Today, my congregation was visited by twenty-five members of the Manhattan Grace Tabernacle Church from New York City...
This group primarily consisted of the church's choir and sound crew. But also present was their pastor, Luis Rivera. And along with him was Pastor Victor Olmo of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church.
There were a total of sixty-six inmates in attendance, along with a handful of the prison's security staff. So, all totaled, about 90 people were inside the chapel.
I, however, sat in the last row at the back of the room, where my chaplain and several of the congregation's elders were. We placed ourselves in the rear to keep an eye on things, but all went well. Pastor Rivera gave a solid "salvation" message during the latter portion of the service. But before he spoke, Pastor Olmo gave us some much-needed words of encouragement based upon Psalm 50:15.
I didn't want the service to end. The music sounded like it was being sung by angels. There was an atmosphere of peace throughout the chapel as well as the presence of the Lord. I could also see the softening of hearts as the Holy Spirit did His work from behind the scenes. All told, it was a beautiful afternoon, and I left the chapel feeling renewed.
D.B.
There were a total of sixty-six inmates in attendance, along with a handful of the prison's security staff. So, all totaled, about 90 people were inside the chapel.
I, however, sat in the last row at the back of the room, where my chaplain and several of the congregation's elders were. We placed ourselves in the rear to keep an eye on things, but all went well. Pastor Rivera gave a solid "salvation" message during the latter portion of the service. But before he spoke, Pastor Olmo gave us some much-needed words of encouragement based upon Psalm 50:15.
I didn't want the service to end. The music sounded like it was being sung by angels. There was an atmosphere of peace throughout the chapel as well as the presence of the Lord. I could also see the softening of hearts as the Holy Spirit did His work from behind the scenes. All told, it was a beautiful afternoon, and I left the chapel feeling renewed.
D.B.
