by Lee Gant
Since the 30th of June nothing has been normal about the services that we have been a part of and I pray will never be just normal services again. We started out at Manning on the 30th where over 45 men accepted Christ. The church was full and we had to move the pulpit in order for them to be prayed for.
We traveled to Florida and beginning on the 7th of July we began a tour of the Florida prisons. We have been blessed to partner with Christ Song Ministries. Nan McGee scheduled these for us, thank you so much!!! We were able to do 12 of 13 services in 12 different prisons.
We encountered delays, some services rescheduled, and one cancelation, at one point the road was totally blocked because the bridge had washed out. There was no sign telling us this, that was a huge surprise. Through all the things the devil tried to throw at us and the discouragement he tried to put in our hearts, God prevailed. I don’t think anyone in our group allowed the discouragement. We knew that God had us exactly where He wanted us.
Without conferring with each other a theme seemed to pulse through this journey, Being Real With God the Father and Walking in His Authority. Each of us had very different messages, however, the same theme pulsed through with each other. Many of these men are very hungry for something different. I saw God begin and continue to heal the brokenness in many. I saw them hungering for more. We even had some asking questions during the service, they were engaged. I saw men being delivered and cleansed. We prayed for men to be healed of their physical issues, we also prayed for restoration in men’s lives. Men were crying because they wanted to desperately change. Understand that you don’t see men in the prison cry. These men didn’t care who saw. One man had been in prison 37 years and God got a hold of his heart yesterday!! This was before there was preaching, we had only done praise and worship with a little testimony. I watched as the Lord was breaking the chains and freeing this man. I saw men finally begin to forgive those who have hurt them and I saw some begin to forgive themselves.
Why do we go??
1. Because God has called us.
2. Because we LOVE to see God change hearts.
3. Because we are the ones who wind up blessed.
You see this isn’t about US. It is about HIM and allowing His love to penetrate the hearts of men. He allows us to let them know that God has not given up on them and we wont either. No matter where we go whether it is a prison or to a person on the street we want to see people having a better life, living a life more ABUNDANTLY.
We came home yesterday and I am already eager for the next opportunity to teach, preach, and sing about His LOVE. He truly is an AMAZING GOD !!!!
I thank all who prayed for us during this trip, You made a big difference. We didn’t experience the norm, WE EXPERIENCED GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. Thank You!!!!!