the FREEDOM letter

EASTER EDITION 1998, VOL. 11

"He who stands firm to the end will be saved."

(Matthew 24:13 and 40 Days to Freedom, Day 30)

MIRACLES SHARED

From Martin Correctional Institution, FL, “......for me this was a step to correct my faults: no more cursing, no more sipping wine, no more dirty books, no more masterbating ........ Your book gave me the strength I needed. I am a medicator. I had become slack here at Martin. Your book made me realize I could not do all these things on my own. I needed help, sought help in the Lord; and, praise you, praise God, I found it. I thank you for your book, a recipe of freedom. I was living my life as one who was skating on thin ice. I felt the ice was melting; I felt it after prayer. Then I took your book; and read it a little to see if it was up to par according to scripture. Oh, yes! It was like this: as if God’s word was speaking to me. So I surrendered all to Him. My mind is free because He made it free!”

From Central State Prison, GA, “I would like to say that your 40 Days to Freedom is really a blessing to me because it gives me something to pray about and meditate on; and it is something to do as a group. That’s why I want every one that I know that could receive one of your books to have one. Your book is a great inspiration to the heart. It gives you a whole new attitude about things in life. Thank you for sending my friends a copy of your book.”

From Dallas, TX, “I am sending you this donation for the book 40 Days to Freedom that you sent me; and hopefully there is enough to put a book into someone else’s hands. I feel that your book has helped me in so many ways that I am not even aware of all of them. You are truly doing the work of Jesus. I have truly been blessed.”

From Columbia Correctional Institution, FL, “When you visited here in our chapel, my work supervisor would not permit me to attend the activity which I was told was DYNAMITE! However I was blessed with one of your books which someone was about to throw away. I finished my 40 Day Journey at midnight 18 January 98. I started it on 10 December 97. My journey taught me “AGAPE LOVE” for all of God’s creations. ....... I am eligible for work release in about 2 1/2 months. I am seeking God’s will and master plan for my life. I do not care what it costs me because any loss will not compare to the loss He suffered so I could have life eternal. At night, accross from my bunk, as I look out the barred window, there is a concrete power pole with a security light on it. It illuminates a cross to me which causes me to travel to Mt. Calvary where Jesus died so I could be free. Instead of calling 10,000 plus angels to set Him free, He cried out, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” I can conquer and rebuke anything that the devil throws at me. Now, since reading your book and traveling the 40 Day Journey of my soul, with the Trinity with me each step of the way, I can and will be successful in service and obedience for God my Creator, Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit which is the Master Link for me to be very richly blessed and strengthened through the Trinity.”

From Hancock, MI, “Your web page is answer to a prayer of mine - something I have needed to clean out of my closet, so to speak. Your main ministry is working with people who are in prisons. What a calling! The couple, with whom I have fellowship every Friday night, open their home to to people coming out of prison. After reading the testimonials, I know that my prayer has been answered. I look forward to receiving your book. Could you include one additional book so I may give it to (names) for their ministry.”

From Langston, OK, “Greetings and blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am writing you to ask for a copy of your book 40 Days to Freedom. I am a college student at Langston University. God has placed a calling on my life; and I want this book to help mature me in my life as well as my ministry.”

From Clarke-Frederick-Winchester Adult Detention Center, VA, “I’m 100% positive for being here over this three month span. This book is the best thing I’ve received since coming here. I am currently waiting sentencing in March for bank robbery charges. I was baptized in Sept. of ‘97 and this book is helping me to return to God through His will on my own. He’s giving me the opportunity to change my life around because, if He didn’t sit me down for awhile, I probably wouldn’t be here to write this. This book has made me much stronger; and I’m learning to live life day by day through God’s strength, not mine. I’m learning to love again because my life was filled with alot of turmoil. So I thank you for helping me start eternal life. I’m only on day 20; but I couldn’t wait any longer to send this because I wanted you to get these two addresses and send this book as soon as possible..”

From Mississippi, “I am (clergy). We met and talked at the annual (witheld for privacy) meeting. You made a presentation and we discussed my problem. Just to let you know 40 Days to Freedom was just that for me. With the help of the Holy Spirit I am free. Just wanted to let you know and thank you. Enclosed is $20.00. Could you please send me 2 copies of your book. The copy I had has gone to help someone kick the habit.”

ANNUAL BOARD MEETING

Our Board of Directors is blessed with 16 members from many walks of life including two state penetentiary inmates, six women, and Jesus Christ as permanent Chairman of the Board. No members are ordained by organized churches though we hope that will change. Our current charter allows 25 members with all except the founders serving two year terms.

Our meeting on February 27, 1998 started with a reading from Genesis 22, “I make a vow by my own name - the Lord is speaking - that I will richly bless you. Because you did this and did not keep back your only son from me, I promise that I will give you as many descendents (those healed through 40 Days to Freedom) as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendents will conquer their enemies (addictions, harmful obsessions, habitual sin). All the nations (U.S.A. first, then all other nations) will ask me to bless (set them free) them as I have blessed your descendents - all because you obeyed my command (total surrender to God).”

