A HEART FOR THE LORD
By Rev. Bunnie
Over the time that On Fire Ministries has been going, I have been privileged to come to know an inmate named Brian Polley through many letters back and forth and sharing our mutual interest in serving the Lord.
I would like, at this time, to lift up Brian to you. Although his personal ministry, as far as I know, has no particular name, he spends many hours working to bring the light of our Lord to those whom the Lord puts in his path. He works and liaises with many ministries doing whatever he is able to forward the cause of Christ. He brings literature and helps to the many groups he's involved with such as 'Lifers, A.A., N.A., Bible study, veterans, Family Awareness, etc.
One of the areas he's involved in is the pledge against violence that has appeared in the newsletter a couple of times. He is also working on co-chairing, with Bobby Wojcik, another inmate I am getting to know, a new Father's group in his institute. Helping those fathers with children services, support and community. He has helped put me together with his contacts in other ministries, which has enhanced our ability to serve as well.
I have seen a number of articles and letters written in thanks to him for his efforts on the behalf of so many. Including one from the president of the United States! Among those he has shared with are, besides the U.S. President, an embassador to Pakistan & Afghanistan, A Sibitri Ghosh writer, Catholic Health Association of Canada, The Canadian government, Sec. of State, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Consulate General and now ex-governor, Cellucci, the ambassador to Canada, to name a few.
In his words in a letter to me: "It's like God's hand is right on my shoulder to do more wonder than I could say. And all I am doing is sharing His truth. . .! I have lost everything, can only take 12 steps in this cell, yet reach around this secular world by His grace to share His truth. For God to take me wherever He wishes -- from this outhouse, to the White house. . ."
". . .just to be able to share is a blessing because I thought my life was over serving 15-life. This is why I share what I do - so you and those who live in that awful depth of despair may know to find hope, a way, and a life second to none. A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn. The Bible is a window, in this prison, of hope, through which we look into eternity. Praise God!"
If you would care to write a letter of support to Brian, or contact him regarding the Peace initiative he's working on, (or any other of his work), we would be please to forward it on to him. His current address is:
Brian J. Polley W-64991
PO Box 43, Unit 2-2
Norfolk, MA 02056
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Visitor: Your preacher sure is long-winded.
Member: He may be long. . . but never winded.
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TYME 4U2 CHANGE
submitted by Craig Gavalas (released)
written by Walter Martinez
Running through this life without a clue,
Thinking money, drugs and booze are all real cool.
Always giving into lust, taking a chance.
Forget what they say about abstinence.
You don't listen to your folks, you say, "I got my pride!"
Never thinking twice is your demise.
Ending up in jail or prison,- worse,
Dis'n all you've ever heard about the second birth.
Running with your boys, with your guns and knives.
Living on the streets like you've got nine lives.
But the only life you've got, you may soon regret,
Cause you'll answer up for it, you can surely bet.
A 'gangsta' or a 'playa', is just another name,
But when your burning up for it, it ain't no game.
So why don't you open up your heart and let Him in.
Let Jesus in your life, He'll wipe away your sin.
So you think you've got it made on this ol' earth?
You better take a look around. What's it really worth?
You can't take it when you leave, without a doubt.
When you stand before the Lord, you have no clout.
Your friends can't help you now - back you up.
No excuse or alibi can get you out.
It's either heaven or it's hell, there's just two ways.
By choosing Jesus Christ, you enter heaven's gates.
Now the choice is up to you, so make up your mind,
Cause the Lord is coming back at any time!
To gather up the ones He calls His Own,
And live eternally in a brand new home.
No pain or sorrow there, God wipes away your tears.
Righteousness, peace and joy all throughout the years.
There's no time for looking back where there is no hope.
Make your Savior Jesus Christ, this ain't no joke.
