Cold Waters-Thirsty Soul
Pro. 25:25
Sent: 10/24/2009
Dear Friends of CSE (as well as a few enemies, skeptics, and scoffers who read these blogs for a wide variety of reasons), Thanks for your prayers and support during this trying time. God has been so-o-o-o-o good! I have a special request to make today. One of the great joys (and sorrows) for my day is mail call. It is so-o-o-o encouraging to get cards and letters of support. Thanks. I get more mail than any other man in the camp. Last night I got 28 letters. You would think that after 40 years of serving the Lord, I would not get “down” and need “pumped up,” but, like Elijah, I have the same human emotions (James 5:17), and letters from anywhere really help me make it in here. I guess the emotional roller-coaster never ends for those locked away from family and friends.
The sad part about mail call though is seeing the faces of those who seldom or even never get mail. I try to hide my pile and sneak back to the room, but I see them glancing at my mail and see the sad look. I know that some have “made their own bed,” and have alienated friends and families by their own poor choices in life. They know it, too. It still hurts, though. Some here have not gotten mail for years (or visits or calls).
So-o-o-o-o, just as a test, I’d like to call in a favor. In light of Mt. 25: 34-46, I would like any of you who feel led to help me from now till Christmas. I randomly selected two men here who never get mail. For me if not for the Lord would you please write to them? You can send anything! Even an empty envelope! Just so their name gets called at mail call. When they see that someone cares for their soul (Ps. 142:6) it will help open the door for me to witness to them. IDEAS OF WHAT TO SEND: a simple card with “I’m praying for you;” a church bulletin, pictures of anything; a gospel tract (only one each time); funny stories like Far Side, Darwin Awards, etc; pictures drawn by children with “God loves you!” will break any heart that I’ve seen; a letter telling about yourself, life, job; sermon notes on how to be a good dad, husband, etc. Some have had no Bible training of any kind so simple intro lessons, sermons or ideas will help. You cannot send news clippings, but you can scan them in and then send them (BOP rules!). If God leads you may want to sign them up for a mailing list to get something regular – magazine, newspaper, etc. You may also develop a burden to write their family. You may get a scam attempt. It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I’ve been taken advantage of all my Christian life. If I had it to do over again, I would. God will sort it out.
So-o-o-o, let’s start with Brian Steele, black man, 35, three kids, divorced, originally from NY, seldom comes to Christian services, works in kitchen, gets no mail, I don’t know him well, but he asked me to get him some letters. #12777-171.
Jeff Sutherland #20671-074, white man 38, comes to some Christian activities, single, no kids, from Tennessee, in my dorm, nice guy, look up “southern red-neck” to see his picture (just kidding!). I’ll let you know the results in a few weeks. Thanks for your help, prayers, and mail. The Lord’s coming is SOON!
In Christ,
Kent Hovind
P.S.- Use my same address – Box 725 Edgefield, SC 29824