Volume 15Issue No. 1

January 2012Fort Dodge & Rockwell City, IA

Inside the Flash!Page 2 - Pre-Answered PrayerPage 2 - Join the Outside CouncilPage 2 - Instruments NeededPage 3 - Reentry ReintegrationPage 3 - Awesome EternityPage 4 - Worship Sched/Inside CouncilsPage 4 - Invite the PastorPage 4 - Artist’s Corner

Need Funds

You responded to our request for Story Teller books with an avalanche of dona-tions, and for that we are truly grateful.

Now we need financial support for the pris-on ministry. Expenses have been falling behind contributions and our operating funds are being depleted. If you and your congregation are able to increase your gifts to us, we would also be truly grateful for your generous support.

—Pastor Paul E. Stone

The War Within

There is a war within. Sometimes I wonder which side will win. The battles I have are very sad, for one

day I’m at the top of the game, the very next I’m falling down a dark hole that seems to have no bottom. It is so cold and damp. All I can do is feel, for there is no light. I wander around in the dark, trying to figure it out. How did I get here? I think I fell. I’m starting to wonder — is this hell?

A light keeps flashing off in the distance. I go toward it, then something happens, not sure what, but now it’s farther. All of a sudden it appears right there, then I get back to falling. Satan is yelling in my ear, “Maybe one more load of dope before you go.” My Savior Jesus is whispering softly, “Come to me, my son, I’ll pull you out of here, and if you can’t walk I’ll carry you.”

If I take that one load it may cost me my soul. Do I take this road where there is light, or do I stay here and fight? So confused, but deep down I know with Jesus I can’t lose and if I fall he’ll catch and carry me. I know no one’s ever done that for me. So, as these battles rage on and on all I can do is keep saying my prayers and rejoice in the Lord, for where would I be if he never sent Jesus to carry me?

—Matthew Broughton, FDCF 2011

The “W” in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family

moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old.

For weeks, he’d been memorizing songs for his school’s “Winter Pageant.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise, so, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as “Christmas,” I didn’t expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus , snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son’s class rose to sing, “Christmas Love,” I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.

Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing “C is for Christmas,” a child would hold up the letter C. Then, “H is for Happy,” and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, “Christmas Love.”

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter “M” upside down - totally unaware her letter “M” appeared as a “W”.

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her “W”.

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: “C H R I S T W A S L O V E”And, I believe, He still is. Amazed in his presence. Humbled by his love.Hope you had a blessed Christmas season!

— Unknown

Faithfulness is a giftMy Father gives to me.Faithful in all His love

And grace He bestows on me.

Faithful to be thereAnd listen to my prayer.

Faithful to guide meAs I journey everywhere.

Faithful to hold meWhen I can go no more.Faithful to forgive meNever keeping score.

Faithful to see to itThat no matter what may beMy Father God is faithful

To always be with me.Robert L. Johnson II 4-17-2010

He is Faithful

2 Inside News Issue 15.1

Let us help you study for your

final exams.

Issue 15.1 January 2012The official publication of The Church of the Damascus Road, a Christian Community of Reconciliation, serving the inmate population of the correctional facilities at Rockwell City and Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Rev. Paul Stone, PastorCarroll Lang, EditorAnyone wishing to be on our mailing list may

send name, address, and phone numbers to the ad-dress below, or by e-mail at: DamascusCh@aol.com. The Flash will be sent directly to your home. Our office is at St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

The Church of the Damascus Road239 North 11th StreetFort Dodge, IA 50501

Pre-Answered Prayer

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no

incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights

were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). ’And it is our last hot water bottle!’ she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

‘All right,’ I said, ‘put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.’ The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with many of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby.

I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. ‘Please, God’ she prayed, ‘Send us a hot water bottle today. It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.’ While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, ‘And while you are about it, would you please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know you really love her?’ As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say ‘Amen?’ I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that he can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the veranda was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.

Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that he could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, ‘If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!’ Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, ‘Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?’ ’Of course,’ I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it ‘that afternoon.’

‘Before they call, I will answer.’ (Isaiah 65:24) This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa.

