We walked though security once again, the foreboding metal doors slamming behind us. Suddenly, it seemed we were in another world. A world built of grey walls, razor wire, and white uniforms. Many faces turn to watch us as we walk down the long hallways carrying our instruments.
But although we may seem to be in another world, we realize that much remains the same. People with deep hurts, scars, heartbreaks. A hunger for love, joy, and meaningful relationships. And most of all, the indescribable power of the Gospel to completely transform lives.
It was a great privilege to spend the past five evenings going into various Alabama prisons with the We Care prison ministry.
Once again this year we came into the week preparing to give of ourselves, but we walked away knowing that we were the ones receiving the greater blessing. Since we don’t have pictures from our evenings behind bars, here are a few ‘snapshots’ in time:
We received news that our evangelist for the evening was transferred to a different prison and ministry team. Dad prepared and gave the message instead and the Lord moved mightily as eight ladies came forward to commit their lives to Christ. We later discovered that an inmate in the other prison service had been specifically praying for the ‘transferred evangelist’ after hearing him speak 3 years ago. The Lord used the transfer to enable the evangelist and inmate to once again meet and share how the Lord had specifically answered the inmate’s prayers! HE orchestrates all things!
We sat perched our sound equipment carts during an evening service. In a facility housing over 1,000, the chapel would only hold around 150 chairs. Each available seat was filled with eager inmates. An open seat meant one less person they had to turn away. We prayed for those who were unable to come.
We grieved with the inmates through their tears and sobbing as we sang about the treasure of parent/child relationships. Dad paused in our program to pray specifically for the inmates and their children -- and he encouraged them to pray daily and invest in their lives.
For more testimonies of the 2012 crusade, visit here. 
And those are just a few of the special moments from the past week as we saw the Lord answer prayers; going before us by preparing hearts and directing our steps. May HE be glorified!
Continue to pray for these, our brothers and sisters behind bars. And for the ongoing ministry of the We Care Program as they work in the Alabama prison system year-round. Truly, we serve a life-changing God!
For pictures of our 2009 prison ministry visit here."...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the width and length and depth and height—
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Eph. 3:17-19
