Greetings to all. My name is Marquell and I am an inmate at Lancaster State Prison. I am now a born-again Christian but my life before I came to Christ was full of violence and crime. On Christmas day of 2013 I accept is the Lord Jesus Christ as my savior.
I was raised by my mother as a single parent who could not read or write. She did the very best she could and I love her dearly but the streets of Southeast San Diego swallowed me up. At the age of 10, I became a legitimate gang member learning how to survive on the streets. Part of my crimes involved exploiting women making them work as prostitutes. Due to many poor choices of my past behavior, I wound up in prison. I have been incarcerated for 24 years. During my incarceration I have written a couple books and poems that can find under my website; freemarquell.now .site
I have also attended college in prison completing several classes in the behavioral sciences.
I attend weekly the Protestant Sunday Services conducted by Claudia and Dr. Timothy Emerick. Their ministry has been a blessing to me as well as all the other men who attend these services as well.
There are no loss causes in Jesus!

Greetings my name is Robert and I’m an inmate at the Lancaster State Prison.

I will share just a little bit of my testimony with you. Before I came to the Lord Jesus Christ, I was a gang member and criminal. I was angry, resentful, and a miserable person. I allowed my circumstances to change the course of my life. At the age of 16 that was sentenced to die in prison for killing another person. I take full responsibility for my actions and I didn’t care the harm that I caused to them and their families. While in prison I was a very violent person and in 2016 I was sentenced to the Security Housing Unit for two years of Pelican Bay State Prison. This is called solitary confinement and it is a prison within a prison.
In the Fall of 2017, I had about a year and a half in solitary confinement. I was channel surfing and I landed on TBN a Christian station. I saw on the TV the title called “What is Love?” For some reason I left it on the channel and turned into the program. I saw Dr. Charles Stanley a Christian televangelist speak about God ‘s love and how to practice God ‘s love and how to love your neighbor. I found myself taking notes and writing down Bible verses that he was referencing. When the program ended, I was left wanting to know more. The following week I turned in again and I now had a Bible to check what he was referring to. When I opened up that Bible and read it for myself, it changed everything. All the questions I’ve ever had were answered as I began to read more. I realized the Bible is the Word of God and it convicted me but also enlightened me. It showed me how lost I was. How foolish and horrible I was. It was then that I felt the guilt and shame of my past actions. It was then I knew that I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. I could not be the source of any more pain and suffering. It was in the Fall of 2017 that I repented and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It has been five years since I made that decision and my life has changed in a wonderful way. Yes, I’m still in prison but there is joy and hope in me that this world cannot take away. God is good all the time.
I have been attending for about a year now Christian Protestant Services with Dr. Emerick and his wife Claudia. I am enrolled in their two-year Bible Institute Program that they offer and I have completed more than half of the curriculum. This is a great way to study and learn the Word of God.

Please share my testimony with others so they can find new life in Jesus like I have!!

A.H. Salaam- Personal Testimony from Mohammed to Jesus Christ!

