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| Olympic Peninsula |
As this Christmas season is now heading toward 2012, the peaceful gaze on an inmate's face continues to play in my mind as I reflect on a recent PFC concert with the Unchained band at Clallam Bay Correction Center.
This tour helped make the ministry Christmas season special for me. I participate as a travel warrior and occasional preacher at select sites, as opportunities work out within and outside PFC. So, I accompanied the band to the Clallam Bay and Olympic Correction Centers
on the Olympic Peninsula off Highway 101 on December 17.
Reflection on Christmas
How was your Christmas season? To many like ours, families are taking time out for catching up over scrumptious dinners, gift exchanges, and worship services. For others, this season is lonely and new obstacles arise. Challenges of everyday life don't stop. This season brings out exhilarating highs and depressing lows. Some events kick us in our stomachs.
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| Charles Spurgeon |
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| Clallam Bay CC |
We had 54 men
at CBCC and 16 at OCC. We were all delighted one man made a first time
commitment to receive Christ at CB and several took steps to deepen their
walks. We met KC and Craig, PFC group leaders at CBCC, who
have served there monthly from Bothel for 14 years.
We saw signs of the Holy Spirit working even as we entered the
facility. The officers and PFC group leaders were incredibly
welcoming. As our concerts progressed, Kent, who facilitates the
sound, was not able to come on this trip so Bruce and Chris stepped up to meet the need.
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| Olympic CC |
The inmates at the concert were very actively participating as Unchained led in concert-worship before and after I spoke. I felt the very joyful presence of the Holy Spirit throughout this service. I preached from Luke 2:22-35 on Simeon's prophetic statement about the baby Jesus directly to Mary and Joseph. My theme wrapped all around Jesus meeting every need in our lives. While Mary and Joseph watched and listened carefully, Simeon held Jesus in his arms. He had been waiting his entire life to see this Jesus. Can we imagine that?
What are your deepest dreams? Jesus meets you right there! The ministry of Jesus speaks to the deepest places of our hearts.
Jesus is our very personal and every people group's:
- consolation
- anointed Messiah
- revealed salvation
- appointed judge...and
- opposing sign for the lost
Serving with Unchained
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| Geoff White of Unchained |
At our CBCC service, many men greeted us with handshakes and words of appreciation as the concert ended and they returned to their units. I noticed this one man sitting near the back on my left during the concert music and several times during my preaching. He was really focused above and beyond his singing along, listening, and clapping to the beat with Unchained and again following my preaching points. This man appeared deeply moved.
As most of the men pursued me after the service, particular one stood out, again. As we shook hands, he wanted to hold on.
Very appreciative, he said, "Thank you for coming, thank you for your message. I needed that, today. Thank you, thank you, thank you." Only then, he left.
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| Chris Sherry and Homer Haynes of Unchained |
Several others offered their gratitude witnessing to my heart about the work of the Holy Spirit through Unchained, PFC hosts KC and Craig, and me. The Unchained band members packed up their multiple instruments, cables, speakers, amplifiers, and microphones and we headed off to Olympic about 70 miles from CBCC, just south of Forks.
Each corrections center culture is different. I am one of the PFC group leaders at Olympic and always find the officers appreciative, helpful, and genuinely friendly. Over the five years serving at Olympic, about 9-10 months each year, we get to know the inmates and enjoy praying and sharing with them.
1 comment:
I always have such a great time serving with you, Mark! We are all very blessed to have such a great group of people to minister with. This was my second further away from home mission trip, and I'm always amazed at how much the Lord provides even when we're tired, cranky, hungry, and just want to get up and walk but have 100 miles left to go and a little over an hour to do it. It was a great trip, and I'm looking forward to what the Lord has planned for us all when His plans unfold. :)
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