barsofalcatraz How long can a man SURVIVE in PRISON without hope, and without a friend?

"God bless your ministry and your compassion for hurting people . . . Keep lifting them up because He always draws them to Him!" --Chaplain Bob Harrington, The Chaplain of Bourbon Street.

Today you and I have the opportunity of assisting a prisoner that is trying to live for Christ in the midst of the most perverse society known to man: America's prison system!

Consider this:

· American penitentiaries are nothing more than training centers for the concentrated forces of evil

· 85%- or more- of America's prisoners- have no relationship with Jesus Christ

· Increasing numbers of prisons are opposing Christian ministries with escalating hostility

· Biblically ignorant Christians are being recruited by gangs, cultists, and Islamists- at alarming rates!

· Chaplains that should be preaching and teaching the Word of God are abandoning Christ to become ecumenical religious facilitators

· Sodomy is occurring more frequently amongst professing Christian prisoners

· Prison rehabilitation is a $60 BILLION dollar scam! Of the 95% of PRISONERS that will one day be released, 75% will be back in prison within 48 months!

It's no secret! The vast majority of Americans would just as soon forget about prisoners! However, the Bible makes it clear we are to remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them (Heb. 13:3). “William” serves as a good example of why this verse has been so important to me over the past 30 years.

William's crime surprised no one. In fact, his conviction brought a sense of relief that he was off the street and behind bars. He was after all a worthless loser, without hope, and without a friend.

However, GOD saw things differently!

Prison provided William ample time to think- about who he was, where he was, and where he was headed when he died. One day William heard how the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, and died on a cruel cross to shed His precious innocent blood as payment for every crime he'd ever committed.

Under conviction as a sinner, William opened his heart, and gave himself to Jesus!

From those first moments, William knew the reality of a very special Bible promise: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). His excitement for God drove him to study every preliminary Bible course he could lay his hands on. And, while these studies helped to answer many elementary questions he had about the Bible, William sensed God calling him into full time ministry which he knew would require further preparation. With that in mind, he prayed and searched for a Bible training program that was advanced, affordable, and available through distance education means.

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A friend- who was a PMI student- told William about the college level Bible and ministry training programs available to prisoners from the PMI Center for Biblical Studies. He requested and received an Introductory Pack with all the information and an application for enrollment which he quickly returned. Upon receipt, we enrolled William, sent his first courses, then wrote letters (like you received) asking his family and friends to help sponsor his advanced Bible study program for one year.

But NO ONE responded.

Through the years, I've seen how rejection by family and friends can be devastating to prisoners. However, to my amazement William somehow did not lose heart. With encouragement from us and an unrelenting faith, he kept trusting and praying that someone, somewhere, would respond to the Lord's prompting to help us help him. And one day- someone did.

That was the turning point for a guy who'd been kicked to the curb most of his life. Surrounded by the grime and temptation of prison life, William became a brilliant Bible student and committed man of God. He studied with us 6 years, earning his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Biblical Studies while becoming a model prisoner. When paroled, William wrote me. He'd joined a church and had established a Bible-based counseling ministry helping point other wayward societal rejects to the same precious forgiving Saviour that turned his life around. All of this- of course- made possible one day when a spiritually sensitive Christian with a selfless, Christ honoring heart, listened to God's still small voice and said yes to a forgotten prisoner's plea for help.

Another "William" Pleads for Help!

Please hear my heart dear friend, because another William stands before us with the same need. While God's purpose for this prisoner remains to be seen, if we shut our ears and ignore the pleas - my experience tells me nothing good will come of it!

Please say yes! to helping me help any one of hundreds of these our friends with a gift of $15-$30 per month for a year. Thank you for reading this and for helping any way you can.

            Shalom in Jesus,

            Dr. Michael Johnston (2 Tim. 2:2)

PS: In closing, the Lord reminded me of a verse I think is most appropriate: Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die (Psalms 79:11). Thank you for reading this letter and for caring about the eternal destiny of this very special prisoner who- if not for you- would surely be without hope, and without a friend.

PPS: Please make your donation right now while the Holy Spirit is compelling you-- please help us to help these spiritually starving inmates so they may continue receiving the Bible studies? Only $15 (or more if the Lord directs you) per month provides for at least one prisoner's Bible study program. And yes, we take donations of stamps most gladly.