Visit to Brothers and Sisters the prison in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

RIGOBERTO VARGAS AND PAUL
BUY

VISITING AND BRINGING BLESSINGS TO THE BROTHERS

WORSHIP SERVICE AND PRODUCT DELIVERY

THE GOSPEL IS HOpe

VISITING AND BRINGING BLESSINGS TO OUR SISTERS

THANKS BROTHERS FOR ALL, GOD BLESS YOU

THE NEED FOR A CHANGE OF VIEW...

I must be honest that when Freddie Anderson asked me to be a part of this ministry that I was a hesitant. I did not realize that working with those in prison was an area that I could respond well. One, I had no experience; two, I knew that most of these men deserved to be in prison; and, three, I was reminded of something I had read before, “the Father will not forgive them if they know what they are doing.” All of that had me unsure about how effective I could be.

Once I moved past these feelings and my fears I came to understand that God was inviting me to change my point of view. I am fully convinced that God wants them to have a change of life and I am that vessel to help that change. Grace will triumph.

I want to help these people who are deprived of their freedom to be really changed so that they will be “free in Christ.” My part is the planting but it is God who gives the growth!

Now that my outlook has changed I have accepted the challenge and have really become a part of this ministry. In the short time that I have been involved with these men I have already seen some changes. I am trying to organize the brothers, to give them Bible classes, to encourage them so that they may be strengthened for the difficult times they face in their daily lives inside and outside the walls. It is a privilege to serve alongside men of God experienced in these duties.

MAIL CALL!

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV)
I do a lot of correspondence with the men in the units and with offenders who have been released. It is a valuable part of our ministry because these men need to know that there is hope . . . And that someone cares! As part of many letters I send to these men I include a Biblical text with a positive message similar to the text quoted at the top of this article. Pollyanna, in the Disney movie of the same name, came up with the figure of some 856 different Biblical texts that carried with it a positive message. I don’t know the accuracy of the claim but I do know that our God is a God of love who cares for the ones who struggle for acceptance in a world of closed-door.
Communicating with these men with a positive, cheerful message takes well-spent time. The importance cannot be measured. All of these men, indeed, all of us, have an eternal soul that needs to know someone cares. It is the message that God has given in John 3:16; Romans 5: 6-10 and in many other passages. It is a powerful message. When the men respond, and many of them do, they frequently mention their appreciation of the Biblical message they have received.
With all of the junk mail the average person receives letters are not important things. Email, the internet and cell phones make letters old fashion. But to the prisoner a letter is a lifeline. It’s a joy for me to be a part of a ministry that that do things that matter: something as small as a letter matters.

Ray Clyde

NEWSLETTER, November 2008

BRING MY SOUL OUT OF PRISION

To make the inmate, regardless of his past life, aware of the gospel

Under the oversight of the Garland Street church of Christ
Freddie Anderson-director
Ministers: RayClyde :Bill Byrd,
Gerald Harris, Barre Sanderson & John Spencer, Hank Maddo


“MINISTERING TO THE WHOLE MAN”

GROWTH & ACTIVITY
Walls-Jerry Harris conducts worship service Sunday at 12 noon.
Goree– Sunday, Freddie and Ray have 7:30 a.m. service on camp. Thursday (5-6p.m.) Freddie’s Bible class in chapel; Monday segregation visits.
Wynne– Ray worship service, worship service for Spanish speaking inmates. (2pm.) On Monday (6:30-8:30p.m.) Bill Byrd mentors while Freddie teaches.
Ferguson-Freddie’s Tuesday. (6pm)
Ellis-John Spencer worships with inmates at 8a.m.
Estelle (SAF-P) Ray conducts service for this group.
Not to mention mentoring on other uints and segregation visits, personal visits and follow-up.


Faithful workers working faithfully..

…...COMPLIMENT…COMPLEMENT?

Careful how you read the two words above?

One word is “an expression of admiration; expressing praise,” hence a compliment; while the other word, complement, is “that which supplies a deficiency.” One is provocative while the other is proactive.

