Set Free  Issue No.20         by Martin Tuson


BACK FROM THE BRINK (By the Grace of God)

My name is Jerzy Harasimowicz. I was born in Poland on the 29th April 1958. I lived with my grandparents because my mother could not cope with having me at an earlier age.

I tasted my first alcohol and cigarette when I was only 6 years old. We were very poor and it was hard to make ends meet at times. I loved my grandparents. I went to England to my mother's - it was a different life. I lived with my mum and stepfather, step brother and step sister. I was never really loved by them. After 3½ years we moved to Connecticut in the States (Bridgeport). I was an altar boy; at this stage I started to rebel, stealing and taking drugs. Many times I ran away from home. I ended up in a Juvenile Hall and cut myself up. I was 14 years of age then. The state of Connecticut sent me to a mental institute - they told me that I would be there no longer than 90 days. Because they would not let me go after 90 days I torched the whole third floor. They then took me to the adult part of the institute, I was tied to a bed and placed in a strait-jacket, I was out of control, and would rip out of the strait-jacket. This went on for 3 years. I witnessed some evil and terrible things there. I didn't care any more whether I lived or died. I was eventually discharged and went back home to my parents.

Later on I found my own place. I started to supply drugs. I was a loose cannon, mixing drugs and alcohol etc. I hated myself, and one day took a razor and cut myself up. We had a good drug business going. I went to California. Me and a few friends decided to do a robbery - I was 17 at the time. The police deported me back to Connecticut. In my house I had guns, bombs etc. The police were after me. At this stage of my life I was involved with the Mafia and bike gangs. I also got married and had a baby boy. Things got worse and I partied all of the time. I took more drugs, my wife left me and I became very depressed. I should have been dead many times but for the Grace of God. Nobody wanted me. I felt I was better off dead. I got a gun and decided to end it all. I shot myself in the stomach. An ambulance rushed me to hospital - my whole insides were shot up. I remember being on the operating table looking at the monitor for my heart. I noticed it flat lined. "There must be something wrong with this", I thought; "I'm still alive!" Then they put the paddles on me; the next thing I know I am walking around the theatre looking at myself being worked on. Then all of a sudden I was in a room made of clouds, a seat formed out of one of the walls. I sat down and started to speak with God. I said, "God, please forgive me". Next thing I'm back in my body on the operating table. I was dead for 7 minutes. I woke later in the hospital - I was there for another 3 months. The bullet was still in my spine, my gall bladder was removed, also half of my intestines. Many of my arteries were severed to my heart, and I had liver damage. I was only 18 years old. You would think that I would have learnt from this - sadly not, back on the drugs and the riotous living. I moved to Texas and started to play in a band. I was crazy: one night I shot myself in the foot, and on another occasion I sliced myself with a razor. God's Grace was always there. I went back to Connecticut, moving from job to job.

More drink and drugs. I had remarried - this was the 3rd marriage. We both committed some armed robberies to pay back someone who we were involved with. We were caught but no real evidence was found. However my wife was tricked by the police to sign a document saying I was guilty of everything. I was found guilty and given a 15-year suspended sentence. I did 6 years; my wife was set free. I was moved to Summers Correctional Facility. There were 2000 inmates in this prison. Sin was rampant, there were no morals - you could be killed over a bar of soap, gang activity was there. I was scared. I ended up running a gang. I was made president, this was a demonic place.

