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Loaves & Fishes Magazine

We are beginning to prepare the next issue of Loaves & Fishes. I had hoped to start before this, but have been very busy this year working on our “Resource Kit,” a packet of literature and resources for new or potential donors.

Now my mind and schedule is more clear to move ahead with the new issue, and just yesterday I sensed the Lord giving me another confirmation for the theme I was inspired to use earlier.

Please pray for Anthony and me as we seek the Lord’s direction and move ahead in this project.

Resource Kit

We’ve had some takers for our literature packets, which we have renamed to “Resource Kit.” If you can help us spread the word, we will be glad to send you either complete kits or individual pieces in the amount you can use.

We have the ministry presentation booklet, 3 Marks of an Effective Missionary, Loaves & Fishes samples, inspirational bookmarks, and more. These resources are available free of charge for the glory of God.

To order these resources, just send us an email and let us know what you can use.

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A Letter Melts a Cold Heart?

Inspiration

Recently a letter landed on my desk from Jerry Conway, a prisoner and acquaintance from New York. What he said really touched my heart and I decided to share part of his letter with you:

“I would really enjoy corresponding with other Christians. I am not allowed to correspond with other inmates at other prisons and other inmates aren’t allowed to correspond with me. Most prisons don’t allow inmates to correspond with each other.

“You just don’t know how good it feels to get a letter from someone. I watch the mailman pass by my cell everyday, and everyday I think maybe he will stop and give me a letter. It’s not just me, Lavern, a lot of guys in here have nobody and it’s hard to walk this road alone when you think nobody cares.

“I read your article in Volume 8, Issue 1, 2010 about “Discover a Friend Who Really Loves You” and you’re right, Lavern, Jesus is the best friend anyone could have, but it takes a strong heart and mind to set behind these walls and feel Jesus’ love without some encouragement and inspiration. Sometimes when people feel rejected and unloved, it’s hard to even believe that Jesus will love you.

“It’s hard for someone in the free world to understand what it’s really like in prison, but I can truly tell you, Lavern, that when that mailman walks by and puts a letter on your cell door, it’s one of the happiest moments of your life. I’ve seen grown men cry like a baby when they got a letter. I’ve seen cold, cold hearts melt like butter from a card or a letter.”

We can teach the prisoners how much Jesus loves them and wants to be their intimate friend, but many of them will never find that without encouragement from personal connections. Yes, God can give grace in a lonely situation, but it takes “a strong heart” to sit behind those walls and know God all alone.

Let’s rise up and visit those in prison. Have weekly or monthly visitation in prisons and jails. Get in touch with a prisoner (or maybe a few) and send them greeting cards and hand-written letters.

The opportunities we have in our local jail to preach and visit with the men is amazing. As Jerry says, it’s hard for someone in the free world to understand what it’s like in there.

Most prisoners are behind bars because they’ve seriously messed up their lives. If Jesus made “failures” his top priority, shouldn’t we be doing the same?

You can start today by asking us for a prisoner to write to. We’ll send you his/her letter, mailing address, and some guidelines to follow. We only ask that you encourage your new friend and show them the love and truth of Jesus.

For the Kingdom,

Lavern Gingerich

A Shower of Tiny Raindrops

Inspiration

Our goal here at Lighthouse Publishing is to provide free discipleship tools to thirsty souls in prison. Maybe you get tired of hearing this, but I’d like to say it again, “The door is open. The opportunities are huge to touch thousands in the prisons of our country with printed literature.”

We who work at the office can’t do it all on our own. Lighthouse Publishing is a channel, an opportunity for the church to partner in prison ministry. Together we make a team.

Picture a carefully tended flower or vegetable garden. Those plants need water to prosper. How many drops of water does it take? Obviously, too many to count!

The prison population in the USA is like a garden. As we work with Jesus Christ, we are like cool, refreshing water to thirsty plants. It takes more than a few drops, or the work of a few select people.

Of course, one cup of water can make a difference, but it takes a drenching shower to water the whole garden. It only takes one person to make a difference in someone’s life, but it takes a team to accomplish the big picture.

Our dream is to attract and inform a team of men and women who are enthused about building God’s Kingdom in the prisons—people excited about the power of written words and the open door of reaching prisoners through printed literature.

Please click here for an opportunity to help inform your friends and church about the open door in prison.

Let’s join our time, energy, and resources to form a shower of tiny raindrops that those in prison could feel God’s love, light, and life.

For the Kingdom,

Lavern Gingerich

Recommend Us to Your Friends

Loaves & Fishes , News

Literature Packets

For the past six months, except for the work in the mailroom, we’ve been mostly working on 1) raising awareness and 2) making internal changes in the ministry in preparation for growth. In addition to becoming officially non-profit and obtaining a non-profit mailing permit, we’ve been able to reach some other significant milestones.

A big one is the resources we have published to help inform and raise awareness for the ministry. Here is a list of them:

• A ministry presentation in a full-color booklet. This is an effective way of raising awareness among churches and individuals.
• 3 Marks of an Effective Missionary, a 20-page booklet designed to inspire God’s people of their mission and to explain the basis of the ministry here.
• Five full-color bookmarks with poetry from Art Mayse (a friend of ours in prison) and one that reminds us to pray for the prisoners of the USA. Each of these mentions Loaves & Fishes and encourages prayer and financial support.
• A cheery refrigerator magnet with a prisoner testimonial on it and our contact information.

In the recent weeks, we’ve sent custom information packets to various segments of our database. Now we are looking for new contacts to send literature to. Hopefully, you can help us get these resources into the hands of potential donors.

How You Can Help

Friend-to-friend recommendations are one of the most effective ways to raise awareness for a cause.

Would you like to help us spread the word about Lighthouse Publishing and the wonderful opportunities to touch hearts in prison through literature?

Perhaps you have friends who have never heard about the open door in the prisons. Maybe your church has never been involved in prison work.

Be a voice. Simply let us send you some free literature packets. You can share them with your friends and churches that might be interested in learning about and supporting the work of Loaves & Fishes.

To order these resources, just send an email to info@lighthousepublishing.org. All we ask is that you use this literature for the glory of God and join us in prayer for the progress of the work.

For the Kingdom,

Lavern Gingerich