CSE Blogs

Yesterday two men heard those special letters after their name had been announced over the scratchy intercom.  Instant happy shouting filled the room.  In jail lingo “ATW” means all the way home.  Their jail time is over.

When they announce those letters the pod (our dorm of 22 men) erupts with clapping, shouting and congratulations to the one who gets to go home.  It means they are free.

If you have never been locked in a cage and had your liberties taken away “ATW” won’t mean much to you.  Outsiders watch and shake their head and wonder what on earth is going on.  All they did was say three letters.  An insider would try to explain the pent-up emotions springing from their lips but I doubt an outsider could ever understand.  “ATW” means freedom, family, real food, friends, wife, kids, grandkids, a real bed, cars, sunlight, fresh air, grass, telephones, vitamins, fried chicken, Starbucks, sunsets, walks around the block and a thousand other things I will never take for granted again.

As I thought about what I had seen and experienced when ATW was announced (I was shouting and clapping also) I was reminded of Romans 7:1, 4 and Revelation 4:1.  One day soon we will hear a trumpet blast and the Lord will shout…. “ATW” (I Thessalonians 4 – come home).  “You are released from that body that is imprisoned on earth.  You will no longer be bound by sin and suffering and sorrow or temptation.  No more wheel chairs, hospitals, prisons or drugs.  Enter into the joy of the Lord”.

When that glorious day comes, angels will watch as millions of sin-weary Christians burst into spontaneous shouting.  The angels will look at each other and shake their heads in questioning wonder and why a simple trumpet blast and shout could cause such a racket.  God will say, “Angels, get back to work.  There is no way for you to understand”.

Moses and the children of Israel felt the “ATW” emotions when they turned back and saw Pharaoh and his entire Egyptian army dead along the beach by the Red Sea.  When they finally fully realized that they were free from that spirit-crushing bondage they had endured for four hundred years, the rejoicing was instant and spontaneous.   Exodus 15 tells the story.  I have read it nearly a hundred times but today I wrote “ATW” in my Bible beside this chapter.  When I die someone will be looking through my Bible and wondering what “ATW” means.   I’ll be looking down from heaven saying, “There is no way to explain it, so forget it. It only means something to me. Unless you have been there you will never understand.”

One of the men who heard his number called was Robert.  When I came here five weeks ago Robert was withdrawn, often crying and very despondent.  Two years of hard drug use had taken its toll.  I made friends with him and gently introduced him to Jesus.  His conversion was genuine and his growth in the Lord as he attended our four to five Bible studies a day was a real joy to watch.  Robert is a master marine mechanic (he holds three world records for boat racing)and an electrician.  Hopefully, he will have no problem getting work.

The other man being released, Eddie, is about the same age as Robert and is a cement finisher.  I helped him learn quite a bit of math while he was here.  The construction business is slow now especially as Christmas nears.
He was released just before midnight.  I knew he had no job, no money and no place to go.  He hoped his sister would take him in, but it would be 2am when he got there, even if he could get a ride the seven miles to her house, and 6am if he had to walk.  I hugged him and prayed with him for God to provide.

Eddie and I had become good friends over the last five weeks.  He came to quite a few Bible studies and memorized lots of verses to get candy bars, coffee and other prizes I offer from my commissary supply.  He thanked me when I privately corrected him for using foul language.  He will always have the scar on his hand where hit the Muslin man who had just hit me from behind (totally unprovoked) the third day I was here.  Each morning when Eddie saw me, the first thing he would do was flash his big smile showing four gold-edged front teeth, show me his hand and say, “I’m your body guard, Mr. Kent.  I’m watching your back.”  I’ve made some great friends for life in here.  This has been a good experience for me.

“ATW” also means a new man will be coming to the pod to fill the space.  Dan came here four days ago and yesterday prayed with me to receive Christ.  That makes number seven in my pod.  He has three kids ages 7, 12, and 13.  Last night he joined us in the prayer circle.  He prayed such a sweet new convert’s prayer.  He asked God to “bless my family and my new Christian family, especially Mr. Kent for leading me to Jesus.  Please make the judge let him go home.”  I love leading people to Christ but the supply of new prisoners never will end in here.  I am beginning to wonder if God will ever let me out.

