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Prison Life Report

Learn about prison life in America in this free download, the open door of reaching prisoners, and how we are using literature to make a difference.

May 03

Written Words Are Powerful

Loaves & Fishes

Have you considered how empty life would be without words? Without words, your life would consist mostly of emotions and images.

Words are priceless—not just spoken words, but also written words, especially when they are arranged effectively to form engaging literature.

Among the first examples of published literature were the Ten Commandments, inscribed on stone tablets by the finger of God. It was important to God that His words were written, not just spoken. When Moses demolished the “literature,” God rewrote the commandments for His people on another set of stone tablets.

Advanced Publishing

Publishing has advanced in amazing ways. School boys used to press marks into wax tablets. Now I can simply press keys, and characters appear on my computer screen. If I write something I don’t like or want to add more to a previous paragraph, I can instantly delete or rearrange my words. (Ah… you have no idea how many times I rewrote that sentence.)

Many years ago, scribes would dedicate months to tediously copying one book. Some were meticulous; others were not as careful. Dim lighting, poor eyesight, fatigue, and impatience could all take a toll on the quality of the finished product. There was no other method available.

In those days, anything longer than short personal letters was normally hired out to professional scribes whose entire career was copying words by hand. Today we can duplicate literature with 100% accuracy, and it’s no longer a tedious, back-breaking job. Modern equipment makes it easy to duplicate literature on paper millions of times. Technology lets me share literature with people on the other side of the world as soon as I hit the save button.

Written words are powerful. The ability to freely publish literature with mass duplication compounds this power.

Advantages of Publishing

Leverage: While written words will never replace spoken words and living examples, written words exert unmatched leverage compared to other forms of communication.

In other words, literature helps us magnify the impact of truth. We can publish 80,000 copies of Loaves & Fishes and the power of that literature goes on for years, decades, and even centuries, all without taking additional time and resources on our part.

Influence: Like a road map, literature influences destinies. It persistently changes minds and invokes emotions, both for the good and the bad. Effective literature often has permanent effect on those who read it. God uses literature to bring souls into His Kingdom and to disciple believers.

24/7 Preacher: Literature has liberty like none of us have. Show me a messenger that is welcome in a prisoner’s bunk all day any day. Or one that fits into a teenager’s shirt pocket. Written words make themselves at home in desk drawers, purses, and truck consoles—even under the pillow of a seeking soul—right within reach exactly when the recipient is ready to open his heart.

Many organizations and religions, such as the Communists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormons, realize the potential of written words and invest as much as millions of dollars per year in publishing their message.

As we shared before, the fields are ripe for harvest, and there are many open doors in prison. Literally thousands have asked us to speak into their lives.

Will we wake up to the opportunities of advanced publishing before the night comes when no one can work? Or will we allow Satan’s servants to saturate the prisons with his message while we lag behind, hoping someone else will finish this task?

Printed literature is powerful, and God uses it to change lives. It gives us leverage to make more of an impact than we could otherwise. Literature has liberty to preach and teach when the recipient is ready, even 1,000 miles away at 2:00 in the morning.

The Need for Publishing

It takes around $30,000 (plus overhead) to produce and mail one issue of the Loaves & Fishes magazine (about 80,000 copies).

Everything is in place to prepare, print, and mail additional copies of Loaves & Fishes, as well as process incoming mail from prisoners.

We need prayer for wisdom to prepare more issues of Loaves & Fishes and to minister to the prisoners who write back. We also need more finances to reach our goal of four printings a year.

Thank you for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. We hope that you will continue to partner with us for the glory of God.

For the ripened grain,

Lavern Gingerich

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

May 24

“I just need to know someone still cares…”

News

This is the heart cry of many inmates from prisons all across America. Some are victims of unfortunate circumstances. Many are in prison because of wrong choices leading to social crime. All of them are hungry souls crying out in desperation for a glimmer of hope in a dark world of rejection. Many have lost all contact with their families and friends. And the devil does his utmost to discourage them completely.

But praise God! Many inmates have turned to the Lord, finding a lasting hope and eternal refuge in Him! Through prison chaplains, church group efforts, and ministries such as Loaves & Fishes, the word of God is reaching the darkest corners of thousands of prisons all across America.

Still, hundreds are crying out for individual correspondence and discipleship. There is a tremendous opportunity to minister to souls and make an eternal difference by taking the time out of our busy schedules to write a prisoner and share the glory and grace of the Lord Jesus with them.

Perhaps it isn’t possible for you to personally visit prisoners. But writing is a splendid opportunity to do as Jesus taught in Matthew 25:36.

If you are interested, please email your request to me at mail@lighthousepublishing.org. (Or call or write us.) We will be glad to provide you with contact information and letters that prisoners wrote to us along with a list of guidelines for corresponding with inmates.

May God be glorified as you represent Him!

Robert Miller
Mailroom

“The Loaves & Fishes are such a blessing to the inmates….

I left 50 at the Rudd Unit in Brownfield, TX. Most of them were taken quickly by the 80+ offenders that attended the services.”
Don Castleberry
Freedom in Jesus Prison Ministries • Lubbock, TX

How $1/day Supports $125,000
Loaves & Fishes
Project

If 350 people would decide to give up $1/day for the cause of Loaves & Fishes, that would equal $125,000 every year. Based on the costs of the latest issue, this would cover the hard costs of one issue every quarter—our goal!