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Editor's note: It has been quite some time (almost two years) since I have shared my personal testimony so I thought I would share it once again.. . . hope no one minds 8-)... Rev. Bunnie
Rev. B. Klassen's Testimony
I started my life unwanted, the product of a relationship my mother had between marriages. I took my first beating at 10 months old at the hands of the babysitter my mother had boarded me with. Shortly thereafter my half sister,(who was 2 years older than me), was taken by her father from my grandmother's house while my mother was out shopping. My grandfather accepted money to help her father and held my grandmother at gunpoint so he could take her. Sometime after this loss(my sister was adopted by her father's sister),my mother remarried and, in the course of time, produced a son and 2 more daughters to this man. Until I was about 9 yrs old we were taken (or sent) to church every Sunday by my mother, and I learned of Christ and His love for me. I accepted the Lord at the ripe old age of 7 or 8, but it didn't take too many years for me to get into the world. Much of my childhood has been erased from my memory by a condition that is known as Post-traumatic stress syndrome. I do however remember some of the cruelty suffered at this man's hands. Like being made to eat in my room because I was told I was not fit to eat with the family, being picked up by the collar and beat against a wall, having my tail bone broken at least 3times by being kicked with steel-toed boots, being raised told that I was stupid, ( I have an extremely high IQ), dumb, lazy, unfit, unwanted. My mother and he would fight and a continuing theme presented by him was to send me somewhere else. He didn't want me there. At 11 yrs old he sexually abused me. I quit speaking for a period of time. He was the first of many adult men that sexually abused me and I was so afraid of people in general and men in particular that I was afraid to say "NO!". Compliance had been beat into me. I knew what I was being put through was wrong and I tried to go to social services to get us all (my brother, sisters and I) out of the house, but we had a "nice" upper-middle-classed family and, back then, things like that just didn't happen in "good" families like ours. It was decided that I was a liar and incorrigible. At 14 years old, convinced that I was the reason my parents fought so much, and having overheard the many comments made, I started to run away. I would head across country and disappear, but every time I left it only took a few months for someone to figure out I was underage and report me. I would be sent back only to run again the first chance I got. The first few times I left I would get a job and a small housekeeping room and just try to live quietly and at peace. I kept to myself. After several attempts though, and being on the streets I started to be led by others. At different points I stayed with a motorcycle gang, was approached many times by people who offered to "help" me, make me a "star", slept in cars that someone had left open, stayed at "crash pads", and in general learned to survive on the streets. There were so many times that I could have been coerced into hard drugs, prostitution, or even turned up dead that I dread to even think about them now. But God was faithful to me even if I was not faithful to Him. No matter what the environment, He kept me safe from the worst of what could have I even landed in jail at the ripe old age of 14 �. When I was picked up having been talked into helping the guy I was with to steal a car, I was so afraid of being sent home to my stepfather's house that I told them I was 18 and spent the next 3 � months in the Don Jail in Toronto . At that time considered the worst jail in Canada. The Lord provided for my protection even in that environment in the form of a woman who convinced everyone that I was her "old lady" and off limits to everyone else. She never laid a hand on me. I did suffer a good beating though because the guards showed me some favoritism in the form of chocolate bars and privileges not normally given out and some women formed the opinion that I was telling information to them to get these things. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Due to what I now know was the Lord's intervention in my life, people just seemed to want to naturally protect me! (my nickname was pixie for a reason (*Smile*). When I refused to tell who had done it to me the other prisoners left me alone. Incidences similar to this happened to me continually throughout my life. Far too many to go into here.
Not to say I have escaped all things. I have been raped (several times), robbed, beaten(throughout my life by many different people), held at gun-point, held at knife-point, given up one child and was an unwed mother to another. It was discovered that I have suffered ritual satanic child abuse. I have lived on the streets both alone and with a small child. I have been homeless. I have faced cancer twice. But, through it all, the Lord has kept me safe from the worst of what could have been. He has spared my life.
About 5 years ago He decided it was time for me to come to a relationship with Him. My second marriage of only a few months had broken up and they had found another growth in my abdomen. The third one. When I walked out of the doctor's office after being told, I cried out to God and told Him that if it was His will that I die, so be it. A month later, when they did another scan, it was gone! I thanked Him with heartfelt thanks, but I could not bring myself to walk into a church. I had drank too much, done too many things I was ashamed of and in a town that was only 1500 people where I had spent most of the past 17 years. I knew I would not be accepted. I knew I was too bad for the Lord to forgive. I WAS WRONG!
