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You are here: Home / Archives for Friends

Friends

When I was in prison did you…?

July 22, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

by Volkhard Graf

It began about a year ago. Out of the blue we received requests from Native inmates located in prisons in different parts of the country. The letters were sometimes scribbled on half-sheets of notepaper and contained questions, asking for resources to help them in their spiritual walk.

Some asked if we could help supply traditional objects of worship, others spoke of how the inmates had come to know Creator through Jesus while incarcerated. We have no idea how inmates got our contact information, especially since requests came from so many different prisons.

We wrote back, to provide printed study materials that could be helpful in their process of becoming apprentices of Jesus, following him behind prison walls. In some instances regular correspondence began to form. We heard heartbreaking stories of abandonment, neglect, abuse in younger years, often leading to lives of addiction, criminal acts, and prostitution.

Many years ago, when I received my own call, the words of the prophet Isaiah speaking about the Messiah, Creator’s Son, strongly impacted me:

He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners… (Isaiah 61)

We began hearing stories of hope, how the desperation, loneliness, and heartache had literally driven inmates to Jesus. They found acceptance, forgiveness, comfort, and strength in their difficult situations. They also shared their concern for other family members, in one instance, a lady told us of her husband who was incarcerated in another maximum security prison and wanted us to get in touch with him. We have been able to provide Bibles, Books, and other relevant materials, particularly from a Native perspective and have heard back that they are helpful and that there is a desire for more. Because of security restrictions, these materials often need to be shipped directly from the publishers, which is more costly. If you would like to financially support this outreach, you can donate securely here.

A gift of $25 covers a paperback discipleship Study Bible, or Richard Twiss’ book: “Many Tribes–One Church, Following Jesus the way God made you”

Filed Under: Get Involved Tagged With: Culture, Discipleship, Friends, Native American, Prisoners

Everybody Needs Friends

December 30, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

Nez Perce Chief
Nez Perce Chief
In the Gospel of Mark we are told a story of a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus by four friends. They had probably carried him for quite a distance only to find that they couldn’t get to the one they had hoped would help their friend. The house was overcrowded with people who also wanted to hear Jesus and be touched by him.

Those friends could have thought, we tried-but it didn’t work out; but they were of a different “caliber”. They wouldn’t give up that easily.

The gospel tells us that these guys dug a hole in the roof of the house, right above where Jesus was and lowered their friend on his mat through the opening. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralyzed man “Son, your sins are forgiven,” and “Get up, take your mat and go home.” The man, who before had to be carried, left the house forgiven of his sins and on his own feet. Everybody was amazed and glorified God.

This story gives evidence that Jesus, the Son of God has authority to forgive sin and authority to heal-but it also shows what true friendship is like.

The friends of the paralyzed man showed:

Commitment: They wanted to help their friend and didn’t shy away from what it would cost them. When an obstacle presented itself-they didn’t give up but found a way to remove it.

Servanthood: They carried their friend; they did the dusty job of digging through the roof and were risking to face a mad owner for tearing his house apart; they were willing to do anything necessary to bring their friend to Jesus.

Belief: They believed in and for each other. Note, that their faith prompted Jesus to forgive the sin and heal the paralyzed man.

Do you have friends like this? Or even more importantly, are you a friend like this to someone around you? The four friends in this story were consumed by the desire to see that their friend would meet Jesus and be helped, healed and forgiven by him.

Do we exhibit the same desire and commitment to introduce others to Jesus? Are we willing to selflessly serve each other so that God will be glorified

© 1998 Volkhard Graf, YWAM Native Ministries

(Permission to reproduce this material is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, will not be sold, and will be distributed for the sole purpose of expanding the Gospel.)

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Care, Friends, Relationships

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