Joshua W. Thompson
1208296
Walls Unit 815 12th St. Huntsville, Texas 77348
March-April 2010

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
    Hanging directly above my desk at work is a small photo of a shallow stream that is running peacefully between two great stands of trees with deep vegetation.  I feel as if I am walking through it with a fishing pole in my hand, alone, undisturbed as I have often done in my youth.  The noise of the water’s small current and its ripples over stones and brush was comforting and soothing: a quiet place of refuge from the responsibilities and burdens of life.
    These prison walls, the many noises of the masses of men inclosed behind them, and the turmoil of angry guards and raging men vary little from the turmoil each of you are surrounded with.  Yet the sweet and undisturbed presence of the Holy Spirit peacefully flows through our beings providing us security, joy, and comfort in the face of every adversity.  James 1:17 speaks of every good and perfect gift coming down from our Father above, but sweeter still is the reminder that states “...in whom there is no variable or shadow of turning.”  If only we would allow the peace of God and His Spirit to rule our hearts and minds.
    In the past few months, I have been reassigned as an office janitor to work for the superintendent over the whole mechanical and welding shop.  The job has allowed me to serve him as well as the other inmates who are clerks.  I keep the floors buffed and waxed, empty the trash, keep their cups filled and all other janitorial type of duties.  I am provided with a small office of my own, a desk, and much time of my own to read the Word, study, pray, and meditate. 
    The Bible studies with the men (Thursday P.M. and Saturday A.M.) have continued to be blessed with a good, faithful group of young brothers who are eager to study and learn the Scriptures.  At this present time, we have dedicated to surveying the Old Testament and to committing to memory the major events in chronological order of the books written during each Bible period.  The men have memorized the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, ten plagues, the events of Israel wandering in the wilderness, and many other important facts.  Each of them are assigned several events to study and report to the group the following week.  At work two of the brothers are counted with me, and we review the events, names, and places recorded.  It has amazed me to see their dedication and energy devoted to the study of Father’s Word.
    Several weeks ago one of the men was released and paroled to our home in Austin.  My brother-in-law Nathan has given him employment and opened his home to him as well.  Members of the Spanish church I pastored have cared for him and accompanied him in the evenings and on the weekends.  Please continue to lift Craig Nichols up in prayer.  He is the second brother from our fellowship here to return to Austin and to worship with our church family.  Russell, the first one, has been very faithful in his service and is on his third year of fellowship since his incarceration.  Praise the Lord!  Others have remained faithful but have returned to their homes and families.  Craig is from Amarillo, and Russell is from San Antonio.  Please pray for the salvation of Russell’s wife and his two teenage sons.  Thank you, dear brothers.
    If any of you would like Bible covers or other leather items made, please do contact my wife.  Our books are now available through Victory Baptist Press.  Anyone needing assistance with cost, we would gladly send you a free copy as soon as possible.  Thank you, Bro. Love, for your assistance and help with their distribution and especially to our dear sisters at Victory Baptist Bookstore for your vigilance and sacrifice with mailing them out with no expense to us.  What a tremendous blessing so many of you have been to our lives and to our precious and Godly wives.  We love you and continue to lift up in prayer the requests you have sent to us.  God bless each of you in your faithful and noble service for His kingdom.

                                    Your brother,
                                    Joshua Thompson

Joshua W. Thompson
1208296
Walls Unit 815 12th St. Huntsville, Texas 77348
Jan-Feb 2010

