February 2011

Greetings in Christ's name!

One of our spiritual sons wrote this:

"I do understand how baptism will clean our heart from all evil and allow God’s love within our soul. It has taken a lot of faith to get where I am in my life now, deep soul searching too. Sometimes we are all faced with things in our life that are challenging and which we have no control over. I certainly made very bad choices in my past and realize that I had to pay a high price for those mistakes. But at least I can say I’ve learned my lesson! My deliverance came when I personally accepted Jesus Christ into my life. Everything for me became very clear, and the road was chosen for me. The Orthodox Christian Church is my life now, and I must always do the right thing. I do love life and my family." -Terry

One of the disciplines of Great Lent is the remembrance of those who are in prison. Over the years we have had thousands of discarded humans who feel that there is no hope or place to anchor their faith to. The beauty of Orthodox Christianity is that we are very aware of those who are behind bars. I do not want to sound dramatic, but I feel that there is a day coming where we Orthodox Christians will be persecuted, mocked, and even locked up in jail. There will be a day where those who are anti-Christian will call our Holy Scriptures a book of hate.

Many of the prisoners that we deal with are not allowed to practice the devotional faith of the Orthodox church. We have to send letters, which we are happy to do, to explain to the prison wardens what the Orthodox Christian faith is.  If the prison systems do not allow prisoners to practice their Orthodox Christian faith, then someday we will face the same dilemma. I am not trying to be a prophet of doom.

 
Forgive me if I sound like a negative prophet. Over the years it has become much more difficult for our prisoners to receive literature regarding the Orthodox Christian faith. I believe this is a fight worth putting our heart, prayers, and life into. Please continue to pray for prisoners and for their salvation.

May the beauty of heaven consume you,

Fr. David Ogan