Set Free Issue No.33  by Martin Tuson

 
The Same Today
by Martin Tuson

God's love and power are touching lives within the prison cell. Many who know me will hear me say that I have seen God do more within the prison walls than I have seen within the church. I wonder why this is. Sadly, many who are incarcerated today in the prison system think that God is not interested in them because of their crime. I remember one young inmate stopping me a few years back and telling me that God would have no time for a criminal like him. He was amazed when I told him how wrong he was. It's amazing when you think about it - most of the bible was written by three murderers. King David had a man killed and he also committed adultery with this man's wife. Moses killed an Egyptian and fled into the wilderness. The Apostle Paul had many Christians condemned to death. Yes, three of the greatest men in the bible - and what about the thief on the cross? Many people don't realise that this man was the first to go to heaven. Yes, a thief went to heaven. Why? Because he accepted and trusted in Christ as he hung beside Jesus at Calvary. As it states in Romans 3:23, all have sinned. I have witnessed God's Grace, Mercy, Love and Forgiveness within Maghaberry Prison with my own eyes; I have seen the amazing miracles take place; yes, God indeed loves the inmate.

In this Issue I will be sharing many healing testimonies from America, India and closer to home. You will see that Christ is still in the business of healing people. At this point I would just like to add that I have personally witnessed, in HMP Maghaberry, around 100 miracles of healing. It is in the darkest places you will see God move. Yes, this Issue concentrates on God's miracle-working power, so be encouraged. I want to add that the greatest miracle of all is Salvation - the day a man or woman puts their faith, trust and hope in Christ; yes, this is the greatest miracle of all.

Today, as you read this issue of Set Free, you can know the Saviour; you can be forgiven and cleansed. Romans 10:9 says "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you shall be saved". This is my prayer for you if you do not know Christ. To God be all the Glory; Great things He has done and continues to do.

Isaiah42:16 - I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do.


28-02-2007 Healing Testimonies from India

Dear Bro. Martin Tuson, greetings coming to you from Indian churches and pastors. Our God is a great God. God has everything that anyone would ever need. Without God and His help we are sheep going astray. We need God, His grace abounding toward us daily. We need His miracles; we need His guidance and His wisdom. Your love, your fellowship is so great to us, day by day seeing His great miracles. God is speaking with many hearts in such a great way as we read the pages of His word. When we hold the Bible we are holding Jesus. When we feel weak, He is strong. When we do not know which way to turn, He directs us. He is our high tower. God does not leave us or forsake us. Many blessings we are seeing after having your fellowship and touch.

In the month of February six sisters baptised, some people healed by your anointed prayer. His power is manifesting day by day to many people. God is healing people from all diseases. In two places the dead were raised by the prayer through the power of Jesus; His name is above all names. In His name there is healing power; in His name there are many blessings; in His name there is salvation; Jesus brings answers to our prayers. What a great Name we have. Our pastor's faith is increasing day by day. God granting great faith to all our pastors, through miracles our faith is stronger than the past life. We do not know who you are, you are in Ireland, we are in India, and God visited us and encourages us through you and through your letters. Your prayers are a great blessing to all of our churches and pastors. We know you are praying for India. India is a dark country - most people are Idol worshippers. Through miracles the Idol worshippers are coming to Christ and accepting Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord, being baptised and growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our churches and pastors are ready to meet Jesus in His second coming. We are all looking for this blessed hope; we want to be with Jesus.


GOD'S ONLY LOVING SON!
by Stephen Wignall

Jesus and Satan both work twenty-four seven,
Satan works from hell and Jesus works from heaven.

You have a choice in life of just what you want to be,
I dropped Satan like a hot potato, as in Jesus I'm completely free.

I became a Christian and Jesus forgave my past,
Jesus took the scales from my eyes and today I'm not an outcast.

There's a beautiful world that God made for everyone;
Jesus paid the price for our sin, God's only loving son.

We have the Bible to read God's holy word,
We can speak to all the people who have not yet heard;

We can pray for the sinners and we can pray for the power to heal,
God will look after us and we will not go without a meal.

Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart, body and soul,
You can pray silently from your heart,
For He hears every call.

He looks after his followers as the shepherd looks after His sheep,
And if one of us goes astray, he will silently weep.



