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Full Pardon - Issue 1 - May 2009 

Chaplains Corner
Philippians 4: 4 - 7
4Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, "Rejoice!"
5Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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Dave's Testimony
This is my essay on your ministry. Thanks for the opportunity to share.
I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord on January 4th, 1999. I went through a Christian Rehab program called Teen Challenge for 20 months. I walked with God for 5 years before I relapsed and walked away from Him. I blamed God for my problems and my pain. I ignored God's calling for me for several years. In that time in 2006 and 2007 I got back into crime and drugs. In this time God used several people to get my attention. But I just ignored Him continually because I didn't want to do things His way. In 2008 I was arrested again and have been in the Lake County Jail since October 23, 2008. I started going to church and praying and reading my Bible. My life has started to change for the better. I am facing 5 years prison and 5 years probation. I am waiting to be sentenced on May 11th. I have been blessed by Chaplain Pete, a Scofield Study Bible, and prayer - with volunteer ministers Gary, Joe, Steve, and Merle and Neil & his wife on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have also been blessed with the Faith to Faith and the Daily Bread devotionals. We have also been blessed with good contemporary Christian music too!! The Godly counsel and knowledge have been wonderful too. Keep up the hard work and encouragement. Thanks. Your brother in Christ.
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Dennis' Testimony
The Jail and Prison Ministry. I am thankful that the ministry showed me the way, opened up my spiritual eyes, and showed me that the Father above loves me, wants me to be His son and that the battle I fight is God's. Ever since I gave my life to Jesus Christ all my tribulations and sorrow were lifted up. My faith has become stronger because Brother Ken preached the Word of God - Brother Ken came and said that there's a better life that we can live and be happy. I looked at my life and the way I was living - was it pleasing in God's eyes? God wants us to come to heaven and be a part of His family. Every day the same words rang in my life and in my heart as God was working on my heart. That same day I gave my life to the Lord and now I realize that with God's Grace and Mercy I am done with drugs, stealing, drinking, smoking, and all other sins. I thank all of you for the prayers and encouragement. I want to become a preacher for the Lord and preach of the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry. I will never change anything besides following the Lord, preaching for the Good News Jail and Prison ministry, leading my family to God, making an impact on the churches, and bringing others to the Lord. Without the Good News Jail and Prison ministry I would never be this close to God. I would still be on my way to the Lake of Fire. I can't help but to love God.
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Visitor's Column
Do you know that each week almost fifty men and women from over a dozen churches serve as volunteers under the direction of Chaplain Pete? They conduct Christian church services, teach Bible studies, counsel one-on-one, and grade Good New Jail & Prison Ministry Bible lessons. While some have been doing this for only a few years, a number have been volunteers for over ten years. Why do these volunteers have such dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm for the jail ministry?
You might think these volunteers would give you fifty different reasons. Not really! You know the reason-it is the same for you-Jesus Christ. He is our risen Savior and Lord. His blood saves us from sin, death, and hell. His love compels us to share Him with you, be His servants, and be your brothers and sisters in Christ. Another major reason is you! We receive a blessing when we see the Father, Son, Spirit, and His Word change, heal, and transform your lives.
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Gary's Testimony
This has been the best thing that has happened to me because it gives me a peace of mind. This helps me look forward to good things to come. The best way to describe it is a little bit of what I know about football - when playing football while running here and there. Running where I thought I should. After the game my family and brothers would tell me if I would have run here or there I could have scored. This (ministry) has taken me out of the game and put me in the stands where I can see the whole game. It helps me see my mistakes and understand what I have done wrong. Christ in your life makes jail a lot easier to handle. Thank you for giving.
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Donnie's Testimony
First off I would like to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus!! Without Him I would not be writing my testimony.
When I was little my mom would always bring me to church and make me and my brother sit in the front pew. I didn't realize than how important it was but I thank my mom for bring me now! So at a young age I had a sense of where I needed to be in my life but I didn't know who Jesus was. As I was growing up at my dad's house I had a friend named Nick who invited me to go to church with him and I went. I always felt welcomed at my church. I attended but I still didn't know who Jesus was or what church was all about. I never paid any attention to the preacher or the Sunday school teacher - in one ear and out the other. My friend Nick was very proper in the way he spoke, the way he dressed and the way he carried himself. He never judged me. I thank God for Nick. I was the opposite of Nick - rude, bad language, wore ripped jeans and rock t-shirts. I don't know how or why he put up with me but he did God Bless him. I always wondered why he was so reserved but now I know 16 years or so later. I was involved in a head-on crash and some people got hurt bad and I got charged with DUI. The driver broke his leg and the passenger - the driver's wife was 5 months pregnant - had a miscarriage as a result of the crash. I believe that God was getting my attention - using what the devil intended for evil to open my eyes to Jesus. That is when I learned what Jesus did for me and started getting serious about my faith in God's Word and letting God transform my life. That is an ongoing journey that will never end even in the next life - Heaven!!!
May God Bless you - the readers of my testimony.
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Editor
This is a great start and I hope with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will receive more testimonies. Thank you to all of you who have send in your articles, and for those who have not done so yet, Trust God He is on your side.