By One Spirit — Holy Ghost Ministry

Lary and his beloved dog Champ welcomed by Jesus into a radiant garden of flowers, waterfalls, and golden light
Remembering the ministry and teachings of Lary R. Hale

Faith carried forward

By One Spirit is a lasting home for Holy Ghost ministry, preserving the teachings of Lary R. Hale and the memories of the people whose lives he touched.

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The Heart and Love

David sleeps peacefully on a low couch as a small lamp glows beside his harp and dawn begins beyond the window.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety" Psm. 4:7,8). When it's all said and done, if we have this testimony that David had, then we really have it all. Reason being that it is impossible to truly have this report unless your heart is deeply anchored in the love and the faith of Christ. Let's look at these verses and think about what is really being said, and what it takes to be in company with David in these things. Everyone feels like they have joy and gladness when things go well for them. I mean who doesn't like a financial increase coming there way? Who feels bad about getting the girl or the guy they were hoping for? Who is it that doesn't like it when people like them? Of course the answer to all of these questions is 'nobody,' obviously. The point is that everyone has gladness about good things happening to them, or at least they feel like they do. That is the gladness of our corn and our wine being increased, as David referenced. But David was rejoicing and giving thanks for a GREATER joy and gladness than things just going well. The joy and gladness David was referring to can only be realized by those who diligently keep their heart and their relationship with God clean and pure at all times and in all circumstances. Those who would have this testimony are neither slack with their spiritual condition and their faith during good times, nor are they overwhelmed and turned aside during times that may be agonizing. The apostle Paul addressed this very issue to the Philippians: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philip. 4:11-13). That last part there, about being able to "do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me," is where the answer is at.

There simply is nothing 'stronger' than having total, permeating peace in one's soul, by means of having a heart that is pure from sin. That's the way it goes really. If sin is present then peace is not. If holiness is present, then peace is there. It's that simple. An abundance of peace in the heart and soul is the most powerful thing that exists for the human condition, and in fact it is what Christ died and rose to give us. The scriptures plainly declare this to be true: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). Once again the apostle Paul tells us what our new birth into the kingdom of God is all about: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). Only by means of having this peace and this joy will we not be overcome by adverse circumstances that challenge our very souls. And only by keeping this divine peace can we have the joy that is above the gladness of our corn and our wine increasing, as David alluded to. The truth of the matter is that it takes a lot of prayer on a regular basis to maintain the spiritual strength to have joy during difficult times. Paul also addressed this in the same chapter of Philippians that I've already quoted from: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philip. 4:6,7). The flip side of this saying is that the peace of God will NOT keep our hearts and minds unless we continue in prayer, and supplication, and thanksgiving. So in reality we can only be certain that our gladness is 'more than when their corn and their wine increased' if we still have gladness when things are going against us, rather than for us. I can tell you one thing for certain; it is not a natural or automatic thing to feel that way, and it has to be hard fought for in much prayer to have and maintain. That's why it's called a warfare.

The second verse of our text passage is substantiated by the same means as the first verse. We can only lie down at night with peace and confidence of safety if our heart is pure from sin, and our conscience is at ease, with no nagging. But I will say something here about the magnitude of God's grace in regard to this. There have been times that I have laid down at night so burdened and grieved that I would just as soon the Lord would take me in my sleep, rather than to awake the next day. And I'm not even talking about sin here, but just overwhelming circumstances that have been literally crushing to my spirit. But in his great mercy the Lord has many times lifted my burden while I was sleeping, and I awoke with peace and hope. That is a lot of grace, and I can't even express how thankful I am for times like that, for the unfathomable love that God has shown me. All I can say is that it is worth whatever it takes to maintain God's peace and his joy in our deepest being, through any and all circumstances in life, both good and bad. David knew what I'm talking about here, and expressed it often: "For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee... Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble" (Psm. 143:3-8,11). And because David refused to turn aside from casting all of his cares on the Lord continually, and from following after his commandments, he was able to have the testimony of having a gladness that is above the gladness of things going well. May we be so blessed. Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

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Jesus Is All

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Selected Broadcast 50: Jesus Is All

In loving memory

Lary R. Hale

Lary smiling with his beloved dog Champ
Lary with Champ

A Hero Finally Rests.

Lary Redman Hale of Louisville, KY entered into his greatest joy, the presence of King Jesus himself, welcomed by the cheers of angels and the saints of God on Sunday night, April 21, 2024.

What the outside world would see as the untimely passing of a humble, local minister, heaven saw as the triumphant finale of a valiant warrior's life. He fought the good fight, having kept the faith, and received what Christ himself called "The Champion's Wreath of Victory".

Lary was born November 13, 1954 to Marvin and Norma Hale. Being the youngest of his siblings ensured he had lots of time with his loving mother, from whom he undoubtedly developed his profound sensitivity, heartfelt sentimentality and emotional comfortability - characteristics that were trademarks of his life. He grew up surrounded by cousins and classmates that became his best friends.

At his 50 year class reunion he was overjoyed and excited to catch up with so many of them, smiling and laughing more than he had in a long time. He would often tell stories of how he treasured those times as a young boy riding bikes, shooting B.B guns and playing with his childhood dog Peanuts; all while getting into assorted harmless mischief. He cherished the time he spent living on his parents houseboat and helping his dad, a united states marine veteran, take care of the boat and dock.

