Peace Officers for Christ International Peacemakers' Journal - January/February 1995

Our time in Denver was inspiring and loaded with opportunities to meet Christian officers who are enthusiastic about the ministry of Peace Officers For Christ. One day, as we were driving to the Aurora Police Department, I was reading to Keita from our last issue of the Peacemakers 'Journal. Suddenly, as I was sharing from a letter written by Eddie and Teri Boon in Arkansas, Keita grabbed the magazine out of my hands. The next thing I knew, he was showing his Chaplain's badge to two Denver police officers who had pulled up next to us in their patrol car. Keita handed them a copy of the Journal and said it was from two carloads of police officers from Los Angeles. The van behind us, driven by Manny Martinez, the president of Barnabas International Mission, also contained Randy Green, Tony Miano and Ken Masse. They were laughing so hard they almost ran into the back of Keita's car. The Denver officers were also laughing and thanked Keita for the magazine. That is just one example of the fun we had together. It was also a time where all present sensed that God was leading in our lives and laying the foundation for His plans for the future ministry of Peace Officers For Christ International.

We are also privileged to introduce you to Pastor Ray and Barbara Payne who are now our Regional Representatives for the East Coast. Through the tragic death of their son, David, (see the Sept/Oct issue of the Peacemakers' Journal) the Lord has raised them up and placed them into an exciting pioneer outreach to police officers.

We encourage you to pray that these three families would be used mightily by the Lord to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to officers and their families! As God is blessing us, the enemy has taken a renewed interest in attacking our leadership. For that reason we encourage you to see the importance of prayer for this ministry. As our prayer support base grows, we are confident that this ministry will continue to expand in the strength of the Lord.

If you have not already made plans to attend our annual Police Couples' Conference at Forest Home, there is no better time than now! Join us for a first hand report of what God is doing in the Eastern United States and Colorado. Both the Paynes and the Andrews will be attending. Keita's wife, Sheliah, has promised to sing for us! You will not want to miss it! We are also praying that God would make it possible for Randy and Marlene Green to attend the conference. Would you pray with us? You will be blessed if it works out for you to hear first hand of the miracles that are occurring in Venezuela!

Dave McDowell- Director

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OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of Peace Officers For Christ International is to bring peace officers and their families to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our desire is winning of the unsaved to Christ, helping Christians develop their spiritual lives and seeing that new believers are discipled through involvement with Bible preaching, evangelical churches.

We also seek a visible, deepened commitment to Christ from those chosen to serve and protect our society through Christian couples conferences, dinner banquets, church involvement, prayer meetings and Bible studies.

We will continue to seek the Lord's guidance in reaching out to provide for the spiritual needs of peace officers and their families.

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MISSION: EASTERN UNITED STATES

Pastor Ray & Barbara Payne

Ray and Barbara Payne are the parents of David R. Payne, a Lewiston, Maine police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on July 23, 1988. David's story, "Only One Son, " was featured in the September/October 1994 issue of the Peacemakers ' Journal.

Since their son's tragic death, the Paynes have allowed the Lord to turn their loss into a ministry that reaches out to the law enforcement community. Their warmth and love for the Lord have resulted in a tremendous acceptance from the officers they meet.

Two Bible verses that have greatly influenced their lives are found in II Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Ray concluded from these verses that "God comforts us to make us comforters, not just to make us comfortable." "The Paynes are committed to "being there" for the law enforcement community. Since 1989, the year their son, David, was honored, they have attended the Annual Peace Officers ' Memorial Service held in Washington, D.C. They have worked as a team in presenting the ministry that God has entrusted to them in services and seminars to churches, youth camps, retreats and Christian colleges and schools. They have also ministered to and done seminars for police departments and other law enforcement agencies. Ray has spoken at many police memorial services as well as police appreciation events. One pastor who invited the Paynes to northern Maine for a Police Appreciation Sunday spoke volumes about their ministry when he said, "Law enforcement is a needy and most neglected mission field!"

