About a month ago, I made a phone call that I would never had imagine making as much as an impact in my life as it did. My great Aunt and Uncle, Helen and Harold, started a prison ministry program in the ‘80’s in Madison, TN. They are both now in their middle 80’s. I was home for Labor Day weekend, and decided to give them a call. I want to be a missionary, and had been thinking about how amazing of an opportunity it would be if I could go with them. I called them and asked about the possibility. When they told me I could go, I asked if I could bring some friends from school. Aunt Helen gave me the run down on what all I would have to do to make that possible. I immediately sent a mass message to anyone I thought would be interested in such a trip. I got a few indifferent responses and a few enthusiastic responses. Later that week, I sat down with some friends while we talked about the idea of doing it. It was still a fresh and nifty idea, but mostly just something interesting to talk about it. A few weeks later it came up again while sitting in a local coffee shop. We stopped wanting it to be an idea or the subject of dreamy conversations, but rather an actual event in the works. We made a group on Facebook, and I sent out another group message in hopes of people getting more serious. The truth was though that people had no idea what to expect and my lack of experience meant that I couldn’t tell them. I was frustrated of the idea not being taken seriously, so I decided with my friends Josh Allison and Whitney Pirtle that the first trip should be small. We wanted to make sure that we all were all able to get close and know what to tell everyone else that they would be getting themselves into. Two weeks ago, we started making the plans official. We set a date of the trip, sent in everyone’s information to be cleared, and found a place to stay the night before. We had been asking a couple of people for any Bibles that they would be willing to donate to the prison. Brad Montague saw a post that Josh made, and sent him a message inquiring about what we were doing. He sent Josh a few questions that we sat down and answered together. Within a few days, was the school’s first Idea Lab. When we got there, Brad asked us to talk about the upcoming trip to the prison. The response blew us away. People asked us a ton of questions, both at and outside the event. Brad went and posted the questions we answered on the GO! blog. Again, the response was incredible.
We left Saturday morning to make our way to Nashville. We had decided to spend Saturday bonding and goofing off. We went to a festival at Centennial Park. There was an international festival that was a part of the free Musicians Corner concert. We walked around, listening to new and fresh music, talking to interesting strangers, and ogling the scenery. From there we went to a coffee shop and walked the streets. The whole day was filled with music, coffee, and bonding. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. We made our way to my cousin’s house that we were staying at for the night. We all found ourselves, whether together or apart, praying and trying to prepare ourselves for the day that was soon to be upon us.
The next morning after getting ready, we all went to Burger King. There is no way to describe what happened there other than God working to prepare us. We met a man named Henry or “Red.” Henry started talking to us while standing in line, and ending up sitting next to us while we ate. Henry decided to tell us a painful story. He had been in prison for 13 years. When he got out of prison, he found himself falling sort of a pretty life. His circumstances were and had been unlovable, dirty, and painful to hear. Before we left, we prayed with him. The look in his eyes displayed shock and love. It’s amazing to know God sent us there, because that was where He needed us to be.
We went to Tennessee’s Prison for Women. Josh and Whitney got to meet Aunt Helen and Uncle Harold, who are affectionately called Momma and Poppa Cox to the prisoners. We spent a good while talking before we went in. I’m not exactly sure what to say I expected. Whatever it was, today blew it out of the water. The women were loving, friendly, and huggable. They talked to us, hugged us, and welcomed us warmly. Josh lead the singing while a man named Thomas Snow did the sermon. The sermon was on Ezekiel 37. He described how even when we have “dry bones,” the Lord still has a plan for us. Even when things look hopeless, our hope is in the Lord. We worshiped with them there and an annex across the street.
I learned something from those women. Firstly I learned that stereotypes can and should be left at the door that God opens. Those women were kind, generous, and loving souls who wanted to be there to praise their God. The second thing I learned was in watching. They praise with no restrictions and without holding back. No one fell asleep and no one was distracted. Those women were there because they had a need to be in their souls. How often we take for granted the ability to worship. This weekend definitely tops my favorite weekends since coming to Freed. There are plans in the works to make this a periodical trip, that would branch out farther. God gave me an open door, and with some incredible friends, we’ve been running through open passageways. God has planted ideas in our heads and our hearts and is now making those ideas possible. Thank you warmly to all of you who prayed for us and gave us encouragement. However, it definitely does not stop here. We’re trying to collect Bibles to donate to the prisons, as well as finding people willing to volunteer. If you want to know more or get involved, please send a message our way!
God does wonderful things.