O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make
a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1
Today more than 180 men, women, and children gathered in Sullivan Correctional Facility's main recreation yard...
a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1
Today more than 180 men, women, and children gathered in Sullivan Correctional Facility's main recreation yard...
To praise the Lord and fellowship together. We made a joyful and loud noise unto the Lord, and we rejoiced at being able to sing to God and worship Him.
As the day began, it appeared as if it might rain, but we prayed that it would not. The sun eventually came out and from nine o'clock in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon, we had our annual Christian "Family Day" event. A number of the men from my fellowship had family members in attendance. We also had many of our regular volunteer ministers present.
In addition, visiting with us were about twenty members from the Manhattan Grace Tabernacle Church in New York City, with their Pastor, Luis Rivera and his lovely wife, Debbie. Pastor Rivera's choir filled the yard with praise. Even the inmates who were in the cell blocks were able to hear the music. Our inmate choir also sang many songs, and various ministers were able to give words of encouragement to the men and their families. I have no doubt that hearts were touched by all this
The day before the event, however, I was a part of an eighteen man "set up" detail. We had to go into the yard early Friday morning to begin laying out the tables and chairs, place garbage cans around the area, and then help erect the heavy tents for everyone to sit and eat under. It was a lot of work, but it felt great to be out in the fresh air. We worked until the afternoon.
Then on the day of the event, I helped serve the food as well as greet many of our visitors and the inmates and their families. With lots of kids running around, it felt as if I was in a public park far removed from prison life, at least until our event was over.
At exactly 2:30 a handful of correction officers began to move through the crowds to announce that our time was up and that everyone had to leave. Our family members and the ministry groups were escorted out of the yard first. Then when they were gone it was our turn to leave the yard, a few men at a time, to be "strip frisked" and searched, and then sent to our respective cell blocks.
It was hard to say goodbye to so many friends.
D.B.
As the day began, it appeared as if it might rain, but we prayed that it would not. The sun eventually came out and from nine o'clock in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon, we had our annual Christian "Family Day" event. A number of the men from my fellowship had family members in attendance. We also had many of our regular volunteer ministers present.
In addition, visiting with us were about twenty members from the Manhattan Grace Tabernacle Church in New York City, with their Pastor, Luis Rivera and his lovely wife, Debbie. Pastor Rivera's choir filled the yard with praise. Even the inmates who were in the cell blocks were able to hear the music. Our inmate choir also sang many songs, and various ministers were able to give words of encouragement to the men and their families. I have no doubt that hearts were touched by all this
The day before the event, however, I was a part of an eighteen man "set up" detail. We had to go into the yard early Friday morning to begin laying out the tables and chairs, place garbage cans around the area, and then help erect the heavy tents for everyone to sit and eat under. It was a lot of work, but it felt great to be out in the fresh air. We worked until the afternoon.
Then on the day of the event, I helped serve the food as well as greet many of our visitors and the inmates and their families. With lots of kids running around, it felt as if I was in a public park far removed from prison life, at least until our event was over.
At exactly 2:30 a handful of correction officers began to move through the crowds to announce that our time was up and that everyone had to leave. Our family members and the ministry groups were escorted out of the yard first. Then when they were gone it was our turn to leave the yard, a few men at a time, to be "strip frisked" and searched, and then sent to our respective cell blocks.
It was hard to say goodbye to so many friends.
D.B.
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