"The greatest key to effective jail/prison ministry is availability!"
Never was this principle made more clear than the last Sunday Service Susie ( Our dear departed Chairman's daughter that leads my praise and worship.) and I conducted in the State prison at Hominy, Oklahoma! We entered the prison not having the service in the Chapel. It was closed due to flooding from all the recent rains we have witnessed.
Guess where we were sent to meet? The old gym that has no air conditioning and the venting fans they do have are so loud you have to almost scream to be heard over them. Yes it was a hot day so we had to turn on the fans and went ahead to have our worship service.
We had a much larger crowd than I thought would attend. (My faith was not very visionary at the start.) But the lord lifted my heart and increased my spirit as we began and Susie was able to build a great spirit of hearts turned to the Lord through the Praise and Worship.
As I went to the front to speak, I whispered a prayer, "Lord help the men to focus beyond the heat, noise of the fans and distractions of a big open gym to hear the message of Christ soon return, Amen" Each eye was glued to me and they seemed to hang on each word. I shared Paul's teaching from I Thessalonians 4: 13-18 and Christ's return for His Church. I could see the Lord working in each of their hearts so I could hardly wait to see what He was going to do!
As I closed with Christ taking us to be with Him, I gave a clear outline of the Gospel and an invitation to make Jesus their Lord and Savior. God's Spirit took that invitation and | watched 10 men come to give their lives to Christ. Yes there is no limit to what a God will do, even in the heat and noise, when we are available. You share in each victory through your prayers and investments. Thank You!!!
In His Love for Our Prisoners,
P.S. Please pray for V.P. Ivy Kirk's Health and her important re-entry work.