Restoration...Having served in ministry now for about 30 years, I’ve seen the Lord work in spectacular ways! Before joining the Good News family, I was under the impression that I had reached a deep level of understanding of who He is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. And then, He called me to be a Jail Chaplain. This journey revealed that even in my deeper understanding, I still had a lot to learn. Every day I get to witness first-hand how Paul's inspired words to the Romans come to life behind these walls:  

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39 NIV)

Throughout my life, I've seen God use adversity as a great tool for spiritual growth. What I thought I knew, I now more fully understand.  Someone on a radio program once asked me why I thought God would call me to be a Chaplain? My first inclination was to describe my background and upbringing, but that’s not what came out of my mouth.  What came out instead was Jesus' call of Peter in John 21:15. The Lord called me to be a Jail Chaplain to Restore me. Through His call he brought me to a place of deeper revelation of who He is and who I am not. God is on the move to Restore many here at the ACRJ and in doing so, He is drawing people to this place, and to this ministry to offer the hope of the gospel.

Hope is everything.

In Christ's Peace,
Chaplain Joseph J. Varaksa