Eufaula, Alabama

"Thankful Baptist Church"

Alabama

Eufaula, Alabama

      In this part of the country there are still many churches with no ethnic diversity. Most (but not all) are all white, all black, etc.

 

     Four years ago I attended the “Thankful Baptist Church” here in Eufaula, Alabama. These folks had never seen or met me before. I was the only non-African American in the congregation. They very graciously invited me to share a bit before the sermon and even provided a love offering for the ministry at the end of the service.

Which was rather humbling, because:

      

     Early in the meeting when they took up their regular offering, I placed a twenty dollar bill in the plate which was my tithe for that particular week.

     The young man leaned down and asked if I needed change.

Opened my eyes to the relative poor circumstance of these dear folks.

      This year I was out early enough Sunday morning to sing at the nursing home in town for a half hour before driving over to this same church where I was again given the opportunity to share a bit.

May God Bless You!

Yours in Christ,

Larry Eugene Stevens

Ocilla, Georgia

Jay & Kathy's house

Ocilla, Georgia

      Jay and Kathy have for many years now given me a place to park at their house while I'm in this area. They pastor a couple of churches here which I get to share in. As well as the nursing homes nearby.

 

     Also had an appointment at the ear, nose and throat specialist who did the tube surgery thing last year. The tube had come out of the ear drum like it's suppose to and remained in the ear canal. They removed it and proclaimed the ear looking healthy and healed.

      Tadpole (James) has done mechanical work on the van through the years. He also recently started to pastor a couple of small churches. This year I got to share in the churches and he's also repairing the ac/heater fan and servicing the transmission.

      The last time I did an oil change I noticed a crack in the muffler. So while here I also got a new muffler and front brake pads.

All part of keeping-it-going so to speak.

 May God Bless You!

Yours in Christ,

Larry Eugene Stevens

Quitman, Georgia

The Refuge

“The Refuge”

Quitman, Georgia

Andy & Bonnie ministered in prisons in a five-hundred mile radius for many years. Then at one point they started “The Refuge” on a forty-five acre piece of property.

They offer a pre-release program for prisoners who obtain paroles contingent on them completing this nine-month faith-based program. These men spend the first three months living and working on the property, attending daily bible classes among other types of training.

They then get jobs in the area including rides to and from, for the remaining six months. They receive an allowance from their earnings for incidentals, the rest going into an escrow account which they receive upon completion of the program , giving them a financial nest-egg to get started.

Part of their parole condition is that if they walk away from this program, they go back to prison. A strong incentive to stick it out. So much so that The Refuge has the best record in the State of Georgia for men Not going back into prison, long-term.

For over a decade I've been given a place to park on the property as I minister in the nursing home and churches in the area.

Andy passed on a couple of years ago. Bonnie has kept things going with lots of help. They now have two buildings housing seventeen men each, a few mobile homes for families who have stayed on to help in administration and several other buildings including a large structure with offices, classrooms and a Sanctuary.

May God Bless You!

Yours in Christ,

Larry Eugene Stevens