Pender Correctional ODWG
Words fail to capture what God did this past weekend at the Pender ODWG camp. The volunteers from all the regulars to the mass of new ones worked together as true brothers and sisters. Our time of praise and worship was anointed of God and very few dry eyes could be found. One of the high lights was seeing a six year old boy see his father for the first time since the boy was one month old. God did great things to get that little boy there from Pennsylvania. The young dad could hardly believe he was holding his son and continued to praise God and tell everyone that prayer really works. We saw 18 souls come to Christ from the dads, the children and the caregivers. Another of the powerful things that God did was touch the hearts of some volunteers during the “Forgiven Ceremony”. This is a time we ask everyone, dads as well as volunteers to search their hearts for any hidden thing that may be hindering their walk with the Lord. We heard a powerful message on forgiveness from Russ Murphy and God truly spoke to many. At the time of response many, including volunteers began to write down things that needed to go under the blood and allow Christ to cleanse them and He did! Many have expressed how this weekend has been a life changing event for them. My prayer for all those in attendance is that what they experienced this weekend will only be the beginning of a new more powerful walk in the grace and forgiveness of our Saviour and they will see everyone with the eyes of mercy and love as Christ does. God bless all you volunteers and all the families in attendance. To God be the Glory.
Williamsburg Federal Correctional
It was a privilege to work with the men from FBC Surfside on Saturday as we conducted a Great Dads seminar with 37 dads at the Williamsburg facility. And then we went back on Monday night and conducted the first of a nine week re-entry class with 21 men. God was working as the men in both sessions began to open up about their desire to be the dads and the men that God intended them to be. They talked of the need for support and accountability from Christian men when they are released. As God began to help me see them as he does, they are merely men created in his likeness that have made mistakes and need to be led to a closer relationship with Christ, their families and other Christian men and women. Christ said that the greatest commandment was to love God with everything in us and to love our neighbor as ourself. My prayer is that over the next eight weeks we as servants of God can truly demonstrate the love that Christ talked about in Mark 12:31. Please pray for the men at Williamsburg Federal Correctional in Salters, SC and the men leading the course that God will be honored in all that is said and done and that men will be better prepared to claim the plan God has for them in Jeremiah 29:11. If you are interested in being a volunteer with Forgiven Ministry or want to help support this ministry please contact us at our office, the e-mail address and phone number are listed on our website. God Bless.
Ryan Correctional Detroit Michigan
The camp at Ryan and our time in Michigan was so packed with the moving of the spirit I hardly know where to begin. The churches and the volunteers were wonderful and it was evident that they had been praying and were ready to serve, then we get to the facility and the staff and administration of Ryan were so efficient and very helpful, you would have thought they had been doing these camps for years, but it was their first. Every camp for me seems to have at least one event or one moment that really stands out and this one did not disappoint. This one involved one of the dads coming to the place of forgiving someone that he felt had done him wrong. On Saturday morning I had the privilege of sharing with the dads in our time of worship just before their children were to arrive. God laid on my heart to share Matthew 6: 14-15. It reads “14. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,(15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Nothing dramatic happened and we went on with our day, until “quiet time” when dads and children talk quietly to one another. During this time one of the dads came to me with his two young daughters. He began to share how he was facing additional sentencing to many more years for a crime that an inmate at another facility told that he had committed in order to receive a lighter sentence himself. He told me he had been angry and wanted revenge until he realized that this was wrong for he had committed the crime. He said that God spoke to him through the scripture that morning that he had to forgive that man if he was going to be able to walk as a Christian dad before his daughters. As he was speaking to me his daughters looked at him with such pride.He had made a commitment to forgive. As our God does when we have a need,he is there with what we need. The dad wanted to let the other man know that he forgave him,and the chaplain from the facility where the other inmate was being housed was there attending this camp. The dad went to the chaplain and ask him to tell the inmate that he forgave him and did not want there to be anything between them. This dad showed his daughters what truly walking with Christ is about. We can’t allow anger, bitterness or anything keep us from being what God wants. He not only told his daughters, but showed them the true act of forgiveness. When faced with the hard decision on whether to forgive or any hard decision in the future, the example their dad showed on Saturday will be there. Let’s all practice Matthew 6:14 and I John 3:18. God Bless.
Follow-up with Dads at Western Youth
On Thursday afternoon I was privileged to have a follow-up meeting with the ODWG Dads at Western Youth. All were still talking about the time with their children. Two Dads talked about the impact the day at the Caregivers at Burkemont Church had on their families. It was still hard for some of them to understand why we would do this for them and their families. One of the Dads said his four year old daughter could not stop talking about the day and had told everyone at her school about her day with her dad. The young Dads had the opportunity to see the movie “Courageous” ( courtesy of Burkemont Church) at the camp, and some of them wanted to sign the Resolution to be the men God called them to be. It was my honor to witness some of them sign this pledge. All of the Dads and the staff at the facility wanted to thank all the staff, volunteers and financial supporters for a day they believe will change their families for generations.
