the state, hundreds of miles away.
Aside from deeply missing my friend, brother, and confidant, our church is going to have a big challenge ahead. A man like this is going to be hard to replace. We're going to have to pray and fast to find the right man for the job. We'll need God's guidance and direction.
This is an important and trusted position that cannot be given to anyone. They must be mature and sound in the faith, and they must have God's calling and anointing. Without all of these qualities, no chapel worker would be able to endure. Because being the Chaplain's Clerk is a "hot spot," where there is daily spiritual warfare, and it is a position where one's faith is tested at every moment.
Dee has been in prison for about fourteen years, on a fifteen-year sentence. He has one year left to serve before he will be eligible to go home. So, because he is, in jailhouse jargon, "getting short," he's now headed for a medium security facility.
I have no doubt that wherever this godly man goes, the Lord will be with him, and the Lord will use him. Brother Dee will be an asset to any church congregation. I will miss him and so will all my brothers. However, until he's replaced, our congregation will experience some upheaval.
Nevertheless, this will be good training for the others. Now some of them will have to step forward so that the work of the ministry can continue. They will learn how to pray more and petition the Lord the way "Deacon Dee" always did. The Lord will also show them how to give words of encouragement to the needy.
Meanwhile, although I always have God's joy in my heart, I am weeping at the loss. But I will see Dee again. For a day is coming when all believers will be able to rest from our labors when we meet each other in glory. For now, however, we have no certain dwelling place on this earth.
D.B.
Right now, it feels as if a part of my heart is being ripped out. This man, "Dee," is a deacon in our prison church. He loves the Lord, and I have seen him mature so much in the ten or so years he has been here.
Dee and I have prayed together, fellowshipped, served the body of Christ at Sullivan Correctional Facility. We shared so much of our lives. He and I went through many a spiritual battle together against the forces of evil, who are always trying to hurt our congregation. This is one true soldier who is going to be missed by me. Dee is a faithful brother and a hard worker.
A number of years ago, when I was working in the chapel, he also worked alongside me. Then, when it was time for me to leave my position as Chaplain's Clerk, I purposely moved aside so that he could get the job. I knew at the time that he was ready to take on the responsibility. The Lord was with Dee, and he did a fine job.
But now he is leaving. This is always a painful aspect of prison life: the transfer process. For it makes prison life so unstable. None of us ever know, from day to day, who is going to suddenly be transferred at any time, and without any advance notice. I am here today. But tomorrow I could be transferred to a prison at the opposite end of the state, hundreds of miles away.
Aside from deeply missing my friend, brother, and confidant, our church is going to have a big challenge ahead. A man like this is going to be hard to replace. We're going to have to pray and fast to find the right man for the job. We'll need God's guidance and direction.
This is an important and trusted position that cannot be given to anyone. They must be mature and sound in the faith, and they must have God's calling and anointing. Without all of these qualities, no chapel worker would be able to endure. Because being the Chaplain's Clerk is a "hot spot," where there is daily spiritual warfare, and it is a position where one's faith is tested at every moment.
Dee has been in prison for about fourteen years, on a fifteen-year sentence. He has one year left to serve before he will be eligible to go home. So, because he is, in jailhouse jargon, "getting short," he's now headed for a medium security facility.
I have no doubt that wherever this godly man goes, the Lord will be with him, and the Lord will use him. Brother Dee will be an asset to any church congregation. I will miss him and so will all my brothers. However, until he's replaced, our congregation will experience some upheaval.
Nevertheless, this will be good training for the others. Now some of them will have to step forward so that the work of the ministry can continue. They will learn how to pray more and petition the Lord the way "Deacon Dee" always did. The Lord will also show them how to give words of encouragement to the needy.
Meanwhile, although I always have God's joy in my heart, I am weeping at the loss. But I will see Dee again. For a day is coming when all believers will be able to rest from our labors when we meet each other in glory. For now, however, we have no certain dwelling place on this earth.
D.B.