More than a vowel (“i” vs “e’) seperates these words. By all means we should observe things that are priseworthy. At the same time our effot to reach as many to teach as many is done more by complement than compliment.

I Co. 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
What Paul did was complemented by Apollos and perfected by God, which shows the beauty of working together. The combined effort is always greater than the greatest effot of one.

We could not reach as many as we reach; teach as many as we teach without the combined efforts of many. Complement.

A phone call came in from Larry. He’s been out for several years but found himself in distress. He was two hundred miles away so I had to get others to assist him. I called Eddie and Dorsey: Eddie is a prison minister in Dallas who meets with realeasd inmates and Dorsey is an ex-offender preacher. When I heard from Larry again he raved about those who reached out to him. Compliment or Complement?
A visiting minister from Dallas was preaching in a city near Huntsville. He had several men from his congregation with him and said some nice things about our ministry. We were shaning hands after serivce when one of the men with the preacher came up to me and challenged me with, “you don’t know who I am do you?” I dragged out a “NO” then the man went on to remind me that he was on one of the units I serve. He also revealed that I had given him his first Bible concordance, a book he still owns. The preacher went on to describe the good work the ex-inmate was doing for their congregation. Compliment or complement?

A visiting minister from Dallas was preaching in a city near Huntsville. He had several men from his congregation with him and said some nice things about our ministry. We were shaning hands after serivce when one of the men with the preacher came up to me and challenged me with, “you don’t know who I am do you?” I dragged out a “NO” then the man went on to remind me that he was on one of the units I serve. He also revealed that I had given him his first Bible concordance, a book he still owns. The preacher went on to describe the good work the ex-inmate was doing for their congregation. Compliment or complement?

Your support of our work is a compliment to the effectiveness of our work and a complement to the beauty of working together.

SWAN CHURCH OF CHRIST visits two units. Seven members of the church came to bless the Lord in song at the Goree unit in Huntsville and the Ferguson unit in Midway. HIM’S minstery on Goree includes segregation visits on Monday, Thursday Bible study and Sunday worship; so the men were eager to see these free-world christians. The singers did a hour long program to several dozen. The group then hurried thirty miles north to the Ferguson unit where the inmates were already waiting for their arrival. The presentation was held on the outside basketball court to allow all 300 men on the camp to hear the songs.
PRESTONCREST TO THE WALLS: Each quarter a group of volunteers from Dallas’ Prestoncrest congregation come to the Walls unit and conduct a service there. The inmates really look forward to these regular visits.

X-MEN

“He went his way rejoicing…”

When circumstances prevent us from baptizing the prisoner we continue to teach and encourage the inmate and make plans to baptize that person upon release.

When this inmate was released from the unit in Livingston he called and I met him at the bus station. We visited then I took him to the church building, baptized him and “he went his way rejoicing.”

This next man was taught by a church member who worked for the prison. Situations didn’t allow baptism but the first thing he did upon release was call and we baptized him, put him on the bus and “he went his way rejoicing.

X-MEN

Pertinent Statiscs Church of Christ

Dr. Flavil Yeakley, Freed-Hardeman "Presentation on Youth", enero, 2008.


According to Flavil Yeakley, who presented this material at FHU recently, one can say these things about churches of Christ:
12th largest religious group in America
6th fastest growing church in America
4th in the nation in the total number of congregations
5th in the nation in number of counties in which there is a congregation
1st in the nation in distribution of congregations
1st in the nation in weekly attendance
According to a survey by Barna about five years ago, churches of Christ were first in donations among religious groups (for our size).When you consider that we lost only 69 churches (2000-2006) and yet are 4th in the number of congregations throughout the US is rather remarkable.The call for changing doctrine or die is premature...

Phil

http://philanswers.blogspot.com/2008/01/some-more-pertinent-statistics.html

POEMS BY CLYDE THOMPSON (ex prisoner)

The Whistler

hears from the Old Morgue Dungeon, tx prison, December 20, 1941

Hark! again that doleful whistle,

like a caged bird's soulful missile.

