Mary is a friend of ours. She was an inmate in one of the prisons that we ministered in. While she was in prison she had a vision of a home where the ladies could go when they got out. God has allowed her to watch that vision come to pass. Barry & I have prayed for many years for something like this also, but didn't have the resources or the money to do it. We also got to see our vision come to pass! Thank you Jesus!
I was with some of the ladies that used to be in prison with Mary. They were all saying how Mary taught them the Word when they were there. She didn't play about it. She would come up and say to them, give me a scripture. They would quote a scripture and then she would ask them what it meant. Oh, I am thankful that there are more ladies like Mary still in the prison. The weaker ladies need someone strong.
Today 2 of my friends and I went downtown Detroit to visit the home that just opened 2 days ago. There is a men's home right next door.
Thank God this church wants to get involved and will allow people to come in and heal from whatever they need.
We were able to supply some of the needs of the home today. They need simple things like toilet paper and cleaning products and laundry detergent and food; clothing and bedding, etc.
There is a "House Mother" that is staying there that will help the lady that got out of prison on Thursday. The lady had been in prison for 4 years. It is so much different being out of prison than being in and you need some re-adjustment time.
I ask you to pray for the leaders as well as the residents there. There are challenges to deal with there that we are not familiar with.
We pray that you can find your passion and know what God wants you to do with your life!
Without a doubt, there will be some of you that don't understand anyone wanting to do prison ministry. We could not have imagined it ourselves about 18 years ago. God touched our hearts and it has now been 17 years for us. We are SO thankful!
Matthew 25:36 - I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Jubilee House
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14 comments:
may God bless your ministry to the prisoners.
how i love to hear about you back working with the prisoners. a remember that wednesday night when we prayed, this was your request. God is so faithful to give us the desires of our hearts...
BY HIS STRIPES!
Dear Arlene..
I read this post today and ever since, I have been humming the hymn, "The Love of God".
The reason for this, I am sure is that after my reading the love that you have for the prisoners..a genuine love, the last stanza to this song burst upon my soul..
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies with parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Frederick M. Lehman wrote this beautiful hymn although he wrote only two verses of it.
This third verse which I have put down here was found written on the wall of an insane prisoner and was found after the dear man had died.
Somewhere along the way somebody must have been kind enough to love this man and bring to him the gospel..
To think that he wrote such a good poem!
God bless you in this work that you and Barry are doing Arlene and we will surely be praying for Mary!
Do you wonder why we love you so Arlene?....Love Terry
Hi Arlene, thank you for your ministry. I had been knowing of it but this brings it closer to us.
I will pray for Mary, I too am pleased she has a nice home to go to.
Several of my friends do prison ministry but I haven't gotten involved.
Mrs. Jim and I are a little involved in a place called 'Hospitality House.' It is a place for prisoners' families to can stay while visiting their loved ones who are incarcerated.
Many of these family members are also victims of the crime now because of the poverty it has caused to them. They can hardly afford transportation to the prison for the visit, let alone a nice place to stay while here.
And this place is Christian, many, many, have been saved there.
..
Jim, that too is such a needed ministry. We have gotten involved with several of the families of the prisoners and you are so right, they are victims too. They can't afford the phone calls to the loved one and they can't afford transportation and care barely afford to keep a roof over their heads. It is tough to see both sides of this and most people do not think of the families of the prisoners. It is like a catch 22 for them. Thank YOU for doing what you do also. Mary does have a place to live and has had for several years now. I guess I made it sound like she just got out. The girl that just got out is Lisa. She's so excited and learning about the love of God rapidly. Thank you for all of your prayers.
Terry, I do know and love that song. It is so beautiful. I haven't heard it in so long, so thank you for bringing it back to my memory. I believe that many of the old hymns were written out of trials that people went through. We do have such a love for the prisoners, but it is totally from God. We are thankful though that we know where he has called us. He is so faithful. Thank you for all of your prayers too. Love you!
Sara, thank you for your kind comments. I know that you are glad we are doing what God called us to and that He does give us the desires of our heart. That truly is our desire. We thank you so much for all you have done and all of the support that you have given us. I know you do, but keep us in prayer still, this battle is not over yet, but we are praying it soon will be.
Amrita, thank you so much. We are praying for you and your situation there in India. God bless.
Aw....I love the prisoners..precious indeed..I remember those days..they ministered to me more than we did to them. I am so thankful to know that God has raised you up and put you out into the battlefield..that means your feeling great and during this..every step your taking...God is healing those areas...I just know it. He's got your back...and yeah BY HIS STRIPES....you are already healed. I am so encouraged by this today!
I don't get why people don't understand Prison Ministry. I know not everyone is called to it, but weren't we all prisioners of something at one time or another?
Haven't most of us made poor choices at one point or another that could have landed us in a bad place, prison or otherwise and people prayed and prayed!
I'll be praying
Margie is so right on! The prisons are a tangible thing that people see and touch. The reality is that all of us have some kind of captivity that the Lord is delivering and setting us free from and bringing us into a liberty we have not known. Paul speaks of this in Romans 7-8. I like the New International version of these chapters. Jesus is the one who sets the captives free, Luke 4 and Isa 61, it's the anointing of the Holy Spirit ever ministering to us. Thank You Jesus!
((((huggs))))
I am one of the ladies that met Mary during that chapter in my life. If it had not been for the diligence of the individuals in prison ministry, I would not have known who God was. It took a volunteer to show me the scriptures explaining that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. I've been on fire since then. I was truly set free the day I realized that Jesus is Lord!!! Keep up the good work....it is NOT in vain! Love ya girl!!!!
Precious Angel. I love you so much. Your love for Jesus Christ and your diligence at Jubilee House has been incredible to me and believe me, your work is not in vain either.
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