“Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these...you did it to Me.” — Jesus

IN THIS ISSUE:• A FORTY-YEAR DREAM REALIZED• ARM’s PARTNERS ON THE FRONT LINE• BAPTISMS BRING NEW BEGINNINGS• BRINGING HOPE TO TROUBLED TEENS• I WALKED WITH THE MAN WHO HAD THE KEYS• I WAS RAISED TO HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD

DON W. TODDFOUNDER/PRESIDENT

INNER CITY OUTREACHMEMPHIS, TN

3

Most of the timewhen I speakof ARM’s

partners, I am refer-ring to you who aredonors, the ones whoallow God’s funds inyour control to financeour evangelistic pro-grams. How preciousyou are!

But for this article, I use the word “part-ner” to refer to the front line chaplainsand volunteers who schedule the in-prison seminars, order the baptistriesand distribute the DaySpring cards andAmerican Bible Society Bibles. Howprecious YOU are!

We have been privileged to meet somany dedicated jail and prison workersduring our twelve full years with ARM.Some are paid by the state. Some arepaid by donations from Christians.Some are strictly volunteers. We arethankful for every willing worker whorepresents Christ in person by going be-hind the walls to share Christ and HisGood News.

We love helping them. We want themto be effective – for the sake of Christ ourLord, and for the sake of the inmates andtheir families.

I think of a particular chaplain who wasso helpful in partnering with us. He not

only ordered Bibles from us for his facil-ity, but was also willing to personallyminister to an inmate friend of minewho was going through a particularlydifficult time. This chaplain continuestaking Light into a dark place. He is apaid state employee but he is NOT just ahireling. He loves and serves people inthe name of the Lord!

I think of another jail worker that wasstrictly a volunteer. For years he has notonly gone into county and state facilitiesto share Christ, he also chooses to finan-cially support ARM. What a blessing heis to the inmates and to us!

Some of our partners are graduates –even teachers – in our Bible colleges.Others have no formal education buthave sat at the feet of Jesus and want toshare the love and truth received fromHim. Some are young while others arenearing retirement. Some have beenvolunteering in the jails for decades, oth-ers have just begun. We love them alland we thank God for each one.

May the Lord give you daily strengthand wisdom – and may God raise upmany others to serve as you serve! Youmay sign up for ARM Updates, Minis-ters' Minute sermons, and/or the For-eign Branch Report by sending yourrequest to rodfar@arm.org.

the uttermost farthingby rod farthing

don w. toddbringing hope to troubled teens

rod farth

ing

What amazing opportunities we haveat this time to truly affect and influ-ence the lives of troubled teenagers.

There is no doubt that teens today, especiallyin our inner cities, are on a serious downwardpath. Much of this is due to a lack of parent-ing at home, as well as a society that is afraidto apply constructive discipline or teach truemoral values. Positive role models in theirlives are few and far between. But, I havefound most of the teens to be very responsiveto being challenged, and to hear what God hasto say about His purpose for their lives.

Currently our ministry is involved with trou-bled teens in three areas: Memphis / ShelbyCounty Juvenile Court - GOALS Program; Ju-venile Court - Summons Program; and at JailEast for juveniles in jail being tried as adults.

Juvenile Court - GOALS Program. For thepast seven years I have had the opportunity tospeak to classrooms of teens that have been ar-rested and are locked up in detention. The av-erage stay is 21 days. The problem is thatmost of them have been there already, severaltimes. This provides me with the opportunityto challenge, encourage and inspire these trou-bled teens who are already establishing a lifeof crime and misbehavior, although some ofthem are simply needing guidance, somethingthey probably are not getting at home.

I begin by telling them, “I believe we are allcreated in the image of God, and He has a planand a purpose for our lives.” Incredibly, theirresponse during the one-hour presentation isvery positive! Even though this is not a“church service,” they want to hear Bible sto-ries and my personal experiences as a Chris-tian. They always ask me to pray for thembefore I leave.

