The Durham County Jail is such an important part of this ministry. I have been going in there for around five years now. Ministry there is not something I take lightly. I have seen it intensify over the years. Now it is to the place where I am ministering on my way in the building with people that I know from the streets, ministering to people in the lobby once I get in, ministering to the inmates and then ministering to people on my way out. I praise God for members of the Command Staff that love JESUS and give me favor to be able to do what the Lord has called me to do in there!
2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
This past Tuesday was a tough day with struggling with some health issues that are getting much better. I planned on turning things over to my partner Dean Padgett and that I would just sit back. That changed because Dean contacted me and told me that he had to work late. That was a couple hours before I was scheduled to be there. The next thought was that I would turn it over to my leader on the pod. I thought this as I continued to feel worse. By the time I got to the jail I was feeling weak and was definitely going to turn it over to the leader. As I entered the lobby I was first met by a mother and daughter that I have worked have worked with extensively since her son was murdered in the street in front of her house. I took part in her son's funeral then a couple months later in her husbands. I have been there when her grandsons were shot, her other grandson accused of shooting them, worked with her other problem son that just got out of prison and many other situations in that family!
John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy"
I finished with them then was approached by a guy that at first did not seem very friendly. He approached me with a very straight face and said "you don't remember me do you"? My thought was no and tonight I don't really care to go back to where I might know you but of course I was not going to say that. I told that I did not remember him and asked him where we had met. He said "I am the one that left my wrappers on the bench and you told me to pick them up". My next thought was "oh, wonderful" with the way I was feeling. That day came to my mind that we had words which did not end well. The next words from his mouth was that he sees me often on the streets and he has looked forward to apologizing for his actions that day. He said "I was wrong and I just wanted you to know that". The next 15 minutes were ministering into his life which included over 20 years behind bars. What an awesome time of ministry and I praise God for using me!
I was still waiting to go upstairs where I was told that I would be on pod 4D. 4D is where the heaviest offenders are incarcerated. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, etc. By the time I sat down to a totally packed out room the Lord dropped a message into me. The more I ministered the better I felt! I started going around the room and told different guys that had their Bibles: you read Matthew 15:8, you read Luke 6:46, you read Romans 12:2, you read Titus 1:16, you read Revelation 9:3-6, you read Ephesians 5:1 then I got into ministering to them about the importance of living a real life with JESUS! It was probably one of the best messages that I have ever had in the jail. We never prepare a message. We always wait for the Lord to drop the message into us.
Matthew 10:19 do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
It is quite an experience to look into the faces of guys that you know have murdered someone. I am so happy to see them come in knowing that I know why they are there. I had Chris to my left who I know what he did to his step dad because I have met one on one with him. I care for Chris and he is my friend! Many of these guys are my friends. When I talk to them about different murder sites that I minister at many times the murderer is in attendance. I think about how that must make them feel but I care enough about them to make it real! I know also each time I am in their that I must be in a recruiting mindset. I am looking for guys that will sell out to JESUS and join this army against the devil!
Each time we leave there we have a brokenness because of the lives that the enemy is attempting to totally snuff out. So many family member affected, so many kids without a daddy or mama and so many that will one day drop into hell for all eternity! So sad! We must continue to go in order to snatch as many from the fire as we can!
2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
This past Tuesday was a tough day with struggling with some health issues that are getting much better. I planned on turning things over to my partner Dean Padgett and that I would just sit back. That changed because Dean contacted me and told me that he had to work late. That was a couple hours before I was scheduled to be there. The next thought was that I would turn it over to my leader on the pod. I thought this as I continued to feel worse. By the time I got to the jail I was feeling weak and was definitely going to turn it over to the leader. As I entered the lobby I was first met by a mother and daughter that I have worked have worked with extensively since her son was murdered in the street in front of her house. I took part in her son's funeral then a couple months later in her husbands. I have been there when her grandsons were shot, her other grandson accused of shooting them, worked with her other problem son that just got out of prison and many other situations in that family!
John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy"
I finished with them then was approached by a guy that at first did not seem very friendly. He approached me with a very straight face and said "you don't remember me do you"? My thought was no and tonight I don't really care to go back to where I might know you but of course I was not going to say that. I told that I did not remember him and asked him where we had met. He said "I am the one that left my wrappers on the bench and you told me to pick them up". My next thought was "oh, wonderful" with the way I was feeling. That day came to my mind that we had words which did not end well. The next words from his mouth was that he sees me often on the streets and he has looked forward to apologizing for his actions that day. He said "I was wrong and I just wanted you to know that". The next 15 minutes were ministering into his life which included over 20 years behind bars. What an awesome time of ministry and I praise God for using me!
I was still waiting to go upstairs where I was told that I would be on pod 4D. 4D is where the heaviest offenders are incarcerated. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, etc. By the time I sat down to a totally packed out room the Lord dropped a message into me. The more I ministered the better I felt! I started going around the room and told different guys that had their Bibles: you read Matthew 15:8, you read Luke 6:46, you read Romans 12:2, you read Titus 1:16, you read Revelation 9:3-6, you read Ephesians 5:1 then I got into ministering to them about the importance of living a real life with JESUS! It was probably one of the best messages that I have ever had in the jail. We never prepare a message. We always wait for the Lord to drop the message into us.
Matthew 10:19 do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
It is quite an experience to look into the faces of guys that you know have murdered someone. I am so happy to see them come in knowing that I know why they are there. I had Chris to my left who I know what he did to his step dad because I have met one on one with him. I care for Chris and he is my friend! Many of these guys are my friends. When I talk to them about different murder sites that I minister at many times the murderer is in attendance. I think about how that must make them feel but I care enough about them to make it real! I know also each time I am in their that I must be in a recruiting mindset. I am looking for guys that will sell out to JESUS and join this army against the devil!
Each time we leave there we have a brokenness because of the lives that the enemy is attempting to totally snuff out. So many family member affected, so many kids without a daddy or mama and so many that will one day drop into hell for all eternity! So sad! We must continue to go in order to snatch as many from the fire as we can!
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