Prison life: Three steps forward and two steps back!

Prison Ministry during the week of Oct 7-12-06:

Sat.--Carl preached in the Waupun service in English for 60 guys on 2 Timothy 3 about what people will be like in the end times and how to live our lives accordingly. A dozen asked for prayer at the end.

Wed.—
Waupun--Miguel & Jeff are still in the hole, but are asking for pastoral visits. Luis was back! Last week Jason, a new guy, had expressed that he didn’t like our music. A song Carl brought today was just his style & he appreciated it! We are pleased that several in class are writing to inmates in our studies at other prisons, learning to minister the Word & encouragement. We need wisdom choosing the next course of study to begin here.

Taycheedah 1 on 1’s—Kathy is using the “Steps to Freedom” study with all 3 girls. Pray God will reveal to them things in their past that are keeping them from going forward & that they will give up all “pet sins” & be truly free in Christ.

Thurs.--
Taycheedah—After praying about whether to continue this study now, today the girls asked us to consider preaching there in the Sunday services! Pray for Sarianne’s Mom who has serious heart problems, & for God to reveal Himself to Estrella, (soon to be transferred to minimum), Yoana, & Olga, also to Melissa & Irma, who are in the hole.

Dodge—One of the new guys, Julio, 19, had appeared to not really be paying attention. After class, God opened up a few moments to hear his story-- He said he was “so tired” of the violent life on the streets of south Milwaukee. Pray Julio meets the One who can give him REST. Pedro, also new, surprised us by reciting from memory John 3:16 & 17! Pray his life will be surrendered to Christ. Pray for another new guy, clearly a Christian, who added much to the class today. Pray for Carlos, who was transferred to a co. jail in northern Wisconsin, that we might be able to visit him soon. We thank God that He helped us work out an issue with Panchito about the worship music he leads each week as part of the class.

Columbia—
We had a good pastoral visit with Toluco, a young man who said he has given his life to the Lord but has trouble understanding the Bible. May God give us wisdom.

Class I—We always have a precious time with these men during worship. Lately we have been using the songs of the Gutierrez Brothers, who led the worship for Tecate Mission’s Annual Conference this August. Today the men also had many questions like: What is the difference between a prophet and an apostle? Who was Mohammed? What does the word GOSPEL mean? We are starting a TEE study in the book of Romans, pray God opens their minds & hearts to His Word.

Class II—Immigration may send Victorino back to El Salvador at any time, so we pray he will believe on the Lord soon. He has trouble reading & writing, but salvation is for ALL! When Carl closed the study in prayer, Santos also prayed for safety for us on the way to our home. We have been considering the chaplain’s invitation to do a Spanish worship service there on a weekday, but we’d have to drop something in order to do so.