At one of our recent sessions several ques-tions were asked: “Why do you come here?Do you think that God sent you here?” “Doyou believe that God is here with you?”“What do you hope to accomplish by beinghere and speaking to us?” WOW! I love an-swering questions like that! On many occa-sions I have had individuals ask, “Where canI find you when I get out? Would you baptizeme?”

On the lighter side, when I told them that I hadjust turned 70, one of them said, “No way! You

don’t look a day over 69!” I truly believe Godhas given me the opportunity to plant the seedthat, hopefully, will result in “troubled teens” re-alizing their God-given purpose in life!

Juvenile Court - Summons Program. I amvery excited about beginning this additionalprogram that will allow me to counsel andguide teens in trouble, one-on-one. As anAuxiliary Probation Officer I will be allowedto counsel teens that have been arrested andgiven a summons to appear at Juvenile Court.

But, instead of them going directly before ajudge, I will serve as a counselor to both theteen and his/her parents. Since these areteens that have never been in trouble before,we will give them an opportunity to removethis charge from their record - permanently -by never getting in trouble again! Truly, thehand of God is in this wonderful opportunity!

Juveniles in Jail. For three years now I havebeen blessed to lead Bible studies and worshipservices at Jail East in Memphis for under-ageteens in prison. Due to the severity of theircrimes, these teens in prison will be tried asadults. Some will go home in a few months.Others will stay in prison for most of theirlives!

Instead of saying, “It’s already too late foryou,” I tell them, “As long as you are stillbreathing, there is hope! When you sincerelycall on God from the heart, He never says, NO!”Almost all of them have accepted Christ andhave been baptized into Christ. A baptistryprovided by ARM is available for them.

ARM Prison Outreach, International: Serving adult, juvenile and military correctional institutions around the world. National jailand prison distribution center for the American Bible Society and DaySpring cards. Branch ministries in Cambodia, Korea, Mexico, Russia, andthe Philippines.

Office staff: Joe R. Garman, President; Bill R. Blair, Vice-President; William B. Wadell, Business Manager; Joe Welch, A.B.A. Director; Bob Marsh,Hispanic Ministry Outreach Director; Gene Hutchcraft, Shipping & Receiving; Rod Farthing, Regional Development Director; Ansil Harpold, MidwestDevelopment Director.

Board of Directors: Gordon Bane, Mark Davis, Brandon Freed, Victor Knowles, Rob Smith, Reggie Thomas, Jerry White, Clifford Whitehead.P.O. Box 1490 • Joplin, Mo. 64802-1490 • Tel: (417) 781-9100 • Email: info@arm.org • Fax: (417) 781-9532

Websites: www.arm.org • www.abarc.org • Follow us on Facebook!

AR M’s pARtn eR s o n th e f R o n t li n es

www.arm.org

To enroll an inmate in the ABA, go online to www.arm.org/aba_enrollment_form.htm. Also, you maysign up for ARM Updates, Ministers' Minute sermons, and/or the Foreign Branch Report by sendingyour request to rodfar@arm.org.

— continued next page

54 www.arm.org www.arm.org

don w. todd...continued

Sometimes we just talk, and they ask questions:“What does it mean to be a man?” “Can you re-ally be a man if you’re locked up in prison?”“How do we know we are worshiping the trueGod?” “What is sin?” “What is faith?” “Whatdoes it mean to ‘test’ God?” “What happens tous when we die? What will happen to us if wechoose Christ?”Many times we think of young people locked

up in juvenile detention or prison, as incapableof accomplishing much of anything. However,every time I go to speak to them I find the ma-jority of them are intelligent, smart young men

and women who need guidance and encour-agement. While they may be surrounded bymany negative influences, they really respondwhen I talk about God’s plan for their lives!

