July Update

A Story From The Other Side of the Fence

Greetings, my name is Paul Porter and I am here at Gulf Correctional Institution for two months as a chaplain intern. A Texas missions organization called GoNow missions selected this ministry opportunity as an option for summer missions for the summer of 2013. God placed an interest for this prison ministry experience on my heart, and in the end, GoNow decided to call me here. Before coming to Gulf Correctional Institution, I had never been involved with prisons in any fashion, so this was going to be a first time venture. God has blessed me with a missions partner to serve here at Gulf Correctional Institution, and his name is Josh Wood. I will be leaving here and going back to Texas on August 1, but I would like to present my testimony of my experiences at the prison as I have reached the halfway point of my stay here in Florida.

        My first week here, I had to undergo new employee orientation in order to learn the procedures and safety precautions within the prison. Also, I was intensely trained about prisons, ministry, and people (inmates and staff) by Chaplain David Ring, who is supervising the chaplaincy internship this summer. The second week, I was able to be inside the chapel and intermingle with inmates. Throughout this week, I shadowed Chaplain Daniel Henry to learn about the inmates, how to interact with them, and everything that transpires within the chapel. The third week was when I received the privilege to be directly involved with the chapel programs. On Monday, I was asked to offer the Gospel of Jesus Christ to inmates who wanted to check-out the chapel during Chapel Intro. During this time, I proclaimed that everyone is separated from God because of sin and all people need to admit, confess, and repent for their sins—otherwise the wages of sin is eternal death. Since God created mankind and loves mankind, God had a plan of redemption in His Son Jesus Christ who bore all our sins on the cross. God raised Jesus from the dead three days later, so that when believers in Christ die they will resurrect from death too and have eternal life with God. The next day, I was honored to have sat in on graduation of chapel discipleship classes and then baptize fourteen inmates. I have, also, been blessed to facilitate a discipleship class called Experiencing God on Thursday mornings. Throughout the rest of the week, I got to observe and learn in classes like Celebrate Recovery, Most Excellent Way, and Common Solution Recovery while building relationships with the inmates. Last week, the chapel hosted a concert played by the band Rhymz Suhreal and they glorified God through music and testimony. Also, throughout my time here, I have been introduced to other chaplains and ministers in the area to learn about prisons, ministry, and being a man of God. I am very excited for the rest of my time at the prison! These experiences have been great, but I now want to testify of what God has revealed to me thus far.

        When first arriving at the prison, I did not really know what to expect because my thoughts and emotions about prisons and ministry were scattered. I prepared my heart and mind to be a blank slate and learn about what goes on in the prison by real life experience and not what is proclaimed by words, television, or uninformed perceptions. Since I have been inside the compound, I wholeheartedly notice that people inside the prison are not any different than outside the prison. Inmates in the prison make bad choices, desire unhealthy effects, and rebel against authority, but that is exactly the same world outside the prison. On the other hand, inmates make good choices, desire healthy effects, and obey authority, and that is also exactly the same world outside the prison. Regardless if people are in prison or not, everyone needs their character transformed. Those in prison can receive a character transformation, and those not in prison can end up in prison at any moment because of a bad choice from their personal character. All people have a character defect called sin, but it can be restored—inside or outside a prison. This can only occur through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—God’s only Son.

Thoughts to Ponder

“God will help her at break of day.” (Ps. 46:5b). This phrase has significant imagery attached to it. The Psalmist made many references to God’s faithfulness in his writings. This particular phrase most likely refers to a specific event in Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. Exodus 14:27-28  

David uses an event that is imbedded in the Israelite psyche. He gives this event as support for his opening “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1, HCSB)”. Literally translated, “a helper in times of trouble he is found [to be] greatly.”

The break of day is a metaphor for God’s deliverance. Three other times the Bible refers to it (Ps. 30:5, Is. 17:14; 37:36). In Psalm 30, we are assured that God’s discipline is momentary (“weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”), but that His favor lasts for a lifetime. Isaiah records a mighty deliverance in an impossible situation. “Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!” (37:36).

