For quite some time I've been praying about getting involved in some sort of ministry. With the kids all grown I have time on my hands and have wanted to *do* more than just *think* on the things of God. I have been exploring several opportunities and groups and really praying about what God would have me do. One opportunity that arose, totally without any input on my part, has been helping with a prison ministry. I have now gone and helped with a couple of sessions. It has been a good experience overall.
These women are so hungry for the things of God. And questions... oh my, they have questions. The two weeks I have helped with the small groups the women ask so many questions. From basic questions to deep questions. They reveal deep hurts and simple wants. It could be overwhelming but somehow or other God makes it all work well and go together. Unfortunately two weeks that I was to go unavoidable conflicts arose
and so I wasn't able to but today I took part in "Holy Spirit
Saturday." What a joyous experience. Our teaching today was on the Holy Spirit. Who He is, what He does, and How you can receive Him. Normally the Alpha course runs two hours but on Holy Spirit Saturday it is from 8:30 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon. Time flies by though. We started out with worship and then watched the first video about the Holy Spirit. When we broke into small groups some of the women in our groups wanted to get right to the "nitty gritty" of the Spirit and asked some very deep questions. Some of these women have absolutely no church background, and others have some church background, and of course there are all sorts of denominations represented so fielding questions can be interesting when you have many viewpoints and many opinions in the circle. After small group we had lunch. We served the women sub sandwiches and spent time in fellowship with them. After lunch we had more worship, a second video and then ministry time. We broke into prayer teams and while the women worshipped we were available for prayer. I have no idea how many of the group actually asked for prayer but I know I was privileged to pray for several women over the course of an hour or so. My prayer partner was very very silent during our first prayer and afterwards she sheepishly told me she had never prayed for anyone aloud and she was just unable to do so. I have to admit that I was wondering why she volunteered to be a prayer counselor but told her that she could always join in at any time but if she couldn't that was fine, what she did need to do was to stand in agreement with me and the woman being prayed for and pray silently if that was all she was able to do. The look of relief on her face when she found out she didn't have to verbalize anything was priceless.
The wants and needs of these women are very real to people everywhere, not only those incarcerated. They have fears, they deal with anger, they worry about their children, they struggle with relationships, they worry about their future, they struggle with overcoming addiction, they struggle with controlling their thoughts, they want peace of mind and spirit, they need forgiveness and some need to forgive, and they desire love. Oh how they desire love. One thing I noticed is how after being prayed for they would just grab on to you and hug you and want to be held and hugged. They craved real touch, real care, and the contact of someone who cared for them. I can't say I always knew what to pray and it was a good exercise in listening to the Spirit myself. I would ask the Lord to reveal to me what these women needed and each woman had different needs. My friend who convinced me to go help with this ministry (I say she'd make a good snake oil salesman and that's fair because she says I'm a closet wild woman..... lol ... but that's a story for another day) said I must have done a good job because my shoulder was all wet. The tears did flow freely.
I have to admit that one of the things I have found amazing is how some of these women, overcoming addictions and incarcerated for whatever crime have their own testimony. My first week helping, a young girl described how she took time to listen to God and would write down the promises He gave her. Today another woman came to me for prayer and simply wanted reassurance that the promises of God were real for her. She said she knew them, she just wanted to have them proclaimed over her again because hearing it made it all the more real but she had no doubt as to what God had done, is doing, and will do for her. It made me wonder if I would be the same if I were in their position. So the teaching goes both ways in some cases. I think the key is being open to God and what He wants to show you, even in prison not by choice, or in prison by choice. More people are in prison than we realize. Mostly prisons of our own choosing. We choose to stay in them, or we can choose to be free. These women are in a prison of brick and mortar, barbed wire and fences but some of them are more free than others walking around without walls.
Let God set you free of your prison.
Comments (6)
Thanks for sharing that.
I think that sounds like a great thing to be doing. Of course, especially if God is sending you there. I might do something like that when my children get older.
Blessings!
It is a blessing to know that there are some with love for those in need. Your ministry will have a difference in the lives of those women who are searching for the answers of life. You can show them where to get a more abundant life. God bless your ministry.
Thank you for sharing that with us! I write to people in prison at this time; you're right, they have so many worries and feel very isolated and alone. Maybe someday (if the Lord tarries) and my children are grown, I will actually visit the prisons. It's a very important and much needed ministry.
maybe of OUR prisons. Very wonderful post. glad you wrote it down. Prayers it will bless someone...perhaps to investigate such a ministry themselves.
all my best
It sounds like a wonderful program that is doing a lot of good. Do you know if they help any with follow up afterwards?
I was really blessed by what you said - and I think you are right about how many people are in prisons of their own making. Thank you so much for sharing this very touching blog.