Within the parentheses of the preceeding is the gist of the prophesy God gave me a few months ago reported in the fourth quarter ‘97 issue of the Freedom Letter under the heading, “Second Rebirth Revealed.” The “second rebirth” was realized in January when I ordered the liquidation of my I.R.A. investments, my last untapped area of savings, to pay for the Special New Year Edition of the Freedom Letter.

The purpose of Freedom Ministries, Inc. is to “blanket the earth” (prophesy from God Feb. ‘96) with 40 Days to Freedom thereby freeing countless souls imprisoned by addictions, harmful obsessions, and habitual sin resulting in their being able to see with the “eyes of Jesus” (40 Days to Freedom) His glorious Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first Amendment to the By-Laws was unanimously passed to expand the maximum number of directors to twenty-five. We’re happy to report that several of our board members, men and women, inside and outside, are spreading the good news of God’s healing power through our ministry. Anyone interested in having a more active or supportive role with us should not be bashful in approaching me. Now is God’s time!!

Status of the ministry was reported that we were represented by the work of 40 Days to Freedom in 40 prisons, 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Vatican, Australia, Canada, Latvia, South Korea, India, Zambia, Mexico, Holland, Norway, Indonesia, France, England, and Ghana.

Also reported was our projected budget of $116,409 for all of ‘98 which includes tithing by Freedom Ministries to other ministries serving the unloveables of the world, distributing 10,000 copies of 40 Days to Freedom this year, and the third printing of 50,000 copies.

The combined cash worth of the ministry and Tom Lomas on the date of meeting and this date of composing was less than $100. The first two months of ‘98 income to Freedom Ministries totaled $1,516.84. As stated by global evangelist Arthur Burt in his Around the World in 80 Years, “we depend not on the people of God but on the God of the people.”   <><

MORE MIRACLES

I thought our readership might enjoy hearing about God’s provision to this ministry. Several weeks ago on payday, I was not able to pay Peggy’s salary out of the ministry account and had barely enough in my personal account. I started to write the check from my personal account and something stopped me half-way through. So I decided to wait until our mail was delivered. After lunch, while Peggy was on her lunch break, a young man entered our office and put a $200 check on my desk. He explained that our book and newsletter had blessed him so that he had been wanting for some time to make a contribution. God told him that morning, “now is the time.” Peggy was paid from the ministry account.

The next week I needed to make reservations for a three night stay in Titusville to attend a Christian Recovery Ministry Conference. My only problem was that the combined cash worth of the ministry and me at the time was under $50. So I surrendered the situation to God. The next day a blessed lady who runs a half-way house in Titusville called. She had seen a copy of 40 Days to Freedom and wanted the book and me to minister to her men. We did and she provided three nights free lodging.

The following week, Peggy had a big bag of individually wrapped books for me to take to the post office; but we didn’t have enough money for the postage. Again while Peggy was on her lunch break, I received a phone call from a lady who had received a copy of 40 Days to Freedom; and she wanted more copies for her friends. We determined she was only a few blocks away so she decided to come right by and pick up ten books. After a wonderful fellowshipping, she put two one hundred dollar bills on my desk. God saw that our precious cargo was not delayed for lack of postage.

Our financial cup has been lean but God has provided the necessities at the time of need. We believe a big blessing is on the way as we are about His will of “blanketing the earth” with 40 Days to Freedom; and our projected budget is not liberal. We do solicit your prayers that our Lord will continue and accellerate His support. We feel, though the harvest is plentiful, time is short. We need to break the chains of bondage to habitual sin so all people can be free to see, with the “eyes of Jesus,” God’s glorious truth and can be free to make the choice we were all put here to make.  <><

RADIO TALK SHOW

Our first experience with a talk show was live on WAJL on March 21st from 4 to 5 P.M. Three people plus call-in listeners asked me questions about my past addiction, 40 Days to Freedom, and Freedom Ministries. It was a wonderful (actually fun) experience. Several books were requested. A suggestion was made that 40 Days to Freedom be put on tape. I believe this is an excellent idea; and in God’s time, when He provides the resources, I will be happy to do the recording.    <><

40 Days IN DUTCH

A blessed brother in the Netherlands, through the Internet has fallen in love with our ministry and 40 Days to Freedom. He requested permission to translate our book and place it on his website downloadable in Dutch. Permission was granted also for hard copies translated with the understanding that he is not to sell the book. He agreed and hopes to finish the translation by September and offer the book right after the holidays.

For any who are interested, we extend this same invitation for translation and offering in any language with the same understanding. Also we reserve the right to review the other content of any website to make sure its message is consistant with that of 40 Days to Freedom. God bless you Brother Stephan for being open to God’s call of “blanketing the earth” with His powerful healing for addictions.     <><

LETTERS IN RESPONSE . . .

to the comments made about 800 pastors in the Central Florida area in our last Freedom Letter were only two. We won’t speculate why which really doesn’t matter as our duty is simply to obey; however, we expected many more.

