Ronald "Pod" Martin Updates
For those of you who may not be familiar with Ronald Martin, also known as Pod, he is an inmate at the Morgan County correctional facility. He became a member of our church several years ago and he ministers among the inmates there. A group of men from our body go up on a weekly basis to lead classes and support Pod. What follows is an update from him.
MCCX Mission
October 27, 2024
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
October 27, 2024
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
MCCX Mission
June 27, 2024
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
MCCX Mission
Jan 22nd, 2024
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
I just wanted to sit down and take the opportunity to tell all of you how much it meant to my Mom (and me) that you would think of her and show her love.
I actually was able to call her a short while after she returned from her visit with Rachel, Gabriel and Chloe Slate. I called just as she was finishing reading all the cards and letters. During the call she wept more than once, but these were tears of humble appreciation and gratitude. I literally cannot tell you the last time I saw her so touched and moved by such an outpouring of love - She was deeply affected in the best possible way. If the goal was to make her feel loved and appreciated, you far exceeded the goal.
She said she would love to write each one back and express what this meant to her, but she doesn't have the words. I would have done it anyway, but she made me promise to write and express her appreciation to all of you. We've spoken several times since then and she is still overwhelmed with appreciation.
I would also like to thank each one of you for doing all that you did for my mother. I've been told, "Well Pod, that's how a church should operate," and that may be true - but you don't see it that often. So to see it directed at my Mom was perhaps the greatest gift I could have been given. You all have always made me feel loved and welcomed as a part of the body of Grace Community Church and for that I will always be grateful. Just know that, after this, you're never getting rid of me now. @
I'll go for now and get this mailed out, but let me say again that I thank you, and Mom thanks you. As always, you all are always in my prayers.
Pod
Pod
MCCX Mission
July 24th, 2023
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' Martin
Hello family! I pray this finds everyone well. I just wanted to sit down and take this opportunity to write and catch everyone up regarding what the Lord is doing through Grace Community Church at Morgan County Correctional Facility. Its been such a blessed year I don't know where to start....
In February I was able to complete the formal process of becoming a Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor (CABC) through The Addiction Connection. Dr. Mark Shaw (the author of The Heart of Addiction) is the President of the ministry and one of the main reasons that I wanted to go through the process. I want to say a special words of thanks and appreciation to Tom Webb, Steve Creasy, Jay Brown, and Chris Riser for all their help in making that possible. Without their help it would have never happened. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
I would encourage anyone else who has a heart for addiction ministry to go through the process as well. I learned a lot and was assigned a Supervisor/Discipler named Kirby Johnson who helped me through the process by asking questions and causing me to explain and refine my answers. All things being equal, getting to know Kirby through this process was perhaps the most enjoyable.
The Heart of Addiction class is still going strong - with no signs of slowing down. Right now we are on our 15 th cohort and have 26 men enrolled. To date, we have graduated over 230 men and have a graduating percentage of 80%. While the numbers are impressive, the most important thing is that for 14 weeks the men have the gospel presented to them every week. Because the instructors rotate, the gospel presentation comes through in various ways as the men share about the freedom that can be found only through Jesus Christ. I know we have a couple of new men who have become volunteers....Welcome to the team Timothy Metcalf and Ken Williams. Its great having you.
We are currently on our 6th Peacemaker cohort. We've graduated approximately 75 men from this class. As the instructor, I'm always surprised by who really connects with the gospel principles. On more than one occasion someone I wouldn't have expected shares a story of applying the principles when they found themselves angry or in conflict. Sharing their stories helps the other men see that you can be a peacemaker in a world that thrives on conflict. I learn as much from the men as they ever would learn from me.
Our new after-care class Transformed is also growing. Its set-up is different than the other classes, so other than saying that we have approximately 22 men involved there is no way to say anyone "graduated." Its a continuously running class designed to strengthen the principles they learned in the Heart of Addiction class. For every 12 classes they attend the receive a certificate of attendance. We've been meeting since November 2022. Thanks to The Addiction and Steve Creasy, we have the videos of Mark Shaw teaching a 16-month discipleship class. Each segment is approximately 15 minutes Jong and sets the topic for the discussion.
This past Saturday we were blessed to have Mark Dew come in and teach a 3-hour crash course in biblical evangelism. A great time was had by all, and Mark shared with over 50 men why the message of the gospel is more important that the method. I was going to make a big appeal to Mark to come back in, but I think the guys did it for me. Since then when men who attended see me they say how much they enjoyed it and hope he comes back. In terms of interest and attendance it was a huge success. I now tell the men that now its time to keep the initiative going and actually evangelize.
I also want to take the opportunity to thank everyone for the cards and prayers. I can't tell you how much it means, and if I try I'll become a blubbering idiot (if you know me you know that's a pretty accurate assessment). The love and concern that you all have shown me is more than I could have ever wished for just a little piece of heaven till f get there. I just so its said - I love you all!
Well, I suppose I'll close for now and get this out. Until next time, everyone take care and know that you are all in my prayers.
In Brother in Christ,
Pod
Pod
MCCX Mission
December 13th, 2022
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' flat-tin
To: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald "'Pod' flat-tin
Dear Grace,
MERRY CHRISTMAS! ! ! !
MERRY CHRISTMAS! ! ! !
Well as you can see MCCX had their annual Volunteer Banquet again. And for those who might be interested....yes, I crashed this one too. O But in my defense — If they didn't want me to crash they wouldn't have told me when and where they were having it.
The last time I wrote I was preparing to attend the 40 hour CPRS training. Well, I've completed that part and am currently working toward my 75 hours of supervision needed for certification. The training itself was both good and bad although there was focus on Rogerian non-directive counseling, there was also a large block of time spent practicing open-ended questions (which is good to obtain data). But, I didn't take the training because I thought l i d get a lot of biblical wisdom. I took it so that perhaps the certification would open more opportunities for ministry, both for myself and the church.