When do I go home?  Judge Rogers can grant the acquittal in five seconds.
Assistant US Attorney, Michelle Heldmyer, is adamant against letting me out ever, for any reason.  Please fast and pray at least one meal a week for God to intervene and stop this senseless persecution.  Meanwhile, keep wining souls and teach others to do the same.

Longing for “ATW” from below or above,

Kent Hovind

Imagine that you are called to pastor a small church in a town of twenty-two.  All the residents are men.  The town is less than 3,000 square feet, and everyone stays there 24/7.  Over 90% of the towns people are drug addicts or pushers, and most are repeat offenders.

You must eat with all them, every meal, everyday.  The whole town has 2 toilets, 2 showers, 2 tables, and 1 TV that picks up 4 channels.  The men hear and see everything that you do and say.  Every church member is a brand new convert.   Everyone has multiple problems in their personal life and family life.  You have 2 King James Bibles and 3 other translations.

Of the nine men who have trusted Christ in the last six weeks, one has gone home, two have moved to a new town next door, and another was told that he would go off to prison for ten years starting next month.  A fifth watched the news last week, as the death of his two best friends who drove into a building, was reported.  He cried for two days because he could not go to their funeral or visit the only survivor who is now paralyzed in the hospital.  All three were in their mid-twenties.

A sixth new convert is full of hard questions like, “Should I marry the mother of my three children who now live with another man, or should I marry the woman that I have been living with for the last four years when she gets out of jail?  Should I have my second child, who is fourteen, get a DNA test to see if he is really mine, or just keep quiet about it?  Should I get my last tooth pulled, or keep it?”  This new convert seeks sincere advice from the pastor for about an hour everyday.

The seventh church member just came off a drug spree and learned that his daughter is now married, has a two-year-old, and is having another baby any day.  His long term girlfriend is pressing charges against him for pawning her jewelry for drugs.  His trial is in six weeks.

An eighth church member accepted Christ yesterday, and just got in bed this morning.  He and convert number five were sent to spend the night in “the tank” for playing cards after lights out.  “The tank” is a small holding cell downstairs that is very cold, and has only a concrete bench and toilet.
New men, often high on drugs or drunk and often cursing loudly are brought in and out all night long.  It is not a good place to spend the night!

Your ninth church member has been saved two days and is a quiet African American man in his late forties.  He’s been in jail many times.  However, he now shows great interest in the Bible and wants to change his life and serve God.

At least five struggle daily with profanity.  All want to go home to be with their loved ones.  Two of the nine converts, seldom come to church, but still come to evening prayer circle.

The other town members range from “quiet and reserved” to “loud, vulgar, and disruptive.”  Some listen-in on your conversations, and some watch your every move, to see if this “Jesus Stuff” is real.  A few, can’t wait to see you fall.

Your church meets four to five times a day, for thirty to sixty minutes.
What would you preach on, twenty to thirty times a week?  Get ready, church starts in 45 minutes.

Pastor Kent Hovind

It has been nearly four weeks since our motion for acquittal was filed, and no ruling by the judge as of yet. I think that all of the motions of the trial can be viewed on the internet if you are willing to pay a fee to set up a PACER account. You do this by going to www.flnd.uscourts.gov; then click on “Public Resources”; then click on “PACER” (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Then you set up your account. Our case number is: Case No. 3:06cr83MCR

Another web address to check out for information about our case is www.penaltyprotester.com.

I wish I was free to tell my side of this case, but our attorneys say, “Not yet.” So those who hated me and/or the Creation Message before this trial will believe the worst, and those who loved me and/or the Creation Message I shared before this trial will believe the best. God, of course, will be the final judge.

I can say that while many things about this ordeal have been very hard for me, for my family, and for the ministry; and yet, it has also been a rewarding experience for me personally. Many parts of God’s Word have come alive for me, that I probably would have never seen otherwise. I’ve met people, had time to see things, to read things, and to meditate on things, that my hectic travel schedule of preaching during the past seventeen years has not allowed before.

