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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From the ministry archive

Love and Repentance

Two siblings share patient companionship and a simple meal while evening light breaks through rain.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:8,9). We're all familiar with the famous saying by the infamous Cain; "Am I my brother's keeper?" The evident connotation here is that we don't want to be like Cain, who murdered his brother; but rather we DO need to be our brother's keeper. The beloved apostle said the same: "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (I Jn. 3:11,12). If we're going to be our brother's (and sister's) keeper, what would be the main rule of thumb that we need to keep? I believe it comes from what I consider to be the greatest promise of God that he has made to his children: "for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). I can't think of anything that could possibly mean more to us than the promise that God will never leave or abandon us. As long as God is with us, and he is, then no matter how hard things get; we know that we can make it through because we have the absolute security of knowing that the creator, and the judge, and the savior of all the world is with us through it all. This means that we are never without hope, regardless of how bad things may look and feel. I have to tell you, that is a heck of a lot better than NOT having that security. In fact it makes all the difference, and I know because I've been on both ends of that stick in my lifetime. So what does all this have to do with us being our brother's keeper? I think it's really self evident, but let's allow the scriptures to steer us into the truth of the matter: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Eph. 5:1,2).

So we are called to be "follower's of God," and that means that we are to walk in his love toward one another. If we are truly following God then that has to mean that we are going to be of the same mind and nature as he is in terms of not forsaking or abandoning one another. It's called faithfulness, and it's called love, and it is also called commitment. God could not possibly be more committed to our well being than to give up his only begotten Son for our ransom and redemption. His total and absolute faithfulness, love, and commitment to us is forever settled and demonstrated by that one act alone, not as though he hasn't demonstrated it throughout history in every other conceivable way. So what it comes down to is that if we're going to be real with God then we need to ante up and act toward one another like he has acted toward us. The apostle Paul told us some powerful things about the nature of God's love, one of which was, "[Love] suffereth long, and is kind" (I Cor. 13:4). Longsuffering is one of the most revealing attributes of God's nature, and if it wasn't for his longsuffering and patience it would have all been over for all of us a long time ago. It's God's longsuffering that is responsible for the promise that he will never leave or forsake us. It's really simple; he doesn't give up on us because we're going through a hard time, or we're struggling with a repeated failure. As long as we're wanting to get things righted and continue to strive to follow him, he is going to be there for us and help us through till we get where we need to go. In fact even if we utterly fail and go back to sin he will eagerly wait for us to return, and he will also seek us out and try to turn us back in the right direction. Remember the parable of the lost sheep? Yeah, that's the nature of God and that is the heart of our Savior who died for us. The problem with a whole lot of folks is that they make 'fair weather friends' out of themselves, and I'm talking about people who are in Christ. So many want to get what is beneficial to themselves out of their relationships with others, and then move on when someone is struggling. That is not the love of God, and that is a shameful trait, especially for someone professing faith in Jesus Christ.

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying; I'm fully aware that there's a time to leave someone to themselves when they have waxed defiant and refuse to listen to reason or respond to righteous efforts to give then the help that they need. But we can pull the trigger too fast on that as well, especially if we're lacking in longsuffering, patience, and commitment. Those with a heart after God will stay the course with someone who is genuinely trying to do the right things and be the right way, even if they are failing often. Jesus certainly does that. It is the wicked that are characterized throughout the scriptures as forsaking the righteous. Demas after several years of ministering with Paul forsook him when Paul was in prison. Paul minced no words about the reason for it either: "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (II Tim. 4:10). Judas forsook Jesus after being with him in the ministry for three years, and betrayed him to the chief priests and Pharisees. David's trusted counselor Ahithophel forsook him when things got rough for David, and his son Absalom momentarily took over the kingdom (II Sam. 15:31). The list just goes on, but the fact is that there is no righteous person in the Bible who ever forsook or abandoned another righteous person when the going got tough, or when the grass may have looked a little greener on the other side. So in the end if God has said that he would never leave or forsake us, then we should have the same mindset and heart about one another. We are very speedily approaching the time that Jesus spoke of in his great end time sermon, and it is this particular attribute that will make the difference between those who will be saved and those who will be lost, as he soberly stated: "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another... And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Mat. 24:10,12,13). So if we are the righteous, and the elect, and all of that good stuff; then we truly must be our brother's keeper. All I can say my friend, is dig deep in that well of living water, and keep on drinking. Nuff said.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

By One Spirit · Media library

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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