Ray and Barbara's ministry has not been without fruit. Last year, while they were ministering at the Word Of Life Law Enforcement Conference in upstate New York, Ray was approached by an officer who was attending the conference. He was one of the officers who had responded to the call where Ray's son, David, lost his life. Although he was the at the scene that Saturday afternoon on July 23rd, 1988, it was David who entered the wooded area first -at the cost of his own life.

The officer walked through the door of the meeting room and, with arms extended, walked right to Ray! A long embrace and a time of tears followed. No words were spoken for quite a while. The officer said he had come to know Christ as his Savior!

On the Monday morning following the conference, the Paynes' daughter, Ginny, phoned to tell them that another close police friend of David's had trusted in Christ as his Savior too! Praise God for His goodness! It would seem that the Lord is not through with His purposes in their lives!

God has uniquely prepared the Paynes for the ministry He has given them. In the pastorate for over twenty-one years, Ray has pastored churches both in New Hampshire and Maine. A graduate of Philadelphia Bible College, Ray holds an advanced certificate from the Evangelical Teacher Training Association. He has also served as a consultant for a national educational curriculum company working at the Christian elementary and secondary levels as well as conducting seminars and workshops. Besides being a wife, mother, and homemaker, Barbara has taught in Christian schools, children's groups, and women's Bible studies.

In addition to their son, David, the Paynes have four daughters. They are also the proud grandparents of fifteen grandchildren, including twelve grandsons and three granddaughters! (Two of their grandchildren, a boy and a girl, have already gone to be with the Lord).

With their home in Schroon Lake, New York, Ray and Barbara have ready access to any area of the Eastern United States that God might direct them.

Please pray for Ray and Barbara as they continue to make contacts for Peace Officers For Christ throughout the East Coast and beyond. Ray and Barbara are also looking forward to meeting many of you at our annual Law Enforcement Conference.

Editor's Note: The Paynes have been accepted as full-time missionaries with Peace Officers For Christ International. There is an immediate need for an increase in their personal support for living and ministry expenses in New York. If the Lord would lead you to financially support Ray and Barbara as they dedicate their lives to the work of Peace Officers For Christ, your gifts should be directed to:
Peace Officers For Christ International
3000 W. MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 426
Santa Ana, CA 92704-6962
(Checks can be made payable to POFCI and designated to the Paynes' support.)

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Mission: Venezuela!

Randy & Marlene Green

Peace Officers For Christ Welcomes New Regional Representatives to Venezuela!

The boards of directors of Barnabas International Mission and Peace Officers For Christ International have approved Randy Green and his family to dedicate their entire work in South America to Peace Officers For Christ International. As we work together with the staff of Barnabas, we hope to provide you with an opportunity to support the Greens, both financially and in prayer. The stated purpose of Bamabas International Mission is the recruiting, training, and encouraging of believers to do the work God has called them to do, both in the United States and around the world. Their desire is to obey God as He unfolds His plan day by day. Bamabas is committed to facilitating and encouraging a variety of ministries in the lives of believers including: Prayer, Evangelism, Church Planting, Discipleship, Christian Education, and Missions.

The following, written by Randy Green, will show you what a great God we have who pays attention to every detail in our lives. This story will also give you an update on how God is working to draw Police Officers to Himself in Venezuela.

"I was eight years old when my parents went to Argentina as missionaries. While I was in my junior year in high school, God called me to serve Him as a missionary. At age 18, I left Argentina to go to Bible School. I met my wife, Marlene, while studying at Western Bible College in Colorado. Marlene had grown up on a farm in northeastern Colorado and God had led her to Bible College in preparation for missionary work.

"Following Bible School, I went to Denver Seminary to further my studies. Marlene and I were married during my second year. In 1980, the Lord allowed me to join the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Upon graduating from the academy, I was assigned to work in the jail. Later, I went on to work patrol. I graduated from Denver Seminary with an M.A. in missions in 1982.

