Nothing But Christ

Every morning we, the chaplains, take the opportunity to start our morning with a devotional and prayer.  Our devotional today seemed so appropriate, especially in the midst of the turmoil and chaos of the current times, that we felt we needed to share it in its entirety for this Chaplains’ Chat:

What is it that our Lord wants most from those who claim to be devoted to Him?  Shall we build Him more churches?  More Bible schools?  More homes and institutions for hurting people?

These are all worthwhile and needed, but He who dwells not in buildings made by hands wants much more than this.  Solomon thought he had built an everlasting temple for God, but within years it was in decay.  In less than four hundred years, it was completely destroyed.

The one thing our Lord seeks above all else from His people, ministers, and shepherds is communion at His table.  He seeks oneness around His heavenly table, a place and time of intimacy, a continual coming to Him for food, strength, wisdom and fellowship.

This present generation has a limited revelation of the Lord Jesus because so many are missing from the feast.  Few know the grandeur and majesty of the high calling in Christ Jesus to have communion alone with the Lord.

We mistakenly get our spiritual joy out of service rather than communion.  We are doing more and more for a Lord we know less and less!  We run ourselves ragged, burn out, go anywhere on this earth and give our bodies to His work – but we seldom keep the feast of communing with Him.  We are too casual about the Lord’s table, not serious enough about taking our place to learn of Him.

Paul speaks of three separate years in the desert of Arabia.  They were three glorious years, sitting in the heavenlies at the table of the Lord.  It was there that Christ taught Paul all he knew – and the wisdom of God was made manifest in him.

Something in Paul’s soul cried out, “Oh, that I might know Him!”  Conversion was not enough for Paul.  A one-time miraculous hearing of His voice from heaven was not sufficient.  He had caught a fleeting vision of the Lord – and he wanted more!  May the same be said of us.

~God is Faithful by David Wilkerson

Indeed, may the same be said of us!

Staying true to His call,
Chaplains Steve and Robin Malek

From Riotousness To Righteousness By Way Of Repentance

Luke 13:3; I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. I’m amazed at how many times I ask the question of an inmate: “What does the word ‘repent’ mean to you?” 95% of the time their answer is, “… to ask for forgiveness.”

Through my reading of the Bible, it appears the Bible’s definition is: to make a personal, absolute, unconditional surrender to God. By repenting according to this definition, it brings about sorrow and regret. But more than that, through repentance, one makes a complete change of direction – a 180◦ turn toward God!

The Greek word in the New Testament for repentance is metanoia, which means, “a change of mind” and “turning towards the light” away from the darkness.

At the Macomb County Jail, we meet with men and women who have lived some very riotous lifestyles. We, as volunteers and lay ministers, have the awesome opportunity to announce to the men and women that, “Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” ~Luke 5:32 He came for those who live a riotous life style! Now, if they will just turn from that life and turn towards the light, they will be given the gift of righteousness. They will literally be transferred from death to life and all things will become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

How can it get any better than that? Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to be a small part of what You are doing in this mission field located at the corner of Elizabeth and Groesbeck in Mt. Clemens, MI!

From Riotous to Righteous,

Chaplain Steve Malek

A Fountain of Life

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. ~Proverbs 13:14.  The teaching of wisdom is life giving, not only does it give life, it turns one from the snares of death.

At Gateway to Glory, from the beginning, we implemented a mentor program that requires each one of our prospective mentors to take an online training program.  This online program takes approximately 5 hours to complete, but gives good guidelines on the mentor/mentee relationship. We then assign our residents a mentor almost immediately upon entering our ministry.

Without the teaching of the wise, providing good Biblical counsel, the odds of the men and women going back to old habits and old ways of life is very high. This is why the recidivism in the United States is 67% of all inmates released from prison or jail will return within 2 years.

When that fountain of life, mentor, man of God, or woman of God comes alongside the returning citizen (to be that accountability person that helps to turn them from the snares of death) the recidivism percentage drops from 67% to 11%!  That is a reduction of over 50%!