I tell them, “I believe your purpose in life is toglorify God, the One who made you. And, as aresult, you will truly be making a difference - forgood - with your life!”

www.dontoddministries.comdstmico@gmail.com

FB - Don Todd Ministries

DaySpring is the world’s largest Christian greeting card

company and is also a leading provider of art, Christian

gifts, home décor, jewelry and more. ARM has minis-

tered in partnership with DaySpring for over two decades

and averages providing more than 4.4 million Christian

greeting cards to our nation’s prison system each year.

ARM is a recognized affiliate of DaySpring, which means

that you can go to our website at www.arm.org and click

on the DaySpring banner. A percentage of whatever you

purchase will be donated to ARM. It’s a fun way to shop

and support ARM as well.

SHOP ONLINE AND SUPPORT ARMAT THE SAME TIME

BAPTISMS BRING NEW

BEGINNINGS FOR INMATES

AT ALLEN OAKWOOD

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

By Sarah Stemen

LIMA, OH - Sunlight

barely peaked in the

back windows of the

chapel Saturday, as

the religious hymns

slowly gave way to si-

lence just after 1 p.m.

Clad in white T-shirts

and prison issued

trousers, 16 men lined

up to step into an ARM

Collapsible Portable Baptistry and be bap-

tized into Christ.

Shouts of “amen” and applause of reas-

surance by dozens of other inmates who

gathered to watch, followed each individ-

ual baptism. Every inmate who was bap-

tized gave his personal testimony as part

of the ceremony before the baptism was

performed.

The ceremony, while emotional for some,

was a way for the men to finally proclaim

their faith publicly. “The transformation

has taken place,” said Chaplain Charles

W. Dupree, one of two pastors who bap-

tized the inmates.

The other pastor assisting in the baptism

was Ed Carter, founder and director of

Unto Life Ministries, Inc. Carter is a former

member of the 1970 Marshall University

football team and has been an evangelist

for more than 30 years.

One baptized inmate, Matt Gorsky, said

the baptism signified a new beginning in

Jesus Christ and a law-abiding life. “As

Chaplain Dupree said, it is among other

things, a public testimony of my faith,”

Gorsky said before his baptism. “And I hope

to live a new life in Christ. For me, this also

means a law-abiding life that I intend to em-

brace with every fiber of my heart, my soul,

my mind and my spirit.”

As the men emerged, drenched from

head-to-toe, Warden John Coleman said,

“Baptism gives the inmates a new sense

of purpose and meaning. It’s an event that

sometimes changes their lives completely

and turns their lives in a different direction.

It’s very important to us.”

George Riggins was one of the inmates

baptized. He said, “I was one of the bad

boys back in the day. God has changed

my life completely. He’s changed me into

a new man. I don’t ever want to know that

person I used to be.”

“This was the first baptismal service by

immersion at the institution,” Dupree said.

People are people. The same problems

that are in here are out there. The same

problems that are out there are in here.”

An inmatewho de-s c r i b e s

himself as “ajunkie for the past25 years” pennedthese words. Hewas “born andraised by a skin-

head.” Anger and hate shaped andmolded him during his formative years.This unfortunate childhood paved theway to the Administrative SegregationUnit in a high security prison.

Even in an isolated cell, his bitternessand outrage burned with unquenchablefury. “For the last five years, I have beenshouting curses at the Christian volun-teers who pass by my cell and orderingthem, ‘Get away from my door!’ Be-cause of my rage I was locked up 22 outof 24 hours a day for security reasons.

Thankfully, one Christian volunteer didnot give up on me. He knew I was with-out God, without Christ and without a

hope in this world. He saw promise forme through Jesus Christ our Lord. Inspite of my rampage against him, hehanded me a Bible along with someverses to look up. He said, ‘Just try it.’

My life has changed for all of eternity! I am proud to say that I am now a studentin the AMERICAN BIBLE ACADEMYand am on my third course. I believe inChrist. I thank Him for that volunteerand for ARM. You make it possible forpeople like me to learn about and be ableto receive Christ into our lives.”

