The Why of Lighthouse

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Life is filled with decisions and circumstances that require God’s help. Just like any other worthwhile project, publishing a magazine for prisoners can be tough.

The pain and strain of life reminds me to focus on our why. Why do we even publish the Loaves & Fishes magazine? Why does Lighthouse exist? It really comes down to this: We believe literature can bring life and freedom to millions of prisoners unlike any other method.

Literature can bring life and freedom to millions of prisoners unlike any other method.

We can talk about our what—the free discipleship magazine for prisoners, sending boxes of literature to chaplains, bringing sound Biblical teaching to prisoners, and visiting lonely prisoners with mail. And our how—a team of editors, designers, and reviewers, the amazing software we use to manage our database, data entry, and the logistics of getting mail from our facility to prisons and jails across the nation. But the why is really what gives us all a fresh perspective and fuels our passion.

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Unexpected Moves

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This week we’re staying at a house we’ve rented in Wellman, IA. We came up as a family for a week of fellowship and to make sure the house is ready to move into. Our plans are to move here as soon as our house sells in Pikeville, TN.

We have already gotten a taste of Iowa winter weather with –16 degrees some nights and snow packed roads. Even as I sit here typing, the snow is blowing outside my window.

We are all are eager to get the move behind us and to start a new life here, though it seems like a tall mountain to climb. The church here has been very supportive and helpful in making this transition as easy as possible.

I can’t help but think of the men and women who are living life as usual and suddenly one day they are arrested and locked away from society. There is no time to sell a house, pay a few bills, or even say goodbye. Many are arrested while away from home, and someone has to call their wife or husband to tell them that they are in jail. Children wonder when daddy or mommy is coming home. Just as smokers don’t expect to get lung cancer, most law breakers don’t plan on going to jail; yet arrest is the consequence of sin and crime for about 30,000 people in our country every day!

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“Renew Hope” Report

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This year was the first time in six years that I have signed up to attend We Care’s “Renew Hope” Crusade. It was wonderful to be a part of the team again after taking a long break.

The We Care Program, based in Atmore, Alabama, has been in operation for over 40 years, organizing chaplaincy work in prisons across Alabama, plus a yearly four-day crusade. The program has been renamed as “Renew Hope”, but is still the same program as before, with four days of ministering in 24 prisons in Alabama and northern Florida. It is wonderful to be able to take advantage of the testimony they have built over more than 40 years, which allows us free access to the whole prison complex if we have a We Care badge. All because someone had a vision to make a difference for the Kingdom of God 48 years ago!

During the crusade, we get to eat prison food in the chow hall, which is an experience in itself. The prison I was in fed around 1,800 prisoners three meals a day, six days of the week, and two meals on Sunday—a total of 5,400 meals per day, or about 1,877,400 meals per year. No wonder they have an automatic machine to wash the trays! The whole operation is like a big machine that starts at 4 am and ends around 6 pm. Everyone is trained to eat fast and get it over with so the next person can sit down at your table. Everything is done in big batches; for example, they mix sweet tea in plastic trash cans. All in all, it is a worthwhile experience, and it becomes very clear that this is punishment, not a picnic.

“It becomes very clear that this is punishment, not a picnic.”

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Mailing of Issue 23

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“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Lighthouse Publishing for the time, love, care, and effort they put into our lives… If it were not for Loaves and Fishes, I believe I would still be lost. My love and thanks.”
Joshua Dyal Jenkins • Correctional Center • Millen, GA

Issue 23 hit the road last week. My family (local) and volunteers from Woodbury came on Tuesday of last week (January 14) to prepare the mailings. The mail truck came the next day to pick up all the orders. As promised, here are some photos of the mailing.

These booklets are arriving in thousands of prison cells, libraries, and chapels across our nation. Pray for safe “travels” and open hearts to receive the word of God.

If you are not subscribed and would like to see this issue, feel free to reply and ask for a copy (or subscription). Or you can click here to download it in PDF format.

For the Kingdom,

Lavern Gingerich
Lighthouse Publishing
www.lighthousepublishing.org

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