—Shared by Leola Brock Reese

Instruments Needed

Members of the congregation inside have shown a desire to participate by providing music for the service.

Trouble is, though some are excellent musicians, they do not have their own instruments. What is needed is a bass guitar (solid body), some acoustic guitars and an electronic drum set. If you are interested in donating a guitar or electronic drum set, bring them, or send them to CoDR at 239 North 11th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Then come worship with CoDR and see the pleasure and satisfaction on the faces of the musicians.

January 2012 3

More Teams Being Trained

The New Hope Prison Congregation in Newton Correctional Facility was trained on November 19, 2011. From now on they will train their own teams and we will be on the way to add more very needed teams. Our sister prison congregation, The Wom-

en at the Well is busy training teams in the Quad Cities. We’ll be watching things develop.In Rockwell City, we are hoping to have a training soon and prepare

the new team for its first ex offender. Your prayers toward this end are welcomed.

Mark Willson is working to get a group in the Granger/Grimes area organized and a training event has been set for January 21, 2012 at the Emanuel United Methodist Church in Granger. The event will be from 9am to 12pm and 1-4pm. Lunch will be served at Noon. If you are interested, please let us know so we can provide enough food and materials for the event. A suggested donation of $15 to cover the

cost of food and materials is welcomed. There is no obligation to form a team, so join us to see what it’s all about. You just may find you have a desire to assist and mentor an ex offender as a member of a reentry reintegration team.

The very best way to get started is to attend The Church of the Damascus Road wor-ship services inside the prison (times are on page 4). There you will meet inmates who have a desire to start a new life when they are released. You will find that many of them have no place to go and need the assistance of a reentry team and, who knows, you may be moved to help.

Reentry Reintegration’s Mission Statement is to “Empower Christian communities to assist in the successful transition of ex offenders to society.” Our Reentry Reintegration ministry will train and prepare you to welcome an ex offender back into society and help her or him make that successful transition, thus making him or her an EX ex offender. Now, we’re not saying it will be easy, but we know from experience that it is a rewarding ministry and, like any ministry, it is filled with sorrows and joys, hard work and feelings of success. Community size need not limit you. We have teams in communities both small and large and in-between.

There can be a vital ministry of reintegration in your area as well. We need your help in locating existing teams in parts of Iowa other than NW Iowa, developing more teams around the state. Please give me a call at 515-571-6566 or e-mail me at CDLng@aol.com.

—Rev. Carroll Lang, NW IA Director

“It’s a Ministry, Not a Program”

Donors of $100 or More Per Month, bothChurches & IndividualsAugustana Lutheran, MansonBadger Lutheran, BadgerBethany Lutheran, EmmetsburgBethany Lutheran, SpencerEmanuel–St. John Lutheran, LyttonFaith Lutheran, OdeboltFirst Lutheran, AlgonaFirst Presbyterian, Fort DodgeFirst United Methodist, Fort DodgeGrace Lutheran, Fort DodgeMorningside Lutheran, Sioux CityNew Covenant Christian, Fort DodgeOur Saviour’s Lutheran, Albert CityOur Saviour’s Lutheran, CallenderOur Saviour’s Lutheran, HumboldtSt. John Lutheran, PomeroySt. John Lutheran, Le MarsSt. Mark’s Episcopal, Fort DodgeSt. Olaf Lutheran, Fort DodgeSt. Paul Lutheran, PalmerSt. Paul Lutheran, Rockwell CityUllensvang Lutheran, ThorUnited Methodist, HolsteinZion Lutheran, Clear LakeZion St John Lutheran, SheffieldDavid & Luann Bohnet, JeffersonJohn & Marge Everts, LyttonLyle Hartling, Lohman, MOLucille Helmbrecht, LyttonLois Johnson, MansonMark & Cheryl Juhl, RemsenRev. Carroll & Judy Lang, Fort DodgeTroy & Karen Leininger, SpencerLarry & Cindy Lubinus, GrimesNorman & Alice Nielsen, SpencerElwood Rieke, Fargo, NDAdam & Inga Sanford, Allen, TXMelba Shelby, Fort DodgeNoel & Linda Singer, Webster CityRev. Paul Stone, Eagle GroveMr. & Mrs. Eugene Sukup, HamptonSukup Family Foundation, HamptonRollin & Cleo Swanson, Fort DodgeChris Tostenrud, EverlyMark & Cindy Willson, JohnstonLeila Wilson, Fort DodgeLeonard Woodruff, Rockwell City

Awesome EternityHere I sit with my hard driven guilt,

Behind walls of emptiness I’ve caused to be built.I sit and I think in my cold lonely cell,It makes me want to cry out and yell.