My testimony
Alexander Success
9th April 2009

Hello Martin, how are you? Hope all is well with you. Thanks very much for your prayers and support this last while. I hope you are fine and God's work is advancing accordingly. Here is the testimony we talked about. I hope it makes it in for publication. My name is Alex and I have been a Christian for a while. I was in Maghaberry Prison and it was whilst there that I first heard about Martin Tuson and the work God was doing through him. I had never really met him in person until recently even though I had previously been in prison for two years, but we never got to meet. I was recently put back into prison, again by the immigration authorities, and it was during this second time in prison that the Lord did a wonderful thing for me through Martin's ministration. I had been in prison a few days. For the first few days, I was in good spirits and still trusting and fellowshipping with the Lord. But as it dragged on to about a week, I became more desperate and just fed up with the whole situation, considering my partner and kids had endured two years of absence, which only ended last August. I just didn't think it was right for me to be back there, more so when I had not committed any new criminal offence. I got so fed up that I cried and really cried hot tears onto the lord to have mercy on me and intervene on my behalf. I really needed God's help and knew that only He could come through for me. I did this around the evening time, but by night time, a huge spirit of depression and despondency came over me. It started to tell me that God isn't going to help me, why bother with him! If he really wanted to help you, you would not be here in the first place, said the spirit to me, and then it started to remind me of certain things I had been trusting God for in the past which I had not received. My faith was by now just slipping further and further into my shoes. In fact that night, I did not do any prayers or anything, which was quite unusual, as I would normally have praised and prayed until about 2 in the morning. But as things later turned out, I realised that this was the devil's way of stopping me from being effective, because once he had me in that state of mind, and so depressed, then I would stop fellowshipping and praying and praising God, and then the devil would be in control! As Christians, we must always remember what the Bible says about our enemy the devil being on the prowl, always looking for one to devour.

The next day, I was just relaxing in my cell when I was told I had a visitor, which turned out to be Martin. We met and he told me that another Christian sister who was our mutual acquaintance had told him the previous day to come up and see me. I was quite surprised, but happy. As the bible says: "Blessed in the one who comes in the name of the Lord", but I was surprised anyway because that was the same day I had been crying out in the cell to God! Martin counselled me and he subsequently prayed for me. To God's glory, I witnessed there and then the power and glory of God. Me, who just before coming out of the cell to Martin was feeling suicidal, after the prayer I felt so renewed and so happy!!, a very different sort of happiness from the usual everyday happiness. Even during the prayer, I suddenly felt like a huge weight was being lifted off my shoulders! It was such a tremendous feeling! Going back to my cell, I felt so very happy deep inside. This was a feeling I could not explain, and before I left, Martin told me as we prayed; demons were flying out of the door!! This would explain the renewal and lightness that I felt inside of me! The next morning, though I was in a prison cell with a very basic bed, for the first time in a very long time I woke up feeling very strong and happy. Most times when I wake, I feel depressed and just so tired, even though I had been sleeping for the previous eight hours! The way I felt that morning just confirmed that I had had the touch of the living God the previous day. Looking back, I can now see that it was definitely God's intervention or answering prayers that Martin had come in the first place. At the time that he was allowed to see me, it was actually lunch time, and the prison officers would not normally have allowed that. And more so, they allowed him to see me for about 45 minutes over lunch, which I myself knew, from my two years' stay in there, that that was highly unusual. I have often read these sorts of stories of experiencing the amazing power of the living God, but it was to me just stuff that I read on the pages of magazines. I therefore ask everyone reading this to help me thank God for His goodness to me and for his faithfulness to me, because, just about five days after this incident, I was also released from prison. I would as such want to urge anyone out there reading this, in similar circumstances or trusting God for other things, to take strength from the word of God to the extent that "all who cry out to the Lord will be saved" and also "the Lord is near to all who call on him in truth", and also "the fervent and effective prayer of a righteous man availeth much......now we all know that we have righteousness through the blood of Jesus, as such it is important to not get discouraged but take God at his word!! Just like we would a bank manager who writes us a cheque for £500!


