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MISSION MESSAGES From the Fowlers

54 Crisalida, Urb. Murioz Rivera Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00657

Phone: (809) 789-8716

May, 1981
OH! HOW CAN I SHARE IT? How can this little

piece of paper give you a fair idea of what's REALLY

K I ilet you know that there have been literally HUNUREDS Jj

11of inmates come to the Lord Jesus this last year in the^ (/ prison where I'm serving as missionary-chaplain.
That's exciting to me. Not the numbers, so much as the guys.
But that doesn't really tell the story. Sure, you'd see seven-hundred-fifty-eight new saints all dressed alike in their prison uniforms with Bibles under their arms and new smiles, but you might not see Miguel Martinez hud dled in the corner sobbing softly.

happening here In Puerto Rico? I'm busting a gasket to \

Oh, yes, he's one of them. In fact, many of the new converts found the Lord through Miguel. He's my sec retary, and one of the several Christians going into the ministry when he gets out of prison.

But Miguel hasn't seen his three children for four months although they live in the same town. Last he heard, the oldest one was having problems in school. His wife is sick and almost never visits, his parents and in-faws are feuding, and his family has transportation problems, money problems, spiritual problems. . . ire short: Miguel's family is spiritually "uncovered" and unprotected since he can't be there as the head of his. home. He's trying to justify being a leader of the

church (in the prison) when things are badly out of order In his home (I Timothy 3:5).
here in the prison ministry? Hearing Miguel finally say, 1^ "Forgive me, Lord,^ for my lack of trust in You. I'll You want to know what keeps me plugging away

follow You, rejoice, and keep ministering to my family

in what wisdom and opportunity You give me. In the

meantime, I give each of my kids to You. . ." Hearing

those words was worth more to me than all the lists of

names of new converts I could have reported to you. But it doesn't sound as sensational. Guess you had to
be there!

are commonplace. She was raped and beaten, moved in

in prostitution to make enough to feed her children.
Tommy wavered between divorce and suicide for several

for several fTTOTTfris now, and is working hard at being a good Christian husband. His wife (not yet a Christian) lives in a slum condominium where drugs and murder

Or takeCTom^Wfor example. He's been in the Lord

with another man (allegedly for protection), and now is

weeks while crying out to God for strength to bear the

pressure.

Can I justify spending six or seven hours praying and

Gospel?. . . while twenty-five men line up outside my

Word of God?

reading Scriptures with Tommy alone while thousands of other prisoners have not yet heard one word of the

office door waiting for hours for counseling from the

SURE I CAN!! At least I did. I don't see Jesus as

II

having been a sentimentalist.

But neither was He

liounded by statistics. Remember, He was the guy that

left the ninety-nine sheep to take care of the ONE little lost one. Often He evaded the hundreds to minister to
the twelve.

^ministry is (for the most part) fun and satisfying even //while being frustrating and heartrending. I'm eager to

But that doesn't give the whole story either. This

A^report to you that:

Local churches here. In Puerto Rico are really getting

involved In visiting prisoners, providing Bibles, coun seling, sponsors, jobs, homes, etc., for the prisoners and ex-prisoners. What a blessing! And what a job
in coordinating them!

^"Stabbed into the Kingdom of God") was released

/ on a pass to preach with me in a couple of churches

t Gallagher (his testimony was in the last newsletter:

here (what fun it was!), and will soon be on parole to join his wife and Christian family, {see photo)

Gallagher Cardona in the Bayamon Prison. (The camera wascon fiscated 12 seconds after taking this shot. Picturesare forbidden
we were reminded.)

t I had a great time as a chaplain for a local profes sional baseball team during the league season here.

ij' rooms with the teams before the games. Many pro
players are turning on to the Lord.

/YWe have a preaching and prayer time in the locker

^ Court Street Christian Church (Salem, Oregon), and

^ am using it for hauling myself and hundreds of Bibles
YOU, JEHOVAH JIREH!

t I received a new Yamaha 650 motorcycle through the

to prisoners, for visiting prisoners' familes, courts, jails and prison camps in the mountains. THANK

t Judy's Bible studies (for ladies) and my class on Ephesians are going well. The kids (Curt-17, Christy "16, Cratg--7, and Cathy--6) are all disgustingly well,
frustratingly busy, and amazingly normal.

me new motorc

ke a truck

liiMiUJIt:e in the ' Usual Iv 1 taki

i-to keep
loxes of Bi

Bruce's portable coffin baptistry. Mike Jacobs, a Jew (now com pleted Jew), son of a Rabbi from the States, is being baptized. His family counts their son as "lost." Notice the music section in the background. You should hear those guys sing. WOW! They raise the roofj

Much love to each of you. We so appreciate your letters and your support and your prayers. fVe pray and praise God for you!

Bruce Fowler

Family

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