One of the saddest expressions that I hear over and over again in here is “my baby’s mama.” It took me awhile to comprehend what they were saying.

Many of these men have babies by women to whom they are not married and no longer love. They cannot call them their wife, or even their girlfriend, so “my baby’s mama” does the job. The phrase tells me of heartache for all in the picture including the mother, the baby, and at least four grandparents.

It also speaks of problems for society for years to come.

The longer I live, the more I see why God’s way is best. I praise God for my wife of 33 years, our children, and our four and 7/8′s grandchildren! I will forever preach even harder for teens to stay pure until marriage, and then to remain faithful for life. The grass may look greener on the other side of the fence, but it’s artificial turf, or the water bill is terrible!

I have gained an even greater dislike for many stupid and ungodly television shows. I marvel that Christians do not see how bad our culture has gotten.

When talk shows and “court t.v.” shows approve of adultery and fornication for hours on end every week, America is in trouble! Judgment can’t be long in coming.

I do get to read the CSEBLOG postings eventually. I wish that I could give personal responses, but that will have to wait. There is no e-mail at the jail. I was surprised to see that Frank Zindler still believes that he came from a rock! I debated him about fourteen years ago at University of Ohio, where everyone said that he lost badly, and figured that he would see the light by now. I also can not understand how he can believe that humans are 99% similar to apes. He needs to watch Creation Seminar Part Four.

When I get out, I will be glad to discuss or to debate the issues with him at the University of Ohio if he is willing. Hundreds evolutionists have refused to debate, so far. What is the problem? Watch one of the debates like “Three On One” or “How To Debate A Creationist” (two of my favorites) to see why they normally run. Creationists don’t win because we are smarter, we win because we are right.

As for Lynn from Longview, (said this at 7:18 on November 21) I lived there for five years and don’t recall having met her. However, I do feel sorry for her. I would hate to go through life with her perspective.

Thank you to the many have written or called to show support in various ways. We are humbled, and thankful that the ministry continues in spite of Satan’s attacks.

Please fast and pray at least one meal this week for Judge Rogers to grant the motion for acquittal. On September 7, 1774, when the seemingly invincible British laid siege to Boston, the Colonists read Psalm 35. I have adapted this passage as my prayer.

More Later,

Kent Hovind

I’ve been here about a month now.  I am fine physically and even getting in a little better shape since I have time to work out several times a day.  The food is tolerable and the room is well lit and comfortable.  The five new converts that are in this pod with me are meeting with me four to five times each day for Bible study and prayer.  This is a pastor’s dream!  It would take most churches a year to cover what we cover every week.  Our group has been through, verse-by-verse, Matthew, Mark and Acts as well as most of Proverbs.  I started with the 6,000-year time line and gave several days of general overview of the entire Bible.  It is awesome to see the spiritual hunger in these men.

I have also been teaching math and science to some of the others.  It is great to see convicted drug dealers get excited when they learn fourth grade level math for the first time.  I have spent quite a bit of time with one 29-year-old man who cannot read at all.  I have been teaching him phonics and we are reading Genesis 1, 2, 3 and John 1, 2, and 3.  His face lights up when he sees that he can do it.   I offer commissary items like soup or coffee to men who memorize Bible verses.  There is no way to describe the joy that they show when they get it right.  Many have never memorized scriptures in their life, and maybe that is why they are in jail.  Scripture helps us to “cleanse our ways” Psalm 119:9-11.

Please pray that the judge will rule in our favor and I will be released soon.  If an acquittal is not granted, the appeal can take months and even years.

Meanwhile pray for our little church “G20″.  Our office has addresses if you would like to write to encourage the men.  Many have alienated their families before coming here and get no mail or visits.

You can also write letters on my behalf to the court.  Letters can be sent to CSE, who will give them all to the attorneys.  The letters should be addressed “To the Court”, and may reference such things as our character, our Christian beliefs, and how the CSE ministry has impacted your life and ministry.  These letters must be received by December 9th.

Keep praying for God’s greater glory and that I will be released soon.  Keep winning souls.  Keep listening for the trumpet!

Remember my bonds,
Kent Hovind