Testimony of B. Jacob Age 45 years

I married at the age of 25 years and God gave me two children. I fell sick and doctors told me I would die within months. I suffered with a paralysis stroke in the month of July and I used many medicines. Doctors told me the following things I should not eat and drink: bananas, coconut water, jack fruit, melon, beef, cheese, buttermilk, curd, pork, tomato, potato, new rice, cabbage, cool water. I should stay out of cool places; doctors told me I should not eat any fruit. I could not walk, could not stand, and could not go out for latrine, and couldn't go to the toilet, such sufferings I have faced in my life recently. I stopped tailoring work, no income, no food; many people came to see me, but no one could help me in my situation. I was alone, I did not know about Christ. My name is Jacob but I knew nothing about salvation or healing. I never attended a church on Sunday; I had many bad habits, no faith, no prayer; I was spiritually dead and ready to go Hell. In this situation, your anointed prayer paper was read by our Pastor. He rebuked the paralysis devil in the name of Jesus, He prayed with a loving voice. I was shaken, all my body was shaken, and God touched me by hearing your prayer. He put your prayer letter on my head and prayed with the power of the Spirit. God healed me, now I am with Christ, Christ is in me. I confessed all my sins, I invited Christ into my heart, now I am living for God and I would like to take immersion Baptism. I am now walking; medicines didn't help me, doctors didn't help me, but God touched me and healed me and He raised me up. Now I am living for His glory. Please pray for me and for my family. He touched me on 24th July 06 - this miracle happened in my life. Thank you Jesus, Praise you Jesus, lead me Jesus. - B. Jacob.


HEALING TESTIMONY
Mary, Indiana, USA
Martin, I wanted to send you my testimony of God's love for me. His mercy is never-ending. In November '07, after taking blood tests twice and urine samples several times, my doctor said I needed to see a urologist. I had blood in my urine, and my blood cell count was high. My doctor suspected cancer in my bladder or kidneys. I have to admit that I was scared, but I knew who my healer was, and is - JESUS my Healer, my Savior, my everything. I put my trust in Him and prayed my way through the next two and a half months. My precious family and friends were praying for me - all I knew is that I was in God's hands. After one cancellation with the urologist, I finally had my appointment with him for my tests in March, but, praise Jesus, I received a call from my old friend Martin in February, and he prayed for me. I noticed later in the day that the side effects I had from my bladder were gone. I felt very well and knew without a doubt that Jesus had healed me. I continued to praise Jesus up to the day of my tests. The doctor did the scan of my kidneys, and then the test where he put dye into my bladder. As he watched the dye run through my bladder, he looked at me and he said, "Mary, your kidneys are fine, and so is your bladder." He said, "No cancer, no tumours or growths." Then he said,"You need to go home and celebrate. Of course I was praising God for His goodness. I knew that this doctor was surprised by the test results. I give all the glory to Jesus. Never give up hope and faith. There is nothing too big or too small for Jesus. Praise Him and glorify Him, for He alone is worthy.
.................IN CHRIST JESUS.


NOEL'S TESTIMONY

I first met Martin Tuson on a Tuesday night at work, when I was put with him to learn how to work a machine. We introduced ourselves, and the first thing I said to him was, "If you see me weaving about on my feet, it's not because I'm under the unfluenceof drink, but because I suffer from vertigo" (dizziness). Well, we got on well together, and in the course of working he told me that he was a Christian and that he was involved with Set Free Prison Ministries, Bangor. He went on to tell me about the miracles he had seen over the years while ministering among the prisoners in Maghaberry Prison - torn muscles attached to bones, dislocated shoulders being fixed, migraine headaches healed instantly, and so on and so on, simply by the power of prayer and his faith in the Lord our God. As you can imagine, I was a bit dubious about his claims, but after reading one of his booklets containing testimonies from all over the world, from people who have been healed from various ailments because he has prayed for them, and the healing power of God had touched them, I realised that here was a really genuine guy who believed in the power of God to do wonders and miracles today on earth.

So one night I asked him to pray for my frozen shoulder, which he did. He asked me how my shoulder felt. I had to reply that there was no change - still stiffness and pain when I moved it. The next night he again asked me about my shoulder, and again "no change" was my answer. I then said that perhaps he should have prayed for my neck, as the doctors had told me that trapped nerves in my neck were the cause of my frozen shoulder. Martin again prayed for my neck; then at the end I mentioned that I suffered from vertigo - and that perhaps the Lord could do something about that as well. He asked me how my neck felt, and I replied that it was just the same. Every night for the next week he he asked about my neck, and I had to admit that it was not just as painful. On the Thursday night we were having a tea break when he again asked me about my neck. I replied that the pain was getting less and less each day. He then asked me about my vertigo, which I had suffered from for about three years. Well, I looked straight into his face and started laughing ... and laughing. When I finally stopped laughing I explained that I had not had an attack of vertigo since the night he mentioned it in prayer to the Lord. We had both been concentrating on how my shoulder was, and had forgotten about my vertigo, which is now healed and has not returned. We both thanked the Lord for this healing. So, does the Lord have a sense of humour? I think so - for the smiles and laughter He brings to people when He personally touches them in their daily life.

