2023
The important role so many play…
"Off the Chain" / 0 Comments /In this report, I want to share with you a letter from an inmate that recently died with Christ at Lawtey CI. His name is William, and it is his third time in prison. He has been a joy to work with over the last few months. This letter illustrates the broad scope of our work in the prisons and the important role so many play to encourage and build these men up. I am sometimes at the forefront, but so much is done by others.
My name is William and I am an inmate at Lawtey. I want to thank the church of Christ. More specifically I want to thank the individuals who wrote me after my baptism. Thank you Nono and Judy, as well Robert McConnell and one other unnamed individual as well. These letters of congratulations and of inspiration mean a lot to me and showed me that I am not alone. I also want to thank the man who baptized me as well Mr. McPeak and all the other individuals who come to Lawtey as fishers of men. We thank you. I thank you. I thank you all for uplifting my spirit and showing me that I am not alone in my journey in Christ. I want you all to know how much I appreciate this and how much you are making a difference. Not just in my life, but many others as well. Since my transformation, I truly feel like a new man and the more I study the word the higher I elevate. To me this is amazing being that I am a babe in Christ (1 Peter 2:2-3). I rejoice in this and work hard each and every day to not let down my family in Christ. I thank you my new family at the church of Christ for all who said prayers for me and blessed me in my walk…I will never forget the bondage you freed me from by leading me to Jesus. Once again, I thank you all and may God bless you and your families.
Do you see the depth and power of the service of so many in his letter? Those who pray for the work, those who write notes of encouragement, those who go into the prisons and never teach, but encourage, those who teach and preach in the prisons, those who make it possible for us to teach and preach in the prisons because of their financial and/or emotional support. William tries to thank everyone who played a role. He sees it is a family effort. Isn’t that what the scriptures remind us of in so many places? We all play a part in the body, we all have gifts, we all serve, we all are essential to the growth of the body…
1 Peter 4:10-11 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:6 – Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…
1 Cor. 12:14, 20, 24-25 – For the body does not consist of one member but of many…As it is, there are many parts, yet one body…But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
No matter what work we do in the kingdom – it is valuable – it brings glory to God. No matter if we perceive it as big or small. We can all work. It doesn’t have to be in the prisons, but we need to serve. It is all useful! I hope William’s letter encourages you to serve somewhere in the kingdom.
Thank you for your support. Thank you for all you are doing in the kingdom. May God grant us more opportunities and give us more gifts so that we can serve better!
