We wanted to give a update on Ojibway Correctional Facility.
We believe the prison is in the beginning of a revival. So many awesome things have been happening lately it is really hard to nail down just a few things. The men inside the prison have started their own Bible studies out in the yard (common area in a prison). There is many men who supposedly identify themselves as Christians when they enter the prison that do not, for one reason or another, go to an "authorized" church service. As we know, through many different polls that a lot of people identify with Christianity either culturally or congregationally. People think they are a Christians because they grow up in a Christian home, go to church or are married in a church. I can't say all of the above are not saved, but if the 1 in 5 people who go to church every week were really on fire for Jesus, this country would be much different.
Anyway, in Ojibway Correctional around 500 men identified as Christians and a little over 100 actually go to services. I am only there a few hours a week for the prescribed service times. The Bible studies that the men have started fill in the rest of the week and minister to those who do not go to the services! Some of the men have also started 3 different prayer times every week. This is besides the 3 other prayer groups that have already been established by the Chaplain. Quite a few men have been going to those as well! None of the Bible studies or prayer times that the men have started have been pushed by either the Chaplain or I. This is amazing! God is really moving there!
The men inside Ojibway also petitioned the warden to allow them to do a special Christmas program. This was all planned out by the men inside the prison. They wanted a way to share their appreciation for Jesus and to share the life giving Gospel to as many of their fellow inmates as possible. They practiced for a few months the songs they were going to play as well as the poems and other stories they were going to share. The men performed the program on Christmas Eve. The administration did not want either the Chaplain or I to be there for it. The administration said they did not want the Christmas program to be inherently Christian in nature and they believed that the presence of the Chaplain or I would impede that. They wanted men that did not identify themselves as Christians to be comfortable going to it. When I was in the prison this last weekend, I was able to talk to the majority of the Believers because I able to teach at all of the Protestant services for the day. The report back from the men about the Christmas program was very good! The men were able to share from their hearts what the birth of Jesus really means to them! Prayerfully there will be much fruit from this!
As we enter into 2015, please check your heart if you're a Christian in name only and not truly a disciple of Jesus. I do not believe in New Years resolutions unless it is to follow Christ with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength. Let's strive to give Him glory in all we do and say!
The terminology of congregational and cultural Christianity come from the following article:
http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/43298-christian-it-s-more-than-just-a-label