April 30, 2008
Wednesday, 5:00 p.m.
Letter #18: Church!

Dear Family,

Greetings! I’m doing great, and God is blessing me daily! I wanted to be sure to keep you all updated on all that’s been going on this past week. Thank you for your prayers for me. God uses your faithful, fervent prayers to make my time here effective for His work. He’s doing both in and through me.

I was blessed to—finally—attend church last week. It was in the middle of the week, and the group, Rock of Ages Prison Ministry, had been waiting at the prison since 8:00 a.m. We were their only church service of the day at 11:30. Lord, bless those men! We had an extra-long service, letting us out after 1:30 p.m.!

To begin the service, they passed out small hymnals with the hymn “Rock of Ages” on the front. I was like a kid in a candy store, flipping through a hymnal with actual notes in it! Someone mentioned I can play the piano (it may have been me  🙂  ), and lots of the guys seconded that. Not boring you with the details, I was blessed to play five verses of “Amazing Grace,” including both a triumphant “When we’ve been there ten thousand years” fourth verse and a very worshipful, “Praise God, Praise God” fifth verse.

Two of the three men gave sermons, one on hell, the other on the differences between two of seven final judgments: the judgment seat for believers, where our works are judged, and the Great White Throne of Judgment. Very cool. I am keenly aware, watching these men, of three things: (1) “Keenly” should no longer be used in the modern vernacular. (2) These preachers are old: the younger is 61, the other two 70+. (3) God is uniquely preparing me for this kind of ministry in the future.

Yep, I know it’s like spending half your life in school, then going back to teach, but if it’s what God gives you to do, great! (Right, Grandma and Aunt Terri?  🙂  ) PLEASE PRAY: Rock of Ages is hosting a Revival at Delano may 4, 5, and 6, with meetings throughout the day!

I love you all!

Christopher