Prayer Answered: Personal Meeting With Our Incarcerated Attacker

This past Tuesday, the Lord showed me favor.  I was granted permission to have a personal meeting with the one guy that was captured the night of the attack.  He is now incarcerated.  I had as much time as I wanted.  It was an answer to prayer.

On behalf of my family and our center, I confessed our love for him and how we have forgiven him and the others for destroying property, robbing many things and attempting to take my life and others.  It wasn't my job to try to transform him, but simply to declare the gospel, the love of Christ and our love; and how we were sorry that he was injured while trying to fight and flee with stolen goods.  I asked his name, and called him respectfully by his name.

Since that night in September, the Lord has been putting a deep love for him in my heart.  I told him that many people have been praying for him.  Actually, last week he came into our prison ministry group and started singing the worship songs!  This week, I asked him about it.  He confessed that he goes to church a lot.  But, it was obvious, like many others in prison who I meet with weekly, that he had turned away from the right way of Jesus Christ to seek after worldly pleasures.  He still needs to repent (turn to God), turn from his unwillingness to ask forgiveness for the crimes he committed, and make a firm, final, wholehearted decision to follow Jesus Christ.  Jesus loves this man, and I know that in His goodness, the Lord will convict him and attempt to lead him into true repentance.  I hope this man accepts the love of Christ.


In the end, I prayed for his injured arm, thanked him for being willing to sit me, and asked permission to give him a hug (that was on my heart).  We hugged one another.  I'm not sure what he thought, but I meant it!  Then, do you know what the Lord did?  He gave me words of wisdom that would help him to repent and grow in Christ.  I also received prophetic words concerning God's purpose for his life and how the Lord would use him in the future if he chooses to walk with the Lord.  It was amazing!  After he left, I almost cried because of the privilege of being used by God and witnessing the love of Christ for this sinner.  It's the same life saving love that Jesus still has for you and me.

Love,

Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)

Link to the original story: "Faithfulness of God: Robbed and Attempted Murder"
Link to story about sentencing:  "Trial and Sentencing"

Update from the Haynes Family



Our huge, single yellow rose bloomed last week

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)

We thank God who was able to use our time in the “valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4) to cause thanksgiving from hearts across the nations. What occurred did not simply befall upon us, but the Lord in His mercy and grace, gave us the privilege of walking through the valley with Him (Philip. 1:29, Acts 20:24). We hear numerous testimonies of people being convicted and encouraged to pray more earnestly, devoting themselves to God and being more thankful through hearing the testimony that was brought forth in our valley. Our hearts also are thankful for the many of you who responded in love through prayer, donations and comfort. We thank God and praise Him for the wonders He is doing through His people.

Though we have faced the challenges of fear, anxiety and doubts, we have refused these things by choosing to worship God and put our faith in Him. In fact, we and our children are experiencing joy, faith and complete trust in the Lord. Our affections are set on Christ, His presence and laying down our lives daily, that we may be of greater use to the Lord for whatever He desires. If you were touched or changed in any way through the testimony of our last blog, we pray that you (as well as us) may continue in the holy flames kindled within our hearts. We’d like to end this blog with a few testimonies of some of the things the Lord has been doing in our midst the last few weeks.

Last Sunday evening, the presence of God came upon me, and my arm that was injured during the attack was suddenly healed. I regained my strength, and was able to twist my arm and lift objects without pain. I couldn't do any of this (nor did I have strength to lift lighter objects) during that same Sunday morning.

I have full mobility in my leg which was beaten with the iron rod. I can bend down now. I know these healings are due to prayer and faith in Christ.  Thank you for your prayers.  Hallelujah!

Last week, our son was sick and vomited during the night and the next day. I prayed but he still kept vomiting. The Holy Spirit reminded me that His presence is everything, and then moved me to worship. I obeyed  and worshipped out of love for Christ (not for healing for my son).  I did so until I felt a peace (like the Lord telling me to rest). I didn’t pray for my son again, but simply arose and ate my lunch (which I left on the table to seek the Lord for my son). Shortly afterwards, my son got up and started eating. He didn’t throw up again.

Our God is greater than what any of us can imagine.  Let us cast of limitations by seeking His face and continuing to lay down our lives for the dreams of His heart (e.g. Matt 6:10) to come to pass in Mozambique and in your lives as well.  Whatever the cost, our God is worthy of our love, obedience, and our lives. 

Love,  Tyren and Tiffany Haynes

The love of God makes one so fearless, that one fears (reverences) God