I did go to a few Christian services and did enjoy them - meanwhile I was still a gang leader taking drugs. I made peace with the gangs in the prison. I was respected for this. God give me the wisdom to do this - it was God. Many lives were saved. I still believed I was on my way to Hell. My sister visited me one day. She looked really well; there was a glow from her. She told me that she was now a born again Christian, (she used to be a cocaine addict). "I want to tell you about Jesus", she said. I didn't want to hear. "Ask him to forgive you", she said. I said okay to keep her happy. In my dorm that night when everyone was asleep, I got on to my knees and said, "God I do not believe that you or anyone else can save me". I then went back to bed; I didn't feel anything. One day an inmate called Butch came to me and told me that there was a beautiful rainbow outside, "So?" I said. Later another inmate called Joe came and said to me "Jerzy you have to see this". I went to the door and looked up. I saw the most majestic rainbow (perfect). A voice spoke to me and said, "do you like it? I've chosen the right colours?" I thought I was going crazy - I've had too many drugs. Again the voice said, "Do you like it?" I said "God, is that you?" He said "I painted that for you and I love you." I started to shake and cry. Next day I was given a Bible. It became alive in my hands. I had found the truth (treasure) Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was upon me, I was born again, I testified to everyone, I was now a motor-mouth for Jesus. I was deported to England where the Lord gave me a Christian wife Margaret. Since that day in prison I have witnessed many miracles. God is real: I am a living testimony.

All Praise and Glory to my Precious Saviour.


Destiny

Where will I go after death? Will I inherit immortal breath?
or linger like a bad taste upon the tongue?
Will I become like morning fog
or rotting bark on a fallen log
or shine as sure as the rising sun?
And what of the wrongs that I've committed,
will they find forgiveness, be remitted?
And what of the rights that I have done,
will they be remembered by anyone?
Will death's darkness rob my sight?
Will I be enveloped in glorious light?
Will I be snared, will I be free,
or sleep in the tomb that my body be?
If only I knew,
if only I knew what destiny has prepared for me.
If I believe, who will set me free?

It is written:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life....
..... for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

23 Minutes in hell

Bill Wiese became a Christian at the age of 16 and has been a Christian for 32 years. Bill had an out-of-body experience, and was taken to Hell. He asked God why he had to experience such a frightening place. Bill was told that the world and even some Christians did not believe Hell existed literally. Bill is a witness so as to tell the world that God loves his creation and does not want anyone to go to Hell. 2 Corinthians 12:2:- I knew a man in Christ who fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows; Job 7:14:- Then thou scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions.

There are over 400 scriptures depicting everything I saw, heard, felt - everything to do with Hell. I found myself dropped into a prison cell which was extremely hot, so hot I should not have been alive. Isaiah 24:22: And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, Proverbs 7:2 7: Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Job 17:16:- They shall go down to the bars of the pit.

There were four creatures around 12 feet tall that hated me because I was made in God's image. They were assigned to torture me for ever; they were 1000 times stronger than man. They showed me no mercy as mercy only comes from heaven. Psalms 36:5:- Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Psalms 88:4:- I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength. Micah 3:2:- Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; The beasts showed me no mercy as they ripped at my flesh; no blood flowed as blood is life. Psalms 74:20:- ...for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. I was lying in my cell when it went dark, darker beyond anything I had ever experienced Psalms 88:6:- Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

I was allowed to crawl out of my cell and along a corridor, I could hear screams, billions of people screaming - the fear that came over me was unbelievable. Isaiah 24:17:- Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. I could see flames of fire through the darkness, the heat was so intense, Jude l:7:- .... themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

There was no peace and you never get away from the screaming or torment - Isaiah 5 7:21:- There is no peace, said my God, to the wicked. You are also naked in Hell, it's just another thing you have to endure, a shame thing. Ezekiel 32:24:- .... they bore their shame with them that go down to the pit.

There is no water in Hell, you are so dry, you are desperate for a drop of water, just as the scriptures say - Luke 16:24:- And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Zechariah 9:11:- As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

One of the demons grabbed me and dragged me back into the cell,( I really hate to talk about this, as I don't like to relive the torment) but, he began to crush my skull. I was screaming and begging for mercy, I got no mercy. About this time they each grabbed an arm and a leg, and were about to tear them off - I thought I can't endure this. Something grabbed me all of a sudden and pulled me out of the cell - it was the Lord, but at that time I did not know it, as I was there as an unsaved person. I was placed over the fire that I had seen. Through the flames I could see bodies, people in the fire screaming, screaming for mercy, burning in this place, and I knew I didn't want to go in there. Revelation 14:11:- And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night. Numbers 16:33:- They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them.

