Upper Room | Fundraising

"I can only hope this letter will find its way into the hands of the person whose story saved my life tonight."

When a letter begins with that sentence it will definitely get your attention. It did mine. The letter went on to explain,

"I am on my way to prison for 17 years. My crimes are theft crimes because of a drug addiction I've had since my late teens. I was abused as a child and left home when I was fifteen. My life has never held much of anything important." "I had planned to hang myself from the sprinkler system after lockdown tonight, but I found a copy of The Upper Room and read today's devotional. The story really touched me. Could God really be trying to talk to me? Sarah, will you please be sure the devotional writer knows her story touched someone with no hope and saved my life"

The devotional that he read was written by a person who had also struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. The writer's story was one of healing, hope, and "learning to live in new ways that brought honor to God and health to my soul." The writer's story shone a bit of light into the life of a prisoner who believed he was in total darkness.

Each year, we provide over half a million free copies of The Upper Room to prison and military chaplains all across the United States. It is an act of faith on our part; we have no specific information on how the chaplains distribute the copies. We simply believe each copy will end up in the hands of a prisoner who needs it. When a letter like this one arrives, we know God is touching lives of prisoners through the words of others found in the daily devotional.

"I would like you to know how much I appreciate the fact that even in this struggling economy, you always provide us with spiritual materials so important to the women in our facility. Your generosity and diligence does not go unnoticed and it is greatly appreciated. This community keeps you in our prayers."

Although we receive the thank you letters in our offices, the thanks really go to you. One hundred percent of our ministry with chaplains is funded by the gifts we receive from friends like you. Today, I ask you to help us continue to support the work of prison chaplains and military chaplains by sending your gift today.

P.S. Just a few days ago we added several additional military Chaplains to our list. The Upper Room is now being provided to the chaplains aboard the USS Momsen, USS Halsey, USS Shoup, USS Ingrahan, USS Rodney M. Davis, USS Ford, USS Sterett, and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.