I was surprised by how emotional I got saying good-bye. It is only for two months, but two months is a long time and I felt it. I am going to miss these men. I joke with them all the time that I write and talk so much about them because it's my goal in life to make them the most famous prison bible study in the world. These men have meant so much to me. In many ways they have saved me.
Funny how that works, your faith saved by inmates at a maximum security prison. God moves in mysterious ways. I encounter God more behind bars than I do sitting in a pew.
Over the next two months while I am away from the prison it would mean a lot to me if you remembered the men at the French Robertson Unit in your prayers. I regularly pray that God protects their bodies as well as their souls. They live in such a dark and violent place.
And if words are hard to come by as always The Book of Common Prayer is there to help. The prayer for prisoners and correctional facilities from the BCP:
Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment. Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentance and amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice. Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison, O Lord, we do for you, constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy's sake. Amen.
Peace to you, and to your brother.
Richard, in the Orthodox Liturgy we pray several times for "captives and for their salvation" (which includes physical deliverance, in the sense of the Greek, as well as "theological" salvation). Every time we do, I try to in my heart offer prayer for all prisoners; they are certainly captives, as well as those taken for ransom, etc.
On another note, please email me when you get a chance; I have a small favor to ask.
Thanks-
Dana
I understand Richard. I work in a drug, alcohol & gambling residential rehab and some of the things I've seen and heard come from and in the men and women there have deeply moved me in the way Yahweh & Jesus are glorified.
Amen. Happy and safe travels, Richard. Will you be sending a speaking engagements list out at some point?
I used to work at a prison and you are so right, we are all criminals and we all need prayer. We take a lot for granted and I learned that and other lessons working at the prison and hope that one day I can go back and do a prison Ministry or something related.