“My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this - that is, I have not already been perfected - but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 3:10-14)
Last night I attended the monthly Kairos Reunion gathering inside Limestone Correctional Facility. The Kairos gathering is held the ifrst Thursday of the month. It is attended by prisoners who have gone on a past a 4 day Kairos weekend and and men from the outside who have served on a weekend. It is also open to any prisoners that are interested in learning more and attending a future Kairos. It was held in the small chapel inside the prion and approximately 80 inmates and 15 outside men attended.
The gathering is run by the inmates. They lead the service, all the prayers and the worship. The worship band is amazing! It rivals the best praise bands of large churches. There are inmates who are talented musicians who before they were locked up were studio musicians who recorded in Muscle Shoals, and played in various secular and church bands. The band played their hearts out led us into Holy Spirit soaked worship of men with hands raised, clapping and cheering for Jesus.
After the opening time of worship, we read together the pasage abore from Phillipians. An inmate named Brandon then gave a talk based on that passage. The title of his talk was “Keep Going.” Brandon’s message to both inmates and outside men was to be strong and continue in our calling of Jesus Christ. He used and stressed the word “urgency” throughout his message. He said how inmates could walk out into the yard or free men out to their cars and wether by sickness or and action/accident their life could end. Nothing is guaranteed, So we need to share the Gospel to those who do not know Christ with an urgency that that this may be thast last chance we have to do it. The inmates gathered shook their heads in agreement and shouted “Amen!” Their hearts were broken for those who do not know Jesus and I felt how they were compelled to share the Gospel like I wish I felt in he hearts of those who attend most church gatherings I attend on Sunday mornings. After Brandon’s message, the inmates prayed aloud over us from the outside for boldness and the courage to share Christ with others. They then prayed over all our families, themselves, and the guards and staff of the prison.
There is something special, some thing Holy, something after the heart of Jesus when you spend time worshipping with a group of people who are completely humble, admit they are broken, and completely offer themselves to Jesus in prayer and worship. And after the service as we wre walking out of the chapel and across the yard another man who attended said “Why can’t I feel the Holy Spirit’s presence in my church service on the outside like I do in here.? There is more compassion and a sense or urgency for those who do not know Christ in prison, than in my church outside its walls.” I have been reflecting on this.
My family, I pray you plead to the Holy Spirit to give you a sense of urgency to share the Gospel today with someone who does not know Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless yoiu my friends!