On sunny days for three years past,

I've heard this haunthing, mounful blast.

Like the bird's song, from cage.

The tune is not of hate or rage.

It swells of hope and Faith that's fair,

Then sinks to Sorrow's deep despair...

Yea, touching aching cords and strings,

it lifts the heart to better things.

Then drops it back, as if t'were hurl'd,

to shater on this boodstained world.

This whistled symphony is sound,

in wich no single word is found.

No need, when the strains so plainly tell,

of heaven's height and the depth of hell.

I know thw tunw, but not a word,

for man ne'er such a story heard,

'tis the plaint of an aching heart,

mean but for God, not words of art.

As a sad story sweetly told

wells up tears from a heart of gold,

so this tune, from a heart that bleeds,

brings sad joy to him who heeds.

oft I ponder, "who can it be?"

but it's ever hidden from me.

I'm like a book with missing pages.

For I can't look in other cages.

God knows the whistler and his song,

of love and Hope, and loos and wrong;

but I must bide the day of doom,

to hear in words, his story bloom!

My Plea

Written in ice, May 18, 1941

To judge me as your felloman

impartial, fair and true.

To know me as I really am

is all ask of you.

Could man, like God, but understand

and read ahuman's chart,

he's feel the sting of prison's brand

that sears into the heart.

He'd read the message forged within

the heart that beats alone

"let him be first who has no sin"

to cast a deadly stone.

O God, now that I am sincere

I seek my fellow's hand.

Oh, grant me words to make it clear

that men may understand.

I only ask a brand new start,

a life of Christian grace

unfettered I shall do my part

and meet the face to face!

The Turks Say - About the wops

A limerick composed November 26, 1940

The man was our dearest neighbor,

but with the sword he did leighbor;

and now we don't speak

'cause he kill'd the Greek

with a mean thrust of his seighbor!

The Tower and Clock

Demolished in remodeling of Texas Prison Administration building after 100 years, Spring of 1942

O Tower, towering Tower!

which told the time; whence tolled the hour!

your life is fled;

your heart is dead

withing her bower!

She died, as all things must, for crimes.

No more we hear her throbbing rhymes.

An hundred years

she mocked men's tears

(Those inwalled) with chimes.

But now, towering Tower high

workmen have wrought,

your time is by

no more your spire

with lighting fire

graces the nigth Sky!

Her heard did break, nor was it bound,

nor knell her death to tell did sound!

but we who wait

on time and fate

partake of her wound!

O Spider

Written June 3, 1972

O Spider, peaking in the looking glass!

set, at thyself to make a pass.

Your antic actions do astound!

say, what a big bad bugger you have found!

Up you caper, your shadow to tamper,

whirl around, away to scamper!

when at yourself you've come to bay,

Ah, me, what does your little brainstorm say?

The Wish

Composed for Gladys, an invalid, August 29, 1944. This wheelchair patient friend who wrote to me from Canada died at age 22 years from arthritis. She lived to read the poem

O Clouds that pass me by

and leave me with a sigh,

with you please let me go

to lands of sun and snow.

Your racing wings I'll mount,

and off we'll go to count

the ships upon the sea,

the good men brave and free.

Then on to lands afar

where fields and flowers are.

we'll kis the thirsty earth

and give her verdant birth.

I'll be a fairy Queen

and ev'ry passing scene

will receive the blessing

of my wand's caressing.

we'll linger but a while

to give each one a smile

a word, or tender kiss

for all the things they miss.

And ev'ry one who sees

us ride upon the breeze

a blessing will receive

if only they believe!

we'll dip them one and all

who on our savior call.

And then we'll speed away

to soldiers the fray.

To wounded on the field

our tender care we'll yield

and Christian love I'll showw

to all the lorn and low.

Yes, all whom we may see,

the Bond men and the free,

we'll look upon with love

reflected from above.

Oh, may my wish come true

when I become the dew

upon the rose's lip

the sun for clounds dost sip!

Springtime

April 17, 1945

The sporting breeze goes by us

to lands and towns afar;

these prison cells deny us

with mortar, brick and bar.