I want to personally thank the volunteers and financial supporters for helping make this ministry possible. We will never know until Eternity the full impact of what God is doing through your loving work.
Mark 4:26 – 29
2012 ODWG season begins at Western Youth, Morganton, NC
Western Youth ODWG marked the first camp of the 2012 Forgiven Ministry season, and what a beginning it was. Eight young men gathered on Friday to hear the Great Dad’s Seminar and be ministered to by our volunteers. The Dads’ hearts softened to the presence of the Holy Spirit as the day went by and four prayed to receive Christ. God opened up the opportunity for the Dads to see the movie “Courageous”. As the men watched the movie, tears began to flow and they prayed, taking the same pledge as the men in the movie to commit their hearts to be the very best Dads they could be for their children on Saturday, and beyond.
On Saturday, nine precious babies, eight months to four years old, came to spend the day with their Dads. We must admit, we were a little apprehensive taking babies into the prison for the day with dads they hardly knew. But, praise be to God, with the help of the Holy Spirit and some amazing volunteers, those babies embraced their Dads, loved them and were happy all day!! The Dads were wonderful with their children, feeding them, changing diapers, playing on the floor with them, and giving them a Father’s blessing at the end of the day. We can still see the tears rolling down the faces of the Dads as their babies left their arms. We truly believe precious seeds were sown by the Dads into the lives of their babies that will grow, and God will use to form bonds that will last throughout their lives.
The Caregivers camp was also blessed with wonderful volunteers and God’s presence, seeing 8 souls come to receive Christ. Thank you volunteers for your dedication. These camps could never happen without your commitment and support. We can’t wait to see what else God has in store for the children, their parents, caregivers, volunteers and Forgiven ministry in 2012.
“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7
Reflections of Avery Mitchell One Day with God camp
Our God is full of mercy and able to mend broken lives!
That is exactly what He did this past weekend as inmate fathers, their children and volunteers came together to reach, reconcile and restore relationships with inmates and their children. The event seemed to be perfect as each piece of the days program flowed into the next piece. God knows how to connect the dots and that He did as children ran to meet their father and fathers wiped tears of joy to spend an awesome day of games, crafts, Christian programming and a quiet time of sharing at the end of the day. The fathers spoke blessings into their children’s life beginning with the oldest child to the youngest. I will never forget the young teen who came to me and with the sweetest smile said, “thank you for telling me how to ask Jesus into my heart”. Sometimes we forget how powerful the expression of God’s is to those who feel that no one understands or cares. Volunteers, you were the greatest!
ODWG Camp Tomorrow!!!!!
How exciting this afternoon was as we unloaded the FM trailer at Avery Mitchell Correctional in NC> I could hardly hold the tears as one of the inmates assisting us told me that he had painted a canvas for the children. The chaplain ask if I would like to see it and I was speachless. Prison wire was in the back ground so real that it looked as if you could touch it. Then coming from both sides of the canvas was a father’s arm holding a small child’s hand. Written in bold letters were these words:
It does not matter where my daddy lives but it matters if I know that he loves me.
My heart was overwhelmed that this inmate artist had realized the mission of “One Day with God” camps and given all he could give to the children, their heart on canvas. I can only imagine what the next two days hold for all of us as God carries out His plan of reconciliation with these precious children.
Louisiana and Texas Leadership Training
Louisiana and Texas State Leaders Receiving Certification
The week of July 25 – August 1 was another milestone for Forgiven Ministry. We had our second leadership training in Lumberton TX. In March, 2011 we had our first leadership training. Leaders from Michigan, Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina came together to train as leaders from their state to carry on the work of reconciliation with inmates and their children. In March 2010 as Jack and I were leaving Michigan God began to show me that it was time to prepare leaders to carry on the work.
It is so exciting to be on God’s calendar and witness His divine plans being carried out. Where do we go from here? Jack and I we are going to trust in the arm that will never fail us and follow His plans wherever He leads. Join us in
In prayer and service to those Christ spoke of in Hebrew 13:3.
Serving Christ, Serving Others
Scottie
First Back to School Party for ODWG Children
On Saturday, August 7, 2011, Forgiven Ministry in partnership with Bank of America in Charlotte NC were blessed to give children who have attended a One Day with God camp back packs filled with school tools that were given with lots of love. Cyril Prabhu of Bank of America and a FM board member led the project. Chick- fil- A of Hickory NC fed the families. Jeff Conway, owner of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Charlotte NC spoke to the children encouraging them to make good grades, set the bar high and know that God has a plan for their life. We were so blessed to serve over 75 families at The Adams Center in Taylorsville NC and hope to expand this educational effort to more children next year. Charlotte Correctional One Day with God children were also served.