“we will be back…”

It’s always such a blessing to be able go back into a facility and see familiar faces. We make a promise to the men we meet that we will be back. They are grateful when we keep that promise and return to show them that yes, we really do care.

Each visit, our hearts are moved as we literally see the music and message of God bring comfort and encouragement to these hurting souls. We thank God that over ten men received Christ! It takes courage for these tough, hardened men to walk forward and make a public declaration that they’ve asked Jesus into their hearts, but praise the Lord, six of the ten men did come forward. One of those men shared his story of despair and loneliness and how much he missed his family. After his arrest his wife divorced him and moved to Florida, he hasn’t seen his girls in two years. Tears filled his eyes and clearly his heart was broken. I asked him if he had a Bible and he told me he needed one. We told him we’d make sure he got one and also our new Devotional book “Doing His Time” by James Vogelzang which we are excited about. This devotional will provide a great source of spiritual growth for the prisoners.

Yet another young man came up to Janae and said, “I’d like to thank you for writing that song your husband sang tonight, ‘Gotta Forgive Them.’” He continued, “You see, I struggle with forgiving because I was framed for a crime I didn’t commit—and then convicted and sentenced to prison. I’m very angry and hurt about what happened to me. I miss my family and I’ll be here for a long time for something I did not do. Tonight, I realized I needed to forgive. God forgave me and I must forgive others. Will you please pray for me that God will give me the strength to forgive?”

Please join us in praying for these hurting men—that they will find comfort and strength in the Word of God and will continue to grow in Him.