June 2008
Dear Family, Friends and Faithful Supporters,
How can I possibly express my appreciation? I am so very thankful for all your prayers, and for the support you have shown to my family and me. What an encouragement you have been! The DA can twist and fabricate his stories, the Bee can spin their articles any way they wish, but the truth is going to come out.
My prayer, (and I desire you to join with me) is that God would be glorified throughout all this. I know that this will be the outcome, for only a God as great as ours can work all of this for good.
I am very encouraged that the trial has finally started. It’s such a blessing to see so many friendly faces in court to support me. It’s also been a real pleasure to have a change in activity, to wear real clothes, and to be involved in the battle against the bad guys. God has answered all our prayers, for Kirk and for our team. It is very interesting to watch our defense team work out the logistics to bring the truth to light in order to bring about my acquittal.
I must confess, at times this trial has seemed to be without an end. It’s been hard, and I’ve been denied many freedoms, but mostly I miss my family and the fellowship of worshiping with brothers and sisters in Christ. Never again will I take those things for granted. Yet, although it has been an ordeal, at the same time it has brought with it many blessings. My time in the Word, scripture memory and prayer, for example, have never been so meaningful. I have a whole new understanding about what it means to trust in God. My time of being alone with Him, and being close to Him have been rich and rewarding. It is so true that through the greatest trials grows a great faith. I have been able to clearly see who my friends are, and you have helped in holding me up though this difficult time.
Well, the end, it appears, is very near. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it again but it has also been a very special time of walking with my Father. I thank you for holding me up and standing beside me. Please continue to pray until our Father brings it to an end.
God Bless,
Your Brother in Christ,
Doug
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up
Psalm 71:20
May 2008
With the passing of our brother Mike Dias on May 6, 2008, we made the request to have Doug present at the memorial service. The D.A. strongly opposed giving Doug and our family the right that is often given to those who are incarcerated and also wouldn't even allow Doug to make a video message to be shown at the service. We did manage to get an audio message recorded and that was played at the memorial service. The sound quality is a little rough, but it was such a blessing to the family to hear Doug in our time of grief. Below is a link to the audio message from the service.
Doug_about_MikeFollowing is a link to Mike’s obituary
December 2007
Good Friends,
I am most often asked "how am I doing?". I very much appreciate your concern and know it is real and from your hearts. I believe what we often regard as disappointments of life, are really just opportunities for God to show us His love. In my little cell, He teaches me things everyday, every night He bends low and kisses me on the brow. He has not left me, He is with me every hour. The most profound thing He has taught me is found in 1 Kings 12:24, the very small phrase "This thing is from Me". Only God is soverign, this trial I am going through is completely in his hands and each night as I lay my head on my pillow-less bed I thank God that I rest in His hands.
Though I would much rather be teaching and training pastors, laboring to plant churches and building up the saints in the mission churchs, it is God who allowed me to be placed here. I experience much sorrow at times, I am denied many comforts, I haven't hugged my wife for over a year, but the Lord is always with me, "This is His doing". Don't ask to borrow a dollar from me, I don't have one, "This is God's will". He is teaching me to be more dependent upon Him, while He meets my every need.
I asked Him to make me humble and He has placed me in the most perfect school to learn this lesson. My circumstance and all the people around me are being used to accomplish His will. He tells me "I am the God of Circumstances, you did not come to this place by accident, you are exactly where I want you to be, this is My doing". When temptations surround us, when the enemy is beating down our doors, God wants us to learn that He is still in charge. When we are weak, He is strong and will rise up for us. His people, those who call upon Him are "precious and honored in His sight" (Isa 43:4), and we are "the apple of His eye" (Zech 2:8). God is working out His plan. We must trust in Him and as we suffer, we grow and become more Christ like and this is good.
Doug
June 2007
To my friends and family,
I pray that God is blessing each one of you mightily as you seek to live for Him. I know that at times it seems very difficult to walk with God at His pace. Remember that He is fully aware of what is going on inside us, as well as in our outside circumstances.
An example of this is, in the past, when coaching, I would be pushing the boys pretty hard at times. They didn’t always understand it—or agree with it—but they knew that if they trusted me, and kept going, I could help them do what it would take to step up to the next level. Possibly, this is what God is doing with us, even more so.
Trusting in God has much more meaning today than it did a year ago. I praise God for all the support I have been shown by so many of you. All the letters of encouragement to me here, the letters of support to the paper, the support and genuine care you have given my wife and family, all mean a great deal to me and I appreciate them more than you can possibly know.
Sometimes, however, in spite of all this, I feel very alone-- I ache to see my family or despair creeps in. At times I am angry with the injustice of this action. It seems to me, of course, that being innocent of something should prevent you from being charged with it. Unfortunately, we have learned this is not true.
At those times, it is God who sustains me. He comforts my heart, dries my tears, and strengthens me for the next leg of the journey. It’s such a great blessing when this happens. There may be danger all around me, but He is my shield and protector. He never leaves me or forsakes me, and in Him, I have no fear. I have no idea when this ordeal will end, but I know God will be with me and never abandon me.
I have seen the sun only about once a week for the last seven months. My solace is that in Christ, the Son is always shining, and that God is always faithful (Phil 1:6).
This slight persecution I suffer is addressed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
To Him be the glory
Doug
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12
April 29, 2007
Today we received a handwritten note from Doug that he wanted me type up and send out to you.
–Janine
To my Dear Friends, Family & Loved ones,
They say that humility is to place your entire dependence upon God, which should always be our 1st duty & high calling.
Well, I feel close, but I know there is always more distance to cover. I know I can continue because God is in control therefore, everyday, I feel more at peace & am learning to call this “joy”. I don’t know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds tomorrow.
I hurt that you all must struggle at times as we go through this trial together. Please know that your prayers, your letters and your love have sustained me and encouraged me in my difficult times. Remember always, that we serve a loving Father.
Doug
To this you are called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead,
he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2: 21-23
