A tribute to John

 John left this life on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.  His legacy arrived in Eloy, Arizona on Friday, January 23, 2009.  John saw it all from his window in Heaven.
 Life began May 22, 1948, when John was born to Elmer and Lorene.  Life was hard.  Mining was not particularly profitable and the troubled marriage ended in divorce.
 When John married, the struggle with poverty and alcohol caused his marriage to end, as well.  John never really recovered from the broken feeling that resulted. 
 John came to live in Julesburg, close to his mother and sisters.  One horrible night in July of 1996, John’s best friend was found dead.  Murdered.  No one knew what had happened, not even John.  But, John pled ‘no contest’ to charges. He was sentenced to twenty years in Colorado’s prisons.
 We sent John a love letter from the Lord:  A Joyous Report.  John responded in writing.  We visited him in Logan County jail.  John received Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was filled with the Spirit of God, that day.  And, he gave his Joyous Report to another inmate when he arrived in Limon’s Correctional Facility.
 John gave away every issue of A Joyous Report he received.  His wonderful artwork adorned its pages for years, until his hands were no longer steady enough to create inspirations for page 7.  It was not long before inmates began to write to us, and we to them. 
 Life went on, for John.  His family began to gather on Heaven’s Shore:  His mother, his father, his sister, his brother.  And, Uncle Jimmy.   Uncle Jimmy left John part of his estate which would sustain John, in prison, and give him hope for a freedom which never came.
 The Joy Mission was the home of John’s heart.  In obedience to the Lord, he brought his tithes and offerings to The Joy Mission where they were put to use fixing up a building just one year older than he.   It was John’s desire that TJM be open to anyone in need, and so she is.
 However, John’s real contribution to the Body of Christ was his smallest offering: that of extending A Joyous Report to anyone who received it.  As a result of his generous sharing, A Joyous Report goes, now, to over 1,000 men in prisons in 20 states.  Free Bibles are sent to anyone in prison who will request them, thanks to John.
  On January 23, five hundred Bibles arrived in La Palma prison, Eloy, Arizona, to be given to anyone who will request one.  A Joyous Report is included as a Bible Study aid. 
 Thank you, Elmer and Lorene for giving John life.  Thank You, Jesus, for forgiving John and taking his brokenness and strife to make something beautiful out of his life.  O! And thanks, John!  We will be eternally grateful because God sent you to us.  Love NEVER fails!  Ivy Joy & Frank.