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

The Witness of Speaking with Other Tongues

Raphael-inspired painting of a white dove above a peaceful assembly in flowing luminous light.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." (Acts 10:44-46)

The overall evidence throughout the Scriptures, with regard to speaking with other tongues being the initial evidence of someone receiving the baptism of the holy Ghost, is really irrefutable. But of all the scriptural evidence that is available to us, this passage has increasingly become the most powerful witness to me over the years. It is so very clear by this passage that the elders and the early believers fully understood that speaking with other tongues was and is THE witness furnished by God, to confirm every person whose faith and repentance is found acceptable to HIM!

It had been some time since Pentecost, by the time Peter was sent to Cornelius and his household. A great number of Jews had been converted. The Samaritans also had received the baptism of the holy Ghost. And Peter, as well as the men who accompanied him to the house of Cornelius, had certainly been in the middle of the action; and by this time they knew that God was not leaving it in the hands of men to decide who was really repenting and believing on Jesus with all their heart. They understood that God had appointed a sign of His own choosing to accompany the conversion, or new birth of everyone that He accepts into His fold. This is made even more clear by Peter's words in Acts 15:7-9: "... And God, which knoweth the hearts, BARE THEM WITNESS, giving them the holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." He was speaking here about Cornelius and his people receiving the baptism of the holy Ghost in Acts 10, saying that God alone knows the hearts of men; and He alone can bare witness to someone's heart being purified from sin by His Spirit, through faith in Jesus (I Cor. 6:11). And at the same time, he was also declaring that speaking with other tongues IS that witness from God. Amen and amen!!

As the Scripture clearly states, Peter and the brethren with him knew, ONLY after hearing the Gentiles speaking with other tongues, that indeed God had poured out the holy Ghost on them. They would not have accepted testimony from men (i.e. in this case, Cornelius & household). Like Jesus, they knew better (Jn. 2:24,25). They fully realized that no man is able to judge his own heart as being acceptable, in regard to faith and repentance toward God (Jer. 17:9,10). They also understood, as seen by Peter's testimony from Acts 15:7-9 (mentioned above), that they (Peter, etc.) could not make that determination themselves. That belongs to God alone. This is what they understood, and this is what we need to understand.

The doctrines that have been invented by men, which seem to provide another way for an individual to get right with God, are all based on someone judging themselves to be acceptable to God, and/or someone else doing it for them; both of which are totally unscriptural, and actually nonsensical in the sight of God. These popular traditions are known as "getting saved," "accepting the Lord," "repeating the sinner's prayer," and "confessing Jesus with your mouth." None of these man made "new birth" doctrines require the witness furnished by God, which was recognized by wise men in the early days of the body of Christ; but rather they rely totally on the witness of men, which neither Jesus nor the apostles and elders would have accepted.

The common defence of these unscriptural doctrines is that someone "just has to know in their heart" that their sins have been forgiven. But the Bible says that "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool:" (Prov. 28:26). What we need to do is abide by what GOD has established, which is scripturally confirmed; and forsake what man has tried to establish, which is contrary to God's way. Then we can achieve the latter part of the afore mentioned proverb: "...but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Prov.28:26 also). Amen. See our gospel tract on The Token for yet a fuller explanation of this all important bible truth.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

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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