Yoking Up With Jesus E-newsletter
A Story From The Other Side of the Fence
At the age of 16 years old, I, Kevin Dean, was sentenced to life without parole. Being a teenager in a man’s domain, I got involved with drugs, riots, living for the moment, never caring about the consequences. Over the years I was getting worse while thinking I was getting better.
For 15 years I lived as if I was god. In 2008, my mother passed away. That’s when everything got worse. I blamed God for me coming to prison and then, on top of that, He takes my only solace and the only person who I knew that loved me. So I guess you can understand when I told myself that it was just me… I dove into the world head first. This (prison) is where I would die, so why not live?
In 2009, I went to close management (C.M.) for doing something I knew I had no business doing. But hey, I’ve been in the chain gang since I was 16 and I still have life without parole so I did what I wanted too. Coming off C.M. in 2010, I was sent to Gulf C.I., a prison I did not want to be at. I was assigned to live in “H3” dormitory where I met a man younger than me, whose name is Norberto Rivera, that was involved in the chapel program called Abundant Life. He came to my room looking for a King James Bible.
Norberto started asking me to help him with his studies. So I did. We grew to become great friends. He asked me to come to church and to get involved in some classes. I said no, my perception of the church and its God was tainted. Yet, with some more persuasion and being placed on the call-out, I came.
The Abundant Life class was going over lesson # 4 “The 2 Nature Struggle”. It was as if a truck hit me and woke me up. That’s it!! You see, what you don’t know is that at the age of 15 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was saved. Yet, at the age of 16 I shot and killed my father. I lived for 15 years thinking that I wasn’t saved nor could be saved. I went back to my dorm and that night I asked God to please forgive me and come into my life. And if He saved me all those many years ago then why am I like I am. That next morning He showed me in His Word Hosea 6th chapter where I have to return to Him. He then led me to 2 Corinthians 3:17 and to 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Since then I’ve grown in this process of Sanctification. The Lord has changed my way of thinking. He’s gotten me involved in His mission also. Now I share to the world around me the God who I was running from. I have a totally new outlook on life, thanks to Jesus Christ. I just recently found out that I have a parole hearing coming up soon, which would’ve been impossible because I got sentenced in 1995 to life without parole. But God…
I remain no longer a condemned murderer, but a redeemed saint!
Thoughts to Ponder
What one word could be used to summarize what Christianity is really about? Jesus talked about this in Luke 10. He said “Do this and you will have eternal life”. What is “this”? Love God and people. Jesus says that love is expressed through mercy.
The one word that is implied throughout the New Testament is “relationship”. The actions that we are encouraged to take often include a direction “to one another”. This means that the actions are mutual. God’s children live in community and pursue relationships with God and people. The way we approach relationships must be consistent with the Gospel.
By “this” everyone will know that you are my followers - Jesus
~ Dan
Ministry Inside
August 2013:
Graduation From Discipleship Classes: English - 24
3898 inmate visits to the chapel logging over 5847 hrs. for 171 individual events
Death notifications - 7 / Crisis Notifications - 13
Family Happenings
Hard to believe we are so near the end of September already!! Today we started week 6 of school for the ‘13-’14 year. It’s going well! Danny has a bigger workload since he is in High School, but he is really enjoying his studies! Today, we are celebrating International Home School Spirit week by staying in our PJ’s! :) No, homeschoolers don’t usually stay in their PJ’s all day!!
I am very much looking forward to some cool Fall weather, but I’ll be patient and not rush it along. The outside of the house is waiting for some TLC, too. We need to weed flower beds, do some shrub trimming and lots of weed whacking! The dogs like to add their touch by digging fresh holes to lay in! :(
The September Fundraiser Banquet for GEMS went very well this year.
It was neat to hear testimonies from 5 former inmates, one who Dan had the privilege of mentoring. Nearly $12,000 was raised. That amount goes to support 8 chaplains and doesn't last long, so the planning is in full swing for the Benefit Auction on November 9. If you live nearby, mark your calendars!! :) I had the job of decorating for the banquet, so the kids and I went to Tallahassee the day before and helped get things set up.