On a Sunday morning I got up and could hear someone saying "go to church"(there was a Pentecostal church only a block from where I lived). I, of course, was arguing with the voice I heard. I remember getting showered and putting on good clothes (slacks and blouse) and all the while arguing with this voice inside me and telling it that I was certainly NOT going to go into a church for people to judge me! I got my shoes on and went out the door still arguing. That Sunday I won(or lost) the argument. I stood at the bottom of the small incline up to the church and listened to them sing, but would go no further. The next Sunday the scenario was repeated, but this time as I faltered again at the bottom of the short hill , I felt hands in the center of my back pushing me! I thought I had lost it for sure! I kept wanting to turn around and run the other way, but I could not. The hands just kept pushing me toward the small church and into the door!! I sat at the back trying to be as inconspicuous as possible and I started to cry. Not loud enough for anyone to hear me, but the tears were streaming down my face. Then, to my amazement, the preacher stopped all the singing, stood and looked around and said, "The Lord just told me that someone here needs to dedicate their life to Him. I don't know who it is but I will wait. Please come up and let's pray together." I knew he was talking to me, but I would not move. The pastor kept encouraging me to come forward with the same words for the next 45 minutes, but I could not bring myself to go forward in front of all those people! The next Sunday I did. For the next several months I could not go into a church without immediately starting to cry. I didn't know it then but the Lord was healing me. I changed from an extremely angry person, who couldn't/wouldn't talk to others without the anger, resentment, and hate showing up to one who could not only talk to others, but would hug and was able to show love to my fellow human beings. Three months later I was baptized (Easter Sunday) and made a decision to spend the rest of my life serving the Lord. I am imperfect, I fall just as does everyone, but I get up, ask forgiveness yet again, and carry on learning to serve my Lord. He forgave me, He taught me to forgive as He has done, He taught me to love and what it really is. He is teaching me new things every day.
I thank Him for His grace to me and I know that His grace is there waiting for you.
HE DOES LOVE YOU It does not matter what you have done or where you have been, HE WILL FORGIVE YOU. He will teach you to forgive yourself. He is waiting for you to earnestly ask. He is calling to you as a Father calls for a lost child he is searching for. CALL OUT TO HIM. Let Him know you are searching for Him too. HE WILL RECEIVE YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. Don't wait. His arms are open to receive you now.
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Editor's note: Nathan has worked for the benefit of On Fire Ministries and "Souls in Stir" since it's inception. He has provided us with a number of articles, both from himself and others, stamps which go at times to help other inmates, artwork when he finds Christian artists, and the list goes on. He has been a wonderful help in this ministry.
My Testimony
By Nathan Spencer
(inmate)
My testimony is something like this. As we find ourselves in a new millennium, we should find that the Lord has not forsaken us, nor has he left us ever. Though sometimes, in our struggles, we like to think so. That is a clear sign of a lack of faith. So, as we go through another year, let's please strengthen our faith that we may be able to stand in these evil times that the world is witnessing right now. Although the road is sometimes rough, and we seem to find ourselves without support from those who we call our friends, be not dismayed because that is when God is giving us the opportunity to gain strength in our faith in Him.
Believe this. It is the power of God that will be the only source of power that will allow us who believe to live on after the storm that the earth is weathering right now.
My life has had all sorts of twists and turns and the Lord has delivered me from all my trials and tribulations, even when it seemed like the monster was so big that it would eat everything in its path. I have experienced one of the deadliest prisons in California and one of the most corrupt in the nation. Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, California.
When I first started telling my own flesh and blood family that we were being set up by prison guards to fight with other inmates on the security housing unit yards, the first thing my family thought is that I was making up this elaborate story about something that didn't exist. On every yard I went to while there it was gun fire and fights every day. On each occasion I went to the yard and on each occasion the Lord delivered me from gun shot wounds. I was never hit except once by the wooden blocks. Each night I went to bed and each night I prayed for the Lord to be with me and that I would not be hurt .
The Lord showed me His overwhelming power by delivering me from each situation. Even when I got into fights that I didn't start. Not once.
I share with all you out there who want to really know if the power of God is for real. I tell you, as the Lord told us who believe - test it. You will be amazed at what sincere prayer will get you. You will not be dissatisfied at what God has for his children. Praise God who is mighty in his glorious works. Whose name is to be greatly proclaimed. Love each other as He has loved us is how we give our thanks to Him. Delight in the word of God, my brothers and sisters. Jesus is the reason!
