Two other men, both criminals… Luke 23:32
When I started Empty Tomb Ministries 25 years ago, not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined all that God would do as I told Him these three words, “Lord, I’m willing.” When the King of Glory apprehends us and the power of the Holy Spirit leads us, His plan and purposes are fulfilled in our lives. This month we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, God’s one and only Son. As we read this remarkable story, one can only imagine what it must have been like to have been there to witness such an event. Having the opportunity to minister in jails and prisons here in Colorado, I can’t help but think if Jesus was walking the earth today, those might be many of the places we would might find Him. One of the stories I love to tell within the walls of our correctional facilities is the one of Jesus and the cross. There was not one man hanging there that day, but three men! Jesus and two criminals. Their crimes were different but their sentences were the same, death by crucifixion! Jesus’ crime—truth!
So why should this story be so important to a criminal? As Jesus faced his final hour on this earth, He was still at work doing the will of His Father in heaven. Two criminals, one on His left and one on His right. As all three men faced their final minutes of life, Jesus was still offering His amazing grace even till the very end. His message to the world, no matter where you have been or what you have done, you can receive forgiveness and find grace and hope in your time of need! One of the criminals did just that! And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Arkansas Valley Prison!
It was first thing on a Saturday morning that my friend and co-worker, Jeff Monson, and I headed south on a four-hour ride to Arkansas Valley Prison. This was surely not our first trip to this 1,000-inmate correctional facility. Through the years, we have been able to establish some unique relationships with many of the inmates. Each time we arrive at Ark Valley, we know the Holy Spirit has much He wants to accomplish in us and through us. During this visit we had three different meetings. Meeting one found us with five inmates from protective custody. These are men who are being protected from other inmates within the facility. These meetings are always a time of real ministry to the men who live each day in very difficult circumstances. Meeting two was Saturday evening and open to general population. It was a time of worship, prayer and opening God’s word together. I am always amazed at how the Holy Spirit shows up in meetings like this, lives are truly impacted. And meeting three was Sunday morning at the prison church where about a hundred men gathered to meet with the Author of Life. When the Author of Life shows up, things happen!
Sunday morning was going to be a very special morning. Seven men stood before their peers, confessed their faith and were water baptized! It is really hard for me to try to express the depth of emotion that I experienced that morning. Being inside those walls is one thing; to see the power of God heal hearts and set these men free—it truly is a miracle of God! One by one, each man took off his prison green clothes, each with his last name and inmate number stamped on the front. Down to gym shorts and a t-shirt, they climbed into the portable tub and were washed clean from a life of darkness and heartache. Yes, you can be inside those walls and your heart can truly be free!
Larimer County Jail!
Each time I walk in this jail, I think of all the lives that are hidden behind the walls and bars; each person created by God with a purpose and a destiny. I know this is not God’s best for them or anyone, yet on this journey called life we have all gotten off course and found ourselves paying the consequences for our bad decisions.
Each week, Jeff, Mike and I find ourselves entering this facility with a passion and a purpose to bring hope and truth to the nearly 500 men who now call this place home. We have found great favor with the staff as well as the inmates. Each week, we come to challenge and teach them about becoming authentic men and embracing the truth about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through this process, we have been able to establish a real trust with many of these men. We have listened to their stories and accepted them for who they are at this season in their lives.
Once a quarter, the staff has allowed us to put on a Friday conference for 60 of these men. Our last conference was entitled, “Hope for the Future.” We met for two sessions on a Friday; the afternoon session ran from 1-4 p.m. and the evening session 7-9 p.m. We brought in refreshments, had worship and then taught the men from God’s word. The first session was a great success; our max of 60 men showed up ready to receive all that we had for them. As we returned for our evening session, something had changed. We not only had those 60 men, but the staff allowed another 32, so we had 92 men packed in that room. It was an amazing time and the power of the Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of the men. As we closed the evening, 32 men stood for the first time and made Jesus their Lord and Savior! Nothing in all creation can stop the power of God from changing a human heart!
Uganda and Rwanda May 8-19!
Jesus made it very clear to His disciples before He departed for Heaven. He told them, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and that is exactly what they did. Today, 2,000 years later, His words and His commission are for us. Empty Tomb Ministries is committed to go and carry His message to the ends of the earth. This coming May, I will be heading back to Uganda for the sixteenth time. When I write those words to you I can’t help but stop and reflect on all the things that God has done during those trips. It is critical to be led by the Holy Spirit and a privilege to watch the power of God’s word transform a human heart! It is an amazing thing to watch.
As I prepare for my upcoming trip I know that God has a plan and a purpose for this journey. As we make ourselves available to Him, He charts our course and provides everything we need to accomplish His mission. This trip is going to have an added bonus: I will be spending some of my time in the country of Rwanda. After arriving in Uganda, I will once again be hosted by Pastor Fred Muyimba and his church in the capital city of Kampala. Pastor Fred and I have been working together and planting churches in villages where there has never been a church before. It has been such an amazing journey to see these churches grow right before our eyes. I am honored and humbled to call many of these pastors my friends and co-workers in the faith. Once I arrive, we will head out into the villages to meet with the leaders and to see all the progress that is being made. Once we return to the capital, we will be joined by Greg Yancey and John Gasangwa. Greg is a very good friend and a board member of Empty Tomb Ministries, and John is the founder of Arise Rwanda Ministries. John was born in a Ugandan refugee camp in 1981. He witnessed all the horrors of famine, rape, murder, and human cruelty one can imagine. At age 10, he prayed to God and made a promise “that if God would see him through his education, He would spend the rest of His life serving the poor people of the world.”
We will spend a few days in Uganda visiting the school and orphanage that Pastor Fred and his team are in the process of building and are very close to completion. Then we will head to Rwanda for the second half of our trip. There we will meet with pastors and leaders and look at ways we can serve and help them like we are helping the pastors and leaders in Uganda. It should be an amazing trip and I will look forward to my return to be able to share with you all the good things that God accomplished during the trip!
During my last trip to the villages, Pastor Fred and I spent time with Pastor Joseph as they are working very hard to complete their new church building. ETM has played a part in helping this vision become a reality. Here I am walking inside the church with one of my translators, Florence.
I could use your help!
Over the years there have been so many wonderful people who have joined with me and supported the work of Empty Tomb Ministries. As I have done all along, I have made myself available and trusted God to provide the resources to go and impact the world for Christ.
My upcoming trip is surely no exception. I could use your help! Trips like these can be costly but well worth every dollar spent. Over the past 25 years, many prayers have been prayed and many miles have been traveled by ETM. It truly has been a team effort by so many people willing to give of their resources to send me around the world. The things I have seen have gone beyond my wildest dreams. Not only has God provided the resources for the journey, He has provided the resources to give to others and to invest in their lives and their visions. As we invest in the Kingdom of God, we are promised, as we give generously, we will also reap generously.
Would you prayerfully consider investing in this trip? You may not be on that plane with me but you can join with me to impact the lives of others in Uganda and Rwanda. Your seed money will be planted in their hearts and their work and you will be the recipient of eternal rewards. Thank you for believing in ETM. Your gifts are tax-deductible; no gift is too small and, of course, no gift is too big!