I was alongside this pit of fire and I could see all these demons chained to the walls, all sizes and shapes of deformed ugly creature you could imagine, huge ones, small ones, giant spiders, rats, snakes and worms. Isaiah 14:11:- Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. Jude 1:6:- And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. I began to ascend up this tunnel. Although it was dark, I could see all these demons along the walls. The worst thing in hell was that I understood first of all that there was life going on here on Earth above, and most people have no idea that this world exists down here, and there's billions of people suffering and begging for one chance - for an opportunity to get out, but they never get a chance to get out, and being mad with themselves never taking the opportunity to receive Jesus, they are stuck there for ever. This is the worst thing about Hell - you have no hope of ever getting out. I grasped eternity - here we can't quite get a hold of it - I knew I would be in Hell for ever and ever with no hope of getting out. I thought about my wife. I always told her, if we ever got separated by an earthquake or something horrible, I would get to you. I couldn't get to her, I could never see her again, and she would never have any idea where I was, and I could never talk to her ever again - that thought was terrible. I had no hope of getting out; you never get out of here, never. On earth there is hope - even people in concentration camps had hope of getting out, even dying at least, but we have never experienced a totally hopeless situation. Isaiah 38:18:- For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee:

they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (The hope is Jesus, He is the truth) About this time I was going up this tunnel just in absolute fear, fear of these demons, and all of a sudden Jesus showed up, praise you Lord! Jesus showed up! This bright light lit up the place. I could only see His outline, an outline of a man, I couldn't see His face because of the brightness: Revelation 1:16 His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. I just fell upon my knees and collapsed, I couldn't do anything but worship Him, I was so grateful that one second ago I was lost forever, and now all of a sudden I'm out of this place. Those people can't get out, but because I was already saved I knew and understood, there is no way out of this place, only by knowing Jesus, He is the only way to keep you from going to this place. John 14:6:- Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. When I got my composure I thought, 'why did you send me to this terrible place?' I didn't have to ask. The Lord answered me, saying people don't believe Hell exists, even some of my own people don't believe this place is real. I was shocked at that statement. I thought every Christian got to believe in Hell, but not everyone believes in a literal burning Hell. I then asked, 'why did you pick me'. He didn't answer me on that question; I had no idea why He picked me to go there - I'm the least likely to go there, I hate scary movies, I hate anything bad, I don't even like the summertime, much less heat! He told me, "go tell them that I hate this place; it is not my desire for one of my creation to go to this place, not one. I never made this for man, this was made for the devil and His angels, you have to go and tell them, but I thought to myself, Lord they will never believe me, they will think I'm crazy or had a bad dream". He answered, "Its not your job to convict them, it's the Holy Spirit's job, you just go and tell them." I thought, yes I've got to go, it's not for me to worry what people think, I've got to tell them. I asked the Lord, "why did those creatures hate me so much?" "It's because you're made in my image and they hate me; the devil can't hurt God himself, but he can hurt His creation, and that's why the devil hates mankind, deceiving and inflicting him with diseases". The Lord let me touch a piece of his heart of how much He loves mankind. It was unbelievable, I couldn't take it, it was so overwhelming the love He has for man, you can't take it in this body. His love is so superior to ours, as it says in Ephesians 3:18-19: (grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, v.19: and to know this love that surpasses knowledge). I couldn't believe how He loved mankind that He would die on a cross for just one person rather than see you go to this place. It pains the Lord, He weeps to see one person going to Hell. I felt the Lord's sadness. I thought I've got to go out and witness and take every last breath and go tell the world about Jesus, how good He is and how He hates Hell. He also told me to tell them that He is coming very, very soon. We continued to come up from the tunnel - it was like a whirlwind, and we were now looking down on earth, to see it hung on nothing like the Bible says in Job 26:7 (He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.). It turns so perfectly, God is in such control, He has so much power. The bible says in Isaiah 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

