July Prayer Letter- Bob Lay

July 1, 2015

Dear Friends and Family,

How exciting it is to see a growing network of Christian workers and organizations joining forces across the U.S. (and the world) in order to equip and empower men and women who were formerly the devil’s recruits, so they can be appointed to effective gospel ministry! Rodrigo, Bob’s newest TUMI student (pictured above), is one of them. Born into a broken home, Rod was raised by Christian grandparents, taken to church and baptized at a young age. Sadly, the church’s influence could not compete with neighborhood gang life. In sharing his testimony, Rod says, “I stopped reading the Bible and started listening to punk rock and drinking in the atheist mentality that goes along with it. By age sixteen, I ran away from home, started using heroin, committing crimes and doing time.”

This kind of life detour–first captive to the enemy and then transformed by him into a public enemy–is very common in all our cities. To rescue and restore a single precious life requires many parts of the body of Christ working together! Thankfully, Rod’s detour was briefer than some. On his fourth incarceration he landed in a cell with a Christian believer who listened to Rod pour out his heart and led him back to Christ. Eager to begin sharing his new life in Christ, Rod soon enrolled in TUMI classes at the jail.

“It’s one thing to believe in Christ, but it’s a whole other thing to know what you believe about Christ. And that’s what TUMI is doing for me–I am learning what it is exactly that I have faith in, as well as why.” Now released from the L.A. County jail, Rod lives at a newly established TUMI house for former inmates (also pictured here). The house was begun by a local pastor supportive of TUMI who has a heart for former inmates. In addition to working part-time and fulfilling the requirements of his parole, Rodrigo is now attending TUMI classes on Tuesday nights and serving at his sponsoring church. If you should meet this young man and ask, “Rod, what has God done for you?” the result is predictable–his head drops and he cries huge tears, after which he testifies to the many ways God has watched over and provided for him for as long as you are willing to listen!

Please pray for Rodrigo and his fellow TUMI students in the TUMI recovery home on Crenshaw Avenue here in L.A., and for the ministry God has for each of them in the coming days. Pray also for TUMI’s missional partnerships with organizations such as Prison Fellowship, Awana Lifeline Ministries, and, God willing, soon with the U.S. Center for World Missions. Let us know how we can be praying for you!

Bob and Chris