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WHERE IS GOD?
By Dory Adams
Submitted by Ayesha Simpson
Dear Family and Friends,
I had a very dear friend question my faith in God right after the terrorist attack on America. Her question was simply put, "Where is your God today?" She was very hurt, as all Americans were, so I tried not to react defensively. Since that moment I have prayed and grieved over the disastrous events, however, I believe I have the answer. I know where my God was the morning of September 11, 2001. He was very busy.
First of all, he was trying to discourage anyone from taking this flight. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there were only 266 aboard.
He was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who was called by a loved one on one of the high-jacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background. On one of the flights he was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the high-jackers.
He was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit.
Since the buildings hold over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the WTC told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays?
He was holding up two 110 story buildings so that 2/3rds of the workers could get out. I was so amazed that the top of the towers didn't topple when the jets impacted.
Although this was without a doubt the worst think I have seen in my life, I can see God's miracles in every bit of it. I keep thinking about my friend and praying for her every chance I have. I can't imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in God. Life would be hopeless.
Written by Dory Adams on
Tuesday September 25th, 2001
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SO FUNNY
Submitted by Bonnie Atkinson
(Director)
If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills.
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains.
If you can resist complaining and boring people to death with your troubles.
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it.
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time.
If you can overlook when people take things out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong.
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment.
If you can face the world without lies and deceit.
If you can conquer tension without medical help.
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs.
If you can do all these things,
THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY THE FAMILY DOG. .
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WHAT'S UP AT "ON FIRE"
In the past year the Lord has blessed us to be able to minister to many, both inside and outside the prison walls. We have been blessed to be able to feed several families locally.
Kelley, our treasurer and "second in command" has counseled some 500 families and individuals. Through his efforts many have come to know the Lord for the first time, or rededicated their lives or just strengthened their walks.
Larry, the youngest member of our board, has initiated a praise and worship evening every Friday night, helped by the pastor of the local Lutheran church who has opened the doors of their sanctuary to enable us to have a place to worship in.
We have raised the funds to buy the land for the church in India we have been supporting in a small way, and the Lord has now opened the doors for us to be able to raise a further $1200 in order to erect the building. Praise God!
We are currently working on supporting a South African inmate's son through his final year of schooling. The funds have been offered and we now await the school's address to be able to send the required fees directly to the school.
We have also started sending small boxes of clothing to individual inmates in Zambia, along with soaps, toothbrushes (supplies by Dr. Kevin Smith, dentist), toothpaste and lotions. A box of Bibles made it through as well and those brothers write of the blessing it has been to be able to have God's word to share with others there with them.
Rev. Klassen has made trips into prisons every 2-3 months, usually taking about a week away from her regular duties. Being the only "full time" member to be able to keep up the office work, she has also dedicated much time doing the hot-dog sales in order to raise funds, even to standing outside for an entire week before Christmas with a fund-raising hot-dog sale conducted at the local Save-on-More Food store.
The Lord is blessing these efforts and, not only is the newsletter distribution increasing (along with postal costs going up around 50% to US and foreign destinations), but travel and opportunity to minister in the prisons is increasing as well. Two new prisons have been added to the list and it looks like Rev. Bunnie will be traveling most of the month of February. The schedule for this trips consists of 5 prisons, a couple of churches and a couple of street missions.
Her ministry has had such an impact that, before she leaves a place they have already asked her to come back and another booking is made.
Travel has increased to the point that the ministry now has NEED of a travel trailer and truck to pull it!! This will enable Rev. Bunnie to minister more effectively as several times there has been difficulty in finding billeting and she has slept in her beat up old van while away. The van now has 350,000 KM on it and many rust holes, but the Lord has kept it ticking along nevertheless. As month-long (and longer) trips look like they are going to be the norm from here on, a "home on wheels" would be a great blessing to her and the ministry. Often others travel with her as well and this would solve many problems.
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For God so loVed the world
that He gAve
His onLy begotten Son
that whosoEver
believes iN Him
should noT
perIsh but have
eterNal
lifE.
Happy Valentine's Day!!
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