While we were in Tall. we were also able to join our homeschool group on a field trip to Native Nurseries. We got to sit through a workshop teaching about the life of a caterpillar and the transformation they go through to turn into a butterfly. It’s so amazing, but just another sign of a wonderful Creator!! We also saw many pretty flowers, some large spiders and other “garden creatures”.
The September Fundraiser Banquet for GEMS went very well this year.
It was neat to hear testimonies from 5 former inmates, one who Dan had the privilege of mentoring. Nearly $12,000 was raised. That amount goes to support 8 chaplains and doesn't last long, so the planning is in full swing for the Benefit Auction on November 9. If you live nearby, mark your calendars!! :) I had the job of decorating for the banquet, so the kids and I went to Tallahassee the day before and helped get things set up.
While we were in Tall. we were also able to join our homeschool group on a field trip to Native Nurseries. We got to sit through a workshop teaching about the life of a caterpillar and the transformation they go through to turn into a butterfly. It’s so amazing, but just another sign of a wonderful Creator!! We also saw many pretty flowers, some large spiders and other “garden creatures”.
Last weekend some of the men and boys from church went on a kayaking trip. They left Friday afternoon, kayaked an hour to a sand bar, where they set up camp for the night. Then Saturday morning, after breakfast they traveled another 4-5 hours where they got picked up. They had a good time with little sleep! :) Thankful for safety! Just about a week before that, I saw an article about a 708 lb. alligator that was killed in that very same river!! :O
I am looking forward to spending the day on Wed. with my sister Chris, who lives in south GA. I don’t get to see her real often and this time she is coming to MY house. :) Also looking forward to a visit from my nephew Javin and his wife Vironica in a few weeks. It’s been awhile since we had company, so this will be a treat again! :)
I saw a neat quote today that we can all take to heart. “My ministry is where my feet are”. We don’t have to go to other countries to be a be the hands and feet of Jesus. Our home is a good place to start!
Have a great week….be a blessing to someone! :)
~Twila
Prayer Requests
*That we would be able to discern God’s will for some possibilities in the near future.
*That we would continue to grow in our love for others!.
*Pray for Chaplain Ring as he is getting ready to retire from Gulf CI and is struggling with various health issues.
*Inmates who have been released and need to find their way in society again. Especially those who have committed their lives to Christ...that they can remain strong!
Needs
**URGENT** Dan’s Jeep is in the shop and needs a new clutch that will cost $580.
** Dan and Twila both need dental work very soon, but we have to wait for funds!
Our projected 2013 support goal~ $6000 ($500 a month)
Received last month~ $0
Received so far in 2013~ $1250
We are $3250 behind our goal for this year.
Received so far in 2013~ $1250
We are $3250 behind our goal for this year.
GEMS supports us by providing us with a house to live in. We do not receive monthly monetary support from them. Dan does receive some income from the state that is sufficient to pay our recurring monthly bills, gas and food. We count on support to help cover anything above that, including dental, eye care, school tuition, medical bills, car repairs, appliance replacement, clothes, and other things that come up unexpectedly!
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can help!
Love from~
The Henry’s~ Dan, Twila, Danny (14) and Tamara (12)
20764 NE Parrish Lake Rd.
Blounstown, FL 32424
dansgirl77@gmail.com ~Twila
dfhenry74@gmail.com ~Dan
Find us on facebook (Yoking Up With Jesus)
Find us on facebook (Yoking Up With Jesus)
Donations can be sent to:
GEMS
℅ Henry Family Fund
PO Box 180505
Tallahassee, FL 32318
OR, by Paypal to dansgirl77@gmail.com
(If you mail checks to the above address, be SURE to earmark checks for the Henry Family, since all the chaplains funds get sent to the same address.)
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Dan was pleased to receive two very important pieces of paper in the mail two weeks ago!! :) So happy for him and excited to see where God is going to lead him in using the information he has studied and learned!! :)