We hear the crickets singing

their songs of sheer delight

a-tune to bells a-ringing

far out across the night.

We know the sun gives Springtime

its clothes and song and breath.

But here men pay for some crime

in prison's living death.

Three days the grave retained HIM

then, resurrection morn

tho' prison's grave remain grim

by faith new lifw is born!

- Refrain -

Oh, who can miss life's sweetness

till light has been denied him!

Can men know death's completeness

ere sorrow's woe betide them!

But, oh, that happy morrow

when prison's darkness ends,

and we comw forth from sorrow

to laved ones and friends!

Understanding

Written to comfort a friend who was being mistreated because he was trying to live a righteous life, on Wynne Unit Isolation, December 31, 1945

O friend of mine with heart divine

that loves both God and man,

please do not mind but be ye kind

and try to understand

that much of grief and disbelief

and hate of race and clan

is but because men do not pause

and try understand.

The one whose will is to your ill

is still a fellowman

and does not know he hurts you so

nor tries to understand.

So be a light to lead him right,

and help him if you can.

The golden rule may change a fool

and make him understand.

To Mother

Composed May 13, 1945

The mind of man the years may span

with thoughts of early days

when mother called him "Little man"

in tones of loving praise.

The Queen was of she of all the earth

the princeess of the dawn!

and none can ever beat her worth

tho' childish days are gone.

For she still lends those helpful hands

as in the days of yore...

her tender heart still understands,

as e'er it did before.

And she's the Queen of mother love

to little heart now grown,

who ask the blessings from above

on her good they own!

Youth And Age

April 17, 1945

The years go flying by

and age soon takes its toll,

but none should ever sigh

for fear of growing old.

'Twas nature gave us youth

and nature takes away;

but Jesus gave us truth

our againg hearts to stay!

Oh, happy is the heart

that puts its trust in God,

for truth preserves the part

that age cannot make sod.

New life we find in Christ

that does not age with time,

and they have died, yea, Twic'st

who find in age no rhyme!

Destiny

November 3, 1941

Why do write?

what urge makes me feel prone

to take up pen,

my kindreds or my own?

When but a child

not thinking aught of fame

I mumbled prose

for the soft Rhythm came.

My calling spurned,

I yet a writer spurned,

my duty broke,

my Dad I disobeyed;

Yet writing helps

to save my soul from strife

and guide me trough

this ever dying life.

Cheer Up!

Written to cheer a despondent friend August 31, 1946, Texas Prison Isolation.

Cheer up! Cheer up, and don't be blue

the best is sure to come to you

"the darkest hour's before then dawn",

but bright's the day when it is gone!

'Tis said that, "each dog has his day",

so surely good is on the way.

Tho' you are down you won't be long

if you can smile and sing a song!

So, Cheer up, friend, and don't be glum,

the best for you is bound to come;

and when life's darkest hour is gone

you'll see the glory of the dawn!

Love and Sorrow

First poem written in the old Morgue Dungeon, November 6, 1939

I know the field lark's cheerful song

I know why brooks so joyous sing

I know why stars all shine so bright;

I know why things get mute at night.

I know why flowers bloom along;

I know why chimes so gladly ring,

- For love has taught me ev'rything!

I know the call of mourning doves;

I know the windblown gallows tree

I know the rasp of hempen strand;

I know hunger and lonesome's band.

I know the sting of cruel shoves.

I know how ruthless hearts can be,

- For sorrow also spoke to me.

Following poem written a year later for thanksgiving

Let's be Thankful

November 7, 1940

For the stars that shine so bright,

for the moon that gives love light;

for the sun that gives us life,

and the earth that is his wife.

For the children sweet and gay;

for this good November day:

for the blessings great and small

God bestows upon us all.

To Julia

From prison, April 2, 1995

Are poems writtenby men who're smitten

by love, like me? the inspiration

is an elation to hearts that see.

We trust to heaven our love is given

to one who's true but years keep wearing,

and tears keep tearing the heart in two.