On return I could see myself lying on the floor. I thought, 'that can't be me, I'm here'. Then I realised that it's just a tent, it's nothing, it's just temporary, this is the real me, this is what eternity is all about. It hit me also that life is like a mist - how short this life is, maybe a hundred years then gone. James 4:14 - Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Then I thought, 'we've got to live for God, what we do here counts for Eternity, we've got to witness to the lost'. I came up to my body and something pulled me into it, like I was sucked back in through my nose and my mouth, then all the fears of Hell returned to me. I was screaming. I prayed for it to be taken out of my mind. God took out the trauma and fear but left the memory - I was so grateful. If you don't know the Lord, you have to ask yourself this question: do you believe what I'm saying, or more importantly, what the word of God says regarding Hell?. If you don't believe, you reject what I've experienced and throw out the word of God. Are you willing to take that chance with your whole Eternity?


SLAVE OR FREE - You make the call

As I sat in the visiting room talking with my teacher, tears filled my eyes as I spoke of the things in my heart. What I felt was a deep compassion for you. I want so much for these words to touch your hearts and to inflame your souls. I want you to feel the power of my conviction to know that I love you as a brother or sister in Christ. I want you to know in the inner chambers of your heart that this ministry truly cares for you. We do not want you to serve all that time only to get out and fail. We do not want to leave one stone unturned. Therefore, we come to you in the power of Jesus' name, sharing with you the glory of his awesome grace.

Brothers and Sisters, like you, I too live behind these prison walls, and like you I have to deal with the ups and downs of prison life. What helps me is knowing that I am no longer a slave to what formerly held me back. I am free from the chains that once held me in bondage. Now because of God's love for me, how can I not do the same for you, and that is to share with you what has been freely given to me. It is for this reason I write to you with tears in my eyes saying, "Slave or Free — you make the call." Ask God to open your spiritual eyes that you might see the power of these words in Galatians chapter 4 verse 8:- Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. I used to be a weed-head. I always said to myself that I was in control, that the weed did not control me, I controlled the weed. Actually I was lying to myself. That is what so many men and women do. They lie to themselves. You do not want to admit that you are a slave to something. It might be drugs, alcohol, sexual addition, or greed or corruption. We can lie to ourselves and to others, but we cannot lie to God. This is why verse 8 says to us "O.K.", you did not know God, you did not have the power to fight and now you have become slave to the evil powers of this world. You have become a slave to the very things that now have you in bondage. But do not give up — in Christ there is hope.

Verse 9 - But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? Brothers and Sisters, if you are like me, sitting behind these walls, then you have heard of the saving grace of God. The problem is that so many men and women cannot break away from that addiction that has them enslaved: men having sex with men to fulfill their sexual desire, only to find out a few months later that they have H.I.V. Men sticking dirty needles in their arms to get that high that will send them to the land of Peter Pan, only to find out later that they have a serious case of Hepatitis. There are men who have become drunk and killed an entire family, who are now in prison looking for some home-made brew. These people cannot stop. They are slaves and refuse to admit it. Are you not free? Are you a slave to what masters you?

Now is the time for a change in your heart and in your life. Now is the time to really get to know God. Do you know Him? Have you accepted God's son, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Have you been born again? He loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. It is up to you. God has given you the right to choose. Therefore, I leave you with these words, 'Slave or Free — you make the call.'

Alonzo Dixon, From Pain to Joy Prison Ministries,
14 Canyon Creek Village, #44 Richardson, TX 75080-1502


