wyguy Posted August 26, 2011 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 373 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 3,331 Content Per Day: 0.59 Reputation: 71 Days Won: 10 Joined: 10/15/2008 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/24/1965 Share Posted August 26, 2011 'Son of Sam' Serial Killer Won’t Seek Parole; Gives Jesus As Reason “Son of Sam” serial killer David Berkowitz will once again not seek to be released from prison, repeating what he has previously said five times since 2002 when he was first eligible for parole. Berkowitz, 58, who was also known as the .44 Caliber Killer, wrote a letter to a FoxNews.com reporter explaining that he has no interest in parole and that he is forgiven through Jesus Christ. Convicted of killing six women and shooting seven others in New York City over 13 months in 1976 and 1977, Berkowitz is serving six consecutive 25-years-to-life sentences. He is imprisoned at the maximum-security Sullivan Correctional Facility northwest of New York City. He was first imprisoned at the Attica Correctional Facility and has served a total of 34 years. He has been up for parole every two years since 2002. He wrote in the letter: “I have no interest in parole and no plans to seek release. If you could understand this, I am already a ‘free man.’ I am not saying this jokingly. I really am. Jesus Christ has already pardoned me, and I believe this.” Although Berkowitz does not have access to a computer, in a website reportedly hosted by a church group at AriseandShine.org, his personal testimony page states that in 1987 he fell to his knees and cried out to Jesus. “I told Him that I was sick and tired of doing evil. I asked Jesus to forgive me for all my sins. I spent a good while on my knees praying to Him,” Berkowitz states on his “My Testimony” page on the site. “When I got up it felt as if a very heavy but invisible chain that had been around me for so many years was broken. A peace flooded over me. I did not understand what was happening. But in my heart I just knew that my life, somehow, was going to be different.” Berkowitz writes in his letter to the reporter that he is active in prison ministry, including helping with Sunday services and Bible studies. A Pace Law Review 2011 entry by Rebekah Binger published recently is titled, “Prison Ain’t Hell: An Interview with David Berkowitz.” Binger uses his in-prison salvation story to make a case for state-funded faith-based prison rehabilitation programs and that they do not violate the Establishment Clause. “Religious prison programs offered at the various institutions in which Berkowitz served his sentence kept him on the straight and narrow, and removed him from the category of prison troublemaker to a sort of prison trustee,” Binger states in the law review article. “His story must not be dismissed or ignored.” Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eandkandf Posted August 26, 2011 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 46 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 6 Days Won: 1 Joined: 02/09/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted August 26, 2011 'Son of Sam' Serial Killer Won’t Seek Parole; Gives Jesus As Reason “Son of Sam” serial killer David Berkowitz will once again not seek to be released from prison, repeating what he has previously said five times since 2002 when he was first eligible for parole. Berkowitz, 58, who was also known as the .44 Caliber Killer, wrote a letter to a FoxNews.com reporter explaining that he has no interest in parole and that he is forgiven through Jesus Christ. Convicted of killing six women and shooting seven others in New York City over 13 months in 1976 and 1977, Berkowitz is serving six consecutive 25-years-to-life sentences. He is imprisoned at the maximum-security Sullivan Correctional Facility northwest of New York City. He was first imprisoned at the Attica Correctional Facility and has served a total of 34 years. He has been up for parole every two years since 2002. He wrote in the letter: “I have no interest in parole and no plans to seek release. If you could understand this, I am already a ‘free man.’ I am not saying this jokingly. I really am. Jesus Christ has already pardoned me, and I believe this.” Although Berkowitz does not have access to a computer, in a website reportedly hosted by a church group at AriseandShine.org, his personal testimony page states that in 1987 he fell to his knees and cried out to Jesus. “I told Him that I was sick and tired of doing evil. I asked Jesus to forgive me for all my sins. I spent a good while on my knees praying to Him,” Berkowitz states on his “My Testimony” page on the site. “When I got up it felt as if a very heavy but invisible chain that had been around me for so many years was broken. A peace flooded over me. I did not understand what was happening. But in my heart I just knew that my life, somehow, was going to be different.” Berkowitz writes in his letter to the reporter that he is active in prison ministry, including helping with Sunday services and Bible studies. A Pace Law Review 2011 entry by Rebekah Binger published recently is titled, “Prison Ain’t Hell: An Interview with David Berkowitz.” Binger uses his in-prison salvation story to make a case for state-funded faith-based prison rehabilitation programs and that they do not violate the Establishment Clause. “Religious prison programs offered at the various institutions in which Berkowitz served his sentence kept him on the straight and narrow, and removed him from the category of prison troublemaker to a sort of prison trustee,” Binger states in the law review article. “His story must not be dismissed or ignored.” Link what a good story - I can't wait to tell my co-worker about this he will find it very interesting, and it also makes you think about all sin being equal in God's eyes Glory to Jesus Christ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truck1500 Posted August 26, 2011 Group: Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 7 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 49 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 10 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/22/2011 Status: Offline Share Posted August 26, 2011 Jesus never ceases to amaze me. I love him so very much! Thank you, God, that you saved Mr. Berkowitz. Thank you for providing salvation through your only begotten son Jesus. You are certainly amazing, Father, and we love you so much! In Jesus' name I pray to you, Amen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yod Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Mr Berkowitz has been a messianic jew and turned down parole for many years now, and a good friend of mine is the one who has been ministering to him so I've kept up with this story for quite a while. Yes, it is indeed wondrous how the Lord takes each of us and redeems our lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Amen~! "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7 (NASB 1995) Hallelujah~! This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah Psalms 49:13-15 (NIV 1984) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~candice~ Posted August 26, 2011 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 955 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 11,318 Content Per Day: 1.89 Reputation: 448 Days Won: 33 Joined: 12/16/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted August 26, 2011 That is amazing, praise God. If he has a ministry in prison, it's not at all surprising he doesn't want to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebula Posted August 27, 2011 Group: Royal Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 5,823 Topics Per Day: 0.76 Content Count: 45,870 Content Per Day: 5.95 Reputation: 1,897 Days Won: 83 Joined: 03/22/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/19/1970 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I wonder if his reason for not wanting to be released is because he has become institutionalized. (Shades of Shawshank). Maybe he's at peace? Maybe he "feels" like he belongs in the prison ministry where he is and as he is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yod Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 That is amazing, praise God. If he has a ministry in prison, it's not at all surprising he doesn't want to leave. bingo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldShep Posted August 28, 2011 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 20 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 934 Content Per Day: 0.20 Reputation: 137 Days Won: 6 Joined: 07/20/2011 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/12/1950 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Wow, there is a name I haven't heard of for years, the news brings a smile to my face, to hear that Jesus is still working in the Prisons. Plus to those who would say God does not perform Miracles, I see this as being one. Another name that I would like to hear about being set Free in Christ would be Raymond Luc Levasseur. Joh 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Joh 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Joh_8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Jesus IS Lord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted August 29, 2011 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 0 Topic Count: 905 Topics Per Day: 0.19 Content Count: 9,644 Content Per Day: 2.02 Reputation: 5,831 Days Won: 9 Joined: 04/07/2011 Status: Offline Share Posted August 29, 2011 The true success stories like these will be IMHO retold often in heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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