Since then Grace Community Church has started an aftercare program on Wednesday night called TRANSFORMED. This is an aftercare discussion class specifically for men who have graduated the Heart of Addiction, the Peacemaker, and the State's Therapeutic Community (Drug Program). Its less lecture and more discussion. Our goal is to build upon what the men have already learned through the other programs. Because of my CPRS status, I'm also involved in facilitating the State's AA/NA aftercare class on Friday's. The difference between our aftercare and the State aftercare is that we control the narrative of the discussion in TRANSFORMED. In our aftercare the Bible is the source of authority, in the State aftercare the source of authority if the AA/NA devotional and the 12 Steps. So, when I can I try and bring in scripture on Friday. It can be a challenge though.
The DVD ministry is back to weekly airings of GCCs services and special events. Due to some legal issues between the Muslim's, cults, and other groups every group (including those not involved) were placed on a bi-weekly schedule. Fortunately we're back on the old schedule since none of those groups involved was willing to accept the discipline involved. Right now we're showing Chris' sermons in 1 Corinthians.
The Heart of Addiction class is going well. We have 25 men enrolled in this class and all seems to be going well. More wanted to sign up, but due to necessity we've had to put a cap on the enrollment. Its exciting to watch the "lights come on" as the men are exposed to biblical teaching. Those who are Christian find truth that helps them grow and mature. Non-Christians are exposed to the gospel a minimum of 14 times. And everyone gets a biblical understanding of their problem (sin) and its solution (the gospel of Christ) regarding life-dominating sins. Ironically, most of the men who are in the State's T-Comm program readily admit that they know they don't have a disease, and on more than one occasion have thanked the guys for "telling the truth" about addiction. The Peacemaker class is filled to maximum capacity (20 men). Its reputation is slowing growing much like the HOA class.
I know I'm partial towards everything GCC is doing here, but I believe we have the most sought after programs at MCCX. In fact I've been told that. Early on we set expectations, implemented rules, and enforced discipline when necessary. I think the common misconception is that all convicts are big, tattooed, musclebound, and mean (yeah, maybe some of that is true). But I think if you were to ask Pete, Fede, Phil, or Jay they would say teaching and engaging the men here is more enjoyable (and less terrifying) than you might think. Like anyone else, once the men here understand the rules and expectations, they respect that. I know its ultimately the favor and providence of God that we have gained the reputation we have. I also want to commend Fede, Phil, Pete, Jay, and Kevin for modeling mature Christlike character (most of us convicts have never really seen that). They are faithful, firm and fair.
Okay, I planned to write more but if I don't get this mailed off you all won't get it until after Christmas. I'll write again soon. Until then everyone take care and know that you are all in my prayers.
In Christ,
Pod
Pod
MCCX Mission
October 7th, 2022
PART 1
October 7th, 2022
PART 1
Dear Grace Family,
I pray this finds everyone doing well. I just wanted to sit down and update everyone on the mission and work here at the Morgan County Correctional Complex before the holidays begin. As I'm sure it is with any ministry, prison ministry has both its blessings and challenges. Its an amazing thing to see a man set free by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Because Grace Community Church has been blessed by so many new families, its been suggested that I introduce myself to those that might not be familiar with myself and/or the ministry here at MCCX. So with that thought in mind I'll share some of my story with you:
I pray this finds everyone doing well. I just wanted to sit down and update everyone on the mission and work here at the Morgan County Correctional Complex before the holidays begin. As I'm sure it is with any ministry, prison ministry has both its blessings and challenges. Its an amazing thing to see a man set free by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Because Grace Community Church has been blessed by so many new families, its been suggested that I introduce myself to those that might not be familiar with myself and/or the ministry here at MCCX. So with that thought in mind I'll share some of my story with you:
I was born on June 2 nd, 1968 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and from what I've come to understand we moved around a lot in those early years between Tennessee, Ohio and Maryland due to my father's drinking, gambling, and "run-ins" with the law. When I was about 5 years old we were living in Baltimore, Maryland and my younger brother Robert was born. Due to a number of abusive factors my mother realized that she had to get us away from my father, so she packed us up and moved us back to Tennessee where she had family.
When we returned to Tennessee we moved to mobile home out in the country on the outskirts of Lake City. Looking back, this was the best time in my life because this place had it all...woods, caves, creeks, trails, dogs, chickens, guinea pigs, etc. You name it, it had it. But this time would be short lived. A few years later we were forced to move. This sent us living with relatives, friends and moving around a lot.
During all this time my relationship with my father continued to get worse. For several years we didn't know whether he was alive. Then one day he shows up. As usual he tells me only what I want to hear — how he's going to be around, take me fishing, spend time with me, that he loves me etc. But as usual, it never happened. He'd always leave. But before he'd go I was always told how it was my mother's fault that I didn't have a father. Of course it wasn't true, but when you idolize your father you tend to believe whatever he says. While I'm ashamed of it now I have to admit that I grew to hate and despise my mother — and in the next few years I would take advantage of every opportunity to show her just how much I hated her and blamed her for everything.
At 12 or 13 we found ourselves living in Norris. My best friend's aunt and uncle were starting a Pentecostal church and invited us. Despite what was going on in my life, I really enjoyed attending Freeway Church of God. The first thing that struck me was the music and the fact that these people really seemed to enjoy being Christians. Up to that point my only exposure with church was an occasional visit on Easter at a Baptist church and from my perspective, they didn't have a vibrant faith or enjoy being Christians. Freeway also had a great youth program as far as taking us places and doing things with us.
If you had asked me if I had experienced the new birth back then I would have probably told you that I had. I now realize that I had only conformed my behavior to what was necessary to fit in with the Christians. What I did develop at that time was a genuine love for the Bible and the study of Scripture. Please don't ask me to explain it because I can't.
My mother was born again a few months later at the same church and she became a different woman. Where she used to be emotionally distant, she was now full of love. The problem was that I still hated her and blamed her. The more she tried to love me and make up for things she thought she did wrong, the more weapons I had to use against her. And boy did I ever. Whereas before I could hurt her as a mother by being disrespectful and disobedient, now I could hurt her as a Christian as well.
Although I was attending church I started using drugs around the age of 13 and my life began to spiral out of control. One bad choice led to others and the cycle went on and on until I found myself arrested at the age of 17 for murder and sent to prison for life.
Once in prison things were much the same for me: violence, drugs, hopelessness. The hatred and anger that I held in my heart only grew. Everything negative seemed to be amplified, but now I had what I thought was an excuse...l'm in prison and have to survive.
