This past weekend, I had the privilege of traveling to Tennessee to speak at Mountain City Community Church. I was joined by my friend Dru Schneeberger, a Forgiven Ministry volunteer and leader in our Hickory Brother’s Night group for men. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with incredible kindness and hospitality.
I was given the privilege of speaking at both services, sharing about the work of Forgiven Ministry and the life-changing power of Christ in the lives of incarcerated parents and their children. The congregation was engaged, welcoming, and eager to support our efforts.
As I shared, I reflected on the story in Mark 5, where Jesus set a possessed man free. After his transformation, the man was ready to leave with Jesus, but Christ told him, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19). That word—home—carries so much meaning. It’s meant to be a place of love, security, and belonging, yet for many of the families we serve, home is marked by absence and pain.
One Day With God camps create a space where those wounds can begin to heal. Inside the walls of a prison, we see moments of restoration—fathers reconnecting with their children, hope being rekindled, and lives being changed. At the end of every camp our volunteers (blue shirts) leave feeling that They’ve been a part of something fundamentally meaningful for God. What a blessing!
Later that evening, the church hosted a Super Bowl event where I was invited to share a devotional at halftime.
One of the most powerful moments of the night was hearing from George, a former inmate who had attended two of our camps. He, along with Dru and another church member, shared firsthand about the impact of our ministry inside prison walls. His testimony was a moving reminder of why we do what we do.
Throughout the event, the church’s teens stepped up to serve, helping make the night a success. Their efforts, along with the generosity of the congregation, resulted in nearly $9,000 raised to support Forgiven Ministry. We are beyond grateful!
Mountain City Community Church has a special place in my heart—full of love, compassion, and a heart for the Gospel. Their praise team was amazing, and if you’re ever in the area on a Sunday, I highly recommend paying them a visit.
A huge thank you to the entire church family for their kindness, generosity, and commitment to serving others. We left encouraged and grateful for the opportunity to share in such a meaningful weekend. If you’d like to tune into the service, here’s the LINK.
You are loved,
Les
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This is beautiful. Thank you, Les for being the hands and feet for Jesus.
What a great day of ministry. Great job Les
Thank you!