NOEL.   -   P.T.L.


"Free at Last, Thank God I am Free At Last"
by Peter Hakala HMP Frankland.

Dear Mother and Father, please forgive me if ever I have hurt you or your feelings by taking this tragic road in life; time after time I've been in and out of penitentiaries, words that still this very day echo in my mind and heart - which I wrote in the form of a letter to my dear mother and father from a Western Austra1ian tough prison after escaping from New South Wales while serving twelve years. And now, back in my second home in the West, the other side of that beautiful country, I was charged with Wilful Murder while committing a robbery of a bank-post office. I killed the manager. In the state of western Australia Wilful Murder is a crime which carries a death penalty by hanging according to the State jurisdiction. My life was passing before my very own eyes numerous times, so much to tell so much to ask, so much to do with my life. I did not have a place in the free society, dreams do not come true because, if they did, I certainly would not be in prison. Being a native of Finland, a small Scandinavian country, at the very young age of fourteen my dear mother, father and sister emigrated to Australia and built our home in Sydney. I chose to take a wrongfu1 road at a very young age after been placed in a chi1dren's institution - because I would not attend school, for the simple reason that I could not speak one word of Eng1ish and could not communicate in any form or way with the teacher or the students; so the result was that I built up a inferiority comp1ex and just did not attend school. At the young children's institution I soon picked up a new language - the language of how to do wrong things, stea1 and hurt peop1e's fee1ings. And soon, when I finally was released, I joined a young street gang and became a young gang member.

I finally posted a letter to my dear parents which took me some writing from Western Australian prison. Soon my dear parents, as always, wrote back a well worth reading and forgiving letter:

"Peter we love you - you are our dear son, you have never done anything wrong towards us, or hurt our feelings." My case went before the Perth Australian Supreme Court, because in my case the crime took place during the robbery - the manager got killed It was seen with the eyes of the court that it was not a Wilful Murder but a Murder, and I was sentenced to life. Finally the immigration authorities, during my sentence, contacted me and said because I had not done anything good towards Australia while living here they didn't want me, so they would deport me back to my native Finland. Back in Finland the authorities at He1sinki-Vantas airport arrested me, and I was taken away and recharged for the crime in Austra1ia, as this was the only way the Finnish authorities could legally use my past criminal record against me. I started to get strong international and European support, because no person can be recharged or tried if that person has served part of the sentence in another State or country, so finally the Finnish authorities re1eased me. Papers, magazines and radio stations wanted interviews from me, and even though I was not in prison I was not free; I was under constant strain, my daily prayers got longer and I was in contact with my Heavenly Father all the time. Religious organisations wanted to get ho1d of me, and I gave a few testimonies, not only in Helsinki but in other cities, but because I seemed to have so much public interest I left Finland & went to London, hoping that now I could rebuild my new life. Almost straight away I had a very good job looking after hotels and security in other London clubs. By now my dear mother had died and my father was getting on - my dear sister and her family were looking after my sick father. I used to give him long distance telephone ca1ls which to me was very hurtful, knowing in my mind that I would never see my dear father in this life, so my prayers were getting longer and stronger. I was away from the Australian crime scene, working long hours, but even then there were still many things missing from my life: I was partly free, I was still serving two masters, and often my god was money or alcohol. I visited the beer hotels, had top class clothes, I had pleasure, had fortune in numerous ways, but the company I associated with .......! I had fame along with my past. Then my world stopped and I was back in prison serving life. It has been a little over twenty years. Only my Lord knows if I am rightfully in prison or if my case is yet another sad miscarriage of justice - you be the judge by taking a look at Facebook website support Peter Hakala. My conscience is clean, my heart and soul has been washed by the blood of my dear Lord, and I believe in my heart that I will die a free man - which only my God can do. I have seen the gates of hell - that is not for me - I certainly do not want that everlasting fire. I have wrongly used and lived my earlier life. I urge you brothers and sisters - do not take that never-ending sad road. There is a better and fruitful future - if you want it - by turning to your Lord and Saviour, and just like, many years ago, I asked forgiveness from my dear parents, I have also done the same and asked for forgiveness from my Heavenly Father. Now I belong to that large Heavenly Royal Family. I urge you to become a family member also, and this way you also can have a future. I know my future; do you know yours?