When I was 27 or 28 1 was locked up in the "hole" for failing a drug test. I didn't care and had no intentions on stopping. I actually had some dope with me in the "hole" and smoked while there. Three days before getting out of the "hole" something happened. Much like the prodigal son u I came to myself" or better yet, the Holy Spirit brought me to myself. I didn't like what I saw, and realized that everything that I had always hated, I had become. I saw how I had destroyed my life and the lives of others. I couldn't hide behind drugs or anger or anything else anymore. I quit using drugs that day. This is an account of the event as I share it in the Heart of Addiction class: "I never thought I would live to see the day when I didn't want to get high. From my teen years on, one of my main goals in life was to make sure that I would be high on the day I died. Marijuana was a trusted friend; always there when I needed her. Like a mistress, she was the secret companion that I kept in my pocket, never to reveal her presence for fear that others might want some of her forbidden love. I was as giddy as a school boy picking up his prom date when I would go to score. Her fragrance was more intoxicating than any expensive perfume. I was in love. I was convinced that we would be together forever.....until death do us part.
My family and friends said that she was no good, and that she would eventually betray me. Looking back, I suppose that they could see how destructive the relationship was for me. My world revolved around her and everything else in my life suffered because of my devotion: my family, my friends, my education, and my income. The only thing I wanted to do was spend time with her, regardless of the cost to myself and anyone near me. However, the happiness and joy that characterized our relationship in the beginning gave way to the misery and disappointment that everyone said would surely follow.
In July of 1998, after having spent twelve years in prison hustling and sacrificing everything that I had to keep our relationship intact, I found myself in the "hole" serving twenty days for failing my third drug test. Even then I vowed that nothing would keep us apart and I leveraged my entire State Pay ($20.00) and a couple of money orders to smuggle a half an ounce of marijuana into the "hole." Since I didn't have a cell partner, we were able to spend the next few weeks alone just enjoying each others company. My only worry was how to make sure no one smelled her sweet perfume, and once the munchies set in; How can I could buy some Little Debbie Cakes from the protective custody inmates in the back? In my pride and arrogance I didn't think life could ever get better than that.
As everyone whose ever done any "hole-time" knows, you stay up all night and sleep most of the day as a way of making your time go by quicker. So my day started out normally: getting up at about one or two in the afternoon to eat the lunch tray I stashed, and waiting for the officers to run showers. After that, you wait for supper, medication call, and for the officers to settle down in the office awaiting shift change. It was then that I knew that we could have some quality time together.
On day seventeen something unusual happened that forever changed our relationship. After counting my rolling papers and estimating how many times she and I could get together the last three days of my punitive vacation, I rolled a joint and settled back to enjoy her company. About halfway through the joint I can remember placing her to my lips, inhaling her warm embrace, and saying out loud, "Got it going on!" Then something happened that I never expected. Out of the blue, a thought seemed to echo through my mind:
"Got it going on, huh?...... Yeah, you really got it going on. This stuff has destroyed your life: taken away everything youtve ever cared about, has gotten you thrown in jail inside of a prison, taken your family from you, taken what little package and commissary privileges you have, you've been stuck in the hole for the past seventeen days; and you're smoking a quarter's worth of dope and you think you got it going on.....yeah, you really got it going on."
I cannot tell you where that thought came from, but I can tell you what happened; I quit using drugs instantly. Much like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, my life was changed forever. Its been over twenty-four years since the day we got a divorce. While I'm still trying to repair all the damage that relationship has caused, I don't regret
the break up. There are times when walking through the unit I still get a whiff of her perfume and my mind recalls happy moments when we were still together, but I know that's just an illusion. Her beauty is not seen in the fun and laughter of getting high with no consequences. No, what she really looks like is revealed when I look at all the pain and heartache that I have caused all the people in my life who care about me.
Perhaps one day I'll find forgiveness and peace of mind. Or maybe I'll spend the rest of my life making alimony payments in regret, I'm not really sure. I'm just glad its over, and that is something that I never thought I would say....."
The next couple of years were attempts to reform myself. I don't think I was born again at this time, but I'm sure the Lord was working. Even though I had quit using drugs, I still had too many idols in my life. The main two were pride in who I was as a "convict" and loyalty to those I considered friends. The more I tried to walk away from my old life, it seemed they kept trying to pull me back.
That all changed in February of 2001 when an altercation with several gang members led to me being placed in segregation for 4 years. At that time my life was destroyed and I was abandoned by those I thought were my friends. I have never felt so alone in my life. But then the greatest thing happened — God changed my life. He had brought me to the point to where all I had was Him..... and I found Him to be more than enough.
The next four years I spent in Scripture and trying to learn all I could about Him. Of course everything I knew about God came from a Pentecostal and Charismatic perspective until shortly after 9/11 when John MacArthur was on Larry King Live. While I didn't know who he was, I liked that he kept his answers biblical. When talking about suffering and affliction he didn't dodge the hard questions. While it never really set right with me, I had been brought up to believe that God doesn't want the Christian to experience any hardship or suffering in this life.
God continued to bring me along while I was taking some Seminary courses and one of them happened to be Walter Martin's "Kingdom of the Cults" which had a chapter on the "WordFaith/Charismatic" movement. God used these two ministries to start a ripple effect which resulted in my entire theology being broken apart. It's a scary thing to realize that 90% of what you believe is probably wrong. I decided from that point on that Scripture had to be my ultimate authority. The only sure guide in developing my theology could be Scripture.
Although I had attempted to get off lock-down for the entire 4 years, I eventually had to get transferred to Brushy Mountain State Prison to get out. But I was a different man in every respect. My best friend of 25 years (John Carey) was also at Brushy and a Christian as well. When I arrived we went to work in the Classification Dept. and began teaching Bible studies. We also started an "Intake Ministry" where every man who entered the Department of Corrections through Brushy Mountain was presented with the gospel. This continued until 2009 when Brushy closed and we were transferred back to Morgan County. We were asked to go to the worst section to work: John as the Chaplain's aide and myself as the Unit Manager's clerk. We started several Bible studies and church services and spent a lot of time trying to get churches to continue to come in.
