May 27, 2006

OPEN DOORS

“---but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself:  I am the Lord.

                                                                      Leviticus 19:18

     God continues to open doors of opportunity for me to show His love and kindness to my fellow man.

     I have been able to befriend a Muslim prisoner.  Because he lives in the same housing area as me he will often come to my cell to talk.  We’ve been discussing everything from mundane matters to the Bible, the war in Iraq, world events, and even the environment..  He’s very current events conscious and stays abreast of the news.

     Earlier this year when his mother became ill he had oftentimes come to my cell to ask for prayer.  His mom, he told me, was a Christian.  She died a few months ago and it was a big loss for him.

     Like many men who are incarcerated he did not have a good relationship with his father.  His dad was, in his own words, the proverbial “rolling stone”.  He fathered a handful of kids by different women even though he was married to one.

     His mother however, was the foundation of his life.  Therefore, during this past Mother’s Day he was feeling down.  So we were able to talk at length about our mothers. 

He was raised as a Christian although he never placed his faith in Jesus.  Nevertheless he knows of my beliefs and we have regular discussions about the Bible.

     I have also been assisting him by writing letters to Family court.  He is smart but not well educated.  So I will sit with him and act as a secretary to get the necessary details.  Then I’ll go into my cell and compose a letter from him to send to the Court.  He is fighting to keep visitation rights to his only child, a son who is in foster care.

     God has His ways of breaking down barriers and gently gaining entry into men’s hearts with the gospel.  It is not always by the preaching of men that the gospel is spread, as important as preaching is.  But in this situation God is melting the heart of a Muslim man through the deeds of kindness as well as by demonstrations of Christian love.

David Berkowitz

May 31, 2006

GOD’S WILL

     I rejoice for the opportunities I have had during the month of May to share Christ with my fellow prisoners.  But I am now beginning to experience a degree of physical and mental exhaustion.  In addition, with regard to another matter, I have begun to seek the Lord’s will concerning the role He would have me to do within the confines of the church that’s behind these walls.

     It’s been more than two years since I became the “pastor” of the congregation, even though I never call myself by this title.  Technically, however, we have a paid chaplain who is in the view of the prison’s officials, our approved pastor and leader.

     Thankfully my chaplain is a sincere man of prayer and faith; he’s a good and godly example to our little flock.  I am likewise under his authority.  Yet the men consider me to be the inmate pastor, and this is something I never wanted, but I have accepted it as God’s will for a the present.

     Nevertheless, at this time I am seeking the Lord’s direction with regard turning over the reigns of pastorship to another man, who is doing a life sentence, and whom I believe to be well qualified.  He also is bilingual, which is a big plus.

     So for now this matter is before the Lord, and I am patiently awaiting God’s response.  I am confident that, in due course, the right decision will be made.

David Berkowitz