Monday, 27 February 2012
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February Prayer Letter
February 1, 2012
Dear Friends,
Every Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m., representatives of different parts of World Impact-Los Angeles (WILA) gather for reporting and prayer. Ryan and I usually take turns attending, as I enjoy getting to see staff and hearing how their weeks have been. This is a great cross-section of our multi-faceted efforts throughout the city. At a recent meeting we heard an encouraging report from The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) staff.
TUMI has partnered with Prison Fellowship to make its seminary-level, 16-part curriculum available to inmates with whom Prison Fellowship has a relationship. Ryan and many others on WILA staff seek to connect with some of these men once they are released (if they are local) and encourage them in their walk with the Lord, their adjustment to the outside world, and their TUMI education. Our TUMI staff reported attending the first-ever TUMI graduation in a prison. Understandably, there were no videos or photos taken of the event, but the stories and bright spirits of the staff members who shared painted a vivid picture.
At the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, California, 300 inmates gathered in the chapel to worship God and celebrate seven TUMI graduates. During their time in prison, they completed all 16 courses of the Capstone Curriculum (a three-and-a-half-year commitment). One chair on stage remained empty through the service as one of the graduates had passed away soon after finishing his last class. He persevered through painful walks and study to finish his classes but did not live long enough for the ceremony. No doubt he was celebrating without pain from above! An inmate led the passionate men in songs he had written within the walls of prison--songs about forgiveness, God’s protection from enemies, and His love. All of the six graduates present spoke about their transformation and the role that TUMI and their TUMI mentors had in their discipleship. Two inmates face release in the near future. The others undoubtedly will serve the remainder of their time as role models in their incarcerated community.
While 30 others are currently enrolled in TUMI classes at Norco, around 300 are on the waiting list! The prison’s chaplain, Dr. Warrick, sensed a couple of years ago the Lord telling him that there was a secret army He was raising up to call people to Christ. Dr. Warrick sees the Christians being nurtured and discipled in our prisons as that secret army. The applause, pride, and hope at this ceremony clearly touched our colleagues in a way few experiences have, and I hope this news also encourages you! There is light in dark, unexpected places, and the Lord is using ministries like TUMI to fill a need not only in our church plants, but our country’s prisons. Praise God with us for all He is doing, seen and unseen!
With love,
Danielle for the family
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