"Marlene and I felt that God wanted us to go to Los Angeles to work among Hispanics. I wanted to work with a mission, but God made it clear that I was to be self-supporting. As a result, I applied to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and was hired in mid-1982. Following academy training, it was another stint in the jail, this time in the Old Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles.

"Spiritually, for the previous several years, I had begun walking in the flesh. I was miserable because I had lost the joy and intimate communion of the Holy Spirit I had once enjoyed. I spent little time reading the Word or in prayer and I seldom shared my faith in Jesus Christ with others. I had tried to fill the void with entertainment and material things, but they did little to satisfy.

"The 4th of July 1983,1 was working the graveyard shift at the jail. I was assigned to an outdoor position and found myself alone in an observation deck. It seemed like my spiritual misery was the worst I had ever known. That night, I cried out to the Lord, telling Him I would rather die than continue the miserable life of a carnal Christian. I asked Him to revive me and do whatever He wanted with my life. Suddenly, about 2 A.M., the Holy Spirit came in power upon my life. It was as if a searchlight had exposed my heart and I saw my sin as God saw it. In those terrible moments, I realized how very much I had grieved the Holy Spirit and how far I had backslidden. As I confessed and repented in brokenness before the Lord, He showed me that I had been holding onto my life and trying to control everything myself. God was asking me to relinquish control to Him. During the next few moments, in faith, I let go of everything and turned every area of my life over to the Lord. All of a sudden, it was as if a fire had begun burning within me.

"This was a turning point for me. I began to have such a hunger for God's Word that it was as if I could not read enough. I started to pray as I had never prayed before and to look for opportunities to pray and seek the Lord. The desire to witness of what God had done was so strong that I felt compelled to share my faith with everyone I could. When opportunities came up in the jail to share with inmates and deputies, I spoke with great joy of what Christ had done in my life.

"After ten months working in the jail, I was assigned to Lakewood Station patrol. The opportunities of being a witness for Jesus Christ were frequent. I chose to work the graveyard shift so that I could start an Hispanic congregation in La Puente.

"The city I patrolled had four deputies assigned to my shift. Two of us were believers and we had many opportunities to witness to the other two. Within about six months, one of them committed his life to Jesus Christ. The other deputy was more than a little worried since now he was working with three Christians who were sharing their faith with him. The three of us who were believers bought him a Bible. Two years ago I heard that this deputy was now a believer. Praise God for answered prayer!

"In 1986, the Lord led Marlene and me to apply to a mission agency for ministry in Venezuela in church planting and evangelism. I resigned my position with the Sheriff's Department and we moved back to Colorado. As we began to share our vision for Venezuela with churches and friends, I returned to patrol duties with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

"We left for Costa Rica in December of 1987 so Marlene could study Spanish. Eight months later we were in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Caracas has a population of over six million. The people are squeezed into a small valley giving the city one of the highest population densities in the Americas. With only 1% of the people being evangelicals, Caracas is one of the most unreached cities in Latin America.

"During our first term in Venezuela we saw the Lord plant a church and change many lives through His great power. Those years were a time of growing and maturing in our own lives and of seeing God reveal Himself to us in many ways. It was also a time when we began to learn more about spiritual warfare as we engaged the enemy daily. With most of the population having been involved in some form of occultic activity at one time or another, Satan's grasp over Venezuela is very strong. This truth is evident in the fact that Venezuela has just about the least number of believers per capita in Latin America.

"After completing our first term we returned to the States for a brief furlough. Upon returning to Venezuela, we relocated to Rubio, a small town on the southern border of the country where our children could attend a missionary childrens' school. Marlene and I had been wondering what specific ministry God was preparing us for. It seemed that after a year of being there, we were at a standstill, waiting for the Lord's specific leading.

"Then, in October 1994, I received a phone call from Dave McDowell with Peace Officers For Christ in California. Dave told me he was coming to Caracas for a police conference in November and asked if I could meet with him there. When I learned that Peace Officers For Christ was a ministry to law enforcement people, I became very excited! Although I had been interested in reaching out to peace officers in Venezuela, God had not yet opened a door of opportunity to do so.