It was at this time when we first met Robin Dew when she came in to perform in a play with The Word-Players. She saw our "library" which consisted of about 20 books and asked if she could have books donated. Of course we said "yes." We met Mark Dew for the first time when they arrived with boxes and boxes of books to donate. They brought so many books that they even had to donate bookshelves as well. We asked Mark if he would be interested in having a Bible study and he agreed. This went on for a while until the prison experienced the first of two riots. As you would expect things began to change. It came to the point where the lock downs were happening so often that it made ministry almost impossible for churches.
John and I were moved out of that section of the prison and back to the main compound. I eventually went to work as the Chaplain's clerk in Classification and worked there for about a year when I was asked if I knew of anyone who might be interested in coming in and holding services. My first thought was Mark Dew and after several attempts Chaplain Richard Smith finally got a hold of him and Mark started coming into the Classification Dept to conduct worship services.
At some point Mark began asking whether I was a member of a church and I expressed my desire to join a church but didn't know whether one would accept me. Mark told me that if they were a biblical church that they would. A few weeks later Mark came to hold a service and he brought someone else with him. I was later to learn that it was an Elder from Grace Community Church named Andy Smith. As the 3 of us talked before the service I spied Mark holding some paperwork titled New Member's P Could this really be happening? I started getting excited but have learned through experience not to get my hopes up. I started studying the New Member's materials and eventually got the opportunity to sit down and talk to Chris Riser and expressed my desire to be a member of GCC. My testimony was read before the church and I was baptized by Chris Riser on Thursday, March 21 st 2013 and was accepted as a member of Grace Community Church and I had to preach a sermon in front of Chris, Robin and Mark later that day to about 150 men.
Now that I was a member of a church I really didn't know how to act. All I knew was that the Elders were supposed to hold me accountable and, if necessary, provide corrective discipline. So I started writing to them and trying to develop some system to confess my sins and receive disciple. If I didn't hear back in a week, I'd write another letter with a different system. I know I must have aggravated (and possibly amused) them, but Mark Dew finally had to tell me to "relax." [On a sidenote: me asking for discipline and accountability was the fruit that my mother said proved to her that I was actually a Christian. O.....of course I don't think I was that bad.]
When we returned to Tennessee we moved to mobile home out in the country on the outskirts of Lake City. Looking back, this was the best time in my life because this place had it all...woods, caves, creeks, trails, dogs, chickens, guinea pigs, etc. You name it, it had it. But this time would be short lived. A few years later we were forced to move. This sent us living with relatives, friends and moving around a lot.
During all this time my relationship with my father continued to get worse. For several years we didn't know whether he was alive. Then one day he shows up. As usual he tells me only what I want to hear — how he's going to be around, take me fishing, spend time with me, that he loves me etc. But as usual, it never happened. He'd always leave. But before he'd go I was always told how it was my mother's fault that I didn't have a father. Of course it wasn't true, but when you idolize your father you tend to believe whatever he says. While I'm ashamed of it now I have to admit that I grew to hate and despise my mother — and in the next few years I would take advantage of every opportunity to show her just how much I hated her and blamed her for everything.
At 12 or 13 we found ourselves living in Norris. My best friend's aunt and uncle were starting a Pentecostal church and invited us. Despite what was going on in my life, I really enjoyed attending Freeway Church of God. The first thing that struck me was the music and the fact that these people really seemed to enjoy being Christians. Up to that point my only exposure with church was an occasional visit on Easter at a Baptist church and from my perspective, they didn't have a vibrant faith or enjoy being Christians. Freeway also had a great youth program as far as taking us places and doing things with us.
If you had asked me if I had experienced the new birth back then I would have probably told you that I had. I now realize that I had only conformed my behavior to what was necessary to fit in with the Christians. What I did develop at that time was a genuine love for the Bible and the study of Scripture. Please don't ask me to explain it because I can't.
My mother was born again a few months later at the same church and she became a different woman. Where she used to be emotionally distant, she was now full of love. The problem was that I still hated her and blamed her. The more she tried to love me and make up for things she thought she did wrong, the more weapons I had to use against her. And boy did I ever. Whereas before I could hurt her as a mother by being disrespectful and disobedient, now I could hurt her as a Christian as well.
Although I was attending church I started using drugs around the age of 13 and my life began to spiral out of control. One bad choice led to others and the cycle went on and on until I found myself arrested at the age of 17 for murder and sent to prison for life.
Once in prison things were much the same for me: violence, drugs, hopelessness. The hatred and anger that I held in my heart only grew. Everything negative seemed to be amplified, but now I had what I thought was an excuse...l'm in prison and have to survive.
When I was 27 or 28 1 was locked up in the "hole" for failing a drug test. I didn't care and had no intentions on stopping. I actually had some dope with me in the "hole" and smoked while there. Three days before getting out of the "hole" something happened. Much like the prodigal son u I came to myself" or better yet, the Holy Spirit brought me to myself. I didn't like what I saw, and realized that everything that I had always hated, I had become. I saw how I had destroyed my life and the lives of others. I couldn't hide behind drugs or anger or anything else anymore. I quit using drugs that day. This is an account of the event as I share it in the Heart of Addiction class: "I never thought I would live to see the day when I didn't want to get high. From my teen years on, one of my main goals in life was to make sure that I would be high on the day I died. Marijuana was a trusted friend; always there when I needed her. Like a mistress, she was the secret companion that I kept in my pocket, never to reveal her presence for fear that others might want some of her forbidden love. I was as giddy as a school boy picking up his prom date when I would go to score. Her fragrance was more intoxicating than any expensive perfume. I was in love. I was convinced that we would be together forever.....until death do us part.
My family and friends said that she was no good, and that she would eventually betray me. Looking back, I suppose that they could see how destructive the relationship was for me. My world revolved around her and everything else in my life suffered because of my devotion: my family, my friends, my education, and my income. The only thing I wanted to do was spend time with her, regardless of the cost to myself and anyone near me. However, the happiness and joy that characterized our relationship in the beginning gave way to the misery and disappointment that everyone said would surely follow.
