Vantage point
Salvation and discipleship ... in prison
“Today, I sat on my jail bed and began to read a magazine
called Today’s Pentecostal Evangel,” a California inmate wrote. “The
testimonies in this magazine were very uplifting to my spirit. Thank God for
those who make possible and publish this magazine so people like me can read
them and become closer to God.”
You, our readers, are the ones who are doing that. Key
Bearers is currently supported by some 1,400 individuals and churches. Even
elementary-aged children are giving.
Since its inception in 1996, nearly $1.75 million has been
donated to Key Bearers, which resulted in nearly 7.8 million Evangels sent to
prisons. This in turn has produced eternal results. Every year since 2004, at
least 1,000 inmate readers have committed their lives to Christ. In 2008, we
received 1,310 salvation responses from prisoners.
A typical response: “My life is not the same since I read
your April 13 edition. I’ve decided to give my life to Jesus Christ.”
The good that Today’s Pentecostal Evangel can do is limited
only by the number of magazines available. We regularly hear from chaplains,
like these from Kansas and Florida:
“We receive 15 TPEs each week. I would like to request that,
if funds are available, you would send us 30. I run out each week and have
requests for more.”
“TPE is our best witnessing tool and is readily accepted all
over our facility. We baptized 123 men in 2008. Thank you for your part.”
But TPE is also a discipleship tool, as an inmate in
Minnesota recently wrote: “During the past few months I have seen over 50 men
[accept] Jesus Christ. TPE supplies good fundamental articles that give good
instruction, helping these men to grow in the Lord, to know Him better.”
Will you ask God if He would have you participate in
bringing light into these dark places?
Ken Horn
E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.
