This morning a worship service was held in the prison's chapel from 10 to 11:30. It was then followed by our annual Christmas celebration which began at 12:45...
There were approximately fifty-five men in attendance including two outside guests, Al and Marty, who spent the remainder of the day with us. They stayed until 8 P.M. when our gathering ended.
Al and Marty are ex-cons who've been out of prison for many years. And in addition to their respective jobs, they're now what the Department of Corrections calls "registered volunteers." They possess official approval to enter various prisons in New York State in order to conduct chapel services or teach Bible studies.
So today my congregation along with our guests were able to pray, worship and sing songs together. And both Al and Marty also took turns giving us exhortations to stay firm in our faith. We then watched two Christian films until suppertime when we gathered along rows of tables to eat a special meal which had been prepared in the facility's kitchen.
The meal consisted of Spanish styled rice and beans, baked chicken and fresh salad plus ice cream. Everything was of course paid for solely by the inmates. And for me, even though I helped to serve the food and clean up afterwards, the entire day was a respite from the daily pressures of prison life. Besides, Christmas comes only once a year.
Furthermore, if any man in our congregation did not have the funds available to chip in for the party, the rest of us covered for him. Unfortunately, some guys have no one on the outside to look out for them or send them anything. While others still have to pay fines or court costs thus rendering them paupers. So in a spirit of generosity the penniless were included in the gathering because, as the Bible says, we are "one body" in Christ; we're a family, too.
In was indeed a special day.
D.B.
Al and Marty are ex-cons who've been out of prison for many years. And in addition to their respective jobs, they're now what the Department of Corrections calls "registered volunteers." They possess official approval to enter various prisons in New York State in order to conduct chapel services or teach Bible studies.
So today my congregation along with our guests were able to pray, worship and sing songs together. And both Al and Marty also took turns giving us exhortations to stay firm in our faith. We then watched two Christian films until suppertime when we gathered along rows of tables to eat a special meal which had been prepared in the facility's kitchen.
The meal consisted of Spanish styled rice and beans, baked chicken and fresh salad plus ice cream. Everything was of course paid for solely by the inmates. And for me, even though I helped to serve the food and clean up afterwards, the entire day was a respite from the daily pressures of prison life. Besides, Christmas comes only once a year.
Furthermore, if any man in our congregation did not have the funds available to chip in for the party, the rest of us covered for him. Unfortunately, some guys have no one on the outside to look out for them or send them anything. While others still have to pay fines or court costs thus rendering them paupers. So in a spirit of generosity the penniless were included in the gathering because, as the Bible says, we are "one body" in Christ; we're a family, too.
In was indeed a special day.
D.B.
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