"I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand... and give thee for... a light of the Gentiles... to bring out the prisoners from the prison."
Isaiah 42:6-8

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February 2005 Newsletter

How Many Will Your Lunch Feed?

There on the mountainside above the Sea of Galilee, watching the sun sink above the unruly crowd, it seemed to Philip that Jesus must be joking. Jesus knew what these mobs were like. If He began handing out free food, they would never again give Him a moment’s peace. Besides, it was impossible. Philip answered—a little irritably perhaps—“Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”
Andrew remarked, “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”

The disciples must have smiled at the suggestion, but suddenly they realized that Jesus was preparing for a banquet. Never in their wildest dreams had they envisioned what could happen when Jesus took the loaves.

Most of us know little about the vast throng of men and women, nearly three million of them, who are shut away from the rest of us in the jails and correctional institutions that dot this country from coast to coast. They are there usually because of their own misdeeds; they cannot call to us nor interfere with our lives. Yet Jesus sees them, and His voice still comes to us, suddenly and impossibly, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

Now, as in the days of Philip and Andrew, there is only a tiny basketful of bread and fish. Now, as then, Jesus is making plans to feed a multitude. This is why Lighthouse Publishing was born, and this is why, just over two years ago, the name “Loaves & Fishes” was chosen for a new discipleship magazine to take the living words of Jesus to prisoners, among the most miserable and friendless people who have ever cried out for answers.
In January, we began printing the winter issue of Loaves & Fishes. As circulation has risen to over 40,000 copies, we have seen God provide in many ways for the continuation of His work. One recent blessing was that, as the management searched for ways to use resources more effectively, they found a source for economy offset paper, which, although slightly lower quality than what we had been using, has cut the paper cost for this printing by 18%, or about $660.00.

As the demands increase, we are reminded again of the mighty potential of a little lunch in the hands of an infinite God. We invite you to read this newsletter and share in this ministry, casting your lot with the lad who, long ago, gave his five loaves and two fish into the hands of Jesus and saw them satisfy the hunger of five thousand men.

—Anthony Hertzler

Letters From Our Readers

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Loaves & Fishes—what a blessing to open its issues and be ministered to… Loaves & Fishes is very popular and widely distributed around here… I work in a rough and disturbing part of the facility—a maximum security unit… most of the cells have a Loaves & Fishes and a Bible. These men spend a lot of idle time in these cells and read. This brings me joy because I know first-hand it’s anointed material.
Pat Buchanan; Bridgewater State Hospital

Dayton, Texas
I ran across your Loaves & Fishes—I dearly loved it… I find it priceless, as I do my Bible.
Tracy Marie Martin; Plane State Jail

Click here to read more letters.