Today was a glorious day in Ionia at Bellamy Creek maximum security correctional facility.

There were 45 men who were given an unusual opportunity to get out of their cells to attend a Christian Concert. Being only allowed out of their cells 4 hours a day, in a 24 hour period they seemed almost lethargic as they filed in.

As we reached for the hands of these men who have been so long isolated from humanity, they appeared stunned to be touching the hand of smiling persons who showed no fear of them. Many of these men are violent criminals and have very little social interaction with others. They have been shut out, shut down and shut off from society as…

punishment for the crimes they’ve committed. Wayburn sang with gusto and passion expressing through our songs the love of Christ. He ushered these men with his voice into the very presences of God Almighty. Wayburn sang with every fiber of his being, pleading with every note sung for these men to repent and give everything to Jesus. The music moved many of these desperate, hardened men to tears and prepared their hearts for the message of God.

Our friend Ardo Draper, a resident Pastor from our church and former inmate and heroin user, gave the message quoting scriptures of repentance, forgiveness and hope. The word of God penetrated the hearts of these inmates and we began to see the walls of shame, guilt and despair break down. They clung to every word seeking comfort from a God who offers peace and restoration.

I shared with the men that there was no place on earth that we would rather be than with them telling of a Savior who longed to walk with them on this sometimes dark and difficult journey. I was the voice of their mothers, wives, grandmothers, and daughters letting them know “it’s time to live for God….He is your only hope”. Tears flowed as I told of my blinded mother opening her eyes minutes before her death and looking into the face of Jesus. I told them “God is real and He is waiting for you to yield your life completely to Him”.

Wayburn asked any who would like to receive Christ to raise their hands and say an invitational prayer with him. Praise God for His salvation as 12 men raised their hand and prayed to receive Christ.

Please pray for these men. The road will be long and difficult but, God is able to heal the brokenhearted and He binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3