Saved from Suicide

“I woke up this morning and was going to commit suicide.”

The letter came from a prisoner who said he was facing the darkest hour of his life. He had decided to take his own life, but before he did, he started reading An Anchor for the Soul.

“I started reading every day, but Satan attacked me, telling me there was no hope.”

Because he was in an isolation cell, he knew no one would be able to stop him from taking his life.

“It so happened that your book was on top of my Bible and because I had only one chapter left, I decided to read it first.”

The final chapter is called “First Steps in a New Direction.” It contains a section called “Personal Assurance.” Here’s the quote that saved that man’s life:

“Don’t base your salvation on an experience or even on your own faith. Remember that faith itself is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). You are not saved by faith in Christ but by Christ who saves you through faith” (p. 165).

Those words ignited a spark of hope in his soul. He goes on to say something I believe to be entirely correct:

“Don’t get me wrong, Dr. Pritchard. I’m not saying your words alone saved me from death. I believe God sent me your book at the right time in my life.”

It’s not my words that saved this man. It’s the good news of the gospel. We all need the hope that can only be found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He ends his letter on this positive note:

“The first chance I get I’m going to pass this book along to someone who is lost and hope seems to have abandoned them.”

At just the right moment, literally in the nick of time, this prisoner read the exact passage in Anchor that saved his life.

Now he wants to help others in the same predicament.

That’s the power of the gospel.

Pray for this man that he might become an evangelist behind bars to reach others who need to hear about the life-changing power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your support. We have given away over 900,000 copies of this little “gospel book” because you have supported us with your prayers and your gifts.