The Challenge? Are you Up For It?

Hi, My Name, is Bryan, I am sorry for the picture but this is from my Prison ID card. At the age of 19, 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 I didn’t 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. 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!!!

Be the light to the meanies in the world!

Hummaira Testimony- From Mohammed to Jesus!

This is the testimony of a former student I had in one of my classes teaching forensics. I am very open even in my secular classes about my faith in Jesus. At times I have been reprimanded by my superiors because of this.
In my classes of criminology and psychology I post teaching from the ministries YouTube website. Of course, when these students get on the channel they are exposed to our other teachings on theology and living for Jesus Christ.
Hummaira, began looking at the other teachings that we send out on Christian faith and the Lordship of Jesus. One afternoon she called me and asked how a person accepts Jesus as Savior. I asked her if this was for herself or for someone else. She stated it was for her. She stated that all her life she was brought up as a Muslim. But she felt very empty and far from God. She stated that the teachings on our YouTube channel really convinced her about accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior. I led her in the sinner’s prayer and she accepted Jesus as her Savior.
She stated that her family has turned against her for converting to Christianity. But she is in correspondence with me and I continue to guide her and mentor her in “Discipleship-Long Journey of Obedience in the Same Direction.

This is her testimony.
Hello everyone, my name is Hummaira. I am an Asian/American born in Muslim based family, and I converted to Christianity. This is my story, ever-since I lost my both parents in very early childhood, my father was diabetic and my mother had colon cancer.
I always looked for affection acceptance from others, I experienced extreme disappointments from my siblings, I struggled, my faith was little shaken due to continuous heartaches, I had this emptiness I cannot express in words. I used to pass by old medieval churches, and felt very calm around those spiritual religious places.
To make it short I saw Jesus in a dream, and spoke to Dr Emerick about this dream., He helped me understand the real teachings of Bible, and brought me to the right path to know Jesus as my savior.
I am very grateful that since he was my professor, and he was open about his faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you all for reading my testimony and God bless you.

From Mohammed to Jesus-Part 2
Once again, Mr. Salaam continues with this personal testimony. He has faithfully is attending our Sunday’s services for two years now.

After being led in the sinner’s prayer in the early hours went to my brother Ronald’s house. My plan was to go to his church where I was to be baptized. It was about 4:00 am when I gave my life to Christ. I had been up approximately up three to four days straight feeding my cocaine addiction before asking Jesus to come into my life. I could not take my life anymore so I cried out to Jesus to save me. I immediately felt a great burden lifted from me and I received a surge of fresh energy. I went to my brother’s house with the intention to get some rest period however I couldn’t still so I was driven to shower clean myself up put on my one of my brother’s suits.
I was overwhelmed with a burning desire to tell people the Good News that came all over me (Jeremiah 20:9). It was like a fire burning in my heart to tell everyone about Jesus now Lord of my life. I was compelled to start walking to my brother’s church which was maybe two miles away. However, along the way I had a desire to approach any person I saw on the street with a smile and a handshake that Jesus is Lord.
After walking some time, I came to Pastor Moore’s church. He is the husband of my ex-wife where my adult children also attend. I walked down the aisle and stood by him who was addressing the congregation now with everyone’s eyes fixed upon me and there I smiled and proclaimed Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3) which was a shock to everyone because all they ever heard me profess was Muhammad and Islam. I then quietly walked out of the church and continued my very journey down the street and I heard my eldest daughter calling dad. When she caught up with me, she asked if I was alright what had happened, I told her I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. We walked to my brother’s Ronald’s church to be baptized all the way rejoicing and thanking God.

Jesus is Lord!

Harvest Evangelistic Association-January to June of 2023 Ministry Report

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, we would like to thank everyone who has been supporting the ministry through prayer and donations. As you know both Dr. Emerick and his wife Claudia are the only ministers the ministry has. All of their services, time and efforts are completely voluntary. They receive no compensation from the ministry.

We have seen the prison ministry grow. It has been a great blessing to be able to minster to incarcerated men in the State Prisons of Lancaster, California and, California City, California.
We want to give an overview of the first six months of the ministry.

We have been able to share the gospel through regular Sunday teachings, providing Bible Study material, and books and literature for over 2000 men during this six-month period. We have given out so far approximately 23,000 pieces of literature, sermons, books, and tracts, and teaching sent via message, YouTube, and our website.
We have counseled both individuals and families so far by Zoom, in person, telephone, and correspondence with 107 people.

