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

The Good Samaritan

The Samaritan supports a weary traveler on a donkey toward an inn.
© By One Spirit Ministries

Just a short post today regarding what is the will of God in our lives, and the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. The whole parable is about loving God wholly, and loving your neighbor as yourself. Jesus had just gotten a doctor of the law to confess that this was and is indeed the heart and soul of the law of God. Jesus also said the same in another place: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Mat. 7:12). There are really only four characters in the parable, and if we are professing faith in Jesus Christ then we are going to be one of those characters. So the question obviously is, Which one are we? There’s the man who was beaten and left for dead. There’s the priest, and the Levite, and then there’s the Samaritan. I might note that the Samaritan was the only person in the parable who was not of the household of God, and also that Samaritans were despised by people like the lawyer that Jesus was addressing. The parable is really very simple. The priest who came by where the beaten man was at, just kept on going when he saw him. The Levite did likewise. Now these were both men of God who held very special offices in Israel, and who were no doubt very active in the worship and service of God that was going on at that time. The man who was beaten and robbed was an Israelite but he wasn’t anybody special, as was the priest and the Levite. The Samaritan of course was the big nobody in the parable because he was just totally on the outside looking in, as far as the people of God were concerned. But as we know, it was the Samaritan who stopped when he saw the man, and took care of him to the fullest extent of his ability. We also know that Jesus made it very clear to the doctor of the law who was tempting him, that the Samaritan was the only person who demonstrated the truth of loving your neighbor as yourself. The lawyer had no choice but to admit that it was indeed the Samaritan who showed forth the reality of God’s law, even though he wasn’t even a partaker of God’s law and covenant.

So what it comes down to is this: What is it that we are actually focused on in our faith toward Jesus? If it’s ‘ministry,’ 'church’ service, spiritual gifts, etc, but we’re not really having genuine care for the concerns and needs of those around us; then we are either the priest or the Levite. If we are the one who is presently downcast and distraught with adversity, then we are the one in the parable who was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. If we are that character then it’s certain that we need the right people around us. If it is the natural thing and the preferred thing for us to care about someone else’s troubles, and we demonstrate that care; then we can qualify as being the despised Samaritan. If we are zealous of the things regarding ministry and service, but we are not naturally inclined to lift up our hurting neighbor, then we are hypocrites, and we are not in the process of being saved. It’s that simple. The apostle Paul clearly stated this truth in short order: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Gal. 6:1,2). The priest and the Levite certainly thought themselves to be 'something,’ and it is certain that in the sight of God they were 'nothing.’ To be sure let’s further define this whole 'something’ and 'nothing’ issue by the scriptures: “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not [godly love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not [godly love], it profiteth me nothing” (I Cor. 13:2,3). There you have it. The whole purpose of ministry, service, spiritual gifts, etc; is all about increasing us in the love of God, and if it isn’t doing that then it’s all in vain (Mat. 15:9). The only thing that justifies us as children of God and believers in Jesus Christ, is if we have and are demonstrating God’s love to those around us. Let’s not ensnare ourselves with the idea that we are right with God because we are active in ministry, religious service, the operation of spiritual gifts, or anything else. The only thing that truly justifies anyone before God is genuine faith in Jesus that results in his purifying power cleansing us from sin, and living through us in divine love (Acts 15:8,9; Rom. 5:5; Gal. 2:20; Gal. 5:16). There is absolutely nothing that is as important to God than someone caring about someone else’s need, and tending to it. If we remember that we will do well. Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

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Jesus Is All

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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