Paul's Story

When we first saw Paul (not his real name) he was on TV. He and other members of his group had just been arrested for the murder of a police officer. We knew we would soon be ministering to him on Texas Death Row.

Pastor Glenn went to see him a couple of months after he arrived on death row. He had accepted Jesus as his Savior at one time, but after Pastor Glenn talked to him, he rededicated his life to Jesus.

Paul had been in a prison prior to this incident. He and 6 other men had escaped and were on the run for about a month before they were captured. After they got out, they broke into a sporting goods store and stole camping equipment, guns and ammunition. As they were leaving, a police officer drove up and they shot and killed him.

When Pastor Glenn asked him why they had killed the officer, he said “We didn’t intend to kill anyone. We just wanted to be free.”

We have kept in contact with Paul; and when Pastor Glenn was well, he went to visit him several times. Each time, Paul seemed to have peace in the situation he was in. He is truly a humble man now. Nothing is impossible with God! Paul is a true demonstration of the changing power of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life.

One time, Paul related that since he had been the leader of the group, he was not being treated very well on death row. Cop killers are really resented by guards and other men and women in uniform. He told of being awakened in the middle of night…told to get up and was moved to other cells. Some the cells were the worst ones in the complex.

Paul has a special call on his life from the Lord. He has been able to remain calm and obedient to whatever comes his way. He does that by staying in God’s word and prayer…receiving the strength of God every day.

When he is moved, he just remembers when the apostle Paul was in prison, how he witnessed to those who were there with him. So, Paul witnesses to everyone around him and that means new people everywhere he goes. He is on fire for God…witnessing, doing Bible studies and writing articles from an inmate’s point of view. We put some of them in our monthly Newsletter from time to time.

We received a request about a year ago from Paul. He wanted to work for the Lord through a ministry before he left this earth. So, Pastor Sandra brought him before the JLM Board of Directors. He had to answer some questions for us and tell us what he was going to minister.

Then, once we all prayed about it and considered the answers he gave us, we decided to license him into our ministry. One of the prayers of JLM Prison Ministry is for the Holy Spirit to break out on death row with a revival that will rock the prison. Paul is part of the answer to that prayer. He stands strong in the power of God, and we thank God for him.

We have received several inmates to minister to through the work Paul is doing behind the scenes on Texas Death Row. We know God will keep him alive and well until his mission on this earth is done.