To date we have created 112 videos both in English and Spanish. Your webpage located at HarvestEvangelisticAssocition.com has had over 4000 visits from United States, Philippines, Mexico, China, Canada, Sweden, Kenya, Ireland, France, and Bangladesh. And we have had over 4000 people visit and listen to our teaching on the YouTube channel.
We have had so far during this sixth month period a total of 19 men give their lives to Jesus and over 100 who have rededicated their lives to our Savior.
We want to thank everyone who has given faithfully. We even have incarcerated brothers who have donated to the Ministry.

We have received for this six-month period.
Donations: $10,588.00
Expenses: $10,470.00
Balance: $ 118.00

Please keep us in prayer that the Lord will open the doors to many other people who need to hear the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Respectfully,
Carlos Bustos, Treasurer.

Introduction.
This is Anthony. He regularly attended our Sunday services for almost two years. He led worship in all the services. He proved to be a warrior for Jesus and led many on the prison yard and in his cell block to Jesus. He was released from custody in March of this year and is currently living at a half-way house in Los Angeles. He also goes to skid-row and preaches to people who are homeless the love of God.
At the age of 26 he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His parole date would have been in 2042. He served 13 years of a 35 years to life sentence. Dr. Emerick wrote letters of support to the Governor for his commutation of his sentence which was granted and later we wrote another letter of support to the Board of Parole. And in March of this year, he received parole and was released from prison.

Testimony.
My name is Anthony Martinez, and I was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for attempted murder of an individual.
I was born and raised in Inglewood, California. My life consisted of drug dealing and gangs. My father left my mother when I was five years old, I never saw him again. My mother raised four children, including myself on her own. I didn’t realize that my mother was going through so much and now I understand that she is the strongest woman in the world to me. When I was growing up, I wasn’t taught about who Jesus was what he accomplished on the cross for me. Instead, my brother and all his friends showed me and at 8 years of I began to commit criminal acts. An at 14 years of age I became a gang member with a criminal mindset to sell drugs, guns, fight, and instill fear upon other people through violence. From a very young age I dedicated my life to evil because the devil had me believing that this is what life is all about and this is who I was a gang member. I started to realize more that the sins I committed were tearing me apart. I was 26 years old but yet so weary I couldn’t understand why. I was always living in fear of my life and do this. I carried a gun everywhere I went because I did not feel protected or at peace. How many felt happy when I was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and being with different women. But those no longer satisfied me even though I kept chasing them. When I tried to get more money to buy new things, that’s really never lasted.

In my neighborhood, we are always at war with certain rival gangs, and my consistent violet relay retaliations only field the anger and hate in my heart. My pride and reckless way of thinking caused me to even go against my own friends. A couple of months later, or shot at a party and almost lost my life. During my recovery, and after I isolated myself, and became more and more reckless. I later started to develop nightmares that I was being killed, and I would wake up gasping for air because I couldn’t breathe. Life was just getting too heavy for me and I was tired of the load of the different things that I did that I knew were sinful. I really didn’t pray much and I didn’t know who God was, but I got down on my knees one day and told God I was tired of living my life like this. My daughter was seven years old and my girlfriend is pregnant with my second daughter, so I asked God for help. Then I went back to my destructive and reckless lifestyle. Two weeks later was arrested for attempted murder, and later sentenced to life in prison. The first time I really heard about the gospel was in my fourth year of my sentence. The Lord used His word to touch my heart in a very powerful way. When I heard the gospel, I know it was the truth. I knew God was knocking on my heart to let him in, but I still ran from his love, because I still wanted to live my life for myself.

When I was in Calipatria State Prison, one of my friends left the gang and gave his life to. Jesus invited me to a two-day church service call Kairos I declined but the next day he said the participation form to Michelle anyway, I told him I wasn’t going to sign it, but for some reason I did that she got move me to go because that today serious. I heard God’s voice clearly telling me what are you waiting for?

