Aug 27

Important Update: $304 – You = $303

News

If you’ve been following us during the last year, you know that our goal is to publish one issue of the Loaves & Fishes magazine every quarter.

We have discovered there is a tremendous opportunity to encourage and teach open hearts in prisons through reading material.

The devil and his workers are already using literature to influence the masses. Today we also have an open door to plant the seeds of God’s Word in the hearts of the masses in prison. In fact, they are begging us to.

Loaves & Fishes is already touching tens of thousands, but we see an urgent need to increase its impact by publishing more often. Our goal is to publish the magazine four times a year instead of only once.

As you’ve probably heard, we’re trying to build a team of partners who together can pledge to give $350/day. An increase of $350/day would cover the hard costs of publishing Loaves & Fishes four times per year.

So far official monthly sponsorships have grown to $46/day, which means we have $304 to go. We are sincerely grateful for these commitments.

One-time gifts are helpful and make up the bulk of our income now. However, monthly sponsorships create the dependable support stream that enables us to plan ahead and publish on a predictable schedule.

The needs in prison are great, the doors are wide open, and the night is coming when no man can work.

We are confident there must be 304 more people somewhere that want to partner with us in this goal.

Will you make this a matter of prayer and consider becoming a monthly partner with your gift of $1/day?

Click here to learn how you can give.

“I saw [Loaves & Fishes] and was deeply moved and inspired. Especially the article ‘Paid in Full’… Me being a new born Christian could really use that type of encouraging network in a place like this.”

Jamal Spence • ACI • Fairfax, SC

Quick Updates

  • It’s a blessing to have Darold back in the office again full-time. His greenhouse business is shut down until next year, so now he has a lot more time to work at Lighthouse. He does too much to list here, but his work includes processing mail from prisoners and maintaining the mailing list.
  • In the last months, Robert and Verba have cut back on their time commitment here. Robert works with a local construction crew to support his family, but they still support the work in their hearts and help with mailings, etc.
  • We are doing another small mailing of the most recent issue of Loaves & Fishes, which we published in January. There are 4,600 new single subscriptions that came in since we mailed out the first mailing of this issue.
  • We have some ministry presentations scheduled for October. Several churches in Missouri want us to come share. Presentations are a good way to raise awareness and build face-to-face relationships. If you know of a church or group of people that would like to learn more about Loaves & Fishes, let us know.
  • The next issue of Loaves & Fishes has been prepared for about six months now. It will take around $30,000 to publish this issue. After using some funds for promotional literature and overhead, we would have close to one-third of this amount left.

Let’s work together to touch more hearts in prison while it is day!

For the Kingdom,

Lavern Gingerich

Aug 09

Loaves & Fishes Feedback From Prisoners

Loaves & Fishes

Enjoy these testimonials from prisoners who read Loaves & Fishes.

“Your book is very inspirational and I would love to read more. I’m ready to change my life, and I feel reading your books will lead me in the right direction.”
Keith LeGrand, Smithfield, NC

“Your Loaves & Fishes publication is a real inspiration for me and helps my drive to study God’s word. My prayers will include you always.”
Charles Finchum

“I really like Loaves & Fishes. It helps me a lot and I really enjoy reading the poems. But I read Loaves & Fishes from a friend. I have sent in three requests to receive my own book, but for some reason I still haven’t got it.”
Michael McKinney, Fort Worth, TX

“Thank you for producing the book. It is a tremendous help to me. I pray the Lord Jesus continue to bless you. Amen!”
Name unknown

“I read two of your poems for prisoners and I really thought they enhanced my spiritual walk.… Your ministry has a powerful impact on my life. Keep up the good work.”
James Hairelson, Duncan Unit, Diboll, TX

Click here to learn how you can help us make more of an impact in the prisons.

Jul 30

Fellowship for Lonely Prisoners

Loaves & Fishes

Have you ever tried to imagine how it would feel to be locked into your house for a whole year, forced to stay in your bedroom for hours at a time?

Worse yet, imagine being torn from everything familiar and buried alive behind block walls and razor wire, with no hope of escape for 5, 10, even 50 years.

I can’t imagine the helplessness of that feeling. But over two million of our neighbors faced that reality when they woke up this morning in jails and prisons across the U.S.