Just how important are Bibles and Biblecorrespondence courses in prisons?Consider his closing words: “Thank youand God bless you. Without this Bibleprovided by the AMERICAN BIBLE SO-CIETY and without these Bible corre-spondence courses made possible byChristians like you, I would still be lost.”

Shall I say more? This prisoner is onlyone out of over 18,000 inmate studentsI could mention.

joe w

elch

i was raised to hateeverything about God.”by joe welch

“

6 www.arm.org

God included you

in His will.

Will you include Him

in yours?Jesus is the Key that unlocks

Prison doors

American Rehabilitation MinistriesP.O. Box 1490

Joplin, MO 64802-1490

Tel. 417-781-9100 • Fax. 417-781-9532

Email. info@arm.org • Web. www.arm.org

7www.arm.org

That’s my king!by Dr. S.M. Lockridge

The Bible saysmy King is as e v e n - w a y

king. He's the Kingof the Jews; that's aracial king. He's theKing of Israel; that'sa national King.He's the King of

Righteousness, He's the King of theAges, He's the King of Heaven, He's theKing of Glory, He's the King of kingsand He's the Lord of lords. That's myKing. I wonder do you know Him?

David said, "The Heavens declare theglory of God and the firmament showsHis handiwork. My King is a sovereignKing. No means of measure can defineHis limitless love. No far-seeing tele-scope can bring into visibility the coast-line of His shoreless supply. No barriercan hinder Him from pouring out Hisblessings. He's enduringly strong, He'sentirely sincere, He's eternally steadfast,He's immortally graceful, He's imperi-ally powerful and He’s impartially mer-ciful. Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon thatever crossed the horizon of this world.He's God's Son, He's a sinner's Savior,He's the centerpiece of civilization, Hestands in the solitude of Himself, He'saugust, He's unique, He's unparalleled,He's unprecedented, He's the loftiestidea in literature and He's the highestpersonality in philosophy. He's thesupreme problem in higher criticism;He's the fundamental doctrine of truetheology. He's the cardinal necessity forspiritual religion, He's the miracle of theage, He's the superlative of everythinggood that you choose to call Him andHe's the only one qualified to be an allsufficient Savior. I wonder if you knowHim today?

He supplies strength for the weak,He's available for the tempted and thetried, He sympathizes and He saves,He strengthens and sustains, Heguards and He guides, He heals thesick, He cleanses lepers, He forgivessinners, He discharges debtors. He de-livers captives, He defends the feeble,He blesses the young, He serves theunfortunate, He regards the aged, Herewards the diligent and He beautifiesthe meek. I wonder if you know Him?

My King is the King, He's the key toknowledge, He's the wellspring to wis-dom, He's the doorway of deliverance,He's the pathway of peace, He's theroadway of righteousness, He's thehighway of holiness and He's the gate-way of glory. Do you know Him?

His office is manifold, His promise issure, His light is matchless, His good-ness is limitless, His mercy is everlast-ing, His love never changes, His word isenough, His grace is sufficient, His reignis righteous, His yoke is easy and hisburden is light. I wish I could describeHim to you, but He's indescribable, He'sincomprehensible, He's invincible andHe's irresistible.

You can't get Him out of your mind,You can't wash Him off of your hands,You can't out live Him and you can't livewithout Him. The Pharisees couldn'tstand Him, but they found out theycouldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't findany fault in Him, the witnesses couldn'tget their testimonies to agree, Herodcouldn't kill Him, death couldn't handleHim and the grave couldn't hold Him.Yes! That's my King! That's my King!

His is the Kingdom, and the Power,and the Glory, forever and ever, andever, and ever, and ever, and ever andever. And when you get through withall of the forevers, then AMEN andAMEN!

Iremember the strange feeling as I walked along the corri-dors of a Midwest prison. There was a different feeling inmy life though, than in the lives of the hundreds of inmates

I passed. It wasn’t just in the clothes we wore, but rested inone great truth.

i walked with the man who had the keys.

All of us dwell within the prison of our own heart, soul,strength and mind. What a great comfort to walk with the Man who has the keys!