In July of 1998, after having spent twelve years in prison hustling and sacrificing everything that I had to keep our relationship intact, I found myself in the "hole" serving twenty days for failing my third drug test. Even then I vowed that nothing would keep us apart and I leveraged my entire State Pay ($20.00) and a couple of money orders to smuggle a half an ounce of marijuana into the "hole." Since I didn't have a cell partner, we were able to spend the next few weeks alone just enjoying each others company. My only worry was how to make sure no one smelled her sweet perfume, and once the munchies set in; How can I could buy some Little Debbie Cakes from the protective custody inmates in the back? In my pride and arrogance I didn't think life could ever get better than that.
As everyone whose ever done any "hole-time" knows, you stay up all night and sleep most of the day as a way of making your time go by quicker. So my day started out normally: getting up at about one or two in the afternoon to eat the lunch tray I stashed, and waiting for the officers to run showers. After that, you wait for supper, medication call, and for the officers to settle down in the office awaiting shift change. It was then that I knew that we could have some quality time together.
On day seventeen something unusual happened that forever changed our relationship. After counting my rolling papers and estimating how many times she and I could get together the last three days of my punitive vacation, I rolled a joint and settled back to enjoy her company. About halfway through the joint I can remember placing her to my lips, inhaling her warm embrace, and saying out loud, "Got it going on!" Then something happened that I never expected. Out of the blue, a thought seemed to echo through my mind:
"Got it going on, huh?...... Yeah, you really got it going on. This stuff has destroyed your life: taken away everything youtve ever cared about, has gotten you thrown in jail inside of a prison, taken your family from you, taken what little package and commissary privileges you have, you've been stuck in the hole for the past seventeen days; and you're smoking a quarter's worth of dope and you think you got it going on.....yeah, you really got it going on."
I cannot tell you where that thought came from, but I can tell you what happened; I quit using drugs instantly. Much like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, my life was changed forever. Its been over twenty-four years since the day we got a divorce. While I'm still trying to repair all the damage that relationship has caused, I don't regret
the break up. There are times when walking through the unit I still get a whiff of her perfume and my mind recalls happy moments when we were still together, but I know that's just an illusion. Her beauty is not seen in the fun and laughter of getting high with no consequences. No, what she really looks like is revealed when I look at all the pain and heartache that I have caused all the people in my life who care about me.
Perhaps one day I'll find forgiveness and peace of mind. Or maybe I'll spend the rest of my life making alimony payments in regret, I'm not really sure. I'm just glad its over, and that is something that I never thought I would say....."
The next couple of years were attempts to reform myself. I don't think I was born again at this time, but I'm sure the Lord was working. Even though I had quit using drugs, I still had too many idols in my life. The main two were pride in who I was as a "convict" and loyalty to those I considered friends. The more I tried to walk away from my old life, it seemed they kept trying to pull me back.
That all changed in February of 2001 when an altercation with several gang members led to me being placed in segregation for 4 years. At that time my life was destroyed and I was abandoned by those I thought were my friends. I have never felt so alone in my life. But then the greatest thing happened — God changed my life. He had brought me to the point to where all I had was Him..... and I found Him to be more than enough.
The next four years I spent in Scripture and trying to learn all I could about Him. Of course everything I knew about God came from a Pentecostal and Charismatic perspective until shortly after 9/11 when John MacArthur was on Larry King Live. While I didn't know who he was, I liked that he kept his answers biblical. When talking about suffering and affliction he didn't dodge the hard questions. While it never really set right with me, I had been brought up to believe that God doesn't want the Christian to experience any hardship or suffering in this life.
God continued to bring me along while I was taking some Seminary courses and one of them happened to be Walter Martin's "Kingdom of the Cults" which had a chapter on the "WordFaith/Charismatic" movement. God used these two ministries to start a ripple effect which resulted in my entire theology being broken apart. It's a scary thing to realize that 90% of what you believe is probably wrong. I decided from that point on that Scripture had to be my ultimate authority. The only sure guide in developing my theology could be Scripture.
Although I had attempted to get off lock-down for the entire 4 years, I eventually had to get transferred to Brushy Mountain State Prison to get out. But I was a different man in every respect. My best friend of 25 years (John Carey) was also at Brushy and a Christian as well. When I arrived we went to work in the Classification Dept. and began teaching Bible studies. We also started an "Intake Ministry" where every man who entered the Department of Corrections through Brushy Mountain was presented with the gospel. This continued until 2009 when Brushy closed and we were transferred back to Morgan County. We were asked to go to the worst section to work: John as the Chaplain's aide and myself as the Unit Manager's clerk. We started several Bible studies and church services and spent a lot of time trying to get churches to continue to come in.
It was at this time when we first met Robin Dew when she came in to perform in a play with The Word-Players. She saw our "library" which consisted of about 20 books and asked if she could have books donated. Of course we said "yes." We met Mark Dew for the first time when they arrived with boxes and boxes of books to donate. They brought so many books that they even had to donate bookshelves as well. We asked Mark if he would be interested in having a Bible study and he agreed. This went on for a while until the prison experienced the first of two riots. As you would expect things began to change. It came to the point where the lock downs were happening so often that it made ministry almost impossible for churches.
John and I were moved out of that section of the prison and back to the main compound. I eventually went to work as the Chaplain's clerk in Classification and worked there for about a year when I was asked if I knew of anyone who might be interested in coming in and holding services. My first thought was Mark Dew and after several attempts Chaplain Richard Smith finally got a hold of him and Mark started coming into the Classification Dept to conduct worship services.
At some point Mark began asking whether I was a member of a church and I expressed my desire to join a church but didn't know whether one would accept me. Mark told me that if they were a biblical church that they would. A few weeks later Mark came to hold a service and he brought someone else with him. I was later to learn that it was an Elder from Grace Community Church named Andy Smith. As the 3 of us talked before the service I spied Mark holding some paperwork titled New Member's P Could this really be happening? I started getting excited but have learned through experience not to get my hopes up. I started studying the New Member's materials and eventually got the opportunity to sit down and talk to Chris Riser and expressed my desire to be a member of GCC. My testimony was read before the church and I was baptized by Chris Riser on Thursday, March 21 st 2013 and was accepted as a member of Grace Community Church and I had to preach a sermon in front of Chris, Robin and Mark later that day to about 150 men.