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
    What a blessed year this has been for Maressa and me.  Our hope only burns brighter as time passes and the struggles of yesterday have become victories through the mercies of our Father.  A year ago our Dad was dying, our marriage was struggling and there were so many burdens on our hearts.  Prayer after prayer has been answered and the host of uncertainties that troubled us have been calmed at the hand of Father.
    My back injuries have altered my form of habits, abilities and job but they are have also freed me from personal dependence to closer dependence on Father and His plan for my life.  My new job as a clerk, forklift driver, and janitor have enabled me to minister to many in need of Christ and His love.  It has opened many doors of ministry and closed others unnecessary obligations.  His way is perfect!
    In October a captain informed me that I would not be allowed to work in the craft shop but in less than three days his signature was on my card, good for three months.  The craft shop is a place where we can purchase leather and build belts, Bible covers, duffle bags, etc for friends and family.  This past week I was given the approval to remain in the craft shop permanently by the same captain.  If any are interested in custom made Bible covers, please feel free to contact my wife.  At this point I work for a friend and am not at liberty to price the items but maybe soon Father will open that door as well.
    I do believe that the book I have written will be published by the end of this month or at least by the end of February at the latest.  For any updates on the book, please check the web site.  I pray it will encourage those who are struggling with similar issues spiritually to find comfort and hope in Father’s plan.  Please do not write or contact officials on our behalf due to the offenses that have befallen us but do pray for the souls who have done us wrong.  My wife has worked on it tirelessly for nearly a year and I praise the Lord for her love and support.
    This past month many have sent books, letters, e-mails and checks.  I would like to make note that we can NOT receive checks or money orders here at our unit and we are rarely notified when they are returned to the sender.  They can be sent to our wives or our wives can notify you as to the correct process.  Thank you dear brothers and sisters for your faithful support, friendship and fellowship.
    The brothers here continue to grow in the image of Christ and to share His Word with others.  Souls have been saved and our numbers continue to grow.  Please do pray for two dear brothers, Nick and Joe.  Nick will soon go home and Joe not long after him.  Do notify us if we can pray with you for some specific request or burdens.  We love you!  God bless you!  Happy New Year!
                                            Your brother,
                                            Joshua
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Maressa Thompson
PO BOX 90682
Austin, TX 78709
jpastorjosue@yahoo.com
512-431-9137       

Joshua W. Thompson

1208296

Walls Unit 815 12th St. Huntsville, Texas 77348

November-December 2009

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

As she held my hand, my beautiful wife gently reminded me this very morning of my need to write this letter and to once again record Father’s goodness and the great blessings He bestowed upon us these past months and years.  How I wish I could more accurately share with each of you the miracles He has wrought so very often on our behalf.  With the help of my precious wife and many close brothers in Christ, I have written thirty different detailed accounts of life here in prison and how Father graciously interceded on our behalf.  The book is near completion and will soon be available for those who would like to know more about the past six years and how Father has blessed us abundantly.

I have just finished reading the book Peace Child, a detailed account of several missionaries who gave their lives for our Lord and for the salvation of the lost tribes of New Guinea.  I wonder how many dear men and women of God are on a foreign field right now, making sacrifices we could not possibly understand and hazarding their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  Instead of sharing our stories this month I would rather appeal with you, my brothers and sisters, to give yourselves with me to prayer and fasting for our dear brothers who have forsaken all for Christ’s sake.  Love is of no value if it is not shared with others.  It is not enough to pray and fast if we are not also seeking the Spirit of God to open the doors for us to minister to the needs of these dear saints who so desperately need our support and fellowship.  How can our hearts not be stirred to share their burdens and callings?  How can we offer any less to the One who has saved us and called us with a holy calling?

I weep as I read of their accounts and of their sacrifices, and I wish I could give my life as they have.  However, Father has chosen us to remain behind to assist them and their needs to reach the lost.  Our ministry is different but our calling is the same: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel...”  We must sacrifice ourselves to minister to the needs of others.  Our missionaries must never be forgotten or left to serve alone.  Dear brothers, I plead with you to contact these men of God and to seek to minister to the needs they might have.  All of us have something yet to offer, something left to give.  They need to feel, to see and to experience the love of God’s people and our support of their ministries.  Have we exhausted God’s provisions and given everything or does a reserve of both still remain?  It may be that the two mites we withhold might cost the salvation of a soul, and we might be responsible for the return of another dear saint and soldier of God.

When was the last time we spent a night in prayer and in fellowship with Father over the needs of our missionaries?  Is there a greater time than the present to stand with them in prayer, fellowship, and support?  We must no longer neglect our responsibilities to our brothers.  Please pray with me; fast and seek Father’s face for a supernatural work on their behalf.  Take a new step of faith; go where you have never gone before if you desire to see Father open up the windows of Heaven and pour out His blessings on others.  His heart is moved by our prayers, our cries, and our tears.  Dear brothers, let us give ourselves to prayer.  If they are dependent on our support and prayers, will they perish?  I only write these things because I believe you care for God’s saints and desire to minister to their needs regardless of the cost and sacrifices to yourselves.

May Father’s face shine brightly on each of you who love His saints, who pray with us on their behalf, who spend a night in prayer, a day in fasting, who make some phone calls, and send some letters.  God bless you, dear brothers!

Your brother,

Joshua