Breaking Free June 1997 Issue

GREETINGS
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. Wow! Where do I start in telling all of the wonderful things that have happened since my last letter. First of all I hope you liked the account that Al Arms gave of their trip to Eddie Warrior Correctional Center that he writes about on page 1.

Jesus Film Showing
Eddie Warrior Correctional Center
May 10, 1997

The Eddie Warrior Correctional Center is a minimum-security women’s facility located west of Muskogee, Oklahoma. The Center houses approximately 600 women in a campus like setting. The Facility has dormitories surrounding a wooded park. One special feature of this facility is an auditorium with a seating capacity of 150 and a medium sized stage.

We (Carolyn Ring, Nina Briton, Linda Arms, Allen Arms, Kevin Dean, John Presley, and Steve Easom) arrived at 3:30 p.m. and were met by Renee Watkins, Deputy Warden. Renee was very gracious and gave us a brief overview of the facility, and it’s history. She explained that the facility was overcrowded and they had been forced to move about 50 inmates to other facilities. Renee then gave us full access to the facility with just a few precautions. She also told us that approximately 60 of the inmates regularly attend Sunday worship services.

We then broke up into teams of 2-3 and began to move around the compound and interact with the inmates. It became obvious that the Holy Spirit had most certainly gone before us in this place. With few exceptions, we were warmly welcomed and the inmates seemed interested in what we had to say. We invited all that we encountered to come and see the film and ask them to pass the word.

One of the most unusual encounters was with the inmates who were in the "FORT", a military style discipline program to which some of the inmates were sentenced. The inmates were very reluctant to talk to us until they got permission from one of the officers. However, once the permission was granted, they eagerly interacted with us. When they came to view the film, they marched in formation with their bibles in hand. There were about 25 FORT inmates that attended the film.

Just after we had dinner with the inmates, (HOT LINKS) the leader of the facility choir asked if we would like to hear a Christian song they had written. However, before they could assemble, the yard was closed for count. I then asked if they would like to open our program that night with a song. They eagerly agreed.

At 7:00 p.m., the auditorium was filled with over 110 inmates who appeared eager to see the Jesus film. Almost all of the women had bibles in hand as they entered the auditorium.

The choir sang a great gospel song, which set the spiritual stage for the film. During the film, the women cheered and clapped at every opportunity. *At the end of the program, several of the women accepted Christ or rededicated their lives. As they exited the auditorium, they expressed their appreciation (in some cases tearfully) for our visit.

Editor’s note: This event took place on May the 10th.

The article was written by Allen Arms one of our volunteers. I was being released from the hospital on the day that Allen and his wife Linda took a group of volunteers into this prison. * In a later conversation with Steve Easom, he cofirmed to me that there was between 30 and 35 women who came forward. Thanks, Don

Surgery is Sucessful

On May the 5th, doctors removed a tennis ball size tumor from where my adrenal gland used to be. The surgery went well and the doctors say they got it all. I am taking a series of chemo treatments to make sure that any spillage from the tumor removal is taken care of. This series is supposed to be 4 treatments once every three weeks. I had my first treatment on Thursday June 12th. Please keep me in your prayers as I believe I am nearing the end of my health problems and am approaching a period of health that I have not enjoyed for a decade or more. That is the impression that I am getting from Jesus. Please rejoice with me now because I know you have prayed long and hard for this work of the Holy Spirit to go forth in power and in love. Hallelujah!

Jails Program Increases

Two more Prisons are in the process of being added to our JAILS program. Jails is the initials for Justice Affiliate Inside Linc Staff. In this program we get permission from prison chaplains to use inmates as voluntary staff with Campus Crusade For Christ. We donate a set of ten 45 minute training video tapes to each Correctional Center. Where there is a need we also donate a TV/VCR for the inmates to use as well. With this program we hope to build Christian character in the inmates’ walk with God. The Government does not teach the offender that he is being punished because of sin. The offender should be taught that he not only broke the law of man but that he sinned against a Holy God as well. How can we expect to change the criminal unless we teach them first of all that their behavior is unacceptable to a Holy God. The video cassettes are narrated by Bill Bright. They consist of subjects such as How to introduce others to Christ, How to know that you are saved, How to experience God’s love and forgiveness etc. The tapes are designed in such a way that anyone can learn from watching them. In one situation there was a young lady inmate named Crystal that enrolled approximately 100 other women in our free correspondence bible study courses. One day the state transferred her and 60 other inmates to a private prison in Southern Texas just as I was preparing to ask her to take a position as Justice Affiliate Inside Linc Staff. After hearing that they had been transferred to a converted over warehouse with no Chaplain or no Chapel services I drove to Crystal City Texas which is a ten hour drive. While there I visited with the Warden and got permission to start a JAILS program there as well. Crystal and I already had so much time invested in some of the girls discipleship that it seemed the proper thing to do. Please pray for Crystal as she is a new Christian who was born again in October. She has been totally dedicated to the Lord’s work on the inside every since. She has to work 8 hours a day 6 days a week shoveling cow poop in the hot Texas sun. Please pray for her to have an early release. She is our newest Inside Staff member. In addition to that we would also like to welcome Tim Chavez on board. Tim will be our representative from The Lexington Assessment and Reception Center.

