Good News Jail and Prison Ministry
The Lord has been so GOOD to us!

Prison ministry is so very rewarding - GOD is working MIGHTILY in the prisons and jails today! Many have turned their backs on prisoners, claiming they "get what they deserve..."
Yet ALL of us deserve less than what the Lord has given us:
God Himself said "All your righteousness is like filthy rags to Me..."

If it weren't for the Love of Jesus, if He hadn't died for us, all we could look forward to would be Hell and punishment for our sins...
"Thank You, Lord Jesus, for purchasing me and mine with Your Blood - we are NOT our own, but Yours - and GLAD to be!"
Me and my best friend, Ira Kaufman, started with the Good News Jail and Prison ministry in 1994.
Ira had been there a year before we met, and he felt called to share his singing (which is extraordinary) with the prisoners at Martinsville City Jail. When the LORD called me to preach there, it was to replace someone else whom the LORD was promoting to another job, a Mr. Billy Langford. We met Marcus Stockton a year or two later. Marcus is only one of the many men the LORD is saving in the jail.
The reason we included his testimony is because Jesus has been so good to him...

Testimony of Marcus Stockton
As a young boy, growing up in a drug infested neighborhood, I both used and sold drugs. The druglife I lived led to many fights and disagreements, one of which ended in manslaughter.I was found guilty and spent 3 years in Jail. It was there I met Jesus. During my period of incarceration, God began to do a mighty work in my life. He showed me that He loved me, and that He had a purpose for my life.
Since my release, God has been using me for His Glory; He is paying the bills I cannot pay, opening doors for me to preach and witness, and touching the hearts of His people to help me along the way. In short, he is spoiling me with His love. To all the mothers and fathers who might have children in similar situations, remember that thru Christ ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
Pray for your children and believe God for their salvation!
***
The week Marcus got out of Jail, someone walked up to him and gave him 500.00!
Someone else gave him 6 months free rent, someone else gave him a car, and someone else gave him a job! He is now in ministry, and is doing well, and still serving Jesus with all his heart!
Praise Jesus!

I sometimes forget Who is in charge, and try to do things in my own strength...or view things as I see them, in "the natural."
One day, when Ira and I visited a particular cell, 2 men were there - both rude and obnoxious! I was angered by thier attitudes, but Ira simply asked "Do you want to hear a song?"
As Ira sang, a change came over both men; they started to tap their feet, nod their heads, and after Ira was done, I said "Would you like to hear some Word?"
obviously, they needed salvation, so I shared some salvation scriptures, and asked, "Would you like to pray with us?" Figuring they ask to be released soon, we bowed our heads...the 1st one said "I wanna be saved!" As we began to pray, the second one said, "Me too!"
I was amazed! The Power of God to save a soul didn't depend on me, or my attitude - it depended upon God's Word!
I learned an important lesson that day.
If you would like to donate to the Good News Jail and Prison ministry, send checks to p.o. box 66, Martinsville, Virginia, 24114
Any money donated will go straight to aid - this ministry will see none of it.

The Good News Jail and Prison Ministry is a well-established ministry nationwide, yet still would like to have your support; if you are unable to support them with money, then please support them with your prayers.

We are currently having weekly home meetings with paroled inmates, working with them in order to help them learn the skills to keep them out of jail.

HOW GOD IS WORKING THROUGH OTHERS IN THE JAIL:
FROM THE STREETS TO THE CROSS:
THE PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF RICK LEE HASCALL'S

My name is Rick Hascall, I was born in DSM, IA in 1967. In 1977 at the age of 10, I was street smart and had the beginning of a long list of arrests that was to come. Growing up, I had the love of my mother, who was both a mom and dad to me.

I'm the youngest, or baby of six children. In the 3rd grade, I was laughed at by the other kids because I wore bib overalls and shoes that were old and two sizes too big. I was poor. That was the time in my life when I turned to violence. I beat up all my peers. After that, I beat up the kids in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. I vowed to be espected!
My childhood consisted of one foster home after another. By the age of 12 if I wanted something, I either paid cash for it, or stole it.
You see I had money then because I started selling Pot! By the age of 14, I was injecting Cocaine on a daily basis; usually an 8-ball a night, or 3 ½ grams. It was free, because I was the trigger- man for
the Cocaine dealer. I held the gun a "357 Python"; I kept the peace in the house of business. At the age of 16, I was well respected. I was feared by anyone I came in contact with. If you was older than me, and said something to the effect of my age, on insulting, you could count on a broken knee at the least!
Because of two older brothers, I was well known by the whole DSM Police Department. At the age of 16, I was brought in for questioning on attempted murder charges. The Southside, Eastside, and Westside were being littered with empty shot- gun shells, that Law Enforcement claimed were from my gun.

My new peers weren't the kids my own age. As of this writing, they are all dead [God rest their souls]. One was a safe cracker and alarm expert by trade named Harvey Bone, one was a bank robber by trade and Jewelry store robber named Big Dan Davis. Then, there was my teacher; a Jack of all trades to making fast and illegal money named Ronnie weaver, the man who taught me most everything I knew
then and now.