Please join us October 24th 6:00pm at the Palazzo Grande Banquet Hall (54660 Van Dyke Avenue, Shelby Township, MI 48315) for our annual Celebration/Fundraiser Banquet, “A Fountain of Life”.  Come and hear the live testimonies of relationships established between mentors and mentees. You will also experience: great food, music, Christian “Friends of the Ministry” and more!  It is a FREE banquet, but you MUST REGISTER.  You may do so at www.thegatewaytoglory.org.

Filled with living water,

Steve Malek

Becoming More Like Jesus

To be a Christian is to be Christ-like, a follower of Jesus, a witness for Him, and (the big one) sharing in His sufferings. Philippians tells us: “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”

Knowing Christ and being like Christ is not only a means of experiencing the power of His resurrection, but also sharing in His sufferings. So, the question becomes, are you still willing to become more like Christ?

Hebrews 5:8 tells us that Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. You and I are not exempt. To become more like Christ, we have to be willing to endure and persevere through some of the same things He did: humiliation, persecution, ridicule, rejection, being mocked, and betrayed. This is what makes us stronger, better equipped and more effective disciples for Him. We have to drink from the same cup!

“But Jesus answered and said, ‘You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’”

I personally just went through an act of betrayal that kind of rocked my world. I don’t think there is a greater sting than betrayal. My first instinct was to say, “The heck with him! He will never get another thing from me!” I felt I could even justify this Biblically “The Bible says, don’t cast your pearls among swine!” :) Because of this, I shut the door on this person and refused to communicate with him. Needless to say, the Holy Spirit began to deal with me:

Holy Spirit (HS): “Do you want to become more like Jesus?”

Me: “Of course I do.”

HS: “Jesus turned a betrayal into a sacrament and washed the feet of the man who betrayed Him.”

Me: “Surely you don’t expect me to…”

HS: “Do you want to become more like Jesus?”

Since then, I have opened the door back up to this man and let him know I’m there for him. The blessing came from the Lord immediately.

He truly does reward obedience. I learned it first hand, when His peace invaded my heart!

Being Remade In His Image,

Steve Malek

Perseverance

James 5:11; Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.  Only by Job’s suffering could he intimately experience and comprehend the Lord as compassionate and merciful.  

Charles Spurgeon said, “In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing.”  Patience and perseverance is a rare commodity in this technologically advanced world and microwave society.  Travel, communication, and basic daily chores are incredibly time efficient, if not instantaneous.  

The result is, we are not being trained in perseverance.  We are not used to pains that can’t be relieved quickly.  We are not accustomed to problems that can’t be corrected in short order.  When the problems of life come, you and I send up prayers with the same expectations as when we press the buttons on our microwaves.  We say to ourselves, “Within a few seconds or so, this omnipotent God that we serve will be all over this and have it straightened out in no time.”

But God doesn’t usually work that way.  He is thorough and precise, and He will not be rushed.  The time cannot be shortened and our growth cannot come more quickly.  We must learn perseverance!

There is no way to become a mature Christian without trials.  We may pray for Christlike character and hope it will come by spiritual osmosis, but, most often, it will not!  God’s plan for all His people is trial by fire. Matthew 3:11; “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” It is the only way to burn away the flesh and reveal the spirit.  It is the only way to grow and mature in Christ. No one has ever become a true disciple without perseverance and no one has ever persevered without pain and suffering.

One of the greatest – if not the greatest – trial I experienced, and had to experience, was incarceration.  If you don’t learn perseverance, and learn it quick in prison, you will soon be headed for the “bam bam room” wearing the “bam bam suit” (prison-speak for insanity).  As the Holy Spirit gave me supernatural strength to endure, I began to experience God’s love, forgiveness, and His amazing grace and mercy like I never knew before.