The reason for that question was because I didn’t budge when they called people to receive Jesus at the end of the service. I went back to my cell uncomfortably. The whole night I couldn’t sleep. I knew in my heart my life belongs to God, and not to the gang. The feeling I had to give my life to Christ Was very powerful, but it scared me because I never lived my life outside of the gang. The next day I went to the last service they called an altar call again. I sat there with my heart racing in my chest. The pastor looked around, trying to find courage to stand up. I took a few more minutes to try to calm down but eventually, I just bounce up out of my chair, walk straight to the pastor ‘s arms, and he gave me a long, confirming hug, and congratulated my decision to receive Jesus that day.
Leaving my gang was not easy. I was persecuted by those who I considered the closest to me. However, God is faithful and He protected me the hate and gave me through the heat and gave me strength to continue. From that day forward, God will continue really his wisdom, and I pursued growth in the knowledge of his word, and understanding his will for my life. My purpose on this earth is to share the hope that is in me to those who are still living that destructive gang style that I want to keep my life to. I now share the gospel of Jesus Christ and I had freed me from your deceptive way of thinking I know I am now a man of wisdom who leads my family in the ways of the lord I thank God for my deliverance.

I also thank God for Dr. Emerick and his wife, Claudia, who have consistently for the last two years served as Volunteer Chaplains at the Lancaster State Prison. Every Sunday faithfully coming to teach the word of God for two services which consist of about 100 men strengthening their soul and helping then witness to others. They distribute Christian literature and Bibles Study material for the men to grow in the word of God. I see through their sacrifice in love what true commitment and discipleship is all about.

Don’t forget about those who are in custody because they have lived a very traumatic life. They need to hear about the love of God.

It’s Never Too Late!

Pedro Contreras and his daughter

First of all, I want to thank the Lord for bringing into my life Dr. Emerick. I have taken several classes with him while in prison in psychology and sociology. As you can see these are not religion classes but Dr. Emerick always shared Jesus even in in college classes. This is where I came to know my Savior and Lord. Many people are ashamed to share their faith in a living God. Dr. Emerick never was ashamed to share the love of Jesus with us.

I was born to very young parents in Compton CA. My whole family was gang related so the allure of becoming a gang member as well was very strong.
I remember being a good student at a very young age and having many dreams that shattered when my parents separated. Due to these circumstances I began to make many stupid decisions. I was first arrested at the age of 12. It was at this age I joined a gang called Compton Barrio 132nd Street. I was involved in lots of acts of vandalism. Sale of drugs. And finally Murder and Attempted murder at the age of 18.
I think the breaking point in my life came at the separation of my parents. I was so angry with that I went to the streets I started using drugs I stopped going to school stopped coming home. I spotted every chance I could get in the neighborhood. I started to experience complete darkness in my life. I started hanging around killers and thought that this is what I wanted to be. The reason why I was involved the killing of two people which was gang related because I did not want to look weak. At the age of 18, I was arrested in 2010 and sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempted murder with a gun and gang enhancement. I killed one person and attempted to kill another. My term is 7 years and my enhancement was 20 years.
I know now that I hurt many people as well as my victims and their families. Yes, my crimes were gang related but that is not an excuse for taking someone’s life. I know now that God has a great plan for my life. I am no longer using drugs and I have taken many self-help classes. I have been sober for over 13 years now.
I’m approaching my 13th year of incarceration and my daughter who was conceived through conjugal family visitation with my wife and my daughter is going to be 8 years old.

God is good all of the time, and all of the time God is good!

There are no loss causes with Jesus!

My name is Anthony Hart. I attended services with Dr. Timothy Emerick and his wife Claudia at Lancaster Prison for over a year. They have stayed in contact with me with encouragement and emotional support. The picture you see is me sharing my testimony at church for the glory of God.
I grew up in the city of Inglewood. I was an abandoned child that turned to hang activity looking for love and validation. I’ve been in and out of jail since the age of 10.
In 2015 I was arrested for an assault and 2 counts of threatening a witness. I was found guilty in 20016 and got 3 strikes and was sentenced to 90 years to life. I was tired of the gang lifestyle and decided to fully give my life to God. Since then, my life has not been the same, I now have peace and have found true love in Jesus Christ.
I was set free from prison September 15, 2022 from a life sentence all glory to God. I now enjoy my freedom and am fighting the good fight of faith. I now have purpose and self-worth in life. In the future look to be a plumber and work in the construction field. I will continue to let my actions represent Christ Jesus.

There are no loss causes with Jesus!

This is an interview that Claudia and Dr. Emerick participated in with the 180 Group. This is a group of men that meet with other inmates as well as young people to help them turn their lives around into positive change.

The 180 Group Administration Report
By Brandon Baker and Darryl T. Burnside