I send my greetings to you and desire the grace and mercy of God always to each one of you. The reason I am writing is to tell you that I've never, in my 14 years in prison, had the opportunity to read such a nice and interesting newspaper. The best part of all is that it is in Spanish.

I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ. I was blessed to come across your Challenge the Good News paper. I find it very inspiring at this point and time in my life… I believe this prison edition was meant for me to read for I am an ex-gang member, that I also have given my life of 40 years to the Lord. I find your newspaper an amazing read. Thank you and God Bless you all for all that you do for us behind these concrete walls and steel doors.

Greetings to the Challenge Newspaper. I don’t know how to begin but I am currently in prison and I am repentant of all of the bad that I had done when I was out in the world. I don’t want to go back to the same problems; I want to be a different person. I found the way of God but the truth is I don’t understand many things and I would like to receive more literature about the things of God in Spanish. A cellmate here gave me the Challenge Newspaper and I read it and I loved everything that it said. When I think about it, I want God to hear me although I have made many mistakes and keep making them where I'm at here. It's difficult to not stay in my problems, but I want to change.

I enjoy reading all the stories of the many people (like me) who witness the truth – how God transformed their life. When I read all the testimony stories of all the people in the newspaper, it was like their words resonated in me. I could relate to their stories because I’ve been there and done that.

As I look into the mirror I find a stained image. One who has spent many a moon in his own bondage as you can tell by the return address. I needed to tell you what your newspaper has meant to me. To say this will cause me to drop a few points in my “gangsta” hood, but so be it. Reading what so many souls were saying about God well, it seemed as if I could hear them speaking into my soul. It made me wonder if there is life or hope for someone like me. I don’t deserve it as I’ve left nothing in my wake but heartache and pain. My only claim to fame-crime. I have wasted 40 years of my life. You have taken a hardened man and given him hope. Your newspaper has made a difference in at least one life. You’ve given me sunshine where there was once so much darkness. I am not asking for you to feel my pain but simply to remember my chains.

I received your “Challenge, the Good News Paper” from one of my friends. I have read many books here and nothing really spoke to me or pulled me in the way this paper did. I related to many of the stories. I never really have been a “believer” as far as what I thought a “real Christian” should be. I was brought up in a decent home and somewhat “Christian like”, but I have 2 children and I really want to live a good life. I felt like my spirit was enlightened by reading the Challenge.