Peter Soto – Lancaster Prison

Jason Jenkins Typed Letter – Lancaster Prison

Mercy Given in a Time of Need!
2nd Event
The second event was when we were on Sunday teaching at the prison. When one enters into the dining hall where we teach there is a guard cage above the dining room and on the walls, it states in large letters “No warning shots fired”. During our teaching in the dining hall a correctional Sergeant ask me to step out for a moment. He asked me that if we could speak to an inmate who just received news that his son was killed in a robbery. This was a very important move of God because there were no other chaplains on the facilities to do this on that day. We thought that the correctional staff was going to bring out this gentleman to a room in the protected area where we could talk with him. However, we were escorted across the yard behind the 14-foot-high security fence covered in barb wire. Around the yard that we entered there are guard towers overlooking the yard that had signs that state in large letters “No warning shots fired”. As we walked across the yard into the housing facility, we were reminded that no civilians are allowed to go into this area. Once inside a correctional officer over a loudspeaker called out this individual. As he came out of his cell and down the stairs, we saw a large stocky man with multiple tattoos coming to meet us at the table where we waited.
His name is Gary. He has been incarcerated for 29 years now. He stated that he is an active gang member and it became apparent that he was quite estranged from his family. He stated because of his past and present lifestyle he cut off all communication with his family. We were the only visitors in person that he has had in 29 years of his incarceration. As he began to speak with us, and told us that his son was killed that morning in an armed robbery. The mother of his son made an emergency call to the prison to advise him. We observed that he was quite distraught regarding the death of his son and he stated that he felt a lot of guilt because he really had no relationship with him. He trembled and cried. We spent about an hour with Gary inside the housing complex just feet from his cell. Can you imagine for 29 years of his life living is a cell with another man in a room that is basically 5 feet by 6 feet in size? And on top of this he never received a visit from any of his family for all the time he has been incarcerated.
To make a long story short we were able to lead him to the feet of our dear Jesus and he accepted Him as Lord and Savior. As we walked back from our visit with Gary, we thought on the great love Father God has for Gary by allowing us to go where no one is allowed as civilians. Never did we think that we would be allowed into the housing area of prisoners. God opens doors where no one else has been able to enter. We thank God that we are always prepared to share His love with those who He puts before us. Gary stated that he will begin to attend the Protestant services with us next Sunday in the dining hall. Please pray for all the Gary’s that have been held captive for so many years by drugs and violence. Gary obviously had someone praying for him for us to be able to minister to him.
We now understood why Satan tried to use that women evaluator that we spoke of in Part 1 to terminate me from the college was to keep Gary from hearing about the love and mercy of Father God. If I was terminated, we would have not been allowed in the prison to minister to men like Gary. Please keep the us and the ministry in your prayers because Satan will try to use every situation to defeat and hold back the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy Given in a Time of Need!
Claudia & Timothy

Don’t Be Comfortable, Be Ready!

1st Event
One never knows how important the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ is until something happens to you like it happened to us. This week we experienced two events one was a direct attack from Satan on the ministry and our presence on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first event was an attack on my integrity as a professor in Behavioral Science Department in the college where I teach. As part of my teaching contract, I am to be evaluated regarding my teaching skills. I have been teaching in higher education for 35 years with no complaints. I always receive very good reviews from my students in regard to my interaction with them and my teaching ability. And even to this day I still have former students contact me on a regular basis for counsel in regard to both educational and life problems they experience.
Ok, here is what took place. I was assigned by the Dean this lady from the faculty pool and who I have known for about 4 years to evaluate my performance. I have always been very polite with her but from the very beginning, she made it clear she was opposed to Jesus and the gospel due to her lifestyle. During the course of her evaluation, she could find no credible reason to discredit me so in her written evaluation she invented a lot of lies that were ultimately exposed. Over the years my wife and I have been praying for her but little did I know that Satan would use her to try to get me terminated from my teaching position at the college. I’ve been very open about my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and standing for righteousness and I guess she didn’t like that. The Lord said in His ‘Sermon on the Mount ‘when you’re being persecuted for righteousness’s sake rejoice. This was the problem and the devil knew this and tried to use her in the following way. If she was able to succeed to get me terminated from the college, I would no longer be able to minster in the prison since my admittance to the prison was established through the college. This would have been a terrible blow to the ministry and to those men who desperately need the Lord Jesus and hear His message of love. We of course did not see this coming and I guess we got too comfortable. This attack took us completely by surprise. We were not ready at all and I must admit that I felt very discouraged but with the help of my beloved wife she assisted me to understand that God always has our back. The Lord miraculously got her false evaluation of me thrown out and I’m no longer under the threat of being terminated.
Remember, that Satan will use any one to attack us because he hates the message of salvation that delivers people from the chains of darkness. Please keep us in prayer as well as faculty and administrators. God is good!
Don’t Be Comfortable, Be Ready!