The artful poet plies words to show it

whithout excess of love he's dreaming,

and plans he's scheming. This is success.

I've often wonder'd why life has blunder'd

for men like me. No, single lover e'er can discover reality.

So heep my plaeding, and keep conceding

two hearts' are one. With love combining;

two souls entwining, my rhyme is done.

STAFF H.I.M

Freddie Anderson, he born on 16 August, 1956 in Lafayatte, Louisiana, married with Jessi Beatrice in December 1981, has four children Annatrice (25), Ariel (24), Alexander (22) and Austin (14). He was Graduate in 1978 BA IN University of Southwestern louisiana; MA IN 1982 San Houston State University. He was director of rehabillitation Lafayette Parish Prison (78-80), CO III Texas Dept of Corrections (80-83); director of Huntsville Institutional Ministry-present. He was frequently in schools, civic clubs, universities, and other situations. Travels extensively across the country. Freddie is authored "Be my friend Men" & "Men Ought Always to Pray" Books publication "It Be's that way Sometimes" "MARS" (Making Addiction Recovery STICK); compiled a comprehensive work on race riots in America (pending); wrote and produced the movie Per Jury (2005) with several other movie project in pre-production.

Raymond (Ray) C. Clayde, he was born on 17 november, 1937, in Billings, Montana, The First son of Henry C. and Mary G. Clyde. his parents were both members of the Billings Church of Christ. He graduted high School in 1955, attende Florida State University and eventually was drafted into the Army (1960-1971) Graduated from Baylor University with a BA in religion. This was followed by two years' study at Abilene Christian University, working on a MA in biblical Studies. Married with Sue in 1973 for last 35 years old, he has a son and daughter, two grandchildren and one great granchild. introduced to Freddie Anderson and Prison ministry, he said is the most import, most gratifyng work of most important of his life.

He Said: "I know that my association with Freddie and my work in the prisons have brougtht me closer to the LORD, and I have been humbled to be a part of this wonderful minitry".

WELCOME: The Huntsville Institutional Ministry welcomes

Paul is the newest member to our staff. He went trough the volunteer training to be approved to go into prison and teach the word of God to spanish speaking inmates. Paul graduated from the Baxter institute of Biblical and Cultural studies in Honduras and He's from Peru. He has experence and has worked in different countrie. These are happy times for HIM to have a man like Paul to commit his life to serving God in this essential ministry. Hispanics have overtaken the top spot as America's number one minotity and position is reflected in and explosion of Spanish speaking inmates coming to our classes and services. The language barrier was an obstacle but not anymore. Paul has been in the prison several times before with his father-in-law who ministered to the inmates on Wynne unit almost thirty years.

"to work with enthusiasm, developing and preparing leadership able to help and direc the church. To reach the latino population with the message of salvation trough Christ"

Right now there are almost thirty men on the Wynne who have been waiting for someone to minister to them for some time now. We still need funds to support Paul and his family as he ministers in the prison. To say that Paul is a pionner would understate the important of this man in bringing the message of hope behind prison walls. Surely he is the first Spanish speaking minister on HIM staff and one of the first full time Spanish speaking minister in the Country.

welcome Paul

Under the oversight of de Garland Street Church of Christ

Ministering to the whole man

Growth & Activity

Prestoncrest: Is headed to Huntsville for quarterly visit. These men will bw on the Walls init where Jerry Harris conducts worship service Sunday at 12 noon. Also a financial seminar is schudule with Paul Adams. He will be at the Monday Wynne study (Freddie, Bill, Barr;
6:30-8:30p) and on Thurday at the Goree unit (Freddie; 5-6p)
Wynne: Worship service for English an Spanish speaking inmates. (Ray)
Ferguson: Freddie's Tuesday group.
Ellis: Hank has been assisting Jhon Spencer 8a.m worship but is set to move.
Estelle: (SAF-P) Ray conducts service for this group.
Segregation Visits: Goree, & Wynne. Mentoring and post release work.

