Prior to October 18, 1993, I had been contacting the Cedar and Dade County jails on a regular basis. We had obtained permission from the sheriff’s department to go into these two county jails, talk with the inmates and give them Bibles if they desired such. I had been thinking of other rural county jails and what could be done for them in this area. At that time, I had in my possession a few extra Bibles.

Monday, October 18, 1993
I worked in Greenfield and took 22 Bibles with me to work. After work I went to Lamar, MO, to the Barton County Jail. At that time I didn’t even know where the jail was located in Lamar. Upon locating the jail I went in and talked with the jail administrator, Richard Burch. I stated my reason for being there and he explained that no one was doing anything such as providing Bibles and books for the inmates. I asked permission to leave what Bibles I had with the department, and he gladly accepted our gift. I asked what inmate capacity was at the Barton County Jail; his answer took me by surprise. “22”, he replied. This was the exact number of Bibles that I had felt led to bring to that jail. I told him that sometime I would like to return and bring more Bibles if I could. He said that would be fine. He was glad someone wanted to do that.

The Road Home
My mind was racing. I kept thinking of the number of Bibles I had brought with me and the inmate capacity at that jail. As I left Lamar I began thanking God for the neat thing he had just done; how I had gone into the jail unannounced and was able to leave the Bibles. What inmates’ lives would God’s Word touch? God’s presence became so real as I traveled and tears began flooding my eyes. The Shekinah glory was ever present as I drove home.

The Sugar Maple Tree
Seven miles east of Lamar on Highway 160 is a Sugar Maple Tree on the south side of the road. At that time of year it was brilliant in all of its beauty. The leaves were scarlet, yellow, orange and green; I had noticed it only an hour earlier on my way to Lamar. It stood next to the right of way in an open field. Coming home on the same route, this was as far as I got. I could no longer drive safely as my eyes were filled with tears. I felt I should stop at the radiant Sugar Maple Tree. I got out of the van and walked to the tree. God was doing something, but I wasn’t quite sure what. I was soon to find out.

The Vision
I am not the kind of person who hears voices or sees visions every few days. I’ve followed God for over 35 years trying to learn His precepts and directions for my life. I stood beneath the tree and there I made an altar. I opened my life to God and asked Him what He wanted to show me and what I should do. Then was when it happened. Although I was still conscious of my surroundings; cars going by on the highway, etc., I began to see darkness. Before my eyes was a total blackness, out of which I saw lightness in the midst of it. Within the lightness, which was surrounded by darkness, I saw bars coming down and people behind the bars. These people, however, were in skeletal form; no flesh, and they were reaching through the bars toward me. In unison they spoke, “Give unto us.” I was amazed and did not move. The vision continued. To the right of my eye vision I could now see a book coming between myself and these skeletal forms behind the bars. I could not discern if the book was a Bible. The book began moving from my right to my left. As it passed between the skeletal forms and myself I began seeing a transformation come upon those behind the bars. Flesh began to appear upon these people. As the book left my sight on my left I noticed all those behind the bars now had flesh upon their bones. They were restored. Then I heard another three words; “Take unto them.” Then as suddenly as the vision had appeared, it was gone.

The Commission
There was no doubt in my mind what God was asking me to do. I must take Bibles and life-changing books to the inmates of the county jails. My natural thought was, “but how will I purchase the Bibles and books needed for this work?” As I rose from the area beneath the tree, God spoke to my spirit and said, “I will establish My Covenant with you; I will be Jehovah-Jireh; God who provides. As I have spoken to you to do this work, I will send others to help you and will speak to other servants of Mine to make provision for what is needed. You are not to ask anyone for financial help; this is my Work and I will provide.” This was a very moving spiritual experience in my life. This is the only vision I have ever experienced. As I turned to go to the van I plucked two leaves from the Sugar Maple Tree. They are now in a picture frame by my desk with the words of the vision, “Give unto us” “Take unto them.”