Letter: October 5, 2010

October 5, 2010

Dear Friends,

Forgive me for not writing for awhile. I have been so busy I have had barely time to write this journal and to write the many letters which I need to. Also I must share with you some very sad news. A godly man from Grace Church, Jerry Dandurand, went to be with the Lord. He was a friend of mine and the father of my faithful secretary, Jenny. Please pray for the Dandurand family.
There is a verse in Ephesians (3:20) that says “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within me.” This is what God is now doing here at Corcoran prison. Since we started meeting on the yard in the evenings each night of the week, and preaching sound doctrine, not trying to put on a “show” but offering solid spiritual food to those who are hungry for God’s Word, He has blessed this ministry greatly. The men who come are hungry for the Word. We sing a little but most of the time is preaching. We have a consistent 23 men who attend, most saved and wanting to grow. Tonight we had 35 and the other night we had the Lord’s’ Table, there were about 30. It is God working in their hearts because all we have to offer is the Word. During the week in the day and on the weekends, we have small group Bible studies on the yard where the men study a book of the Bible in-depth. I am teaching I Timothy, while another is teaching James and another Acts. The men are digging deep into the Word, doing word studies, papers on theology and making observations on each chapter. I can tell they are excited about the treasures they themselves are finding their studies. They are also growing in their spiritual life.

The group of speakers (nine of us) meet once a week for training. Brother Joseph and I are helping these men prepare their sermons and go over different aspects of leadership. We are using John MacArthur’s book The Book on Leadership. Many of these men will go to other prisons and have ministries there. So Corcoran is sort of a training center. Brother Joseph’s Spanish flock is growing too. They hear two sermons every day and they are hungry for them. Many of these Spanish brothers will someday be released back to their home countries and towns and will take the Gospel to perhaps a town where there has not been a Gospel witness. They are in training, too.

In other news, our Christian softball team lost most of our games but we had fun and maintained a good testimony. I had a nice visit with the Altmans and Jones’ who were very gracious to spend their day with me, Seth, and Tom. Our prison fellowship continues to pray for Pastor Goetzen’s ministry and family in Germany. They had a great summer of ministry and we praise the Lord with them. We have also been praying for sister Simone’s exams. Please pray for the health needs of Deanna, Myriam, and Cheryl. I continue to teach the Word, Greek, Hebrew, and leadership, along with preaching and discipling. I’m trying to find time to work on my book on suffering, and write a ton of letters to folks who write. Keeping busy helps me not to dwell on my trials and sorrows—missing my family, kids, and friends. I am amazed at all God is doing here for His glory. I hope this updates you; I will try to be more diligent in writing. May the Lord bless you.

Letter: August 21, 2010

Dear Friends,

I trust the Lord is giving you a blessed summer and causing everything in your life to work together for good. Recently the Lord has been doing wonderful work here in our prison and we marvel as we watch Him work. He is blessing our evening yard instead of being locked up; second, He is bringing more and more inmates to hear the Word; and third, He is bringing more commitment and spiritual growth in the men’s lives (we observe). There are some of the speakers whom I have invited to participate in a leadership class using John MacArthurs’s book on leadership. I was also able to teach three night in a row on “radical discipleship” exhorting the men to better use their prison time to seek and serve the Lord.

I pointed out to them that if they were to watch 39 hours of TV a week (that’s turning it on at 6PM and off at 11PM with a few additional hours on the weekend), and spent just two hours a day on the yard in sports and tow hours walking and talking, they would spend a total of 34,840 hours over ten years involve din these things. I said, “Do you want to walk out of the gate after ten years having watched 21,000 hours of TV or having spent that time in the Word of God?” So I laid out a plan for them for one, three, five, and ten years in prison. I shall give you an example:

In one year in prison, you could:
a. have a daily, personal one-on-one time with the Lord.
b. Read completely through the Bible once.
c. Memorize 50 verses (one per week)
d. Study 4 books of the Bible (one per quarter) in depth
e. Complete several Bible study pamphlets or booklets
f. Read 2 books on the spiritual life and one missionary biography.
g. Start a prayer list and pray regularly (daily)
h. Regularly listen to expository sermons on Christina radio or tapes.