Step into their shoes for a moment. You long for home. You try to remember what it was like to be free, to go to work in the morning and return to your family at night. You dream of holding your child and embracing your wife. The years ahead look endless.

That’s life in prison, and the people living it face the same loneliness, discouragement, and condemnation you or I would.

The good news is that Jesus died for their sins and He rose again from the dead, so that these 2 million prisoners could be set free in their hearts and experience the life, hope, and freedom that only He can give!

We realize the majority of these people are locked up because of a law they have broken. But we also care about their pain and need for meaningful relationships.

Many of them who are seeking after God are young in the faith and need discipleship and encouragement to overcome the temptation to sin around and within them.

And perhaps the biggest encouragement to them is the example of others who are living in victory, joy, and peace behind the prison walls!

That’s why we give prisoners an outlet in every issue of the Loaves & Fishes magazine. “Free on the Inside” is our section dedicated to prisoner writings. Poems, testimonies, and short writings from prisoners are common in “Free on the Inside.”

Poems and testimonies from Christians in prison are a special blessing to other inmates because the writers can identify with them in a way that I can’t. Prisoners devour these blessings from fellow-inmates and it gives them a sense of fellowship through the Spirit of God.

We hope to soon have enough funds to print another issue of Loaves & Fishes. You can help us  spread the message of hope and friendship in Jesus Christ with a gift of even $1/day.

Click here to learn how you can give.

Let’s work together to point the prisoners to the life-changing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Until the night comes,
Lavern Gingerich

“Your magazine, Loaves & Fishes, is awesome. It truly is a blessing. When I was reading the different poetry, stories, and testimonies from the different inmates, I was truly fellowshipping.”

Sarah Markovitz, York Correctional Institution, Niantic, CT

May 31

Plans and Progress

News

Our purpose for publishing the “Loaves & Fishes Report” is to provide a place where we can report to our partners the things which the Lord has done with us  (Acts 15:4) as well as plans for future projects. We desire to be transparent and accountable to those who support the work in gifts and in prayer.

Staff Updates

Robert and Verba are doing a fine job with the requests in the mailroom. They share the burden of the ministry and have decided to stay here indefinitely. Robert has taken on a part-time job to support his family. They are not living off the donations you send, but are freely giving the time they spend here. We are deeply grateful for their support.

My wife and I also enjoy volunteering here and carry a burden for the prisoners in our country. I normally try to be at Lighthouse two weeks every month. I often sense a need for more wisdom and strength in the work, but the Lord gives us grace and fulfillment as we serve Him here.

Anthony Hertzler from Oklahoma is still working for us part-time by the hour. His editorial and writing skills are truly an answer to prayer.

Exciting Publications

We are preparing a printed version of our ministry presentation similar to what we share in churches. This full-color booklet will introduce potential partners to Lighthouse Publishing. It explains the vision on which Lighthouse is founded, the needs and open door in prison, how Loaves & Fishes is helping to meet that need, and how others can partner with us.

Next is 3 Marks of an Effective Missionary, which draws examples from the life of Christ, encouraging readers to live for the cause of God’s Kingdom, work before the night comes, and enjoy the nourishment that God gives His workers.

Both these publications will be distributed free of charge. They will also form the basis of info packs designed to introduce the work of Lighthouse and recruit new partners to help us reach our goal of making Loaves & Fishes a quarterly magazine.

These tools will be freely available to existing supporters for distribution among their friends, families, and church groups.

It will likely take at least several thousand dollars to print and distribute this literature. Please pray for the wisdom we need to be faithful stewards in all these projects.

For Christ,
Lavern Gingerich

Recent Prisoner Feedback

“Could I please have a subscription to Loaves & Fishes? The few copies sent to the chapel disappear quickly.”
Gary Field

“I am writing to subscribe to your ministry in literature. It’s very uplifting to me. And I’m sure others feel the same.
“Blessings are spread throughout the country for what you do. And if no one else has said it, allow me to be the first to say Thanks!”
Reginald Malone • LLC • Lincoln, IL

“I enjoyed reading Loaves & Fishes so much I am glad you have made it possible for us as prisoners to receive it. It’s wonderful.”
Tina Bryant • Federal Medical Center Satellite Camp•Lexington, KY

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