Take a Risk!

In Season and Out of Season

by Rev. Dale M. Glading, President

On April 13th, our Risk Takers basketball team made its semi-annual trip to Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green FL. Normally, we play a single game in the morning in the south yard before heading over to the north yard for a second game in the afternoon.

Due to staff shortages, our morning and afternoon games on this particular day were limited to the south yard. However, what wasn’t limited was the number of inmates wanting to participate. And so, it was decided that we would play four 20- minute halves - two in the morning and two in the afternoon - against four different inmate teams.

In other words, our exhausted players would have to face wave after wave of fresh bodies every 20 minutes... in 88-degree temperatures! Oh well, anything to share the gospel, right?

And that’s exactly what we did - first by passing out 300 gospel tracts in the morning and another 150 in the afternoon. I say “we,” but I really mean John Kebbel, because as our players were warming up on the basketball court, John was single-handedly passing out the literature at the gate.

As per our custom, at halftime of each game, we gathered the inmates together to present the gospel. I introduced our team and then prepared to pass the microphone to Colton Tingen, one of our newer players. The only problem was that Colt had momentarily forgotten that he was scheduled to share his testimony and so, he was busy passing out Gospels of John to the spectators.

Glancing around to my right, I spotted John Kebbel a few feet away and handed him the mic instead. Without a moment’s hesitation - and without missing a beat - John shared his testimony boldly and effectively, and then passed the mic back to me for the gospel presentation.

In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul admonishes Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” Well, John Kebbel certainly headed Paul’s advice at Hardee CI.

A few books later, Peter exhorts his readers to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to every- one who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” That afternoon, I was given the opportunity to put that verse into practice as it fell on me to preach the gospel for the second time. I say “fell” because we hadn’t decided who was going to preach ahead of time. But since I had just finished telling my teammates that “if you know enough to be saved, you know enough to share the gospel,” it was time to practice what I preached.

John Kebbel and I will both tell you that there is nothing special about either one of us. Or about Colt Tingen either, who shared his testimony that afternoon passionately and eloquently. Simply put, God will use anyone who is willing and available, period.

Yes, God was truly honored that day as 450 men were exposed to the Good News of Jesus Christ and seven of them made professions of faith in Jesus Christ!

Wanted: Dead or Alive!

by Os Hillman, TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12)

In the old west it was common to see a poster on the wall of the town jail or post office with a man's picture below the words: Wanted: Dead or Alive! These were the most notorious criminals who posed the greatest danger to society.

Let me ask you a personal question. Is there a "Wanted: Dead or Alive" poster in hell with your name on it? Are you a real danger to hell? Do you cause problems for Satan's legion of demons? Are you pushing back Satan's agenda on planet earth?

Are the unsaved in danger of receiving salvation through you? Will someone receive healing because you dared to pray for them? Will someone's life be impacted because you chose to pray for them in your workplace during a difficult time? Will a city be impacted for Jesus Christ because of you?

Risk Takers Wins the Gold!

For the second straight year, Risk Takers for Christ has been awarded the Gold Seal of Transparency by Guidestar, the world's leading certification agency for non-profit organizations. That prestigious designation ranks Risk Takers in the Top 0.5% of all Guidestar registered nonprofit organizations in the world!

It also means that you can donate to Risk Takers for Christ with the utmost confidence, knowing that your gifts are wisely used and accurately reported. To review our 2019 Guidestar profile, please visit
https:www.guidestar.org/Profile/9170671

Prisoner Mailbag

Hey there Dale, Chris & Matt,

What’s up guys? How are you all doing? I pray that all is well with you and all are in good health. Pray that your family and all are okay and that things are going good for you and yours in everyone’s favor.

Although it’s been a good minute since your last visit here to Tomoka CI, I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to reach out to you and to also thank you for taking time to come to us and bring such joy and encouragement as you did.

If you remember, I’m Robert (Coach), I was the guy sitting at the little table keeping score (the scorekeeper). I did speak with you all and enjoyed the fellowship as well as the love, care, and concern that you brought and shared.

The guys really enjoyed you all and still talk about how touched they was and the impact it (you) left on them. Although the games were nice and exciting. The testimonies from you guys had such an impact and touched so many guys lives. That they want to hear and see you all again.

I’d like for us to please stay connected. I know and do understand that you’re busy and have a lot going on. But it really means a lot that you do, I need it and pray for it.

Please continue to stay strong and in good health. Looking forward to hearing back from you, until then God Bless you all!

Your Bro. in Christ,
Robert (Coach Bennett), Tomoka CI

P.S. Thank you for the donation of the game ball, we really needed it. If possible as we discussed about a scoreboard you might have available to send us. Also if possible anything else you know or saw that we could use can you please donate it to us?

Again, Thank You for coming, you’re truly a Blessing to so many, Keep on Blessing!

Editor’s Note: We sent a new tabletop scoreboard to Tomoka CI and received thank you notes from both the warden and the recreation director.