"A few short weeks later, I drove to Caracas and met Dave and Nancy McDowell as well as Darrell Owens, a chaplain with the Anaheim (CA) Police Department. Little did I know where that meeting would lead. In Caracas, we also met Graciela Garcia who was helping us make contacts for this ministry. Graciela, a well known, award winning journalist in Venezuela, had come to Christ in July 1994 while attending a police chaplains' conference in Portland, Oregon. She had put together an impressive week of meetings with mayors and police chiefs as well as military leaders and government officials.

"During our time together, Dave and Darrell asked me to translate for them. God anointed them as they spoke of their ministry and testified before many important Venezuelan dignitaries. This was the first time in the history of Venezuela that an American evangelical police officer and a police chaplain had addressed government, military and police officials with the gospel message. I was amazed to see the openness and responsiveness in a country whose government is known for being anti-evangelical and where the established church has stopped believers from engaging in many ministry opportunities.

"As I watched events unfolding, I wondered where all this would lead. Little did I know that this was just the beginning. POFC asked me to become their representative in Venezuela. After Dave and Darrell left, I was invited by the Chief of the Baruta Police Department to attend a police training conference in Caracas. At that conference, I was able to present the ministry of POFC to a number of police chiefs. Darrell had sent me the chaplains manual that the Anaheim (CA) Police Department uses. After translating it to Spanish I was able to give it to three of the police chiefs that I had met. Ken Masse, one of my drill instructors at the Los Angeles Sheriff's Academy and later my patrol sergeant at Lakewood Station, sent me a police training video that we were able to provide to the chiefs as well. The police chief of Maracaibo, the second largest city in Venezuela, asked me to come and present the ministry to their police department.

"I was also invited by the commander of the Metropolitan Police in El Hatillo to talk to his men during briefing. All the men stood at attention while I told them about our ministry and presented the gospel to them. Then, the commander gave me permission to hand out the tract, "Only One Son," which POFC had translated into Spanish.

After the briefing I was told that a sergeant on their police department had been involved in a vehicle accident the week before. His only son, age 19, was with him. The sergeant lived for his boy and was sacrificing to provide him with a university education. This son, the sergeant's only child, was killed in the accident. I visited the sergeant in the hospital. Because of the seriousness of his injuries, he had still not been told of his son's death. I gave him a copy of the "Only One Son" tract and prayed with him. Several of the officers told me that the tract had impacted their lives.

"The 3rd of January, I was called by the police chief of Baruta who asked me how soon I could start work as their chaplain. This is a first for Venezuela! There have never been any evangelical police chaplains in the history of this country. As a result of all this, we are moving to Caracas in February. Benjamin (age 15) will stay and board at school in Rubio. Nathaniel (age 12), Jonathan (age 10), Andrew (age 5) and Rachel (age 1) will go with us.The older boys will attend a missionary school in Caracas, only ten minutes from the apartment the Lord has provided for us.

"We plan to start a chaplains' ministry in Baruta in February. We also have a desire to be involved in church planting in the town of El Hatillo, a suburb of Caracas. Please continue to uphold us in prayer as God moves to establish His kingdom in the hearts of the Venezuelan people."

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given Me. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20a

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MISSION COLORADO
Keita & Sheliah Andrews

Keita Andrews, like Randy Green, is a graduate of Western Bible College in Morrison, Colorado. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Bamabas International Mission and serves as chaplain to the Inner-City Health Center in Denver. Keita is also in charge of the chaplain program for the Aurora, Colorado Police Department where he has served for the past five years.

The Lord has blessed Keita with a love for police officers and has gifted him with the unique ability to relate to and work with officers on the street. As a police chaplain, Keita has witnessed innumerable tragedies, both on the streets and in the lives of officers. He has been there to pray with and minister to police officers in their times of deepest need. He has also functioned as their backup when assisting units were too far away. One night he had to pull the shotgun on an armed suspect who was seriously considering engaging his partner in a gunfight. Keita's presence of mind and quick thinking dissuaded the would-be cop killer and convinced him to surrender his gun.