Now that I was a member of a church I really didn't know how to act. All I knew was that the Elders were supposed to hold me accountable and, if necessary, provide corrective discipline. So I started writing to them and trying to develop some system to confess my sins and receive disciple. If I didn't hear back in a week, I'd write another letter with a different system. I know I must have aggravated (and possibly amused) them, but Mark Dew finally had to tell me to "relax." [On a sidenote: me asking for discipline and accountability was the fruit that my mother said proved to her that I was actually a Christian. O.....of course I don't think I was that bad.]
Around that time I was able to meet several other men from Grace Community church: Terry Romans, Larry Heisig, and Kevin Doggett. I was also blessed to be able to be a student of The Shepherd's Institute. This was a tremendous help in solidifying my theology and preparing me for future ministry.
As things always do, things began to change. Mark Dew went back to school and was unable to come up as much, and then the Classification Department was moved to another prison. This move put me working at my current job on the main compound, and left Kevin Doggett trying to maintain a ministry in an environment where obstacles were thrown in his way. In the course of time ministry there came to an end. At the time I was tempted to think of things negatively — but looking back I can see God's providential hand improving and increasing the ministries of Mark, Kevin and myself. In 2015, I was given the honor of being commissioned as a Missionary to TDOC by the Elders of Grace Community Church.
In time I was also able to meet Jay Brown, and Pete Zanoni, and Fede Mohr. Together we started looking for ministry opportunities. After approaching the Chaplain, we were given the 5 th Monday and 5 th Thursday to hold a worship service. But we wanted more. So, in May of 2017 we started the Heart of Addiction class at MCCX. Starting small, the HOA class has become the most sought after class here at MCCX. In addition, those who have graduated the 14-week class have repeatedly spoken about the class to the Parole Board. This has caused the HOA program to be well respected by those in authority. Since its inception, the HOA class has successfully graduated
193 men. In November we're scheduled to start the The 1st Heart of Addiction Class 13th class. I've also been able to meet another brother, Phil Knapp, and have enjoyed hearing his testimony as he's shared it with the group.
Around this time I was given the responsibility of leading a discipleship group which then morphed into an actual worship service where I am able to preach the Word every Saturday. Desiring to celebrate the Lord's Supper, Elder Ron O'Dell came up with several men from church and started what has become a monthly celebration of the Supper every 1st Saturday.
In 2016 Grace Community Church was also able to start a DVD based ministry here. With a potential viewing audience of 2,400 men, the weekly worship services, Essential Conferences, Men's Conferences and other special events are broadcast through the institution's closed-circuit TV channel.
Last year Grace Community Church was also able to start The Peacemaker program using the book by Ken Sande. This is a 12-week class that deals with anger and conflict resolution. Starting slow, this program looks to be gaining strength like the HOA class did and I'm excited to see what the Lord may be doing.
Earlier this year, because of the work GCC is doing with the HOA class, I was asked if I would be willing to speak the the State drug program participants. Things went better than I expected and I was asked if I wanted to go through the training to become a Certified Peer-Recovery Specialist. The training is schedule for October 24th through the 28th, and I'd like to ask for your prayers. i see this opening up doors for not only myself, but for Grace Community Church as well. My prayer is that since we have so many more new members at GCC, some would be willing to become volunteers here at MCCX. If so, please contact Jason Brown, Pete Zanoni, Fede Mohr, or Phil Knapp. Getting certified is not hard and the ministry here is ripe with opportunities to glorify the Lord.
Okay, my plan is to write part two of this letter after the CRPS training and I'm able to give you more information. In Part 2 1 will update everyone on the various ministries that Grace Community Church conducts here. Until then, I keep you in my prayers.
As things always do, things began to change. Mark Dew went back to school and was unable to come up as much, and then the Classification Department was moved to another prison. This move put me working at my current job on the main compound, and left Kevin Doggett trying to maintain a ministry in an environment where obstacles were thrown in his way. In the course of time ministry there came to an end. At the time I was tempted to think of things negatively — but looking back I can see God's providential hand improving and increasing the ministries of Mark, Kevin and myself. In 2015, I was given the honor of being commissioned as a Missionary to TDOC by the Elders of Grace Community Church.
In time I was also able to meet Jay Brown, and Pete Zanoni, and Fede Mohr. Together we started looking for ministry opportunities. After approaching the Chaplain, we were given the 5 th Monday and 5 th Thursday to hold a worship service. But we wanted more. So, in May of 2017 we started the Heart of Addiction class at MCCX. Starting small, the HOA class has become the most sought after class here at MCCX. In addition, those who have graduated the 14-week class have repeatedly spoken about the class to the Parole Board. This has caused the HOA program to be well respected by those in authority. Since its inception, the HOA class has successfully graduated
193 men. In November we're scheduled to start the The 1st Heart of Addiction Class 13th class. I've also been able to meet another brother, Phil Knapp, and have enjoyed hearing his testimony as he's shared it with the group.
Around this time I was given the responsibility of leading a discipleship group which then morphed into an actual worship service where I am able to preach the Word every Saturday. Desiring to celebrate the Lord's Supper, Elder Ron O'Dell came up with several men from church and started what has become a monthly celebration of the Supper every 1st Saturday.
In 2016 Grace Community Church was also able to start a DVD based ministry here. With a potential viewing audience of 2,400 men, the weekly worship services, Essential Conferences, Men's Conferences and other special events are broadcast through the institution's closed-circuit TV channel.
Last year Grace Community Church was also able to start The Peacemaker program using the book by Ken Sande. This is a 12-week class that deals with anger and conflict resolution. Starting slow, this program looks to be gaining strength like the HOA class did and I'm excited to see what the Lord may be doing.
Earlier this year, because of the work GCC is doing with the HOA class, I was asked if I would be willing to speak the the State drug program participants. Things went better than I expected and I was asked if I wanted to go through the training to become a Certified Peer-Recovery Specialist. The training is schedule for October 24th through the 28th, and I'd like to ask for your prayers. i see this opening up doors for not only myself, but for Grace Community Church as well. My prayer is that since we have so many more new members at GCC, some would be willing to become volunteers here at MCCX. If so, please contact Jason Brown, Pete Zanoni, Fede Mohr, or Phil Knapp. Getting certified is not hard and the ministry here is ripe with opportunities to glorify the Lord.
