Editor, Times-Union: Just over a week ago, John Boren lost his battle with cancer and went home to be with our Lord. John was more than our Kosciusko County Jail chaplain, he was a friend, father, brother, son, uncle, husband and child of God. Our community lost a really wonderful man who loved and served the Lord. For those of us who knew him best, it was a blast to find out more things about him from all the testimony and wonderful tributes at his memorial service. John will be missed dearly and has left a great legacy and big shoes to fill. Please continue to remember in prayer and support, his family, the Jail Ministry, the Ministry Team and the inmates as we all have lost our Shepherd. One of the greatest things I witnessed from John from weeks on end going into the jail services was how when an inmate re-entered that revolving door. He never said anything negative, he just gave a big smile, a firm handshake, and vowed in his heart to keep trying to get the inmate to finally “get it,” to help them understand that with God’s help, they can make a change in all areas of their life. There have been many great success stories from people who John has helped in his 17 years of being jail chaplain, but it was the ones who needed to find God that he worked tirelessly to show them the truth and the way. John worked with society’s “condemned” to give them hope. John gave us all an ongoing example of how to never quit, even when it seems like nothing is going right, but to continue to trust that God has it all worked out in His ever perfect timing. One Sunday after going in with the Jail Ministry Team for the jail services, my husband and I took John out to eat. We asked John to tell us his testimony. John’s testimony is powerful and it was an honor to bring his story alive. John’s testimony trifold was passed out at the memorial service, but since we ran short on the supply, Community Grace Brethren has graciously agreed to put John’s testimony on their church's website, www.CommunityGrace.org under the link “In Loving Memory”. No matter who you are, you are welcome to download and read it. Finally, we just want to remind people that Bibles and Books in Warsaw has a program where you can donate books and the proceeds from used book sales goes to help the Jail Ministry purchase Bibles for inmates. It is not often that someone comes into your life and makes such an impact, but we thank God for sending John Boren our way, for how he was broken and learned to love God, love people, and turned his life into service for God. Jennifer Blair Warsaw, via e-mail
