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.

Explore messages from the archive, or help tell this ministry’s story by sharing a memory for the family to review and publish.

From the ministry archive

If I've seen it once I've seen it a thousand times..

A humble prayer circle comforts a sorrowful neighbor beside an unused church lectern.
© By One Spirit Ministries

If I've seen it once I've seen it a thousand times... at least. God's people have been conditioned to set their priorities in backward motion. The modern Christian traditions that are so focused on "going to church," and "church service," and all such things; have caused the body of Christ today to put 'church' first, and God somewhere after that. I'm not saying that every single person is doing that, but I am saying that it is an overwhelming reality for the majority of God's people. There is only one reality of Jesus Christ in this world, and it ISN'T 'church!' It is rather the holy Ghost that he sent back to be received by believers after he went back to heaven (Jn. 7:38,39; Jn. 16:7; Acts 1:4,5; Acts 2:4,33). Maybe someone has forgotten, but this is the Gospel of the kingdom of God (Mat. 3:2; Mat. 24:14; Mk. 1:15). And "the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (I Cor. 4:20). Yes my friend, "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy IN the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). And what about that power? Jesus told us what that is too: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). So someone will say, "You focus too much on the holy Ghost, and not enough on Jesus." Really? "Now the Lord IS that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (II Cor. 3:17). I believe the Gospel is all about Jesus, but Jesus went back to heaven and hasn't returned from there as yet. But he did send back the holy Ghost "in his name," which is to say in his stead (Jn. 14:26). The holy Spirit of God is in fact the ONLY presence of God or his Son in this world (Jn. 14:23). And as the scripture said, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." That means liberty from sin and sinning, which is why Jesus came to this world to begin with (Rom. 5:19; Rom. 8:1-4; I Jn. 3:8). Our entire calling is to be purified from sin and filled with God's holy love, so that our works will be wrought in God, and him be glorified thereby (Acts 15:8,9; Mat. 5:16; Jn. 3:21; Rom. 5:5; I Pet. 1:22). But somehow today's Christian religion has the cart way out in front of the horse. In fact in most cases they aren't even connected to one another. What I'm saying is that very little of the worship and service of God among his people today is motivated and moved by the only source from heaven that exists; namely God's Spirit.

The Spirit is allowed to move only in spots because it is preceded by and mixed with so much of man's 'church' garbage that stifles and quenches it (Eph. 4:30; I Thess. 5:19). God has his own program for his people, but nobody is reading it because they are too focused on their own program for the worship of God. Seems I read somewhere, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). I also remember reading somewhere, "When... the Spirit of truth comes, [it] will guide you into all truth" (Jn. 16:13). That must be what this means: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [congregations]" (Rev. 2:7). And I know I saw somewhere where it says, "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh: (Gal. 5:16). Ooooh, that must be what led to this: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as HE is pure" (I Jn. 3:2,3). And that must be what this was talking about: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be YE holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (I Pet. 1:15,16). Uh huhhhh, I guess that is why someone wrote this too: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, WITHOUT which NO man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). I wonder if any of that has anything to do with this: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Mat. 5:8). Now that all looks like really important stuff to me, so where is all the admonitions about having pompous religious buildings, youth ministries, religious outreaches, religious seminars, fund raisers, set programs for worship, and all the rest of man's superfluous and wearisome "church" stuff that dominates the landscape in Christianity? Don't bother looking for any of it in the Bible because none of these things are mentioned there. But it sure is mentioned in all the "churches" today, and is also held in higher esteem than the very life's blood of God's people, which is his Spirit in us, if we have it.

It's the same old story actually, like it was when Jesus referred to it with this sharp rebuke: "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Lk. 16:15). Yes friend, religious man justifies his crippled spiritual condition with an over abundance of 'church' work and service, whereby he tries in vain to cover his evident spiritual nakedness (Rev. 3:17,18). So what is the result of the children of God being taught to "weary themselves for very vanity?" (Hab. 2:13). Well, I can show you from the Bible what the result is, and also that this is no new dilemma for God's people: "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin" (Isa. 30:1). This "covering" of 'church' zeal has done nothing but "add sin to sin" in the body of Christ, even as Isaiah said. Need more confirmation of this you say? Okay, how about this? "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting" (Isa. 1:11-13). The truth is that God's people have never been short on worship and service, but rather on God being pleased WITH their worship and service to him; as Jesus also affirmed: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat. 15:8,9). It would do a whole lot of folks a whole lot of good to soberly consider the counsel of the ancient prophet Samuel: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (I Sam. 15:22). And all I have left is, Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

By One Spirit · Media library

Videos & songs

Broadcast 50Open on YouTube

Loading viewer…

Broadcast 50

Jesus Is All

More broadcasts

From the ministry’s YouTube archive. Visit the channel for new uploads.

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