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Read Feedback from Conference at HMP The Verne June'09 |
| Posted on Jul 02 2009 at 11:18 PM |
Moving On With God Conference
HMP The Verne
What a truly awesome time we had it's hard to put it into words. Here's some feedback, which will give you a small insight and encourage you.
Our journey was delayed on Friday and we had to go straight to the prison following a 6 hour journey but God saw us through and the first session "Who Am I?" went forth - albeit not as prepared as we'd have liked. The men responded well and seemed to absorb the teaching. At the end one of the team ministered in song (a solo), which led into a time of prayer ministry.
It was an early start on Saturday - 9.30am we had to arrive at the prison an hour before to get through security and set up. We started the day with worship and there were 5 teaching sessions through till 7.30pm. We were privileged to have lunch on the Kainos wing - a wing run on Christian principles although non-Christians are now accommodated there too. We had group work every session, led by KK team members and these were very productive. There were lots of questions. After each session (usual KK format) we had opportunities for fellowship and prayer ministry. These were invaluable and enabled us to spend time with some truly needy individuals and hopefully make them feel loved and accepted. Some are first time offenders and others have spent most of their lives in and out of jail. But all are deemed low risk and have many privileges compared to most jails.
Although numbers were down on last year (approx 30-40 men attended) we believe the right ones came. Many of the inmates have committed drug related offences and when you hear their stories, you can see how easy it is to fall into crime. One guy "P" from Nicaragua was a well-educated, respected journalist researching drug smuggling and somehow got persuaded to try it for himself. He got caught! Since he's been in prison, his father and grandfather have been besides themselves with worry, his wife has developed a brain tumour and their child is being looked after by an auntie. P said he cannot come to terms with being so stupid and causing so much pain to so many people that he loves. We prayed with him several times and trust He will continue to reach out to Jesus for comfort.
Another man "C" responded to the teaching on forgiveness, made a decision to forgive 5 people who had hurt him and as he was being prayed for - while he was reaching out to God - he started speaking in tongues for the first time!
There are many more stories. Read prisoners comments here.
We ended the conference by taking the Sunday Service. 
Some of the inmates played guitar, drums, percussion, bongos etc and joined our KK musician and a regular prison volunteer (visitor) pianoist, in making a Holy Spirit led, joyful sound unto the Lord! The service ended with the chaplain presenting us with cards signed by the men; then one of the inmates, who attended our conference last year came up and prayed for us and prophesied, that God will take KK into every prison in the UK......amazing !
Many of these men will be deported, but for those who will be rehabilitated in the UK, the question and prayer remains: Lord how can we best help them through Kingdom Keys? Many of them sincerely want to change. They need to be discipled and nurtured and they need men (and women) to stand alongside them.
If this ministry is to go into every prison in the UK as prophesied - where are the helpers, the harvest fields are so, so ripe!
If you feel called to take up the mantle to intercede for God's plan for KK, or indeed to join our teams please contact us! It's hard work and often we see no fruit but when we do on occasions like this, you realise how valuable and necessary this work is. There is such potential - setting captives free - body, soul and spirit !