Friday, November 8, 2013

The God of Reconciliation


"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them."  2 Cor.5:19

There we stood in the school cafeteria on a weekday morning.  Not just any weekday; this happened to be the National Day of Prayer.  A group of us gathered in this public high school in Chicago and prayed.  We prayed for the children in that school, in the city.  We prayed for their families.  We prayed for the staff.  We prayed for the violence to end.  We prayed for shattered families to be reconciled.

It has been an interesting year, filled with the twists and turns of the transition our ministry has sensed would happen.  We have found ourselves in public high schools, county jails, halfway houses, death row units, and more.  We have become immersed in the human trafficking issue, seeing afresh the faces of the incarcerated. This year we have also plowed up the soil of re-entry, developing ways to teach Biblical re-entry to women behind the walls.  We have seen miracles this year as well - the amazing power of forgiveness shown by an offender who forgave her stepfather after 40 years of carrying unforgiveness.  That very next week, her step dad drove over 1500 miles to visit her in prison - and to ask her forgiveness.  She told him she had forgiven him - a few days earlier.  This woman's stepfather writes her every week now.  This broken family has been reconciled.

We have had correctional officers ask us when we would do a Prayer Seminar for them.  There are letters and notes and comments giving testimony to the powerful healing and restorative work of God in the lives of women and in their families.  We keep stumbling into God in prison.  He is reconciling the world to Himself in Christ.  We watch Him work, try to do our part and not get in His way.  We give Him honor and glory and praise that is due to Him and Him alone.  Have Your way, Lord.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Stand in Awe

 
 
 
"I stand in awe of Your deeds, O Lord..."  Hab. 3:2
 
When I take time to reflect on the wondrous works of the Lord this year, I can only stand in awe.  Our trips to prisons, jails, and correctional centers in Florida, California, and Nevada have produced "God-moments" where the only thing a person can do is to stop and be in awe of the Lord.
 
His presence, His love, His healing have been more pronounced and powerful than I can remember in our seven years of going into prison.  It is more than the numbers, more than the new facilities we have visited, more than they physical healings and salvations and breakthroughs that we witnessed a year ago.  This year it is deep level healing and restoration, lifetimes of unforgiveness giving way under the outstretched arms of Jesus.  It is the weeping of women as the Lord ministers directly to those who are ready to receive.  It is times of silence that produce deliverances, revelations, and pure worship.  It is something to behold.
 
Lives of incarcerated women are blooming in the desert out in California and Nevada.  There is hope in Florida.  I have seen returning citizens who are doing well, handling responsibility, and moving forward with their lives. 
 
We prepare next for ministry in Washington, DC, West Virginia, and Virginia.  Our schedule includes a meeting of OSL Collaborators at Prison Fellowship and an appointment with the Director of Programs to Stop Human Trafficking at Salvation Army.  The topic of sex slavery, human trafficking and its impacts is rising to the surface in many facilities, where we are having conversations about it.  We also will be conducting seminars at the following women's facilities in April:
 
April 6th - Correctional Treatment Facility, Washington DC
April 8th - SFF Hazelton, WV
April 9th - OSL Meeting, Prison Fellowship, VA
April 10th - Salvation Army Meeting, VA and Fluvanna Correctional, VA
April 11th - Deerfield Work Camp, VA
April 12th - Brunswick Reception Center, VA
 
Lord, we stand in awe of Your works.
 

 
 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Winter Schedule



Faith Seeds Ministries
Prison Ministry Schedule

Our new year has begun and we are excited to be traveling to Florida in February, followed by California and Nevada in March.  Check back for details after our trips and for all the latest activities of the ministry!


Feb. 9th— Bridges of Bradenton, Prayer Seminar 7-9PM

Feb. 10th—Hernando Correctional, Prayer Seminar: 9-10:45AM

Feb. 10th—FCC Coleman, Praying Moms Seminar: 1-3PM

Feb. 11th—Bridges of Auburndale, Prayer Seminar: 1:30-3:30PM

Feb. 12th—Lowell Reception Center, Prayer Seminar: 9-11AM

Feb. 13th—Lowell Annex, Prayer Seminar: 1-3PM

Feb. 13th—Lowell Correctional, Prayer Seminar: 6-8PM

Mar. 3rd—CCWF, Prayer Seminar:9-11AM

Mar. 4th—FCC Victorville, Prayer Seminar: 6-8:30PM

Mar. 5th—Walter Hoving Home, Prayer Seminar: 1-3PM

Mar. 5th—McClure Correctional, Prayer Seminar: 6-8PM

Mar. 6th—California City Correctional, Prayer Seminar: 12:30-2:30PM
 
Mar. 9th—Welcome Home Peer Reunion: 10:15—11:30AM