Faith Baptist Church Corrections Ministry Report February, 2011

I publish this monthly. I apologize for being late with it this month. I was ill for a couple of days. We hope you find it interesting, and that it inspires you to pray for the ministry. Let us know if you want dropped from the distribution list.

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 5th, at 11:30 A.M. I will be preaching on the radio. Jeff Rice, one of the ministers who helps at jail, has a weekly radio show. This week he has loaned me his pulpit. Tune in to AM 1360 WNAH or listen over the internet on their website at http://www.wnah.com I plan to preach on Psalm 139.

WORSHIP SERVICES

Date     Attendance     Sermon
2/1/2011     16     When is a Man a Man; Kirk Nicholson preached
2/8/2011     21     Why Wouldn't You; Luke 9:57-62; Jeff Rice preached
2/15/2011     19     Our Christian Life; Matt 5:3-12; Conclusion to Sermon on the Mount series by Thor
2/22/2011     23     Jimmy Carter Testimony

Thanks to Trish Carden, Lee Hockaday, Kirk Nicholson, Jeff Rice and Jimmy Carter for serving in the worship services this month.

No new sermons have been posted to the web site but many of my previous sermons can be found at biblestudybymail.com/sermons.htm

BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES --
Course Work This Month --
    Bibles Shipped     4
    Certificates Sent     14
    Christian Books Shipped     13
    Lessons Mailed     351
186 Lessons in Process: Waiting to be scanned, waiting in the queue for a teacher, being answered by a teacher, responded to by the teacher but waiting to be mailed.

The Spanish lesson waiting the longest is postmarked 2/1/2011
The English lesson waiting the longest is postmarked 2/16/2011

If you are one of our volunteer teachers, thank you very much for your help. Anyone who has access to the Internet can help. You do not have to be in Nashville. You can be anywhere in the world. If you know someone who has been a Christian for a substantial time, who might be willing to help, please refer them to biblestudybymail.com/faq.htm . It will give them an idea of what is involved. If you believe the Lord is leading you to help us, please let me know. Please continue to pray for our Bible Correspondence Courses.

We currently have 204 active students.

STUDENT'S QUOTES: These are recent quotes from our students.

When I was lost, someone out there was praying for a sinner to repent and be saved. I would like to pray for that person or people, that God would bless them in a special way. And I also pray for someone that is lost to be able to find God, to hear the word, believe, repent, and be baptized.

SALVATION TESTIMONIES

My situation was, I was a pothead, always needed some weed to start my day. The circumstances were the ones that come with my situation. (these!) I had a bad attitude and overall look on life. I did not care about nobody else but myself. I was selfish. I was in love with this woman once, but my addiction and bad attitude cancelled that. I believed in God, but I just did not trust him or have faith in him at the time. But now He is the only one besides my mom I have now. The way I was living life, I knew deep down inside I wasn't living right. I knew I wasn't going to heaven. I always wanted to live honestly, just never had the will power to make it right. My mom was my main encouragement to give my life to the Lord. Now that I have, I feel a lot more peaceful. My temper does not flare so easily; I have learned to let things go. I am more appreciative now, more understanding. I'm not quick to judge any more. I give everyone and everything the benefit of the doubt. The Lord and the bible has changed a lot about me mentally and emotionally. My whole way of thinking is totally different.

Before I became a Christian I was always moving super fast. I worked constantly, and could not settle down in a family environment. I wanted to be the center of attention. I wanted everyone and everything to revolve around me. I lost my wife, my kids, and the whole family, but I was still blind. It occurred to me when I got locked up after about a month, that I did not have anyone. A man that was locked up with me pointed out that I had God no matter what. I started praying and asking the Lord to help me. On the night of Dec 24th, 2009, I got down on my knees and asked the Lord to come into my life, and show me the right path. The Lord has blessed me a lot by placing me in the facility I am in. Giving me faith that I need, and continuing to show me the right path. I have Christian friends, and am finally treated with dignity.

