*********************************************
Well, we finished the program at the Re-entry Center. As before, I'm fried. There is a serious lack of sleep over the 4 days and 3 nights. It's also draining, at least for me, due to the horrible acoustics (prison normal) and noise volume. Most or all it is very emotionally draining. It's a very emotional experience for both the 36 participants (candidates) and members (volunteers). Most importantly, it was a great success. A good number of decisions/salvations and much other emotional healing. Many of these conversions were very dramatic. If you don't shed a few tears during the program you're either comatose or dead. I think I get near as much from volunteering as the candidates do.
For those interested, it's a Christian prison ministry based on the "Emmaus Walk". It is Christian but very non-denominational ( as in interdenominational ). If anyone is interested there are, to my knowledge, two organizations and some volunteers participate in both. There is Kairos and Keryx prison ministries. They are similar but serve slightly different target populations. My Keryx group targets a re-entry prison where inmates are serving their last 3 or sometimes up to 5 years. They are very broken people. Even with participation in the program there is still a depressing failure rate, but it does help considerably. Most all inmates have addiction issues which they even manage to continue in prison. We had several that were getting high each day before the program. We reached at least a couple of those. If you have the time and feel led I strongly recommend getting involved. It will move you.
For those of you that are non-religious, anti-religious or just agnostic, keep in mind that these programs reduce your chances of being victimized by these inmates after release and save you tax money due to recidivism.
end update
PS: Thanks for all of the prayers.
*********************************************
This post may not be within the guidelines but I hope it's OK. Just ignore if you aren't interested in the spiritual. No offence intended to anybody and not a request for discussion.
I've currently involved in a prison ministry program. I fairly new at it. We go into a prison a couple of times a year for an extended weekend and have a program where we share with the inmates that are close enough to release that they can see the end. This is only my second time at this. I've found the faith of the regular members to be humbling.
As part of this program the members of the team each write a letter to every participant to be given to them at the end of the program. I'm struggling to write letters, in a timely manner, that will have meaning to them, help them in their walk both before and especially after release, and be "not from me". I struggle to be just the vessel, the tool. I want my mind and hand to be used without any ego, bias or whatever interfering. As much as I can, I have to get prayed up before each letter. I'm not naturally good at the letter writing nor am I a great man of faith. I trying here. I have a few done and I believe I had God's hand in them. But with the mental preparation and prayer required for each I may not get them done, as they should be. These are letters that may get reread a number of times and possibly even shared. They are important. I could use some "warrior" help.
Back to your regular programming.
Well, we finished the program at the Re-entry Center. As before, I'm fried. There is a serious lack of sleep over the 4 days and 3 nights. It's also draining, at least for me, due to the horrible acoustics (prison normal) and noise volume. Most or all it is very emotionally draining. It's a very emotional experience for both the 36 participants (candidates) and members (volunteers). Most importantly, it was a great success. A good number of decisions/salvations and much other emotional healing. Many of these conversions were very dramatic. If you don't shed a few tears during the program you're either comatose or dead. I think I get near as much from volunteering as the candidates do.
For those interested, it's a Christian prison ministry based on the "Emmaus Walk". It is Christian but very non-denominational ( as in interdenominational ). If anyone is interested there are, to my knowledge, two organizations and some volunteers participate in both. There is Kairos and Keryx prison ministries. They are similar but serve slightly different target populations. My Keryx group targets a re-entry prison where inmates are serving their last 3 or sometimes up to 5 years. They are very broken people. Even with participation in the program there is still a depressing failure rate, but it does help considerably. Most all inmates have addiction issues which they even manage to continue in prison. We had several that were getting high each day before the program. We reached at least a couple of those. If you have the time and feel led I strongly recommend getting involved. It will move you.
For those of you that are non-religious, anti-religious or just agnostic, keep in mind that these programs reduce your chances of being victimized by these inmates after release and save you tax money due to recidivism.
end update
PS: Thanks for all of the prayers.
*********************************************
This post may not be within the guidelines but I hope it's OK. Just ignore if you aren't interested in the spiritual. No offence intended to anybody and not a request for discussion.
I've currently involved in a prison ministry program. I fairly new at it. We go into a prison a couple of times a year for an extended weekend and have a program where we share with the inmates that are close enough to release that they can see the end. This is only my second time at this. I've found the faith of the regular members to be humbling.
As part of this program the members of the team each write a letter to every participant to be given to them at the end of the program. I'm struggling to write letters, in a timely manner, that will have meaning to them, help them in their walk both before and especially after release, and be "not from me". I struggle to be just the vessel, the tool. I want my mind and hand to be used without any ego, bias or whatever interfering. As much as I can, I have to get prayed up before each letter. I'm not naturally good at the letter writing nor am I a great man of faith. I trying here. I have a few done and I believe I had God's hand in them. But with the mental preparation and prayer required for each I may not get them done, as they should be. These are letters that may get reread a number of times and possibly even shared. They are important. I could use some "warrior" help.
Back to your regular programming.
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