Claudia & Timothy

My name Alejandro Martinez I’m twenty-nine years old. The Picture you see me in is me working with an organization called “Paws for Life”. This organization allows inmates like myself to give back to the community.
I have been in prison for now 11 years. I grew up without a father and my mother tried her very best to help me but I listed to the “Street” rather than my mother’s advice. I was a living in a criminal lifestyle as a careless and reckless and dangerous kid. I had turned to gangs to find a sense of myself, love, acceptance, self-worth, and empowerment. Being in immature and impulsive I committed a lot of crimes out of resentment and anger, I got deeper involved in the gang life. My aim was to become the most dangerous gang member to build a reputation for myself on the streets. In doing this I believed that I was going to gain the love from those who I want to be accepted and respected and feared by. I grew with a callous heart and my affiliation with gangs fueled by anger and hurt towards myself and my family. This destructive lifestyle I chose let me to commit to assault and a murder wrongly killing another gang member. A month after I turn 18 years old, I was arrested tried and convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crimes I committed.

My mother told me many times that she was praying to God for me and I would come to Jesus. One-time alone mi my cell I got down on my knees and ask God to forgive me. I have faced many challenges and tests but the Lord God has help me through them all. I regularly attend the services of Claudia and Dr. Emerick who are volunteer chaplains at the prison where I’m housed. I know I have a long way to grow but thank God for their faithful service and bringing the word of God to myself and the other men who attend. They faithfully come every Sunday and they instill hope and faith in me and others that have turned our lives around. I am very grateful for Claudia and Dr. Emerick’s obedience responding to Gods call ministering to us who are in prison in many different areas of our lives. Please share my testimony with other people so they might see that Jesus Christ is the only way.

The Challenge
Hi, My Name, Is Bryan at the age of 19, I am sorry for the picture but this is from my Prison ID card. I was arrested and later convicted of Attempted Voluntary Manslaughter and I am serving 20 years in a California State Prison. I had no hope. My background was like most young men growing up without a father. I began using drugs at a very early age I joined a gang. I guess I was trying to drown out the pain that I had experienced most of my life. However, and 2016 on Easter Sunday morning on a level 4 prison I gave my life to Christ because I realize I couldn’t live any longer without Him. I went back to my cell and I told my cellmate that I was now a Christian. He stated that he did not agree with that and punched me in the eye. I was bleeding so I asked him to move so I could wash the blood off of my face. He later asked me why didn’t I fight him and I told him that Jesus stated in His word to love our enemies. He was astonished at my commitment to Christ. However, it was kind of embarrassing because when I went to the yard everyone saw my black eye.
I’m attending on Sunday mornings with about 100 other inmates listening to the teachings of Dr. Timothy Emerick and his wife Claudia. On March 20th of this year, I was attending one of the services given by Dr. Emerick who was preaching and he gave us a challenge. He said to be a witness for Christ. He said walk up to the biggest baddest guy on the yard and tell him that you’re a Christian and that you would like to pray for him and for his loved ones in the name of Jesus.
I walked out of the church service with this challenge that Dr. Emerick gave to each man attending. Later that night as I was standing in line to use the microwave and a fellow prisoner who I called Mr. Meanie stood behind me. He has always been foul mouth, very rude and would fight a lot. So bad was his character he almost started a race riot in the prison. I got up the courage and told him I was a Christian and if he needed prayer. He made a sarcastic remark stating that he was a Christian also. I gave him a fist bump and this was my first opportunity to witness for Jesus. If I can do it with Mr. Meanie you can do it also!!!