Fresh Start
A Life Lived To Help Others Is the Only One That Matters

Our friend and brother, Randy went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 30^th. Randy was a loving husband to Kathi and doting father to his girls. He was a man full of mercy and a desire to serve others. Even in his last hours, he was looking forward to getting well so he could minister to the youth in our schools and writing love letters to those he knew he would be leaving behind. Knowing Randy and Kathi has been one of the hi-lites of my life. What an example of God's selfless, unconditional love. I know that it was hard, and at times very frustrating, but love prevailed. Thanks to all of you who prayed for Randy. Please continue to pray for Kathi.

Melody Schuster

October 23, 1957-August 23, 2001

There are two scriptures that come to mind when I think of Melody. Proverbs 18:24 says, "There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" and Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times."

My daughter and Melody's daughter became best (almost inseparable) friends when we first began attending Westgate Chapel 11 years ago. Later, Melody married Aaron and the two joined our ministry team to Snohomish County Jail. Aaron leading worship and Melody teaching Bible studies with me on Monday afternoons.

She was a friend who understood it takes a village to raise a child and we had a pact to help hold our daughters accountable to the standards we shared. I've never heard Melody say a negative word about another person. She was quick to ask for forgiveness when she was wrong and just as quick to forgive others. We laughed together, cried together, and prayed together often.

Melody was a woman of passion. She loved her husband and daughter and new grandson and everyone who talked to her knew it. Most of all she loved the Lord and she looked for opportunities to share with others about how Jesus had changed her life.

Melody went be with the Jesus she loves. She is ecstatic, while we must learn to live without this fun loving beautiful young woman.

No tribute for Melody would be complete without sharing her greatest passion. The Bible tells us that there is a real God who created the universe. He loves us with an everlasting love. Because He is a good and Holy God, he can not be in the presence of sin. Satan came into the world to steal the Word, and the authority of God from the human race. Sin has separated us from God. God so loved the world, he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believed on him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17) It's hard to comprehend that God values us as much as he values His Son, who lived a sinless life, but the Bible says that God redeemed us, or purchased us with the price of his Son. He thought we were worth His Son. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Bible says there is a real heaven and a real hell. This eternal life is a free gift. You can't earn it, you can't be good enough to get to heaven. You can't get there through Muhammad or Buddha. The only way to the Father is through the Son.

If you desire this eternal life, it's as simple as ABC. A=Admit Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." B=Believe John 1:12 "But to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." C=Confess Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the Dead, you will be saved."

If you would like more information, we would like to send it to you. Just return the enclosed information sheet. There is no obligation, we will not have anyone call you unless you ask and we are not asking you to join any church.

Melody, thanks for your love, for your friendship and the countless prayers you prayed for us! Thank you for not being timid about the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We'll see you on the other side. We love you and we'll miss you!

David Mead

The past few months have reminded us of how precious and fragile life is and how wonderful it is to belong to the family of God. In less than two months our family has seen three friends pass on to eternal life. I've also been reminded that our ministry is not just a prison ministry, it's a family ministry.

A few months ago we shared with you the story of Lynda, who has become one of my closest friends. Through the years we have prayed, laughed and cried together and shared our joys and heartbreaks, failures and triumphs.

A few weeks ago I got an emergency message to call Lynda as soon as possible. Her 16 year old son had been killed in a car accident. I have known David since he was only 5, and have prayed for him for the past eleven years. Lynda's whole family, has become very precious to me. I couldn't help but think of the many things our families had done together, worshipping services, the trips to see the "Power Team", David's being a tease in a restaurant, how handsome he looked in his tuxedo at his sister Amy's wedding. Oh, and his infectious smile and those bright sparkling brown eyes that no one could resist. I wondered, how will we ever be the same without David. The answer is, we won't. David loved life. He was full of the energy of a 16 year old, loved to drive his dad's truck, be on his "boogie board", motorcycle or Sea-doo. He planned to become an auto mechanic and to marry his sweetheart of the past four years. None of those things will now be. Although David's life was cut short, we are richer for the time God allowed us to have him here with us.

We're going to miss David more than words can say, but how comforting it is to know that because David had asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior, that one day we will see him again in heaven. And for the family, we see that "Surely, he bore our griefs and carried our sorrows." (Isaiah 53:4)

Our ministry doesn't just effect people in jail or prison. Our ministry is also to the families and friends of those who are incarcerated. Lynda's entire family has been transformed by the Love and Grace of Jesus Christ. And we've been blessed to watch them grow. Not only have we played a part in their lives, but they have become a very important part of ours. In I Corinthians 12 Paul instructed us that every part of the body is important and that not one is indispensable. "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it."

Please join me in praying for Carl, Lynda, Amy, Carl Jr., and Ashley in their loss?

Thank you, David, for the joy and the laughter you brought into our lives. We will see you when we reach the other side.

This month we encourage you to take time to have fun with your family, let them know how much you love them. Thank you for the honor of going to those who are incarcerated and their families to bring them the hope and peace of Jesus Christ.

Fresh StartA Life Lived To Help Others Is the Only One That Matters

Fresh Start
A Life Lived To Help Others Is the Only One That Matters