Our weekly Bible Studies Programs Increase

In addition to the prison trip to Eddie Warrior Correctional Center which Allen Arms wrote about on page 1 we have also sent a team of volunteers (6 or 7) into the Joseph Harp Correctional Center. They are walking the yard two Saturdays a month and sharing the 4 Spiritual Laws Booklet with the inmates. Additionally I have been given permission to walk the yard at Lexington Assessment and Reception Center. I usually go once a week if I can. Allen Arms is leading a team into a private prison at Hinton, Oklahoma. We go over there every Tuesday except the 1st Tuesday of the month. I usually go with them but Allen is the leader because I can’t always be there

Heritage Correspondence School Thrives

Our free correspondence bible study school for prisoners has now grown to more than 300 inmates. Please pray for my home church, Heritage Baptist, as they remain faithful to the Lord by continuing to pay for the postage and material. Please remember church members Cathy Hall, Keith Brawe and Kenn Gundersen who have been faithful to keep that ministry going while I am busy doing other things or just lounging in the hospital (smile). May God bless each one of you for having been faithful to this ministry by giving monthly support and faithful prayers. Please continue to lift our needs up to His throne.

Testimony of Clinton Clark "Cowboy"

I was born in Tahlequah Oklahoma on June 6, 1962. My parents were poor, hard working people. Dad, at the age of 15 ran away from home and met my mother. Dad was in his twenties and mom was twelve when they were married. By the time mom was 18, she had 5 children; three boys and two girls.

Dad was a carpenter He also played country music and fought game cocks both of which involved a lot of drinking and time away from home. As a result, I had my first taste of beer by the time I was seven.

By the time I was twelve, my drinking was progressing rapidly. At the age of 17, I was an alcoholic and a drug user and had been arrested many times for DUI or assault and battery.

One night, after leaving a party, I returned with a 25 caliber pistol(which I had stolen from my parents) and pointed at the head of a young man ,fully intending to kill him. This event resulted in my parents telling me that if I didn’t stop living like this I would end up killing someone or being killed by the age of 21.

Oh how right they had been!! At the age of 19, I had a fight for my life in a bar which resulted in a 44 magnum pointed point blank at my face. However I shot the man in the head with a 20 gauge shotgun, killing him instantly. I was booked for murder, but the charges were dropped to 1st degree manslaughter. I was sentenced to 4 years. While in prison, I got involved in a stabbing that almost cost a man his life.

I was paroled twice during this sentence but came back quickly for drinking and fighting. I was so full of anger, hatred and bitterness that by the age of 30 I had been back to prison two more times for drugs and armed robbery. The armed robbery charges carried 7-20 to life sentences in state prisons and 100 years with federal prisons and $1. million in fines.

By this time in my life I had come face to face with death many times and I had lost all hope in life. I found myself in jail or in prison for the fifth time with the attitude of killing the first man that got in my way. Feeling I was going to end up dead or on death row unless I escaped, I made a knife and plans for an escape.

Three weeks later, two men tried spoiling my plot for escape. After these two men left my cell block in fear of their lives, I was searched for the knife. The guards found the knife on me and I was locked up in the hole.

That day in 1993, I received Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. He replaced that anger hatred and bitterness with love, joy, peace, and so much more than words could express. A few days later, my brother Carl who is a Christian came to see me. He told me about God for the umpteenth time who I had been denying and avoiding all my life. That has changed my outlook and life forever! Since that day, by the grace of God, I've been set free from all drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and fighting. Although Satan has tried to take my life several times for Christ’s name sake during my Christian walk, God has faithfully delivered me without a scratch. God has restored my marriage! He has assured me of my release from prison to go forth not by might nor power of man, but by the spirit of God, to preach the Good News of the Gospel to multitudes that Satan has in bondage just as I was for so many years. But all thanks be to God through His son my savior Jesus Christ that I’m, completely care free and continuing to live a life for God that is beyond anything words can express.

Are you are in the same mess I was in for so many years where there seems to be no way out?

Well I have good news for you!! If you will pray the following prayer with me with a sincere and repentant heart, then you will experience what I did in 1993 that there is hope and a new abundant life for you in Christ Jesus.

Pray: Lord Jesus I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my lord and savior. I am sorry for my sins and I ask you to forgive me of all my sins. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins Lord Jesus and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life, and make me what you want me to be for Your glory. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.....

Learn these verses: John 3: 16, John 10: 10, Romans 6: 23, Romans 5: 8, 1 Cor. 15: 3-6, John 1:12, Ephesians 2: 8-9.

Prayer Parchment

Richard Taylor escaped from prison in Oklahoma in 1972. He was recaptured last month after nearly 25 years of freedom. During that time he has fathered a daughter who is now 22 years old and a college Graduate. He no longer takes drugs and has established a commendable work record over the years. Please pray for Jesus to raise up responsible people to secure this man’s release from prison.

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