Keita has also learned that the police officer's greatest enemy can often be himself. According to recent statistics, today's police officer is twice as likely to die by his own hand than he is to die at the hands of another. Keita knows that this cruel reality often comes about when a police officer loses hope about the future. He also knows that the only real hope for the future is the Lord Jesus Christ and has been instrumental in presenting Christ as the solution to many officers who were losing hope. Recently, both Keita and Sheliah sensed that the Lord was calling them directly into a more focused ministry with peace officers and their families. They are anxiously looking forward to the challenge of networking as POFC's Regional Representatives in Colorado.

Keita's personal philosophy of leadership is squarely founded on the Biblical mandate to disciple men and women (Matthew 28:18-20). His spiritual gifts lie in the areas of evangelism (outreach & training), discipleship, teaching and exhortation.

We have already scheduled Keita to conduct a "personal Evangelism" workshop at POFC's Law Enforcement Conference April 10-12, 1995, at Forest Home Christian Conference Center. Sheliah, a former Miss Colorado, has also agreed to sing a few songs for us.

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PRAYER AS A RUSE

The dictionary defines a ruse as an action or device meant to confuse or mislead. Ruses are commonly used by peace officers during the course of their duties. Dealing with the criminal element is a constant cat and mouse game. The good guys are always trying to out smart the bad guys, and vice versa. The use of a ruse is an effective way to catch the bad guys off guard. The ethics of ruses have been argued in the courts for years. Naturally, those arguments are usually waged by those who are paid to defend the criminal element.

In order to effectively do our job, we must, from time to time, think like the people we are trying to catch. Let me emphasize that I said think, not act, like the criminals. Some ruses are used again and again. Others are thought up on the spur of the moment. These flashes of shrewd brilliance often make for good stories. Here's an example.

I am currently assigned to our station's gang unit. My partner and I were recently investigating an assault with a deadly weapon/mayhem case. The suspect, a well known white power gang member, had gone underground after the incident. We had spent a week interviewing witnesses and looking for this guy. Needless to say, none of our suspect's friends were helping us. We had received information that our guy had left town and was hiding in the Bakersfield area. The prospects of finding him anytime soon were looking bleak.

Then I remembered that our suspect had been arrested for a D.U.I, crash a few days before the assault. I pulled the report and it turned out that his truck had been impounded. I called the tow yard, hoping the truck was still there. The clerk said the truck had been released to our suspect's mother. Then, we finally got a break. The clerk said the truck wasn't running and had to be towed off the lot.

The clerk gave me the address to which they had towed the truck. My partner and I drove to the location, the carport area of an apartment building. We weren't sure if our suspect would be there, but if he was, he knew he was wanted and probably wouldn't be too excited to come with us. My partner came up with the idea of approaching the guy as traffic investigators investigating his collision. We thought that since he had never met either of us, he just might buy it.

We knocked on the door. The door opened slightly and a girl stuck her face through the open space. "Who are you? What do you want?" She asked suspiciously.

"We're here to investigate the collision which involved the truck in your parking space. Is the owner here?" My partner was sounding more official than usual. "I don't know whose truck that is," she said. Then we heard a voice from inside the apartment. "It's my truck!" A figure stepped out of the shadows. It was our suspect. As the door opened wider, we could see several other gang banger types drinking beer in the living room. It took every ounce of strength I could muster not to reach in the door and rip the guy out of the apartment. My partner gave me a look which, said he wanted to play this game out.

"Are you really here about my crash?" The suspect asked. "I was cited out for that." We assured him that we just wanted to talk to him about the collision and asked him to walk down to the truck with us. The three of us walked down the stairs and into the parking lot. When we got to his truck, I pulled his arms behind his back and handcuffed him. "Hey! What are you doing?!" He yelled. "You're under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon." I told him.