In TEN years in prison, you could:
a. have personal time with the Lord daily
b. Read through the Bible 6 times
c. Study 40 books or the Bible in depth (one per quarter)
d. Memorize 500 verses
e. Have regular prayer
f. Read 15 books on spiritual life, 6 missionary biographies, and 3 different systematic theologies
g. Complete 3 years of Greek plus translate the new Testament (reading Greek to English). (I have several Greek students who have been studying for two years and will be read to translate the New Testament in about two more years.)
h. Complete 1 years of Hebrew
i. Complete a B.A. in Biblical studies
j. Listen to hundreds of good sermons

So as I told them, how do you want to walk out of prison? It’s up to you. They could still watch some TV, do some sports, etc. Many or most of the guys received this well and are starting to list out which books they are going to read and which verse they will memorize. Many need materials and books but don’t have them. Please pray. All of this is to God’s glory. Praying I will be a faithful servant. God bless you.

In Christ,
David

Letter: June 22, 2010

Dear Friends,

These last several days have been both very trying and full of joy in the Lord. There is so much sorrow and tragedy here among the inmates, especially those who are lost. The man who lost his young daughter is doing better. We prayed with him and blessed him with some food. He started going to some of the outside services. Pray for his salvation. His name is M.C. I will look for an opportunity to share Christ with him.

Last Sunday, I was asked to preach in Chapel and I chose for my text, Matthew 10:37-39. There are three points in the passage: Jesus wants our loyalty, our will, and our life. He demands total surrender to Him. The sermon was well-received, but I fear the usual tares who attend the services were not change din heart. I can only throw the seed, but God gives the increase. Please pray for the salvation of those who hear regularly the Word but who have not trusted Christ.

Today, by God’s grace I was able to preach form Daniel 2. It was a service filled with sweet music led by a very skilled singer and guitarist. After me, brother Joseph preached from Genesis on Lot and how he hesitated at the angels’ warning to flee Sodom. He brought out the point that Lot had no spiritual impact on his family or city. We noticed this evening that some of the brothers are starting to listen to a false brother on the yard who is teaching error. This is very discouraging to us. We will try to offer regular evening on-the-yard devotional times in order to feed the flock solid food.

Throughout the week we gather to pray for our families. Many of the men are separated from their kids (like men) and have no contact. We pray for reunion and, where needed, salvation. We also pray for missionaries like Pastor Goetzen in Germany who is throwing the seed of the Gospel to a very hard-hearted people. He is very faithful to endure despite very little response. Please pray for him. You’ll remember I taught his daughter violin at Grace School.

I received a wonderful gift of George Muller’s autobiography. It has nearly 800 pages of his personal writings about his life and work of faith in London. He is an incredible inspiration!

Tonight I completed my next to last paper for my doctorate of theology. I am excited to finish. It has been a long road of study. After this, I want to continue writing a book on trials and afflictions in a 365-day devotional using quotes from many famous and wise believers who have endured deep trials.

Along with my preaching ministry here, I will have much to do, but only by the grace of God. Even the most basic, ordinary things to those of you outside, are great blessings here in prison. We view them as gifts of grace from the Lord. I am speaking of things like: a shower, a phone call, getting to go to the yard, to chapel, to practice the violin, to talk with a friend, to teach the Word, to attend a Bible study, to receive a candy bar, to receive a letter of visit. There are so many benefits of prison; it teaches patience thankfulness, humility (I hope), acceptance for those you would never even approach on the street. Prison can bring joy when you see a man who was steeped in drugs and violence, redeemed by the Lord and serving Him. There are many moments to God’s grace here. To God be the glory! I hope these notes are informative and encouraging. May the Lord bless you and keep you. As always, praying for my family.

In Chains for Christ,
David