The first response was from another non-clergy prison minister who stated, “you started looking down on 800 pastors, who for whatever reasons, did not take your ministry seriously. I was asking myself who is Tom Lomas accountable to? Who are the members of his board of directors who guide him and direct his fund raising, etc.? Without complete accountability to other people, the best intentioned ministries lose their ‘common ground’ and effectiveness.”

My blessed brother in Christ, I am accountable to and dependent on only God. Therefore, I have no fear of any consequences of speaking only the truth as given to me by God. We do no fund-raising. The duties of our board members are to (1) believe in miracles through 40 Days to Freedom, (2) believe that the miracles and message can “blanket the earth,” (3) attend board meetings, (4) be an ear and sounding board to Tom Lomas, and (5) promote the spread of our message of freedom.

The second letter came from a priest in New York who stated, “Your observations about clergy in the recent issue are all too often true.”

Brothers and sisters, I have no wish to castigate the servants of God as I am aware and have witnessed that, all too often, we don’t allow our clergy to be human, to be sinners. So when one of the ordained fall, we see instant headlines and judgment and condemnation. Realistically, they are just as prone to addiction as the rest of us and have the same need for God’s healing and forgiveness.

We are saying that too many churches are becoming comfortable closed societies. We are saying that people aren’t finding true freedom and fulfillment in most churches that are showing a wide road to heaven contrary to the teachings of Jesus. We are saying that clergy needn’t feel threatened by outsiders ministering to their flocks if those outsiders can help to set the captives free by sharing their testimonies and God-given methods. We don’t want to compete in leading worship which, I believe, is the primary job of clergy. But how can someone in a living hell relate to someone who has never tasted hell, much less, take seriously their advice for overcoming? Please, please, let us help free the two-thirds in bondage!?   <><

“A SECOND CHANCE”

In lieu of “THE SCRIPTURE CONNECTION” we are presenting this poem written by a lady at Jefferson C.I., Florida. Her testimony of healing through 40 Days to Freedom was presented two issues ago. We stated “We would be very pleased if she would send us a copy of her poem.” She graciously complied:

A Second Chance

I’m standing at the crossroads of this road of life today,

Reflecting upon my life and the choices I’ve made along the way.

My life has been full of lessons, some which took a long time to learn.

My stubborn pride and rebellious nature made doing what was right hard to discern.

I thought I had it all figured out, holding drugs in the palm of my hand.

I was able to escape those feelings of fear and confusion I just didn’t understand.

I made some wrong choices that has caused alot of hurt along the way.

Not realizing the odds were against me, I took the gamble; I chose to play.

By doing so I lost all, my family, home, career, all behind my “foolish pride.”

Until one day a change came over me, starting deep down on the inside.

I began to realize that I no longer had to mask my fear or hide my tears

Or continue to live on the same dirt road I’ve lived on for years.

I could pause today, stop trying to please and do for everyone else.

I can get to know who I really am, take the time to learn about God myself.

In doing so I realized I’m not so different or an outcast as I often thought.

I just could not find the answers to the questions that so long I sought.

Today I still search for answers; but I no longer need to medicate or hide.

As I continue to take personal inventory, the answers are in reach as I search inside.

And, though I don’t feel worthy, I’ve been given a second chance it seems

From God to rebuild my life, my family, my hopes, and my dreams.   <><

IN CLOSING

In this Easter Season we focus on the reasons Jesus the Christ came to earth, became God incarnate, became Love incarnate: (1) to show us agape love is “the way, the truth, and the life” and (2) to open the gates of heaven to sinners who are reborn in His awesome Spirit. We give thanks for the revival that has started in our country, that will sweep our country and the world like a tidal wave. God has said, “ENOUGH!” to the decay and decline we all see every time we view the news.    <><

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After you have been blessed by the message of 40 Days to Freedom, tell others of those blessings. If they would like a copy, send us their names and addresses. Please include your written testimonial of blessing through 40 Days to Freedom. There is no charge; however, a donation of any amount will bless prisoners; and it will return to you, “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Luke 6:38).

Yes, Tom, I wish to share my blessings with others. Please send 40 Days to Freedom to

_________________________________ (Name)

________________________________________________________________________ (Address)

_________________________________ (Name)

________________________________________________________________________ (Address)

Tom, please contact this church, prison, or organization for your presentation and free distribution:

_____________________________________________________ (Name: org. + person)

________________________________________________________________________ (Address)

Please mail this form to Freedom Ministries, Inc., 1855 W. State Road 434, Suite 250, Longwood, FL 32750. Freedom Ministries, Inc. is a Florida Not-For-Profit Corp. (#N94000005074). Qualified as Tax Exempt (IRS #585090062).

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