God is the refuge of all who are in a relationship with Him. When life is overwhelming, when we feel like there is no hope, we must never forget Who He is! He is the God who controls everything by His word. All things are at His Command. “Yahweh of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah” (Ps. 46:11, HCSB) ~ Dan

Ministry Inside

June 2013:

Graduation From Discipleship Classes: English - 131

Baptisms - 14

2,749 inmate visits to the chapel logging over 4,124 hrs. for 148 individual events

Death notifications - 9 / Crisis Notifications - 11

Family Happenings

It’s seems the summer months are just flying by. I wish there was a way I could add one more month to our summer before school starts again, but I guess it would just fill up like the rest of them do! :) We are staying busy and are trying to get some de-cluttering done in the process! Seems it’s a never ending job, but I feel like I’m making progress. My goal is to have a home for everyTHING in my house! Learning how to make do with less space is good for me!

GEMS is preparing for our first fundraiser banquet without a fundraiser coordinator. Candice did a super job the last few years, but because of family obligations, she stepped down from the position. I am going to be filling in as decorator and know that I cannot fill her shoes, so I am going to try my best to be me, and do what Me can do! :) I’m up for the challenge, I think! :)

I had the privilege to go with two other ladies to share a service at Gadsden Correctional, the end of June. The volunteer chaplain that normally goes with us, was on vacation, but he insisted we could do it without him. The other two ladies conspired and put me in charge!! ;) I almost panicked though when I realized that meant I also had to be the moderator! I feel a little like Moses, I can’t speak in front of a crowd. Plus, I was having a really hard time coming up with something to share, but after praying, God led me to share from Psalm 139 .  and He also gave me the words to speak throughout the evening as moderator. The service went so smoothly...the chapel workers were a huge help and even the officer overseeing the service was extra helpful!! God was at work! The highlight of the evening was giving a goodbye hug to a lady that wasn’t supposed to be released till 2020, but she was getting out early and couldn’t wait to see her family again....she was a faithful chapel attendee, and my prayer is that she stays strong in the outside world. Pray for Charlotte!

Daniel has been helping his friend Dylan, at Dylan’s dad’s store. They are cleaning out and remodeling a back room on the store. One day he came home with lots of paint on him. We wondered if any got on the walls! :) Boys! There is also a 3rd friend helping, Jed. I think this is the highlight of their summer!

Tamara is content to spend her summer reading. We’ve been to the library countless times for more books! :) She is also becoming a willing helper around the house, which makes me happy!

Dan & I just celebrated our 17th anniversary on Saturday. Some friends offered to keep the kids for a good part of the day and also gave us a gift card to Longhorn’s Steakhouse. So we enjoyed a little shopping at Pier Park in Panama City Beach, ate supper and then spent a little time on the beach as the last rays of sun faded from the sky. The 70 minute drive one way gave us lots of time to talk....about life, about our dreams. I feel so blessed that God brought Dan and I together, two total strangers from different parts of the country! I am excited for where God will lead us in the next 17 years!

Continue to keep our family in your prayers!! There may be some changes in our life in the next few months and we covet your prayers that God’s will be done and that we can rest in Him even if things don’t go as we hope.
If you can take a few minutes, we would love to hear from you, too! :) God bless~

~Twila

Needs

Our projected 2013 support needs~ $6000 ($500 a month)

Received last month~ $0
Received so far in 2013~ $1050

Current Needs:

• A newer, more efficient upright freezer.
• Dan and myself have more dentist visits that should be taken care of ASAP.
• Science books for Danny for next years school ($90)

GEMS supports us by providing us with a house to live in. We do not receive monetary support from them. Dan does receive some income from the state that is sufficient to pay our recurring monthly bills, gas and food. We count on support to help cover anything above that, including dental, eye care, medical bills, car repairs, appliance replacement, clothes shopping, and other things that come up unexpectedly!

Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can help!

Love from~ The Henry’s~ Dan, Twila, Danny (14) and Tamara (12)

Find us on facebook (Yoking Up With Jesus)

Donations can be sent to:

GEMS

℅ Henry Family Fund

PO Box 180505

Tallahassee, FL 32318

OR, by Paypal to dansgirl77@gmail.com

(Be SURE to earmark checks for the Henry Family, since all the chaplains funds get sent to the same address.)