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letter from a friend

Today's post is a letter from Rob.  I met him a couple years ago as he was going through a local Christian program and was attending our church.  We clicked, and through the months he has had some tough things happen.  But I wanted to share with you a letter he wrote to our church family.  This may be a letter that helps many people.

So, meet Rob who is in jail and a dear friend of mine and our church.....

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I want to start off by saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for the prayers and support that you've given me and my family as we continue down this path the Lord has placed on us. As most of you know, I've been in jail serving time for a crime I committed a year ago. This year has been one of tears, joy, regret, love and many emotions.  So many that I can't even recall all of them.

This past year has also caused something amazing to happen.  It's enabled me to see first hand the power, love, care, joy, peace and so much more of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I've been blessed to experience the power and love of Christ and how he took a hopeless, suicidal, drug addict as myself and turned me into someone who wants to serve Him with all my heart, mind and soul.

God has been so good to me, and I know that He will cause all of this to work out for the good of His purpose (Romans 8:28).  I love The Community Fellowship and all the things you do for the people of Martinsville and Henry County. I am so glad I have a place to call home when I'm done with the training God is putting me through. That's right. I call it training.  Not a sentence from the court but a training program from the Lord.  God has given me a desire to help others that are in hopeless situations as I was in. 

Having said all this, I want to take a minute to talk about and encourage you all about the Dream Center.  I'm really excited about The Community Dream Center, and I know God is going to provide all that's needed, regardless of what some people say, to make the center become a reality.  The Dream Center is something that is needed badly.  I wish you could see the pain in my fellow inmates eyes when I ask them about their plans when they get released.  A lot of them sadly say, "I don't have anywhere to go, I have no family, no one to help".  These are the ones who want help, but have no one.  It's really sad to see that the world and some churches have turned their away from this issue. 

That's why, I thank God everyday for all of you at The Community Fellowship and for the desire you have to demonstrate the love of God to our community. In Romans 8:38 God says nothing can separate us from His love, not even a jail cell, homeless shelter, skid row or all the other places that people turn their heads to.  I know God wants us to continue to help those in hopeless situations, and I can only pray that others will follow the example of Christ and The Community Fellowship by showing God's love to the to the community. If there is one phrase I could say to sum all this up, it would be NOT I BUT CHRIST.  Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ".  But I can do nothing without Him.

Just know I love all of you guys with all my heart, and I pray for you daily.  Keep up the wonderful work you are doing for the community and for Jesus Christ.  I know, we will be serving him together real soon.

Love, Rob

That letter left me praising God and thinking about a lot of things.  I read this morning something that Matthew Barnett said, "You don't have to have a 2 hour meeting to go across the street and feed someone who is hungry."  It is time for the church to stand up and to do what God has called us to do.  That is to help hurting people and introduce to hope.  Jesus is our only hope.

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