Okay, my plan is to write part two of this letter after the CRPS training and I'm able to give you more information. In Part 2 1 will update everyone on the various ministries that Grace Community Church conducts here. Until then, I keep you in my prayers.
In time I was also able to meet Jay Brown, and Pete Zanoni, and Fede Mohr. Together we started looking for ministry opportunities. After approaching the Chaplain, we were given the 5 th Monday and 5 th Thursday to hold a worship service. But we wanted more. So, in May of 2017 we started the Heart of Addiction class at MCCX. Starting small, the HOA class has become the most sought after class here at MCCX. In addition, those who have graduated the 14-week class have repeatedly spoken about the class to the Parole Board. This has caused the HOA program to be well respected by those in authority. Since its inception, the HOA class has successfully graduated
193 men. In November we're scheduled to start the The 1st Heart of Addiction Class 13th class. I've also been able to meet another brother, Phil Knapp, and have enjoyed hearing his testimony as he's shared it with the group.
Around this time I was given the responsibility of leading a discipleship group which then morphed into an actual worship service where I am able to preach the Word every Saturday. Desiring to celebrate the Lord's Supper, Elder Ron O'Dell came up with several men from church and started what has become a monthly celebration of the Supper every 1st Saturday.
In 2016 Grace Community Church was also able to start a DVD based ministry here. With a potential viewing audience of 2,400 men, the weekly worship services, Essential Conferences, Men's Conferences and other special events are broadcast through the institution's closed-circuit TV channel.
Last year Grace Community Church was also able to start The Peacemaker program using the book by Ken Sande. This is a 12-week class that deals with anger and conflict resolution. Starting slow, this program looks to be gaining strength like the HOA class did and I'm excited to see what the Lord may be doing.
Earlier this year, because of the work GCC is doing with the HOA class, I was asked if I would be willing to speak the the State drug program participants. Things went better than I expected and I was asked if I wanted to go through the training to become a Certified Peer-Recovery Specialist. The training is schedule for October 24th through the 28th, and I'd like to ask for your prayers. i see this opening up doors for not only myself, but for Grace Community Church as well. My prayer is that since we have so many more new members at GCC, some would be willing to become volunteers here at MCCX. If so, please contact Jason Brown, Pete Zanoni, Fede Mohr, or Phil Knapp. Getting certified is not hard and the ministry here is ripe with opportunities to glorify the Lord.
Okay, my plan is to write part two of this letter after the CRPS training and I'm able to give you more information. In Part 2 1 will update everyone on the various ministries that Grace Community Church conducts here. Until then, I keep you in my prayers.
193 men. In November we're scheduled to start the The 1st Heart of Addiction Class 13th class. I've also been able to meet another brother, Phil Knapp, and have enjoyed hearing his testimony as he's shared it with the group.
Around this time I was given the responsibility of leading a discipleship group which then morphed into an actual worship service where I am able to preach the Word every Saturday. Desiring to celebrate the Lord's Supper, Elder Ron O'Dell came up with several men from church and started what has become a monthly celebration of the Supper every 1st Saturday.
In 2016 Grace Community Church was also able to start a DVD based ministry here. With a potential viewing audience of 2,400 men, the weekly worship services, Essential Conferences, Men's Conferences and other special events are broadcast through the institution's closed-circuit TV channel.
Last year Grace Community Church was also able to start The Peacemaker program using the book by Ken Sande. This is a 12-week class that deals with anger and conflict resolution. Starting slow, this program looks to be gaining strength like the HOA class did and I'm excited to see what the Lord may be doing.
Earlier this year, because of the work GCC is doing with the HOA class, I was asked if I would be willing to speak the the State drug program participants. Things went better than I expected and I was asked if I wanted to go through the training to become a Certified Peer-Recovery Specialist. The training is schedule for October 24th through the 28th, and I'd like to ask for your prayers. i see this opening up doors for not only myself, but for Grace Community Church as well. My prayer is that since we have so many more new members at GCC, some would be willing to become volunteers here at MCCX. If so, please contact Jason Brown, Pete Zanoni, Fede Mohr, or Phil Knapp. Getting certified is not hard and the ministry here is ripe with opportunities to glorify the Lord.
Okay, my plan is to write part two of this letter after the CRPS training and I'm able to give you more information. In Part 2 1 will update everyone on the various ministries that Grace Community Church conducts here. Until then, I keep you in my prayers.
MCCX Mission
June 28th, 2022
June 28th, 2022
TO: Grace Community Church
FROM: Ronald '"Pod' -Martin
FROM: Ronald '"Pod' -Martin
Dear Grace,
I pray this letter finds everyone well and in good health. Its been quite a while since I've updated everyone on the ministry here at MCCX and for that I apologize and ask for your forgiveness. Things at work have improved a great deal and the challenges that I faced in getting this letter out no longer exist. My prayer is that now I can get caught up with everything that has lagged behind for the past 8-9 months. So what has God been doing at MCCX since my last letter?
On February 15th, we graduated the the 10th Heart of Addiction class. There were 22 men who successfully completed the 14 week program. On June 14th, we graduated the 11th Heart of Addiction class and graduated 26 men. This past Tuesday we held the Orientation meeting for the 12th class and had approximately 37 in attendance. I should know tomorrow how many men have returned to actually take the class.
After completing the Old Testament History class in November, I asked the guys (Jay, Pete, Fede and Phil) if they thought it would be a good idea to start a new class using Ken Sande's The Peacemaker. The two major issues that men in prison struggle with seems to be addiction and anger. This seemed like a good way to address both problems in a biblical and Christ-centered way. They guys were in agreement so I started the first Peacemaker's class. Its held after the worship service on Saturdays at 1:30pm to 3:00pm in the main chapel. Uncertain of how many men would sign-up, I only requested 15 books. On February 19th we graduated the first MCCX Peacemaker's class. Many of the men who attended were also graduates of the Heart of Addiction.