What is our reaction to trials?  Do we expect instantaneous answers to our prayers? If so, more often than not, we will be disappointed.  We have to change our perspective.  Rather than looking for an escape, look for the benefit of the trial and let patience and endurance have its perfect result.  Ask God what He’s accomplishing in you and then participate in it willingly. If you allow God to teach perseverance in you, you will be a rarity in this world, but well fit for the Kingdom of God.  Psalm 66:12 says “we went through the fire”, and for this we are being prepared every day

Several years ago, I read something in the Daily Bread that I would like to share with you, regarding this business of persevering through the fire:  

The refining process may be very painful, but it will not destroy us, for the Refiner sits by the furnace, tending the flame.  He will not allow us to be tried beyond our endurance; it is for our own good.  We may not understand why we have to endure such misery year after year. The ordeal seems endless and pointless.  Our days are wasted, or so it appears.  We feel as though we are doing nothing of lasting significance.  But God is doing what matters.  We are being refined.  He is placing us into a crucible in which we acquire patience, meekness, humility, compassion, perseverance, and the other quiet virtues our souls naturally lack. So, don’t be afraid and don’t fret.  Your present trial, as painful as it may be, has been screened through God’s wisdom and love.  The Refiner sits by the crucible tempering the flames, monitoring the process, and waiting patiently until He sees His face mirrored on the surface.

May His face be mirrored in you today!

Persevering to the end,

Steve Malek

Mentoring

First Corinthians 11:1, NKJV, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

Fourteen years ago (at the start of the Gateway To Glory Ministry and prior to the opening of the first aftercare home) my mentor, Rev. Norene Snow, reminded me of something we had heard at a Prison Fellowship conference in Lansing. Prison Fellowship had done a 30 year study on the effectiveness of mentoring. This study determined that the recidivism rate is reduced from 67% to 11%, a huge decrease, when a mentor is brought into the released person’s life! This underscored the significance of mentoring and showed how important it was to have it implemented into the structure of the Gateway to Glory aftercare houses.

What we had heard, in a nutshell, was that out of all the programs that are available to help inmates upon their release (such as substance abuse, anger management, and general life skills, etc.) nothing works better to reduce recidivism than when a man or woman of God comes alongside a returning citizen. A mentor. The definition of the word mentor is: “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher”. A mentor becomes a friend, Biblical counselor, and an accountability partner.

Although the word “mentor” doesn’t appear in the Bible, Scripture gives us numerous examples of mentoring. The greatest prophet of the Old Testament, Moses, was mentored by his father-in-law, Jethro. Elijah mentored Elisha and Elisha mentored King Jehoash. Eli mentored Samuel. Jesus mentored the disciples. Barnabus mentored Paul and Paul mentored Timothy.

I, personally, have had a mentor since my release from prison 23 years ago. My current mentor, Bob, has been a real asset in my Christian walk. He encourages, teaches, and corrects me. He has been a faithful brother and friend in the faith. I attribute much of my success in ministry to my mentor, Bob.

Most men coming from prison or jail to Gateway’s aftercare, have no father figure. The women who come in to the women’s home, are also coming to us lacking good role models. As part of the program, a mentor is assigned to each man and woman resident. We have seen how these male mentors become like father figures to the male residents. Further, our female mentors do their best to embody the Scripture that says, “these older women must train the younger women…”

We are very proud of our mentors at Gateway to Glory who come alongside our residents and say: “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.”

All glory and praise to the One who ransomed us,
Chaplain Steve Malek

Trusting God Regardless

Isaiah 55:8-9; “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
 
I met a man approximately 8 weeks ago at the Macomb County Jail while doing a one on one clergy visit.  He informed me he was being charged with a very serious crime and, if convicted, could possibly spend the rest of his life in prison.  He informed me of his involvement within his church.  He also shared with me the position he held working with a very well-known international corporation.  He is a very prominent man of society and a lover of God’s word which gave him the opportunity to teach at his church. 
 
During one on one visits, I do my best to keep the focus on spiritual concerns instead of legal issues.  However, this man insisted that I know some things about his case and that he, indeed, was truly innocent of all charges.  So without hesitation, my response is always, “if you are truly innocent, God has allowed this for a bigger and greater purpose we may not understand at the beginning.” 
 
Sometime after that visit, I received a call from the family of my friend, stating that he was found guilty on 8 counts and sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison and asked if I would please visit him before he left.  I was sure I would find a man very angry at the system and dealing with a whirlwind of emotions.   But, to my surprise, I met with a man who had the peace of God all over him.  He had no complaint whatsoever about the decision of the jury.  In fact, he was more concerned about the welfare of his fellow inmates battling with drug addictions and was asking if there was a way he might be able to help them.  He also stated (which really ministered to me) that he was going to “trust God in all this knowing that God has a greater purpose…” understanding that he could be a part of what God wanted to do.
 