"You lied! You can't do that! You lied!" He was not very happy. We were able to take the suspect into custody without incident and avoided a confrontation with the other people in the apartment. My partner's quick thinking made the arrest a memorable one. We used a ruse to conceal our true agenda and lead the suspect to believe he was in no jeopardy. We never had any intention of investigating his collision. We led him to believe one thing so we could do something completely different.

Ruses are effective tools in law enforcement. However, they really have no place in one's spiritual walk. "When would you use a ruse in your spiritual walk?," you ask. Have you ever said, or heard someone say, "I'm only telling you this so you can pray." Whether intentionally or unintentionally, prayer is often used as a ruse to facilitate our longing to gossip. Our profession is notorious for its gossip and Christian officers are far from immune.

I have caught myself using the above segue into a conversation with all sincerity, only to later catch myself providing the person with more information than was necessary for a prayer request. The sin is when we enter such a conversation with the premeditation to gossip. God's word does not beat around the bush when it comes to gossip. "He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip." (Prov. 20:19)

Praying under false pretenses makes us akin to the scribes and Pharisees who dared to challenge the authenticity of our Lord. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation." (Mat. 23:14) The Pharisees could care less for widows or anyone else they prayed for. Their purpose for praying was to show people how spiritual they were. They were deluded into thinking that going through the motions with their prayers would bring them closer to God.

What the Pharisees received for their efforts was a "greater condemnation." Is that what we want to receive for our efforts? Do any of us really want to use such a sacred trust as prayer to our Lord to satisfy a sinful desire to talk about others? The fact that we even need to ask ourselves these questions should wake us up to realize that this is a problem that is permeating the church of Christ today.

So what do we do? If you are one who has a problem with gossip, how can you avoid getting into conversations that lead to gossip? More importantly, how do we avoid the temptation to use prayer as an excuse to gossip? I found that the easiest way to avoid gossip is to remove yourself from conversation that even has a hint of drifting toward talking about others. That's a very difficult thing to do. We all want to be in the know. We all want to be known as a person who people can come to talk to. What we don't want is for others to think that they can talk to us because we will feed their own need to gossip. Cutting a conversation short, or simply walking away from a group discussion where the topic is the problems of another will often send a clear signal that gossip is not one of your hobbies.

If you or another Christian officer need to share your concerns for others by way of prayer requests, by all means do. You can avoid turning the conversation into a gab session by finding a place right then and there and making your requests known to God. If that's not possible, limit your conversation to arranging a time after work to sit down and pray together for those you may accidentally gossip about during a casual conversation. God's word commands us to pray with right motives. One sure way to maintain pure motives when it comes to lifting up others in prayer is to avoid gossip at any cost. "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James5:16) Our prayers will only be effective if they are void of gossip and hidden agendas.

Unlike the effective investigator, Christian peace officers never have to rely on a ruse to accomplish much when it comes to spiritual matters. The Truth is, and always will be, sufficient. Don't inadvertently undermine the work Christ is trying to do in you by allowing prayers for others to become merely a ruse to engage in empty gossip.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ANGELS IN ARIZONA
Here is an Arizona Department of Public Safety patch. Thanks for sending me the Sept/Oct issue of Peacemakers' Journal. Keep up the good work. I especially appreciated Rich Pieniaszek's account of Angels Watching Over Me. In law enforcement, people and kids always ask, "Have you been shot at?" I have learned of two incidents in my career where the Lord kept me from getting shot. Yet, at the time, like Rich, I did not know. I'll bet, when we get to heaven, the Lord will show us many more times when Angels Watched Over Us!.
Name withheld
Arizona

WITNESS IN A T-SHIRT
Thank you so much for the Nov/Dec 94 issue of Peacemakers ' Journal. I received this issue today and have already read it cover to cover. It's always so encouraging to read about other Christian cops. I appreciate all the work you guys do so I'm enclosing a donation with my order for one POFC T-shirt which I'll gladly wear. I guess if I wear such a T-shirt, I'll be especially careful about what a witness I should be. Anyway, I just want you to know you have a brother up here in Sacramento too. With this card. I'm also sending you my love in Christ. I'll pray for POFC too.
Jim Kang
Sacramento, CA

