Greetings all, and forgive the long absence from the blogosphere. Suffice it to say, there's been a lot going on out west. As always, there is the joyful task of helping our churches to reach out and the less-than-joyful but necessary work of problem solving. Through all of it, our Lord has continued to reveal Himself. Thanks for your prayers.
When people consider the mission field in which the Turnbos serve, most focus on our Native American works. This makes sense, given that half of the churches in the Mountain and Western Baptist Associations are Native American. But there is a significant area of ministry that also needs your prayers. It involves ministry to those in prison.
I bring this up because today is a special day. In First Baptist Church of Grants, where Karen, the kids, and I are members, we will be commissioning Linda Rosingus as a chaplain for the women's prison here. Linda, recently endorsed by the North American Mission Board as an Institutional Chaplain, serves as our missionary behind walls. Many of the women she serves have one last opportunity to redeem their lives before their release back into society. Others with whom she works will never again see life outside of the prison fence. As her associational missionary, I am most proud of the work Linda is doing. I look forward to seeing how the Lord works through her, and how our association may partner with her.
But Linda's work represents only one aspect this vast area of ministry. The Grants / Milan community is home to two other prisons: a state men's facility and a federal institution. Aside from Linda, we have Carlos Tapia leading Bible study in the men's unit and Paul and Trudy Crumb with their ministry, Unfailing Love, providing pre-release support and mentoring to women. Together these individuals are working to share God's wonderful grace with persons most others have given up on.
Please pray for our prison ministries, and for Linda, Carlos, Paul and Trudy. Pray that the Lord would work through them to reveal himself as Lord, even behind prison walls. And pray for our association, as we partner with them. My vision would be for ministries that raise up leaders from among the prison population, saved inmates ministering to others in the love of Christ. And who knows? Maybe even a church plant within the prison is a possibility. It's something to pray about.
To His Glory!
Bro. Jim
When people consider the mission field in which the Turnbos serve, most focus on our Native American works. This makes sense, given that half of the churches in the Mountain and Western Baptist Associations are Native American. But there is a significant area of ministry that also needs your prayers. It involves ministry to those in prison.
I bring this up because today is a special day. In First Baptist Church of Grants, where Karen, the kids, and I are members, we will be commissioning Linda Rosingus as a chaplain for the women's prison here. Linda, recently endorsed by the North American Mission Board as an Institutional Chaplain, serves as our missionary behind walls. Many of the women she serves have one last opportunity to redeem their lives before their release back into society. Others with whom she works will never again see life outside of the prison fence. As her associational missionary, I am most proud of the work Linda is doing. I look forward to seeing how the Lord works through her, and how our association may partner with her.
But Linda's work represents only one aspect this vast area of ministry. The Grants / Milan community is home to two other prisons: a state men's facility and a federal institution. Aside from Linda, we have Carlos Tapia leading Bible study in the men's unit and Paul and Trudy Crumb with their ministry, Unfailing Love, providing pre-release support and mentoring to women. Together these individuals are working to share God's wonderful grace with persons most others have given up on.
Please pray for our prison ministries, and for Linda, Carlos, Paul and Trudy. Pray that the Lord would work through them to reveal himself as Lord, even behind prison walls. And pray for our association, as we partner with them. My vision would be for ministries that raise up leaders from among the prison population, saved inmates ministering to others in the love of Christ. And who knows? Maybe even a church plant within the prison is a possibility. It's something to pray about.
To His Glory!
Bro. Jim
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