I left the visit, shaking my head in awe – saying, “God, give me that kind of faith and trust and help me remember that Your ways are higher than my ways and Your thoughts are higher than mine!”
 
Anytime I hear a story like this about a truly devoted man of God charged with a crime that could put him away for life who is claiming total innocence, the huge “WHY?” question comes.  And I know that when the why questions come, there’s only one answer and that is, “Because...”  Because He is God and we are not.  The disciples and many other followers of Jesus didn’t ‘get’ the cross, and we know the big “why?” question came for them. 
 
We look at the story of Joseph: a truly devout man of God completely innocent, but wrongly accused.  Joseph spent approximately 13 years in prison, according to Bible scholars.  Pilot, during the trial of Christ said, “I find no fault in this man”, yet he was sentenced to death by way of crucifixion. 
 
Whether it be Jesus, Joseph, or my friend in the Macomb County Jail, the Lord God has a greater and bigger plan for those who have to endure monumental hardship to bring glory to Him.
 
Trusting in the sovereignty of God,
Chaplain Steve Malek

The Power of the Gospel

First Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God…” So, what is God’s response to these sins? Judgment!  We will all be judged if we practice any of these things. To claim anything else is to compromise the truth of God’s Word, which clearly states, none of them “…will inherit the kingdom of God.” This is very serious, and should not be taken lightly!
 
As I conduct services and engage in one-on-one ministry at Macomb County Jail, I hear all too often of a man living with a woman to whom he is not married. Each will claim to be Christian, and even believe he or she will go to heaven. Then when I reveal First Corinthians 6:9-10, I’m in no way attempting to bring damnation to the person, but rather loving conviction – so that person can turn away from and repent of their sin, and embrace the only hope of salvation that is available to all of us sinners. That hope is, of course, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus’ own words in Luke 13:3, “I tell you no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” He reiterates two verses later, in verse five, “I tell you no; but unless you repent…”
 
First Corinthians is clear about the eternal consequences for those who practice fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and the like. But – there is good news! No matter what the sin is, God has provided forgiveness, salvation and hope of eternal life to those who repent, who embrace the Gospel of grace.  Right after Paul identified those who will not inherit the kingdom of God, he said, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11, NKJV
 
So – what should our response be to the fornicator, homosexual, adulterer, thief, or drunkard, etcetera? Our response should always be the Gospel. We should be equipped to confront him or her with the truth of the scriptures that condemns the behavior as sinful, yet points the sinner to the only hope of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ – leaving the results to Him!
 
Staying true to His Word,
Chaplain Steve Malek

In Memory of Kevin McHugh

Psalm 34:22 says: The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. 
 
I saw Kevin as a true servant with a servant’s heart.  He loved to serve at the Macomb County Jail and hardly ever said no to an invitation to take a service or visit with an inmate one on one.  Kevin exemplified John 12:26; “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”  How does He do that?  By redeeming their souls!
 
The secular mind will never understand or accept this call, the call to servanthood.  Kevin not only understood it, but he fulfilled the call.
 
A servant is one who accepts and acknowledges a place beneath those who He serves, one who is willing to forsake what the “system” says about social status and values.  Kevin made no nevermind about social status and the world’s standard of values, he was willing to place himself beneath those who he served.  Jesus placed Himself right alongside the least of these, as He stated:  “When I was in prison, you visited me…”
 
Kevin not only considered it a privilege and an honor to minister at the Macomb County Jail, he also considered it an opportunity where he could be close to his Savior.  “Where I am, there my servant will be also.”
 
Every true servant will ultimately be honored by the One they serve and who has promised them honor for that service!
 
If we serve our King in that act of service we are elevated to a place of honor, “…him my Father will honor…”  Kevin could not be in a better place of honor than where he is now.  In the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Savior, Jesus Christ for all of eternity.
 
In His Service,
Chaplain Steve Malek