J6PatriotNews (@J6PatriotNews)

Reminder- the 2020 election was stolen. The left activated a plan for J6 and arrested close to 1600 people. Among these people were many Christians whom God used to bring grace to the prison. Such is the story of Joe Thomas in our series:J6ers Under Persecution: Spiritual Journeys Christ in Prison I’m a husband, father of four, veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, baptized believer in Christ, and preacher of His word. Yet, amidst all that I’m also a patriotic American. I swore an oath to honor the Constitution. Because of the stolen 2020 election I felt called by God to participate in the peaceful protest at the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. I never entered the building, nor was I violent, yet my family suffered for years under the full weight of the federal government. After my arrest by the FBI counterterrorism SWAT team, subsequent trials, multiple indictments, 12 federal charges, and the threat of a potential thirty year sentence, I felt called by God to fight. After a three week trial, I stood battered but vindicated, having beat the majority of the accusation raised against me. Despite my innocence and decimation of my fundamental rights throughout the entire process, I was sentenced to 5 years, including punishments for charges of which I was found not guilty. Yes, you read that correctly. God showed His handy work through the whole process in ways that would take countless more articles to detail. Yet, throughout the 3 year battle that led to the day I reported to the front prison gate of FCI Memphis, I felt called by God to stand thankful to serve Him through struggle. Walking into prison I paused to pray for God’s guidance and protection. I surrendered with a peace in my heart that I can’t honestly describe, but it felt as though my work was just beginning. Walking into isolation, willingly listening to the small soft voice in my heart, I knew God was walking into the lion’s den with me. After the typical adjustment time to prison life, as a political prisoner, I became involved in the prison Chapel. I helped establish Bible studies, prayer circles within the prison housing units, and became known as a “man of God” by many of the inmates, including gangs, cartels, and the like. Despite how prisons normally operate, divisions among race and gang affiliation, I was welcomed and respected by most of them. God, through the Holy Spirit, would bring me men who were curious about “this Jesus thing.” I spent countless hours ministering and witnessing to the men society had written off. They found hope in His grace. Many of those I spoke with would later go to church and dive into their faith. However, some who wanted to find their path toward Christ were prohibited by their particular cartel’s rules. They couldn’t go to the chapel because people their gang don’t want to associate with will also be in attendance. They are even threatened with bodily harm if they go to the church. This was a roadblock that God surpassed majestically. One particular instance involved a young man in prison for meth. He belonged to a Mexican gang that prohibited church attendance. He feared getting beaten by his gang if he came to church. During a private Bible study I asked him, “Christ took the cross, death, and rose again in victory, for you. Are you willing to take a beating for him?” This resonated deeply, along with the fear he felt. I offered to speak with his gang leader, despite the potential danger of violence against me. During our meeting I was flatly refused. The leader gave no leeway for the growth of his people. I walked away praying, feeling defeated. A couple days later, 2 members of his gang cornered me saying, “God’s going to get you killed here.” They stood there defiant, one holding a makeshift knife inside his prison shorts. I responded by producing a padlock into my hand, “Which of you are gonna meet Him with me?” My readiness to defend myself immediately changed the atmosphere. The situation diffused and they went on their way. The following Sunday I preached a sermon at the chapel. Sitting in the congregation was the original gang member I was speaking to and his gang’s leader. Despite the blatant refusal, the Holy Spirit changed their heart, and there they sat. They returned weekly. After a while I was given the privilege to baptize the original gang member I spoke with. Victory in Jesus! ...