Letter to the Editor
Keep the faith
Dear Sir,
Kindly allow me to address, through thismedium, the inmates of Her Majesty's Prisons and their families.
My husband, Mr Peter van der Bol, former Chaplain, has asked meto write this open letter to you all, thanking you for allowinghim to be God's messenger and representative to you over the pastfive years.
As you well know, he loved you unashamedly and without reservebecause he was a willing vessel for God's own love for each oneof you to flow freely. He carried you in his heart, yearning tosee you give your hearts to Christ, the lover of your souls. Herejoiced at every step you made, however small, on the path ofrighteousness and he celebrated with you the answers to prayerthat blessed your lives as you reached out to God.
The Chaplain has been a sower of seeds into the fields of yourlives. Now, he has been taken away from you ...but guard wellthe seeds of Christ, sowed through the word of God, that are inyou. These are seeds that will become mighty, fruit-bearing treesif you will continue to water them with the living water thatstill flows from the wounded side of your Saviour and Redeemer.
Nurture your spirit, man, with the word of God. Grow strong inyour faith and hold on to the reality that Jesus is the door toreal freedom; the way to real peace and purpose; and the ultimaterole model for your life.
We live in perilous times and we are going to be asked to paya price for daring to call ourselves followers of Christ. Yet,do not be afraid for "His yoke is easy and His burden light,"especially compared to the price we pay when we choose not tofollow Him. Many of you understand that very well.
Your beloved Chaplain had a very heavy heart for many months,not so much because of what was done to him, but because he wasno longer allowed to be a counsellor, guide, teacher and comfortto you. In time, the burden has lessened as he continues to askGod to provide other shepherds and teachers for you.
Now God has called him to minister to prisoners who are, perhaps,in even more desperate need than you. He is on his way to offerhope to the inmates of Russian jails; men who are reaping thebitter harvest of a country that had excluded God from all ofits affairs for several generations.
Pray for him, brothers and sisters in the Lord. Pray for the prisonersof Russia. Pray for our island that righteousness would prevail.Pray for those in authority over you, that Christ would invadetheir hearts. Read the Bible daily, especially the Gospel of John,and let the living word of God transform your lives and raiseyou up to be sons and daughters of the Most High God.
Be obedient to the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit in your lives.
May God bless you all, and encourage your hearts in His love.
Peter and Sandra
van der Bol