In one week, I am headed for India and Nepal with four others as part of Prisoners for Christ on a two-week missions trip. We've had several team meetings, rereading the orientation manual, and recalling my last trip to Rwanda and Burundi.
Now, it's "go-time."
We leave on October 31 and return on November 13 with ten days of active ministry on the ground.
Our theme theme is "The great light shines in deep darkness," from Isaiah 9:2.
The actual locations for this trip are New Dehli and Dehra Dun, northern India and Kathmandu, Nepal. From those headquarters, we will be traveling daily to various prisons and conference settings.
I remain amazed at God's just incredible favor as my support finances for this short-term missions trip are fully in. Everybody will laugh as one of the rules is bald guys like me wear baseball hats. Since that's my normal way, I just make a pick from my collection.
Everything is exaggerated on the field
The one lesson the Lord continues to remind me of from my past trip is dying to myself around selfishness and unmet expectations. Well, I had that under control, I thought. I am mature, I told myself.
I didn't have my unmet expectations under control.
Emotions, fears, stresses, and multiple other anxieties came right to the surface on my last trip. It was a big struggle as I got tired and started talking. A couple of times, it got really uncomfortable. I complained openly about conditions, the roads, and the food when I got tired.
I was entrenched, during those unguarded and raw moments, in a sense of entitlement within our team. Things were not going like we had outlined. Others heard very clearly my gossip and complaints about the group leader through paper-thin walls.
Five "TIBET" purposes
Train and equip the national saints who are currently involved doing prison prison ministry.
Introduce the PFC umbrella and possibly raise up a PFC missionary partner.
Bless the national saints with encouragement and resources, and provide aid and assistance to the prisons.
Evangelize by conducting evangelistic church services inside the national prisons.
Teach the church how to recruit additional volunteers and to assist them in presenting the concept to other churches.
Conference instruction topics
In working with the staff at the institutions, I will focus on the key to the longevity of the ministry, each staff member is our mission field, the staff are keepers of the front door, and bad attitudes toward staff is a poor witness and lead to damaging problems.
The PFC code of conduct establishes excellent reputations. We need to be aware if we don't respect the institutional rules, we will be kicked out and no one will hear the gospel. We maintain genuine integrity and respect the designated rules.
No contraband items are to be given or taken from inmates unless approved by the hosting chaplain prior to admittance. Violation of contraband policy is punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Our clearly defined mission must remain to share Jesus Christ so we guard against inmates playing on our sympathy to manipulate and control. We guard against inquiries about reasons for the inmate's incarceration. We keep our word and know the limits of our ministry so we do not promise what we are unable to follow through on.
In working with local churches to recruit volunteers, I focus on our service as non-denominational so we work with Protestant churches. Growing the ministry involves inviting others. Multiple church participation outgrows any one church and encourages others to join in.
