The Houston ‘Weekend of Champions’ is one of our biggest venues.  We ministered to a prison population of 23,000 inmates in 11 prison facilities.  We had 291 teammates, including 40 speakers.  In addition to locals, people came from all over Texas and as far away as Florida and California.  Five people led someone to Christ for the first time in their life.  One said,

“I couldn’t believe how easy it was to share my faith.  God just gave me the words!”   Twelve of our teammates were ex-cons!   One former inmate had served 9 years, been out for 5, and recounted how we had ministered in his prison while he was there.  A lady said she had served 8 years on a life sentence and has been out since 1986.  One teammate, ministering in the County Jail, told inmates “I used to sleep on that bed over there!”  He led 17 men to Christ that day!

I spoke in 8 units on Friday and 8 units on Saturday.  Please pray for ‘fruit’ that would ‘remain’.  The total for the weekend was

3,712 Decisions for Christ!

‘THE DOOR’ CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH – HOUSTON

It has always been my privilege to preach in a fellowship church when I am in the Houston area.  Pastor Arroyo, his family, and congregation always make me feel special.  I preached revival meetings Sunday through Thursday.  We had a number of people ‘saved’, and lives were touched by God’s power and grace.  I await a report of what God did in our time together.  I had the chance to see a couple we recently ‘launched’ out of our church in Tempe to pioneer a church in Houston.  They hit the ground running and are already making an impact in the city.

When I checked into my hotel, I joked with the desk clerk, “I thought I was getting a room with an ocean view!?”  That was Saturday, and for the next few days the heavens opened and the city got more rain than they have in 100 years (in some areas), and I had ‘an ocean view’ from my window. J

UPDATE FROM BOISE

In our last newsletter I mentioned meeting a man in the segregation unit of the maximum security prison in Boise, ID.  Following our visit, I received a letter from him that said

“.. 9 hours after our visit I did repent and asked God into my heart”.  In a subsequent letter he told me prison officials released him after 8 ½ years in solitary!  He is rejoicing in his new found freedom on ‘Death Row’!  He is studying the Bible with other Death Row inmates and thanked me for my help.  Please pray for Thomas, that he would be truly converted and come to know the Lord Jesus Christ “in the power of His resurrection” (Phillipians 3:10)

E-MAIL FROM AN OLD FRIEND

Dennis, I thought you’d like to see this letter I just sent to the ‘Sacramento Bee’.

“You ran a small Associated Press article in yesterday’s (October 18, 2006) issue of the newspaper.  You quoted Debra Tate, sister of the slain actress Sharon Tate, as saying “These people (referring to the Manson Family) are all declared to be sociopaths.  There is no recovery from this kind of mental illness.”

On the contrary, there is another former member of the Manson gang, whose presence is documented in books and websites about the gang, who did recover.  I met Dennis in about 1980 or so.  He was involved in the attempted breakout of Charles Manson, and had been incarcerated in San Quentin.  While in prison, he became a Christian and devoted his life to helping people turn from the kind of lifestyle he had adopted.  He led my friend, Hugo Tejada, to Christ when Hugo was 18 and detained in San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall.  Hugo has gone on to be a pastor at Church of the Highlands in Daly City, has a successful plumbing business, and is married with two children.

Dennis has been in full time ministry since that time, speaking all over the country to inmates.  His ministry is Free Indeed Ministries.  His children have all gone on to serve the Lord and their communities, and one of his sons is a pastor.”

Victoria Reed
Folsom, CA

Thanks again for your prayers and financial support.  We couldn’t do it without you. 

In Christ,

Dennis Rice