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. And I havethe keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev. 1:18).

i walked with theman who had the keys

by victor knowles, ARM Board Chairman

An ARM baptistry was recently made avail-able for Sago Palm Correctional Institutionin Florida. We are scheduling our first Bap-tism Preparation Class and have over 35 in-mates signed up.

Now we are able to fulfill the Great Com-mission and prepare these men to lead aChristian life. Sago Palm is a re-entry insti-tution, which means that each inmate is fromPalm Beach County and has less than threeyears remaining on his sentence before re-turning to the community.

As the institution works by readying themwith training, job skills and education, thechapel ministry works to give them the spir-itual armor for life on the outside. Addi-tionally, this ARM Collapsible PortableBaptistry will serve at Glades CorrectionalWork Camp, and the Loxahatchee ReleaseCenter.

Roger H. Strehlow, Chaplain

BAPTISM OPPORTUNITY FOR OVER 1,000 INMATES

One of the first things Linda and I ob-

served when we founded ARM in

1973 was that there were very few

baptistries in our nation’s jails and prisons.

It was not that chaplains were opposed to

baptism. It was simply that when these

correctional facilities were built, baptism

was the last thought on the architect’s

mind. In fact, most prisons did not even

have chapels.

Not wanting to neglect the Great Commis-

sion (Mt. 28: 18-20), I began discussing

with chaplains the need to provide a means

whereby believing penitent prisoners could identify and participate in

the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord (Rom. 6:3-4). This

began a process of using horse troughs, inflatable wading pools, laun-

dry carts, and even rain barrels.

Although these rather crude methods achieved the intended result,

they did not bring beauty and elegance to the act of Christian bap-

tism. At this time I designed a portable baptistry on wheels (a horse

trailer with a fiberglass interior), that could be transported from prison

to prison, then pulled inside the prison gates. We built ten of these

and located them in strategic regions of the nation.

They served their purpose except during the cold winter months. Also, finding volunteers to pull them from one locale to an-

other and providing maintenance for them was difficult. However, they did put us on the map. The Associated Press, ABC

News Commentator Paul Harvey, and CBS News Anchor Walter Cronkite, all reported on these “baptistries for prisoners.”

Now that we had the nation’s attention, requests for baptistries from chaplains all across America began flowing in. But instead

of sending them a baptistry on wheels, we designed a Communion Table Baptistry that served as a Communion Table and con-

tained a fiberglass tub on the inside. By simply removing the Communion tabletop they could easily access the baptistry.

For small jails we provided a Collapsible Portable Baptistry with an aluminum frame and a vinyl lining that snapped onto

the frame. These were so popular that we placed them on military installations around the world and on mission fields

in 28 countries. To view these baptistries you can go to our website and click on “Baptistries.”

At last year’s ARM Board Meeting, I proposed writing to every chaplain in America, offering to supply a baptistry for his or her

correctional facility. The Board of Directors agreed and the process began in March, 2013. We paced ourselves by mailing

to only five states each month and completed the project in January, 2014.

Never before had ARM undertaken such an audacious venture. But ARM’s directors and supporters stood firm. I am happy

to report that as of today, we have placed 1,573 baptistries in America’s largest and most notorious correctional facilities!

It is best summed up in a letter from Chaplain Paul Forster of the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office in Dyersburg, TN:

“Our jail was one of the recipients of your generosity. Four days later we baptized nine inmates. We have now baptized 17

men. Another 10 prisoners are scheduled to be baptized within a couple of weeks. We receive around 200 professions of

faith per year.”

NOW, EVERY JAIL AND PRISON CHAPLAIN (FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY) IN

AMRICA HAS A BAPTISTRY OR HAS BEEN OFFERED ONE! PRAISE GOD! IT IS

A FORTY-YEAR DREAM COME TRUE!

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a forty year dreamr e a l i z e dby joe garman

Joe & Linda

Garman