His relationship with his dad was only strengthened in their later years as they watched boxing matches almost every weekend for the remainder of his dad's life. He admired his brother Gary for his athleticism and industrious attitude, and thought his sisters Vicki and Mila had hearts of gold just like his mother. In his teen years Lary developed three of his lifelong loves: swimming, cool cars and lifting weights.

Some people said Lary was part fish because of how well he swam, but Lary would correct them, he was actually part dolphin. As a young man he managed a health club where he helped multiple people lose weight and counted that a huge joy. He loved nature and taking photos of it, honing his skills and knowledge in cameras. His vocabulary was second to none and he enjoyed learning new words and using them especially in his writings.

Before he passed he still exercised as much as his body would allow and he longed to return to the ocean and the white sands of Destin, Florida.

Like most disenfranchised teens in the early 70s, Lary indulged in countless vices that left him empty and searching for more. Although his long black curly hair, loud clothes, muscles and muscle cars made him the envy of the boys and the heartthrob of the girls, none of these things satisfied his heart. He pursued a college education briefly, desiring to be a marine biologist or philosopher but found that this was not what he was missing either - he longed for true fulfillment.

Depressed, empty, and feeling hopeless, Lary heard about a particular beautiful girl he had a crush on that was attending a small church where the "Spirit of God" was changing people's lives. After wondering why someone like her would attend a church like that, he began to attend also.

After a few months, he made a simple prayer on his hands and knees, saying "God I can't stop smoking, drinking, raging or any of the other countless vices I have - but if you can set me free from these things, I'll know you're real and that you want me to serve you". The next morning Lary woke up and described the next few hours as "walking on air" realizing he was, in his words "delivered" and never going back to those vices.

This began his life long commitment to glorifying Jesus, the king of glory, for how he transformed Lary's life from darkness to light. Lary would marry that same beautiful girl, the love of his life, Fay Kustes, and they would have two sons together, Benjamin Isaac and Elisha Daniel. Lary's greatest joy in life was being a husband and father.

He was happiest when he was sharing what he was learning in the bible with his family, and teaching them that knowing God was simplistic and yet powerful - that God was not merely a religious concept, but a powerful savior on a day to day basis. As Lary made it his life's goal to find "the lost sheep", he would tap into his multifaceted creativity that went largely underappreciated.

Lary produced well over a thousand episodes of gospel presentations: self-producing, mixing, editing and encoding both a radio and television show. Between the two, he broadcast for over 30 years. All of this in the analog age, where self produced radio and TV shows were nearly unheard of, especially without any budget whatsoever.

Lary was an evangelist in Louisville and southern Indiana, being asked to preach and teach in multicultural and multi-generational churches across the city. The churches he was most loved and welcomed by were the African-American Baptist and Pentecostal churches that loved and welcomed his passionate, excitable and action packed style of preaching.

Once the dawn of the internet came, he immediately worked to have a website published, making his literature and gospel teachings available. Eventually he'd use social media to teach, preach and encourage believers all across the world. He would spend every night praying with and encouraging christians from every nation until the end of his life. Many of which saw him like a second father and all of whom greatly mourn his passing.

Even though he produced over a thousand episodes of media, taught in multiple churches, mentored in multiple countries, and had multiple printed works of literature, he considered his greatest life's work to be his two sons. One of their earliest memories is Lary saying "the most important job in the world is not preaching the gospel, it's raising kids in the gospel". This threaded through his entire life.

In his final week on earth, he reminisced on his life saying "I see my life as the highest success, because my life's work are my two sons, who I am so incredibly proud of - not for their natural achievements but for their love, humility and personal faith in Jesus that is not only evident in their lives but also in their love. Because of them, I know my life is a true success - and I credit Jesus for all of it".

His sons today see him as the most successful man they will ever know. He succeeded in loving them and never hurting them. Leading them and never controlling them. Being there for them and never leaving them. He was a man that would apologize quickly, forgive quickly, and always encouraged his sons to "get up and go from here". He succeeded in teaching them faith, hope and love in a world starving so badly for all three. His ministry lives on in them.

The lives of everyone touched by their lives are forever indebted to this humble, prayerful man of faith.

He is preceded in death by his father Marvin, mother Norma, sister Mila, sister-in-law Marlene, nephew Adam, aunts, uncles, treasured cousins, and his beloved dog of 18 years, Champ.

Until they are reunited in the glory of heaven, he is survived and will be missed by his sons, Benjamin and Elisha (Katrine), his wife of 30 years, Fay, his brother Gary, His sister Vicki (Dan), his cousins, nieces, nephews, his friends, and those that called him their pastor and teacher.

"The righteous perish, and no man lays it to heart: merciful men are taken away and no one considers that the righteous person is being spared from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: he shall rest in his bed, having walked in uprightness." Isaiah 57:1&2

A life in pictures and film

Watch the tribute video shared with Lary’s obituary. It brings together moments from his life and footage of the man so many loved.

Video hosted by Tribute Slides through Newcomer Kentuckiana.

Original obituary at Newcomer Kentuckiana

Memories of Lary