I was a forty-five yr. old drug addict addicted to cocaine. I was in an eleven yr. old battle with this disease since 1989, the year my ‘Mother’, the best human friend I ever had passed away. In 2000, I was at my hopeless end, I had allowed my addictions
to destroy every valuable relationship in my life – a thirteen yr. old marriage, a rich and beautiful relationship with my five children, and a thriving and productive home improvement business that gave me the privilege of building community relationship with reputable business establishments. Roaming the streets and alleyways of San Diego in April of 2000 in the wee hours of the morning looking for my next high, I was broke, disgusted, and couldn’t even trust in myself. I cried out to God for help. His reply in a small, still voice was a call to Ronald, my brother. He was two years younger than me, had become a ‘Christian’, and had advanced in his church to the position of Minister to the Bishop on numerous churches. It was around 2:00 am in the morning when I called. He answered and told me that he would come, but that it would take a while since I had woken him from sleep. While waiting for my brother, I was going through a very intense internal battle in my mind because I was under attack with thoughts to leave from the place my brother And I agreed he would come and pick •me up from. Thoughts of fear, doubt, and shame were bombarding me to give up my hope that God would help me see my way out of this awful condition I had fallen into. This my wait seems like a lifetime when it was only about an hour. By the grace and mercy of God, I somehow was able to resist the temptation to go on another mission to get high. Finally, my brother Ronald arrived and I confessed to him that I was sick and tired of this diseased life and since I had tried everything else, I was even willing to try ‘Jesus’ at this point in my life. Ronald was elated and told me he was going to see my older sister who had also been a Christian since 1972, the same year I became a Muslim at age seventeen. My sister’s car was not there when we first arrived; however, a few minutes later she pulled up and was very happy to see I was with my brother Ronald. She then went on to explain she had been awakened from sleep thinking I was in deep trouble so she got into her car and drove to places she knew I would frequent on the streets, disappointed that she had not found me and this was the reason she was happy to see me. After my brother Ronald explained to her my confession to accept to except Jesus as my Savior, they both offered up prayer to God thanking Him for me and then led me into the Sinner’s Prayer. Immediately after I lifted up my heart to God in the Sinner’s Prayer, I experienced a great removal of a great burden or weight off of me that I knew I had been carrying for a long while. I experienced a relief or release from my diseased life of addictions, and I knew the relief came directly from God. After my brother and sister gave thanks and praise to God, I went home with my brother who asked me to attend Church in the morning to be baptized.
It was still very early, around 4:00 am, when I arrived at my brother’s house. Before going back to bed, himself, he pulled out one of his suits from out of his closet and said I could wear it this morning to church. He said for me to get some rest and he would wake me early enough to shower and get dressed. I went to sleep. I don’t know how long I had slept before I was awakened with a burning desire that directed me to shower and get dressed that very instant. By the time was finished I was directed to head on foot to my brother’s church which was not too far away. Without saying anything to my brother or his family, I headed out the door to be baptized. With this strong burning desire directing me on, it came to me that I was to proclaim to anyone I saw that early morning that Jesus is Lord. So, everyone I saw in front of me, or behind me, or even on the other side of the street from me, I announced, “Jesus is Lord” loud enough for them to hear. Continuing to make my way to my brother Ronald’s church, my ex-wife’s new husband, who also was a pastor at the church, was directly in front of my journey. Without hesitation and as though directed by a burning desire to say Jesus is Lord,
I entered the church where my ex-wife’s husband was addressing his congregation (which also included my very own children who only knew their father as a Muslim.). When I entered, all eyes focused on me. Pastor Ronald, who likewise has the same first name as my brother Pastor Ronald, stopped talking and looked my way. Without hesitation, I proclaimed to them for the first time in my life, “Jesus is Lord!”. Still directed by this burning desire, I turned and walked out the door continuing on to my destination. As I headed down the street, I heard my oldest daughter calling, “Dad, Dad, wait up.”. When she caught up with me, she asked where I was going so I explained to her I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and I was going to her uncle’s church to be baptized; so she accompanied me the rest of the way. After the service, the Bishop performed several baptisms in which one was mine. He announced to the congregation that I had believed in Islam for 28 years and after an eleven-year-old battle to drug addiction, I accepted Jesus as my Savior earlier that morning. The church was elated because many of the members knew I was the brother of one of the pastors. After Bishop McKinney performed the baptism as was his practice, he put the microphone to the person baptized and asked if they had anything to say. To me he did the same when he asked me if I had anything to say. Still under this burning desire, the famous saying of a beloved Christian flooded out. I proclaimed emphatically, “FREE at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I am Free at last!”. The day I accepted Jesus was April 22nd, the year 2000, which was resurrection Sunday that year. John 8:36.
I attend regularly Sunday morning Christian Protestant Services conducted by Claudia and Dr. Timothy Emerick. Please share my testimony with other how I went from Mohammed to Jesus Christ!

May 28th, 2022- San Fernando, California.

This is a picture of my wife and I with a young man name Louie that we have been discipling for some time.  Louie and we were sharing a lunch at IHOP. Louie was released from state prison approximately two years ago and we have stayed in contact with him on a regular basis. We were instrumental in helping him to be released from prison. We sent a letter of recommendation for his release to Governor Brown and to Louie’s Parole Board.

Louie is working full-time and little by little getting his life back together. It is very important for these gentlemen to have an ongoing support system to help them make needed adjustments in the free world. Please keep us in prayer as we continue our efforts in helping young men to be all they can be in Jesus!

Claudia and Timothy

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!!!