"Ruins Rebuilt" By Inmate Ric

Mike Swiger received this letter from an inmate at Grafton Correctional Institution:

Hello my dear brother! It is my earnest hope and prayer that this note finds you and your family blessed immeasurably by our Heavenly Father and more in love with Jesus Christ today than in any previous time in your life.  HE alone is worthy of our praise and adoration. All to HIM we owe!

I am in receipt of your wonderful missive. Mike, there are no words which adequately express the enormity of the gratitude my family and I have for your words of kindness and willingness to speak to Mr. Houk (member of Ohio Parole Board) on my behalf. Mike, thank you for believing in me.

Mike, it was you who inspired me to a place of courage and out of the refuge of cowardice I lived in for over 2 decades. The Christ in you was shown so vividly to my spiritual man that I could not ignore my utter failure as the man GOD called me to be. Mike, Jesus used you as a personal Damascus Road experience for me. You didn’t judge me.  You didn’t point an accusing finger towards me. Thank you for giving me the courage to man-up for my past failures and most of all for ministering to me through every step of this journey.

True Freedom Ministries is engrained indelibly in my life. I look forward to the day I minister beside you and share the Good News of Jesus Christ to men and women who need to know that GOD has not given up on them. “And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”  (Isaiah 58:12)

Mike, thank you for being my friend and most of all for being my brother!  You have no idea of the impact which you, Gary, and Bill Holko have had on my life. You guys are my brothers and mentors.  May Heaven smile upon you and your family and give you peace!

Because of Calvary,

Inmate Ric