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

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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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By One Spirit

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October 14, 2015

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A Samaritan gently bandages a weary traveler beside a donkey on the road to Jericho.
© By One Spirit Ministries

The Good Samaritan and True Mercy

It's been a while since I've written on this topic, though I had a stretch of about a year where it was continually recurring. No wonder really, it was a recurring subject with Jesus too. Why do you figure Jesus was alwa…

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A Samaritan gently bandages a weary traveler beside a donkey on the road to Jericho.
© By One Spirit Ministries

It's been a while since I've written on this topic, though I had a stretch of about a year where it was continually recurring. No wonder really, it was a recurring subject with Jesus too. Why do you figure Jesus was always finding his way back to parables like 'the Good Samaritan,' and the 'Prodigal Son?' By the way, you should note that the parable of the prodigal son was more about the prodigal son's brother than it was the prodigal son himself, and the parable of the good Samaritan was more about the priest and the Levite than it was about the Samaritan. That in fact was why Jesus came back around to these kinds of illustrations so often, because he saw so much of the spirits of the priest, the Levite, and the prodigal son's brother around him among God's people to whom he came. In both of these parables these men failed to show concern and care for those in need, as well as failing to show gladness for someone being helped, as was the case with the prodigal son's brother. The priest and the Levite were obviously concerned about their positions in ministry, and the prodigal son's brother was concerned about his position in his father's house; but none of them were concerned about the souls around them who were in dire need. This is what Jesus sadly beheld in front of him in Israel in large scale, and that is why he taught on these things repeatedly. In fact that is why I have written so much on the same topic, because unfortunately I see the same thing going on today that Jesus saw in his day. I might add that he still sees it going on too, and he still finds it very saddening as he did when he was here. A lot of folks are concerned about 'ministry' today, and a lot of folks are concerned about their 'positions,' but honestly there are too many believers who are insensitive to the plight of the needy around them.

We should really consider what it was that sent Jesus to this world. Was it to teach and to promote the pursuit of 'ministry'? Well, in a genuine sense the answer to that question is yes. But the problem is that a lot of people are defining ministry and teaching in too technical of a sense, and that is not the way Jesus defined teaching and ministry. Was it to gain some ministerial position that Jesus came from heaven to become a man and dwell among us? I hardly think so, seeing he was doing really well in heaven, having the highest position in existence apart from his Father. The ONLY reason that Jesus came here was because both he and his Father deeply and immensely cared about the dire need that you and I were in. That's it. As the famous verse says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16). It's just that simple. We were in trouble and Jesus could do something about it, and he left all that was comfortable and convenient, and glorious, in order to 'minister' to our needs. Now that my friend is what we call 'ministry.' Because he did that he has attained unto quite a worthy ministry and position as the scripture tells us: "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philp. 2:8-11). It's too bad that the priest and Levite in the good Samaritan parable, and the prodigal son's brother didn't know that it works that way. Maybe they would have cared first and allowed God to give them truly meaningful ministries and positions afterward.

So the moral of the story is that we need to be more like Jesus and be more sensitive to someone else's needs than to our own ambitions, and be there for the needs of those around us who are in trouble. And we need to be less like the priest, the Levite, and the prodigal son's brother, whom Jesus showed were too concerned about their own things to tend to real life, real time needs of those around them that were hurting. The apostle Paul was in agreement with this as well: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philip. 2:4). Jesus simply wasn't thinking about what his position in 'the ministry' was, not to mention that he IS the ministry.' Neither was he thinking about operating in spiritual things. He only had one thought in mind, and that was the needs and troubles of those around him. That in fact was why he was able to do all that he did, because that is all that he was and is about. The priest and the Levite knew plenty about the scriptures and how to teach, they just didn't really know what the scriptures are really about. The prodigal son's brother knew every technical aspect of what was going on with his father's household, he just didn't understand his father's heart toward his wayward son, and his marvelous redemption. We should really strive to follow the example of Jesus in these things, as the scripture also says, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (I Jn. 4:7,8). All I have left to say is that I'm looking forward to the day when I no longer write or preach on this topic, because that will mean I am no longer seeing the need for it around me. God bless.

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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 only getting stronger 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