Faithful workers working faithfully

The Historical Development of the Huntsville Institutional Ministry

There are many individuals who are responsible for the present day Huntsville Institutional Ministry. The list would include congregations, ministers, volunteers, chaplains, supporters, and friends of hard ministry work.

The organized church of Christ Prison Ministry (now Huntsville Institutional Ministry/ HIM) has been in existence for nearly sixty-four years and the story of its contributions in evangelizing men and women behind bars cannot be told, at least accurately.

This ministry is usually traced back to Clyde Thompson because it was about 1940 that P.D. Wilmit baptized Clyde Thompson into Christ. So a work was started even before Clyde was a part of it.

According to Ron Goodman, in 1964 an inmate in the Walls unit requested that someone come study with him. This one-on-one meeting developed into a small group that met once a month on Sundays.

Clyde Thompson, know as the Meanest Man in Texas, was released from prison on November 1,1955 after beginning his sentence in 1928. He did a variety of jobs then made his way back to Huntsville in 1970 to begin a “post release” ministry. Clyde describes what he did: “For some months we were able to personally go into three or four of the units and counsel with the men, but those opportunities have now been seriously limited. We meet the men coming out of prison; bring them here to the house; get them into some good clothes; keep them here for a time, in necessary, help them locate work; and talk with them about Christ.” Many came to Christ through Clyde’s efforts.

In 1970 Ron Goodman became the pulpit minister for the Huntsville church and began going into the prison to service the Christian inmates there. In 1972 he met with the Garland Street church of Christ in Plainview to talk about supporting his efforts. Since Garland Street had a thriving Bible correspondence ministry (National Bible Study) it was a natural fit. Thus began a relationship that has lasted for more than thirty years.

The early volunteers for the prison ministry include Jerry Harris, who continues to teach a class after thirty years, John Lassiter and Perry Barnes. Perry would later become a full time chaplain for the prison.

Luke Curtis is another name that is prominent with HIM. He, like Clyde, was an ex-convict. He met Clyde when he was released in 1975. He would become a significant part of the history. Clyde left the area in 1977 to move to Lubbock and Luke joined Ron in his work.

Ron and Luke’s work differed from Clyde’s in that they were allowed to go into the prison and conduct services, teach classes and counsel with the men. It started with that Sunday Wall’s class and blossomed into meetings on several units in the Huntsville area, correspondence courses and working with inmate families.

Ron left in 1981 to direct the Nashville churches efforts behind bars. The work fell into Luke’s capable hands and he expanded on the ministry even more than his predecessors.

Luke was an experienced substance abuse counselor so the ministry was able to offer help for the inmates in this area. He worked alone for many months after his partner Roger left the ministry. Classes were held on the Wynne, Walls, Ferguson and Eastham. The Walker county jail and Madison County jail would be added later.

In 1983 Freddie Anderson joined Luke in the ministry. The ministry experienced unprecedented growth in terms of numbers of baptisms, enrollment in correspondence course, college credit courses through Sunset School of Preaching and inmates being placed in congregations. A class for the females in Walker county jail was added, class at Goree, Estelle, and Madison County Jail.

Luke passed December of 1990 and Freddie Anderson became the director. Pinky Bates came to work in the ministry for several years; Ray Clyde joined the team after him and Frank Turner was added as a third man. Today the ministry has unparallel success among the incarcerated. About three years ago from the ministry became known as “Huntsville Institutional Ministry” because the work went beyond just prisons: we go into a variety of institutions, perform a variety of services, ministers in various states across the country, and the instructions include Bible teaching, worship services, addictive behavior classes, post release placement, job help, various assistance, workshops, and training of other prison workers.

We minister to almost a thousand inmates a month; have averaged almost seventy baptisms over the years; distribute dozens of Bibles; and the list goes on. Many who preach were once incarcerated.

Without the faithful commitment of the congregations, and individuals this work would not be possible. Texas has more than 162,000 inmates with the greatest concentration of inmates being in the Huntsville area. Our mission statement, “to make the gospel available to all men, regardless of their past lives,” reflects our intentions to minister to the “whole” man.