I have not heard anything from Tanya in last week or so. I wrote and mailed a letter two weeks ago but it got returned for some reason which has happened before. I remailed it so hopefully she will recieve it soon.
Continue praying that her request for our visit is approved soon, ministering to her in person will be so much easier since I am not a very effective writer. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Got another letter from Tanya today. Please be in prayer for her that God will help to ease her pain and will give her clear thoughts. She has had a "setback" requiring some meds to help her through it. She continues to be very open concerning God and Christianity.
She is also excited about my family and the Rainwaters to visit her at St. Gabriel Prison. It will be a contact visit, meaning no thick plexiglass to talk through. She will be in shackles on arms and feet but will be able to sit at a table and visit. Please also pray that we will get approval quickly to go.
Also, on the two year anniversary of the shooting, (yesterday) the town of Bastrop unvailed a beautiful monument in honor of the fallen officers Chuck Wilson and John Smith. Visit link thenewstar.com for the story.
God is simply awesome. I often wonder what God is doing having me involved in all this. But trying to figure this kind of thing will drive one crazy. The key question for me is, am I willing to do whatever God calls me to do? He has not revealed where this all leads, for He only reveals our next step. I pray I will be willing to take that "next" step, not only in this situation with Tanya but in my everyday life. To Him be all the honor and glory. God, use me!!!!!
She is also excited about my family and the Rainwaters to visit her at St. Gabriel Prison. It will be a contact visit, meaning no thick plexiglass to talk through. She will be in shackles on arms and feet but will be able to sit at a table and visit. Please also pray that we will get approval quickly to go.
Also, on the two year anniversary of the shooting, (yesterday) the town of Bastrop unvailed a beautiful monument in honor of the fallen officers Chuck Wilson and John Smith. Visit link thenewstar.com for the story.
God is simply awesome. I often wonder what God is doing having me involved in all this. But trying to figure this kind of thing will drive one crazy. The key question for me is, am I willing to do whatever God calls me to do? He has not revealed where this all leads, for He only reveals our next step. I pray I will be willing to take that "next" step, not only in this situation with Tanya but in my everyday life. To Him be all the honor and glory. God, use me!!!!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
From the Beginning
I became acquainted with Tanya Smith in May of 2009 through Mark Rainwater, a dear friend and member of New Hope Baptist Church in Monroe La. where I was serving as Transitional Pastor. Mark had been asked by a local newspaper to cover her trial and write an article each day. I began reading the articles, not out of interest for Tanya, but an interest in Mark Rainwater.
Tanya Smith was on trial, charged with two counts of murder of two fine Bastrop, La, police detectives, as well as numerous weapons charges. What makes the murder charges interesting is the fact that Tanya was not the person to shoot and kill the officers, but was charged with the crimes due to her presence in that hotel room. Her boyfriend Dennis Clem was actually the one that did the shooting and was killed in the ensuing gun battle. Tanya left the room and hitched a ride with a friend to Houston Tx. and was arrested by US Marshalls a week later and brought back to north Louisiana for trial. Tanya was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to 2 life terms for the murder plus 85 years on the weapons charges.
Mark Rainwater had asked in Prayer Meeting that Wednesday, for the church to pray for him because he and his wife Charlotte were going to the jail to visit her and bring her a Bible. We prayed that night for both Mark and Charlotte but also for Tanya. According to Mark the visit went really well, and Tanya said she appreciated the gift.
Mark then asked for us to send her a card to let her know we were all praying for her. I did just that with a heart that was closed to people like Tanya. I have always believed that people like her were of no use and should be put away and then throw away the key.
After a couple of weeks, I received a 6 page letter from Tanya from St. Gabriel prison in Baton Rouge, La where she will spend the remainder of her life.
Tanya is not a Christian. She is an Odenist and Dennis was a member was a member of the notorious prison gang known as the Arryian Circle. The Bible Mark and Charlotte gave her was her only introduction to the Bible, and they were the first to ever "minister" to her.
Over the course of the last several months I have corresponded with Tanya as have the Rainwaters, and I am amazed at what God is doing in her life. She is such a fragile person right now, but she has asked some really good questions about God and heaven. Tanya is searching for TRUTH.
Last week Mark and I received great news from Tanya. She sent us forms to come and visit her in prison.
The purpose of this blog is to keep everyone informed as to how she is doing and share with you specific prayer concerns, prayer concerns that she has expressed to us. There are some things that I will not be able to share with you, some things that have been shared in confidence.
Today, on the two year anniversary of the shooting, I ask that you prayer for Chuck Wilson and John Smith's families. People lost a husband, a father, and many lost good friends that day. Pray that these families will find their strength in the security of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Pray also for Tanya that she will realize that God has a plan for her life and that Jesus Christ still loves her. Lastly, pray for the Rainwaters and my family as we minister to Tanya. We have already received criticism for reaching out to her, but we know that God is going to do something great in her life. I remind myself often that Christ was greatly criticized for hanging out with sinners. I will throw no stones.
Tanya Smith was on trial, charged with two counts of murder of two fine Bastrop, La, police detectives, as well as numerous weapons charges. What makes the murder charges interesting is the fact that Tanya was not the person to shoot and kill the officers, but was charged with the crimes due to her presence in that hotel room. Her boyfriend Dennis Clem was actually the one that did the shooting and was killed in the ensuing gun battle. Tanya left the room and hitched a ride with a friend to Houston Tx. and was arrested by US Marshalls a week later and brought back to north Louisiana for trial. Tanya was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to 2 life terms for the murder plus 85 years on the weapons charges.
Mark Rainwater had asked in Prayer Meeting that Wednesday, for the church to pray for him because he and his wife Charlotte were going to the jail to visit her and bring her a Bible. We prayed that night for both Mark and Charlotte but also for Tanya. According to Mark the visit went really well, and Tanya said she appreciated the gift.
Mark then asked for us to send her a card to let her know we were all praying for her. I did just that with a heart that was closed to people like Tanya. I have always believed that people like her were of no use and should be put away and then throw away the key.
After a couple of weeks, I received a 6 page letter from Tanya from St. Gabriel prison in Baton Rouge, La where she will spend the remainder of her life.
Tanya is not a Christian. She is an Odenist and Dennis was a member was a member of the notorious prison gang known as the Arryian Circle. The Bible Mark and Charlotte gave her was her only introduction to the Bible, and they were the first to ever "minister" to her.
Over the course of the last several months I have corresponded with Tanya as have the Rainwaters, and I am amazed at what God is doing in her life. She is such a fragile person right now, but she has asked some really good questions about God and heaven. Tanya is searching for TRUTH.
Last week Mark and I received great news from Tanya. She sent us forms to come and visit her in prison.
The purpose of this blog is to keep everyone informed as to how she is doing and share with you specific prayer concerns, prayer concerns that she has expressed to us. There are some things that I will not be able to share with you, some things that have been shared in confidence.
Today, on the two year anniversary of the shooting, I ask that you prayer for Chuck Wilson and John Smith's families. People lost a husband, a father, and many lost good friends that day. Pray that these families will find their strength in the security of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Pray also for Tanya that she will realize that God has a plan for her life and that Jesus Christ still loves her. Lastly, pray for the Rainwaters and my family as we minister to Tanya. We have already received criticism for reaching out to her, but we know that God is going to do something great in her life. I remind myself often that Christ was greatly criticized for hanging out with sinners. I will throw no stones.
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