FIRST TIME READER ENJOYS PEACEMAKERS' JOURNAL
I am a patrol officer in a small city located in the far west corner of Los Angeles County. I read your Peacemakers ' Journal (Nov/Dec issue) for the first time and enjoyed it immensely. Without getting into details, I found your article, "Peace in The Midst of Chaos" very helpful. I am learning in my life that I must remember, "Don't worry about everything; instead pray about everything." I pray that your ministry will continue and grow. I have enclosed a gift for your ministry. Thank you for serving the Lord with this special ministry.

John Costa

HOLY COINCIDENCE BATMAN!
Hi! My name is Martin Meza. I am an inmate of Owens Valley, California State Prison. You won't believe how I came across your address. We were out doing community work one day. While picking up trash on the street, I looked down and saw a white envelope with a badge on it. In the center of the badge, there was a big cross with the name. Peace Officers For Christ. I'm a newborn believer and would like to know more about this ministry. May the Lord bless you spiritually and financially. I love you.
Martin Meza
Owens Valley, CA

Editor s note: We are writing to Martin and will be putting him in touch with someone in prison ministry who can disciple him in his relationship with Christ. Pray for Martin and others like him that God would put their lives back together again.

LOOKING FORWARD TO CONFERENCE
Just a note to let you know I'm still here listening to the cows mooing. Things are going well. I'm training on the street at this time after almost six years of jailing. I'm enjoying the change and the challenge of the new assignment. I've enclosed a picture of our family. We are beginning plans to come spend time with you for the annual conference and are looking forward to it with great anticipation.
Mike Morrison
Norwalk, IA

WHAT ABOUT A POFC PIN?
I just received the Peacemakers ' Journal. Praise the Lord and may He continue to bless this ministry. My wife and I hope to be able to attend the next conference at Forest Falls. We live right around the corner in Yucaipa after all. I was curious if anyone had considered doing a lapel type pin of the ministry's logo. It would make a great conversation/ witness pin for duty wear, court appearances, social/business meetings, etc. I'd be willing to purchase a few.
Name withheld
Yucaipa, CA
Editor 's note: We are planning to do a POFC pin in the near future and will let our readers know when they become available. Please pray that the Lord would provide the finances for this project.
(Webmasters note: POFCI now has a POFCI Lapel pin. They are available for $5.00 a piece. Contact the POFCI Office to place your order today!)

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Did That Really Happen?

The "I Don't Think So! Award"
This month goes to Ray Barnes of Martinez, CA
It seems that Ray had been clocked at 87 MPH in a car with a large flexible tube sticking out the rear window. Ray told the judge that he had mathematically calculated that 87 was the exact speed he needed to aerate his aquarium to keep his fish alive while moving his belongings from his former home in San Jose. All together now... "I don't think so, Ray!"

Least Competent Criminal
In September 1994, a 24 year old burglary suspect being chased by a Beverly Hills PD officer ran into a tree branch and knocked himself out. Don't you just hate when that happens!

Where's The Pig?
Jack C. Pettit was appearing in court in Duluth, Minn. on charges that he stole a pig. Jack's attorney made a motion to dismiss the charges on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The judge agreed and dismissed the charges. Jack seemed not to understand. "The case is dismissed."the judge said. "It's over. You are acquitted. You can go now." "Well, thanks judge," Jack said, "but do I have to give back the pig?"

OUCH!

Officers from the Union City, California Police Department arrested Gardner Forster for burglary last January after he fled nude from a burglary scene. Forster leaped over a backyard fence and landed in a neighbor's cactus garden. He was easily subdued.

Heard any good ones lately?

Send your stories to:
Peacemakers' Journal
c/o Peace Officers For Christ
3000 W. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 426
Santa Ana, CA 92704-6962

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