I look in the mirror and the face is the same,And I tell myself you’re too old for this game.

I read the Word and I look to the light,And I lean on the Lord to make my life right.

I ask the Lord Jesus to show me His will,He says, “You will know if you pray and be still.”I thank Him and praise Him both day and night,And can’t wait till the day I’ll have Him in sight.

He says “I will come back and take you with Me.”What an Awesome Eternity it’s going to be.

—Brian Underwood

Psalm 91:4. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

The Church of the Damascus Road239 North 11th StreetFort Dodge, IA 50501

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org.U.S.Postage

PAIDFort Dodge,

IowaPermit #4

January 2012

A note to secretaries and pastors—Copy Me, Please!

We send our newsletter primarily to congregations. It’s printed on white paper so it can be copied to

include all or portions of it in your newslet-ter or bulletin, or simply made available to members of your congregation.

-- Pastor Paul Stone

Worship & Bible StudyFDCF Fort Dodge

6:30pm Wednesdays .....Holy Communion6:00pm Fridays ......................Prayer Team6:30pm Fridays .......................Bible Study

NCCF Rockwell City6:30pm Tuesdays ....................Bible Study6:30pm Thursdays .........Holy Communion

All Readers: Send ContributionsThe editor of this newsletter is inviting

ALL READERS, inside and outside to send in articles, poetry, art work, and opinions for the newsletter. So don’t be bashful.

Invite the Pastor

The worship services at The Church of the Damascus Road are scheduled on week-nights for two reasons. One is

to enable people on the outside to worship with the inmates and not miss worship in their own congregations. The second is to enable the pastor of Damascus Road to visit area congregations on Sunday mornings. The pastor can give a brief update on the ministry, a sermon, a children’s sermon, an adult forum, a children’s Sunday school opening, a cross-generational class session, or any or all of the above, and is open to suggestions. All that is asked is that there be time to prepare.

Call 515-955-3579 or write to: The Church of the Damascus Road, 239 N 11th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, or by e-mail at <DamascusCh@aol.com> to arrange for a visit to your congregation. Pastor Paul speaks Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, United Church of Christ, Covenant, Pres-byterian, Lutheran, Catholic, Evangelical, Reformed, Assembly of God, Mennonite, Nazarene, and a host of other denominations, independent, and non-denominational, too.

Artists’ Corner

FDCF Church CouncilPaul Abbott.................................. PresidentTimothy Smith ........................... Vice PresRandalle Cross ............................ SecretaryRonnie Harrington ................Bryan MooreRaymond Reynolds ...................Virgue OrrSom Lovan ............................Wayne SmithCedric Williams ........................ Sam Velau

James Wertz

NCCF Church CouncilArthur Bennett ............................ PresidentBobby Johnston ...................Vice PresidentVacant ..........................................SecretaryNathan Merrill ............................. LibrarianBrian Underwood ..................... Mike BushJason Simpson ...............Dontavian WilsonJesse Summerfield ................... James Kyle

www.codrcare.org

Our webaddress is

easier to find!

Inmates:There was no new original

inmate artwork from members of The Church of the Damas-cus Road for

this space, but you can have your artwork displayed in

the Flash; sim-ply hand your art to Pastor Stone. It will

be scanned and then returned

to you.

WinningArtwork

Prison Con-gregations of

America holds an art contest every year. The win-ning artwork is reproduced and sent to persons

or ogranizations that have contrib-

uted a hundred dollars or more

to PCoA. This is the winning art

for 2011.Your artwork

could be a win-ner, too, but only if you turn it in to Pastor Stone.