Better Than Expected

by Tim Martin

Our time at the jail Sunday went much better than expected. It turned out that there were several more men who wanted to be baptized by folks from the church of Christ than we expected. I went along with Joe Partin and Wayne Leeper to Sunday's baptisms at the jail. In addition to the two men from my previous e-mail, eleven more men requested that one of us baptize them. Seven of them have been attending Wayne Leeper's class in L pod over the past couple of months and the other three remembered Joe and me from our teaching at the jail.
We had the opportunity to take each of these men aside and review the reasons they were there and explain to them what this baptism meant. They all responded yes when we asked them if they had repented of their sinful life, believed that Christ was the Son of God, and that this baptism was going to be the point where they were forgiven of their sins and were putting on Christ and starting a new life. The chaplain inadvertently helped us by reading a portion of Romans 6 to the men as they came in. We used that reading about being buried with Christ and raised to walk in a new life in our discussions with the candidates. Joe, Wayne, and I grilled them pretty hard to make sure they understood what was going on. After our discussions, we had them confess before those present that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and baptized them telling them it was in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of their sins.
I have their names listed below and would ask that you pray for them. I will be sending a letter of encouragement to them and inviting them to church when they are released. If they need further help while in jail, I will employ some folks who signed up for sending letters to help.
The men's first names who were baptized: Jeffrey, Dustin, Tracy, Stephen, Steven, L.W., James, James, Joseph, Gary, Eddie, Richard, James, they are your new brothers in Christ. Fill free to write to any of the names you recognize, or all of them if you like. Your hard work and sound teaching is getting into some heads and God is working the soil and watering the seeds you planted. Please try to write and encourage these men. They can all get mail by sending notes to their name at: Inmate Name (get last names from Tim Martin at tim.martin@mtjuliet.org) / Wilson County Jail / 315 East High Street / Lebanon, TN 37087.
Thank you all. A special thanks to Joe Partin and Wayne Leeper for coming with me. (Deut. 6:4-9)

The above report was written from Tim Martin to the elders. The elders wanted this to be shared with the whole congregation. To God be the glory for all the good being done and souls being changed! Let’s all continue to find our place to serve. Souls are depending on it-including our own!

• Jail Ministry -Feb 04, 2007
• Love for the Saints and Inmates -Feb 18, 2001