TOO DARK TO SEE BY JOSEPH MCAULEY

What a disruptive past I've left in my wake,
Sinning and hurting for my own greedy sake.
When I reminisce was that really me,
Or was I just blind and it too dark to see.
The illegal substances hooded my sight,
No excuses I make what I did was not right.
I was led to believe that with money you're free;
When the blind lead the blind it's too dark to see.
Freedom through this and freedom through that,
Yet so many years m prison I have sat,
Where time is the master until you're set free.
Back into darkness where it's too dark to see,
Wondering tripping on a stumbling block,
Inside or out its all one big clock,
Ticking away as my years seem to flee,
Nothing achieved as its dark to see.
There must be a way to turn on the light,
I'm sick and tired of not having sight.
Surely a meaning to life there must be;
I can't seem to find it as it's to dark to see.
Again back in prison back in a cell,
A book hits the floor - I look were it fell
The bible it says this book's not for me,
But then I realised in the dark I could see.
The book was lit up all; around me was Night,
I picked it up with all of my might,
Opened it up and the first words I seen
Was repent of your sins and he'll make your life clean.
So down on my knees that night in the cell,
I prayed to the Lord to release me from hell.
He's done what I asked and made a new me,
Now even at night in the dark I can see...


GO TO HELL by Joe Lockhart

Have you ever used the term "Go to Hell"? What does this actually mean? Have you ever thought of the consequences of actually talking like this? How many times have you used this term "Go to Hell"? I suppose it's a common phrase used around the world when someone is annoyed with someone over whatever their problem is. Now thinking about it we all have probably said it some way or other. But what are the consequences of "Go to Hell"? Well there's suffering for one, and I would say it's suffering at the highest level. I would say it would be all your biggest fears rolled into one. How long would this be for? You might wonder - Eternity - but how long is that: Forever. Don't take this lightly - it's not going to be some picnic. You're probably saying to yourself, sure I know it's not a picnic, that Hell is Hell. Well if you know it's not a picnic and its all your worst nightmares and it's also suffering for all eternity, then why do you choose to live the way you're living. If you really understood all about it, then you wouldn't wish it on our worst enemy. How do you actually go to Hell? What actually gets you there? Well, living a life in sin certainly guarantees getting you there. But then you might say, sure I live a good life, giving to charity, have a good mother and father, take the local kids to football, I've never been in jail. Sorry it's not enough, you could win the peace prize and still go to Hell. In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life, no-one comes to the father except through Me. Unless you ask Jesus into your life, you're going to Hell. Does this sound a bit harsh for you? Well it's reality and we have to face up to it. Look I'm not going to mince my words - it's not fair on you who are not saved, or maybe you profess to be a Christian but your walk just isn't right. Well, here it is, "Go to Hell" if you want to. Does that upset you, me saying it like that? Well it's not meant to, but if it does and it helps, then good, as it's meant only to help you understand that you need to get yourself right with God or else you're going to Hell, and that's a sad situation. Because it's happening to so many people around us in this dark province. Even members of our own families, but you could help change that by getting yourselves right with Jesus, and help make a difference, starting with your family, helping them see that there is another option. Back to where I was saying about not wishing it on your worst enemy. But actually not even saying it, you are actually by now knowing it, that unless you get right with God you're saying to those around you, who don't understand, even those in your family "Go to Hell." You need to make a difference in this world - too many people are perishing. They are ignorant of what the Lord has on offer. Don't you make the same mistake: instead make a difference. If you truly do love someone, then it's obvious you want what's the best for them - you want to make them happy. We all want to make happy the ones we love, say by buying a loved one new clothes. Now I'm not saying this is wrong, because it's not. But these things are only temporary happiness. A pair of jeans wears out, a bottle of perfume runs out. 1 John 2:17 says that this world is fading away, along with everything it craves, but if you do the will of God, you will live forever. The best gift you could give anyone is salvation, and that about telling them about Jesus. If you truly loved someone and understood the actual meaning of "Go to Hell", then surely you wouldn't want anything else for your loved ones but only Jesus in their lives. So any time you hear that term "Go to Hell", reflect on the meaning, and always think twice before using it. It's not something you would wish on anyone, even if it's a figure of speech.

Oh Happy Day, Oh Happy Day, when Jesus washed my Sins away.



Note from the Editor:
If you want to accept Christ into your own life then pray this following prayer. God Bless.

"Dear Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I am willing to turn away from my sin and now I invite Jesus to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour. I am willing by God's Grace to follow and obey Christ as Lord of my life.

If you have prayed this prayer and have accepted Christ into your heart and life, please let us know, so we can pray and help you in your new life in Christ.