God is in Control
One of our volunteers recently attended a conference where the topic was "God is in control" so we had that as our topic for the session. To start the session I asked the inmates if one of them would like to offer prayer, asking God to join us. An inmate who recently plead guilty to his charges offered the prayer, humbling many of us with his praise to God.
We went around the circle, each giving our first name and saying a few words. One man didn't have much to say, until the man to his left nudged him and said something like, "Go ahead - tell them". He then shared that he had been transported to a large medical center and back today, getting a second opinion on a unnatural growth in his shoulder. The group welcomed his story and shared his health concerns. Although he is uncertain when the surgery will be, we all agreed to lift him up in prayer for health and strength.
We sang "Amazing Grace" and "I love to tell the story". We read Psalm 66 together. Then we started discussing the topic. I asked who people thought was in control when you go through a drive through at a fast food place. About half of the guys thought the employee was, the other half agreed with me that the customer was. It's so interesting to see how people can see things so differently. I asked how many people pray to God like they order their dinner at a drive thru. We talked about prayer and order giving and control for quite a while.
At the end of the session, we ended with the traditional Yokefellow prayer circle (cross hands, reach out to the persons beside you and hold hands all around) and prayed for the man going in for surgery soon and for the others.
As we headed toward the exit, a voice from "Control" came over the speaker, saying their was an emergency in the prison and we could not leave yet. In 10 plus years of prison ministry, this was the first time I had experienced this. I quickly but calmly sat on the edge of the small stage and began singing "Amazing Grace". The men joined in, without songbooks, singing from memory, low, adding harmony, reaching to God in this unusual moment. We sang five verses, including "Praise God" twice.
The guard had not signaled us yet that the situation was over, so I asked the men to get comfortable and said we would use the time as guided silent prayer time. I started the prayer session by asking the men to thank God for everything he had given them this day. After several minutes of quiet, I went on, leading the prayer into different areas. At one point we heard a distant voice, somewhere in the prison yelling. The prayer went on, as there was nothing else constructive to do for any of those involved in the trouble. I knew the best thing we could do was to keep the men in our room quiet and occupied.
As we prayed, the loud beep of the PA system jarred the room from silence and the voice of a guard came strongly into the room, "You can go now". We quickly gathered and vacated the room, the prisoners back to their cells, the ministry volunteers back through the heavy double lock doors into the chilly May evening. As we left, we heard the awaiting family members who were there for a visit being told that "There will be no visitations tonight - they are canceled".
We went around the circle, each giving our first name and saying a few words. One man didn't have much to say, until the man to his left nudged him and said something like, "Go ahead - tell them". He then shared that he had been transported to a large medical center and back today, getting a second opinion on a unnatural growth in his shoulder. The group welcomed his story and shared his health concerns. Although he is uncertain when the surgery will be, we all agreed to lift him up in prayer for health and strength.
We sang "Amazing Grace" and "I love to tell the story". We read Psalm 66 together. Then we started discussing the topic. I asked who people thought was in control when you go through a drive through at a fast food place. About half of the guys thought the employee was, the other half agreed with me that the customer was. It's so interesting to see how people can see things so differently. I asked how many people pray to God like they order their dinner at a drive thru. We talked about prayer and order giving and control for quite a while.
At the end of the session, we ended with the traditional Yokefellow prayer circle (cross hands, reach out to the persons beside you and hold hands all around) and prayed for the man going in for surgery soon and for the others.
As we headed toward the exit, a voice from "Control" came over the speaker, saying their was an emergency in the prison and we could not leave yet. In 10 plus years of prison ministry, this was the first time I had experienced this. I quickly but calmly sat on the edge of the small stage and began singing "Amazing Grace". The men joined in, without songbooks, singing from memory, low, adding harmony, reaching to God in this unusual moment. We sang five verses, including "Praise God" twice.
The guard had not signaled us yet that the situation was over, so I asked the men to get comfortable and said we would use the time as guided silent prayer time. I started the prayer session by asking the men to thank God for everything he had given them this day. After several minutes of quiet, I went on, leading the prayer into different areas. At one point we heard a distant voice, somewhere in the prison yelling. The prayer went on, as there was nothing else constructive to do for any of those involved in the trouble. I knew the best thing we could do was to keep the men in our room quiet and occupied.
As we prayed, the loud beep of the PA system jarred the room from silence and the voice of a guard came strongly into the room, "You can go now". We quickly gathered and vacated the room, the prisoners back to their cells, the ministry volunteers back through the heavy double lock doors into the chilly May evening. As we left, we heard the awaiting family members who were there for a visit being told that "There will be no visitations tonight - they are canceled".
posted by Kathy Kolb | 7:59 AM
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