At 16, I was also a womanizer. My Aka's "Little Kegger", (which was Big Dan's name for me, because every time he saw me, I had a keg of beer in the back seat). Harvey and Ronnie alike called me "Rent-A-Kid", because there was nothing I wouldn't do to make a Grand or two!
Also, at age 16 my parole officer gave me a choice- either go to job corps, or go to Eldora (a home for boys). I put a ½ pound of weed in the speakers of my boom box, and left for Denison, Iowa Job corps.
The death of my grandpa got me back to DSM, IA for a weekend to refill my stash and to make a quick 5 grand for a ½ hour's worth of work! Job Corps was a party for me, and I lasted all of three months before I beat up two kids older and bigger than me and was kicked out.

Three months before my 18th birthday, I was sent to the Youth Authority in Eldora, Iowa "Home for boys". Simply put, I knew that I would be released the day before I turned 18. Twenty-nine of my thirty days there was in the hole. I was cussing those in authority over me and fighting. I was there in the hole when my first daughter was born. That was the first time I ever smoked a cigarette. The guard gave it to me because I was a dad!
At the age of 20, I had been married and divorced while I resided at the Iowa State Penitentiary. I served 11 months in the hole for an assault on another inmate (investigation). I was not found guilty of the assault. My crimes that landed me in the Iowa State Penitentiary
was 2nd degree burglary. At the age of 22, I was released and back in DSM, IA. Right back to my old friends I went. The party was on and big at my homecoming. Less that 1 year later (23 years old), I racked up 5 or 6 D.W.I.s , which the 3rd or 4th carly 5 year sentences. Back
to prison I went, landing in the Men's Reformatory in Anamosa, Iowa.
Two years later (age 25), I was released again!

Because I was a man of honor and power, people feared me. I gained connections in the world of drug smuggling. I wasn't, and never have been, a stool pigeon! One year and 3 months later at the age of 26,
in December of 1994, while I was doing a lot of drugs, parties, women and sex, I was indicted on Federal Drug distribution charges. I was facing 12 to 15 years in federal prison. Because I wouldn't inform (rat out) my people, I was enhanced to a career offender. Now I faced
30 years to life in a federal prison. In May of 1995, I plead guilty to 262 months, (21 years and 10 months) in a federal prison. I was 27
years old and a lot of life in me.

During my childhood, I knew who God was, but I can't remember ever trying to talk to Him. My mother is "Roman Catholic". I am now 39 years old as of this writing and the date is 8-02-06. I've been in
Federal Prison close to 12 years straight.

The first 6 years of my time in prison were much like my childhood; I was involved in drugs, hooch [homemade wine], and assaults on other inmates. Starting at a F.C.I. medium security prison, my use of drugs landed me in Colorado's deadliest prison- U.S.P. Florence, nine
month's into my sentence.

I've cheated death many times in my life, or either God wanted me on earth for another purpose. Five long and lonely years I resided in hell on earth [USP Florence], where there was an average of 16 to 19
murders each year I was there. I so badly wanted God to come into my life. But because of my peers I kept this a secret. I didn't want it known that I loved God for fear the guys would think I turned weak and therefore try to prey on me.

I have carried a special card on me everyday the last 11 ½ years, and I still carry this special card. Five years and 1 month I was in U.S.P. Florence, then God blessed my life again. I was transferred back to a Medium Security Prison – F.C.I. Florence, Co. just across the street. My belief was that they were letting me know that if I messed this chance up, I could go back to the killing fields of
U.S.P. Florence.

While in F.C.I. Florence, Christ poured out His grace on me in abundance! Christ came through a minister to one of the loneliest men in America [myself]. I never receive letters, but I have received pamphlets asking for donations from one church or another.

After mail call one evening, as I was lying in my bunk, my bunk- mate came in and handed me a letter. What I noticed first was that it was from a church, so I set it aside. Later, after dinner, I saw the letter lying there and opened it. What was inside changed my life forever through the grace of God. It was not a pamphlet asking for money, it was a real letter, hand written asking if I was saved or
something like that. What touched me was that the man cared enough to write the letter in his own handwriting.

I sat down and composed a return letter thanking him for writing to me. Mom taught me manners! What happened was that the man continued to write me letter after letter explaining God's love to me.
Shortly after that God blessed me again. I was going to be
transferred to a low security prison.

I came to know God through a total stranger. Upon my arrival here, this man has helped me every step of the way. He prayed even when I stumbled. While here God has blessed my life in every way. God's Words and Laws are the hardest things to keep while being held in prison, but by God's grace I have survived and continue to keep His Word and Laws in my heart.

I have been here five years and one month now. The time between now and my letter from this stranger has been 6 beautiful years! I'm a man of few words; I'm not giving in to talk to people very much, but through the grace of God, I'm now opening up and sharing His Word with others like myself.

1 Timothy 1:12-16.

I hope anyone reading this, whether man or woman can understand the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God has poured out His grace on me, and believe me, if He will bless me and my life, He can
and will bless you and your life.

What God Himself spoke to me was, and I quote: "Rick, have faith in me". Yes, my flesh is still in prison, but my heart, soul, mind and spirit have been set free through the grace of God!

I want to give a special thanks to the man who helped bring me home to God, to save a sinner from death, and bring me to God's glory and everlasting life. From my deepest love in Christ, I want to thank Bishop J.W. Stansell [AKA- Gospel J!]

Your servant in Christ, Ricky Lee Hascall
-Romans 1:16

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