Before I was saved I knew who God was, but I did not follow Him except when I was in big trouble. Other than that I lived for myself. I was a drunk, a drug addict, a sex fiend. I was a true scumbag. I was a poster child for the Prodigal son. That is the lifestyle that I had. It is not like I decided to become a Christian. I knew I needed God in my life but I was too ashamed to go to Him. But in 1997 my lifestyle put me in jail. One night they called out Church services and I thought, "Why not? It will get me out of my cell." Little did I know God had a whole other plan for me. As I sat in the back of that room listening to that pastor, the Holy Spirit knocked me for a loop. He filled me with such power, I didn't know which way to turn, but I did know one thing. I did know one thing. I was going to follow Jesus Christ the rest of my days. Well, there is not enough ink or paper to write what Jesus has done for me. But He put love in my heart, peace in my mind and as far as for my life, He has not even begun to keep blessing me. But for starters I'm clean & sober (no booze, drugs, cigarettes, etc.) for over 8 years. I live a loving and caring life now. Even though I am in prison for a long time for a crime I did not do, I am not bitter about it, because I know Jesus has His hand in it, and good will come out of it. I know it sounds strange, but I'm more free now than I have ever been.

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION, "IF AN ATHEIST ASKED YOU, 'WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD', HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?"

It is so simple for me to show my life in prison now and what it was on the streets. The change that God is making in my life is a living testimony of His existence.

I was very sick, and God healed me miraculously.

Because He is my purpose, and if I had not had that purpose, then I would have taken my life, because there is no reason to live in this evil world without Him.

ANSWERED PRAYER

When I was in the county jail, I was going to hang myself. I prayed. The Lord told me to read Psalm 27:14. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD."

I prayed fro the Lord to open doors to further my walk with Him in always and for me to grow in His word. The Lord placed me in a Faith Based Christian dorm that focuses primarily on a Faith Based Life Skills/Celebrate Recovery program that is a true blessing.

When my father had a stroke in 2000, we thought he'd die that night. I prayed God let me have him just a bit longer. I did not care what shape he was in. I would love him and value my time with him and take care of him. His stroke hit the stem of his brain, the worst kind. God not only gave him back for a while. He can't move, but he knows everything and can talk, eat, laugh, pray. I've had him with my mom for 12 years now and I thank God every day for answering my prayer and more than I asked for. I enjoy every moment I have spent with him. Only God could be that good.

I was adopted and I prayed that I would get back together with my real mom one day. God give me my prayer in May, 2010.

My son was doing things that he should not be doing like stealing. I kept praying that he would change his life. Well he got stopped by the police and they found some unusual merchandise in his car. They were not reported stolen, so they let him go. He has since stopped because it put the fear of God in him.

God answered my prayer to do all of my time here at this institution. If they moved me it would be out of state. I get visits form my family now, but out of state I would not get to see my family.

God has kept me alive in a lot of different places when I don't think I should have been saved.

I asked God about six years ago for some peace in my life - to solve the mess I was in at that time. He truly did.

My daughter has had to pick up my financial burdens since my incarceration. At her present location, her job was going down to 40 hours per week. Not only that, but there was even the possibility she would be laid off. We both were praying for help. Three weeks ago she was sent to another location to help straighten out their office there. After she was there a week they offered to let her stay until November. She is getting a lot of overtime and the company is paying expenses (apartment, utilities, etc) They will even pay her mileage to come and see me which is now a 4 hour drive. It indeed was a direct answer to our prayers.

I am in prison and am a Christian. Being a Christian and having a cellmate that isn't Christian can be rough, especially if they profess that they are pagan and refer to God and Jesus in vulgar ways. All you can do is pray for them. I have a few cellmates like that and finally I started praying to God for another cell mate that was also Christian. After a short period of time but very persistent praying, God granted my prayer and I have a Christian cellmate that I get along with and can talk to about God, Lord Jesus and the Word. God is so good to us. I have to give Him thanks always for everything He does for me. I am so very grateful for all He does for me.

If you missed any of these in the past you can review some of them at: http://www.biblestudybymail.com/testimonies.htm

Please pray for our services next Tuesday, for all the people taking our Bible Correspondence courses, and for everyone working in this ministry.

God bless you,
Thor

Pastor Thor Carden
Love Bible Study
PO Box 299
Madison, TN 37116
http://www.PrisonMinistry.net/lbs
http://www.biblestudybymail.com
615 594 2269