Quote of the Month: June 2018

God began to move, as He does… He’s famous for moving.”

-David Palmer, Purposeful Design

My friend, David Palmer, said these words at our most recent UNITE INDY forum as he described how God moved to help him provide needed jobs for men he had met at Wheeler Mission. But last week this quote appeared again at the end of a letter from an inmate at Putnamville Correctional Facility who corresponds with my wife, Nancy.

She had sent him the transcript of that forum on the employment crisis in our inner city – which he devoured. He is so anxious for a time when he can be free to work and live a normal life as a child of the Most High God, whom he quotes constantly in his letters.

His name is Jesse, and 20 years ago he did some bad things as a result of a wretched childhood of crisis and lack. But today he is a model prisoner who lives in the Honor Ward. He is full to overflowing with the Word of God, through the tireless work of prison ministries headed by Indianapolis pastor Darryl Webster and others.

Jesse prays for a sentence modification that would shorten his time by a year or two. “Maybe by the grace of God, I’ll get a ‘yes’ this time,” he wrote. But, “given a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ I’m going to continue preparing myself.” Then, with hope in his heart, he wrote David’s quote at the bottom of the letter.

Knowing full well there but for the grace of God go we, we pray today that all those in prison will, like Jesse, find the transformation that God truly offers. We thank God for David Palmer, for his good work among so many who benefit from his loving care, for David’s humble leadership, and for these powerful words that convey the trust we also have in Him who lead us to start UNITE INDY.

Yes, God “is famous for moving!”
Jim

“…With God, all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26

Published by