Last Friday ACTION & Christian Growth Ministries hosted a Bible conference for about 75 inmates at New Bilibid's medium security compound. We had a guest Bible teacher from the States who taught plainly and powerfully from several chapters in Genesis on topics such as the providential care of God for His people, forgiveness and freedom from bitterness and developing godly character through trials. The men listened intently and received Pastor Whitehead's teaching eagerly. I gave the morning devotion from Psalm 19 focusing on verse 11 and the final challenge of the day from 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 after about a 2 minute notification that I was to give it. The guys also ate a hearty lunch with two snacks and received three books from our book ministry. It was a wonderful day of fellowship and Bible study for all. At the end of the day many guys expressed their heartfelt thanks to Pastor Whitehead and me for what they learned.
I tell this story because the door for ministry at New Bilibid can't get any wider at both the medium and maximum security compounds. The guys who know Jesus as Savior and Lord are hungry for the Word of God and fellowship in order to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. They have been transformed by the power of the Gospel. We are now developing a library with BookShare books and study materials for the Medium Compound. We've been asking the Lord of the harvest for a man/men to come over and develop our ministry at New Bilibid but so far no one has responded to His call. Perhaps YOU are the one He's calling to join us and take this ministry forward. I read Matthew 25:40 in my devotions this morning and it says "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" (NASB) Who are these brothers of Jesus? According to verses 35-39 they're the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the prisoner. I don't fully understand this teaching of Jesus, however, I do know He loves society's outcasts, suffering and sinners or "scum" (which we all are -- Luke 5:30) as the NLT puts it and wants us to minister to them in His name. If Jesus wants to thrust you out among New Bilibid's 11,000 men as a servant of the Good News obey Him today. He'll use you by His grace and power to teach His Word to men and their families who'll someday be choice servants of His church on the outside. Actually, however, many of these guys are already leaders of several established churches inside the prison but desiring training so they can more effectively serve their congregations. Get a hold of me if the heavenly Voice is calling you. Perhaps YOU'RE the one we're been praying for and for whom the brothers are waiting.
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