October Prayer Letter from Rusty

Dear Prayer Warriors,

I pray that everyone is serving God with joy in their hearts and loving God more than life itself. Bless the Lord! Serving God is the only way to go! I feel like I experienced Isaiah 30:15-17 eight years ago as I fled from God only to find myself pursued by God until I was “left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain.”  But thank God for verses 18-21! The Lord truly waited so He could be gracious to me. He is now teaching me to listen to that still, small Voice saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”

 

We are turning the fire up in here as the Lord leads us to reach higher ground for Him. Three months ago we started an additional class on Friday nights at the request of several men who want to share the gospel in here, and later as they go out from here.  We are covering things like prayer, Bible study (in relationship to teaching and witnessing) and pulpit speech (or public speaking.) We are actually working on a little English at the moment, as I am trying to help these men better determine exactly what the Word of God says in any given text. The response has been overwhelming. Many men in here really want to serve the Lord and the house has been packed every Friday night for months!

 

Also, the Lord has convicted me and lead me to fast a little more and give the difference in food to the men as an incentive to discipline their faithfulness to the Lord and His Word.  So far, we have used these blessings to reward perfect attendance, Bible memorization, and quoting the books of the Bible in order, as well as bringing a first-time visitor to church. These men have nothing, and a little sacrifice has gone a long way toward encouraging them, as well as providing tangible blessings for being faithful to the Lord! Please pray for them. We have witnessed over seventy men come through our church so far this year. Many of them have been saved or have really gotten their hearts right with God. We may see a hundred or more by the end of the year if things continue at this pace. Praise His Name!

 

Please pray for Hannah and our precious new little granddaughter, Kierslyn Joy! Kierslyn was born on October 19. Thank God that “Jesus loves the little children of the world.” Also pray for Angel as she takes on her second year of college. I love them all with all my heart, and we need your prayers very much.

 

I am so honored to be a part of this ministry, and I thank the Lord for each of you that pray and support this great work for our Lord. Thank you so much for all that you have done for us- especially the prayers!

His Bondservant,

Rusty

 

 

 

Notes from Rusty’s family

• Thank you for the great response to our pen pal ministry.  If you are interested in having a part in this ministry, please contact us and we will put you in the mix!

• We don’t know for sure when the next hearing will be for Rusty’s appeal. We’re assuming it will be in November. As far as we know, the lawyer and expert witness have all the necessary information to go forward.  Please pray that we will all continue to rest in God’s sovereignty through this whole process.

• We understand that the economy is affecting us all, but if anyone feels led to send an offering for the inmates for Christmas, you can send it through us.  Rusty tries to have a Christmas dinner for the men and a small gift for each of those in his church.