On June 14th we also graduated the second Peacemaker's class. There were 11 men who completed the class. Several men confessed (at the last class) that in order to ensure a spot in the class that they had went around and tore down all the flyers on the bulletin boards announcing when the class would start. What started out as both sides (them and l) sizing each other up turned out to be one of the most enjoyable classes I've ever taught. During the last class we all confessed to how we misjudge each other, asked for forgiveness, and walked away having learned more than we bargained for. We were fortunate to be able to invite these men to graduate at the same time as the last Heart of Addiction class.
I was invited (and accepted) to go and speak to the T-Comm class. "T-Comm I ' stands for Therapeutic Community and is the State's alcohol and drug program. I thought they might try and handcuff me and not allow me to speak freely about Christ, but they didn't. In fact, the counselor told me that they had heard so many good things about the Heart of Addiction that they would like for me to speak about that specifically - which I did. The feedback has all been positive and I've been asked if I would speak to their classes once a month if they can get it approved.
On a related note - I was asked by the head of the T-Comm program if I was interested in going through the training to become a Certified Peer-Recovery Specialist and work with addicts. As of this writing, I have been accepted and passed the background check by the TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. My prayer is that this certification will help to open doors here to the Heart of Addiction class. I covet your prayers for this as well.
On February 15th, we graduated the the 10th Heart of Addiction class. There were 22 men who successfully completed the 14 week program. On June 14th, we graduated the 11th Heart of Addiction class and graduated 26 men. This past Tuesday we held the Orientation meeting for the 12th class and had approximately 37 in attendance. I should know tomorrow how many men have returned to actually take the class.
After completing the Old Testament History class in November, I asked the guys (Jay, Pete, Fede and Phil) if they thought it would be a good idea to start a new class using Ken Sande's The Peacemaker. The two major issues that men in prison struggle with seems to be addiction and anger. This seemed like a good way to address both problems in a biblical and Christ-centered way. They guys were in agreement so I started the first Peacemaker's class. Its held after the worship service on Saturdays at 1:30pm to 3:00pm in the main chapel. Uncertain of how many men would sign-up, I only requested 15 books. On February 19th we graduated the first MCCX Peacemaker's class. Many of the men who attended were also graduates of the Heart of Addiction.
On June 14th we also graduated the second Peacemaker's class. There were 11 men who completed the class. Several men confessed (at the last class) that in order to ensure a spot in the class that they had went around and tore down all the flyers on the bulletin boards announcing when the class would start. What started out as both sides (them and l) sizing each other up turned out to be one of the most enjoyable classes I've ever taught. During the last class we all confessed to how we misjudge each other, asked for forgiveness, and walked away having learned more than we bargained for. We were fortunate to be able to invite these men to graduate at the same time as the last Heart of Addiction class.
I was invited (and accepted) to go and speak to the T-Comm class. "T-Comm I ' stands for Therapeutic Community and is the State's alcohol and drug program. I thought they might try and handcuff me and not allow me to speak freely about Christ, but they didn't. In fact, the counselor told me that they had heard so many good things about the Heart of Addiction that they would like for me to speak about that specifically - which I did. The feedback has all been positive and I've been asked if I would speak to their classes once a month if they can get it approved.
On a related note - I was asked by the head of the T-Comm program if I was interested in going through the training to become a Certified Peer-Recovery Specialist and work with addicts. As of this writing, I have been accepted and passed the background check by the TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. My prayer is that this certification will help to open doors here to the Heart of Addiction class. I covet your prayers for this as well.
The Saturday worship service has resumed and is off to a good start. Right now we're using the 1689 London Confession as an outline to give us the topics - I then turn a topical lecture into an expository sermon. I'm hoping this will give the men a larger framework of important doctrines in which to filter the other information they hear around here. Its also a benefit for me to back to the basics.
We've really been enjoying Chris' sermons in 1 Corinthians on the in-house channel. The DVD ministry is invaluable to all of the men who can't attend any of the services. The potential is there to reach 2,400 men at any given time - and since the turnover rate around here is amazing, many of the 2,400 change every few months (thus increasing its potential).
I have a prayer request, but its not really ministry related. l I'd like people to remember a lady who used to work here named Valerie Hopper. She used to work in the same office as me. She professes Christ, but I have serious doubts based on the fruit l I've seen. She knows the Word, and faithfully attends church, and is involved in many of the ministries there. But the devil probably does those things too. To say that this lady is a difficult person to work with and for would be an understatement. In the past 2 years she has angered and offended almost every department at MCCX, and 3 free-world clerks have quit their jobs. Truth be told I almost quit my job a time or two. A complaint was filed and she was found guilty of creating a "hostile work environment" among other things. She resigned a few weeks ago so I no longer have the opportunity to share the gospel with her. I cannot say for sure that she's one of God's elect (only He knows this), but if she's not, my prayer is that in His common grace that she will find some type of peace of mind. I'm not sure how theologically solid that prayer might be, but my heart goes out to her.
Okay, I'd better go for now and get this mailed. I'll be more diligent in the future in getting these updates out. Until next time, take care and
God Bless,
Pod
We've really been enjoying Chris' sermons in 1 Corinthians on the in-house channel. The DVD ministry is invaluable to all of the men who can't attend any of the services. The potential is there to reach 2,400 men at any given time - and since the turnover rate around here is amazing, many of the 2,400 change every few months (thus increasing its potential).
I have a prayer request, but its not really ministry related. l I'd like people to remember a lady who used to work here named Valerie Hopper. She used to work in the same office as me. She professes Christ, but I have serious doubts based on the fruit l I've seen. She knows the Word, and faithfully attends church, and is involved in many of the ministries there. But the devil probably does those things too. To say that this lady is a difficult person to work with and for would be an understatement. In the past 2 years she has angered and offended almost every department at MCCX, and 3 free-world clerks have quit their jobs. Truth be told I almost quit my job a time or two. A complaint was filed and she was found guilty of creating a "hostile work environment" among other things. She resigned a few weeks ago so I no longer have the opportunity to share the gospel with her. I cannot say for sure that she's one of God's elect (only He knows this), but if she's not, my prayer is that in His common grace that she will find some type of peace of mind. I'm not sure how theologically solid that prayer might be, but my heart goes out to her.
Okay, I'd better go for now and get this mailed. I'll be more diligent in the future in getting these updates out. Until next time, take care and
God Bless,
Pod