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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Legacy · Writings

Continuing in the Word of God

Raphael-inspired painting of thoughtful readers studying an open sacred book beneath a classical loggia.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then ye shall be my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31,32)

This statement by Jesus, about continuing in the word of God, is a very powerful truth that is very needful to be understood by any and all who would attain unto eternal life. Let's first consider that Jesus was referring to the word of God as something that He was saying to the people to whom He was speaking. This is a huge point to realize, for the simple reason that the word of God has always been that which He says. The books of the prophets are replete with phrases such as "the word of the Lord came unto me, saying..." etc. Anyone who has ever experienced receiving the word of God, has understood by that experience that the word of God is something presently spoken by God. Consider what is written about the word of God in the Bible, in the book of Hebrews: "For the word of God is quick (ALIVE), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).

The point is this: the Bible is not the word of God, but rather it is a written record of the word of God, and of God's dealings with man. This may sound to some to be a rather frivolous statement, but it actually is something that strikes at the heart of much spiritual confusion, bondage, and division that is in the body of Christ today. If the Bible was the word of God, then everyone who reads the Bible would be receiving God's word. And if that were the case, then how could there be a million and one different interpretations of the same topics in the Bible? In that case, God would be the author of confusion, which the Bible declares that He is not (I Cor. 14:33). As has always been the case, the word of the Lord is that which the Lord is saying, and is received by those who are hearing what God is saying. The word of God can be received by means of the Scriptures, if someone has the Spirit of God, and is honestly, willingly, humbly, and openly seeking the true understanding of what is written in the Bible. We receive the word of the Lord only if and when it is revealed to us by God. Period. As is stated in the Bible, the Scriptures are subject to no private (personal) interpretation (I Pet. 20,21).

To understand this truth more clearly we need only to heed the words of Jesus, in His messages to the seven leaders of the Lord's assemblies in Asia, at the time that He gave "The Revelation" to John. In each of these seven messages, at the end, He emphatically stated: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [assemblies]." This was a direct admonition to these men who were over the seven congregations of Asia, to be, and to remain; honest, willing, humble, and open seekers of truth so that they would be able to continue hearing what Jesus was saying to them, by means of the holy Ghost which He sent back from Heaven to take His place until He comes again. It is a continually confirmed truth in the Bible, that the Spirit of God is to convey God's word to His people (Isa. 54:13; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13; I Jn.2:27). It is also confirmed that no one can receive God's word unless they have the Spirit of God (I Cor. 2:11; Rom.8:9).

This brings us to the concluding point. The only people who are receiving the word of the Lord are those who have been baptized with the holy Ghost, and are continuing to be led by the Spirit after receiving it. Those who are being led by the Spirit are those who are dying out to, or overcoming sin (Rom. 8:13,14). This is the only way for anyone to "hear what the Spirit is saying," and thereby receive God's word; whether directly through the Spirit, or through someone preaching the word that they have received through the Spirit (Rom. 1:17; Rom. 10:8). If we continue in these things, then we will be built upon a rock, and have an unshakeable foundation of understanding concerning the things that pertain to the kingdom of God (Mat. 16:15-18).

This also is the only way that we can be made free from sin (Eph. 5:26), and from Satan's perversions of the scriptures in the Bible; which are projected by those who have not received the word of God, but are advertising that they have (Eph. 4:13,14; Eph. 6:11,14). And only by these means of receiving the word of God, and continuing therein, can we ever hope to achieve "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3) among ourselves; because divided minds regarding the things of God is what keeps us alienated from one another. And this is something that we can get past, if we are willing to lose what man has said, in order to receive what God has said; and is saying to His people (Philip. 3:7,8; I Cor.1:10). 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