God bless you and yours, Amen.


God's Word Wins Over An Atheist

Before October 19th, 2005, I was an atheist, believing that when you died, it was over. In September 2005, I was convicted and placed in the Allegan County Jail until sentencing in October. I was in a cell with four others for 30 days, listening to them say that the Lord would get them out of their mess. My opinion was, if they had the Lord in their life, they wouldn't be in here in the first place. On October 18th 2005 I arrived at Jackson Prison and was placed in a one-man cell. The only contact I had with anyone else came at a one-hour yard time and 20-minute chow time three times a day. I met two guys my age. We introduced ourselves and made small talk. They were talking religion and tried getting me in on the conversation. I explained that I didn't believe, so they accepted that and continued talking with each other. The announcement came over the loud speaker that it was time to return to our cells. At that time, I realised one of the guys I was with at the picnic table was in the cell right next to mine. About 7 p.m. that night I was terribly bored. I knocked on the wall and asked Tim, my neighbour, if he had anything I could read. Around the corner comes a Bible. He said that was all he had. I thought, what the heck, I need something to read. I spent three hours that night reading. I woke up the next morning praying and in tears. The Holy Spirit consumed me like I can't explain. I was extremely overwhelmed by His presence. By November, I had read the Bible from beginning to end. I've read it at least four times since then. I'm a devout Christian today, thanks to the Lord putting me next to Tim when I got to Jackson. The Lord has totally changed my life. I look at life and people differently. I love everybody, regardless of how bad their attitude is or the way they choose to walk in life. I have stopped swearing, I pray multiple times a day, and talk to the Lord continuously. My prayers are being answered and my life is blessed.

Harold


God's Precious Son

I was fifty years of age when I met the spirit of our Lord,
Lying in a prison cell lifeless and very bored.

I spoke to God in desperation not knowing if there was one,
But the spirit of Jesus came to me, God's precious Son.

Suddenly I was filled with warmth - I felt really free,
Why did God choose an evil sinner like me?

He heard my cry and knew I was desperately in need,
So he sent his Spirit to feed the seed.

I am still in prison but very active and never bored,
With Christian friends all over the country I work for the Lord.

I write about my past in poetry and make it rhyme,
Reaching prisoners all over the world, and help with their time.

The past is gone but I have a worthwhile future ahead,
And I know for a fact that Jesus Christ is not dead.

He is very much alive and working deep within my heart,
I talk to Jesus daily, for now we will never part.


LOOK UP THESE VERSES IN YOUR BIBLES
1) Psalms chapter 30 v. 2 5) Luke chapter 6 v. 19
2) Isaiah chapter 53 v. 5 6) Acts chapter 4 v. 29 - 31
3) Jeremiah chapter 17 v. 14 7) James chapter 5 v. 14 - 16
4) Matthew chapter 8 v. 16 8) Revelation chapter 22 v. 2

Eyes of Love - Read Psalm 103:1-12
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103 v.8)

I am an optimist; I assume the best of people. In fact, I see the bright side so often that I'm accused of wearing rose-colored glasses. It isn't true that looking at the world positively is a way to avoid facing reality. I am very realistic; I know evil exists. But I try to filter my view through the eyes of love.

Does this attitude set me up for pain and disappointment? Sometimes. However, I believe God looks at me through rose-colored glasses; God continually gives me the benefit of the doubt. God knows my mean thoughts, jealous tendencies, and lazy attitudes. God sees me yell at my son, lose patience at work, snap at my husband, and show indifference to the needy. In spite of my misdeeds, God looks at me with eyes of love. God is not blind to our sins but forgives us when we ask. As I view the world and its great potential, my attitude enables me to look with greater compassion. Following God's example, when hurts come I find it easier to forgive the people who hurt me.

Lisa Bogart (California, USA)

Prayer
Dear Father, thank You for looking at us with love and compassion and for forgiving our sins. Today, help us to see others with that same love and to forgive as we have been forgiven. Amen.


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.


24-Nov-09