by Christy Hoagland
“I’m brand new?!?” was exclaimed over and over by a young man that had just prayed to receive Christ. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as three other offenders who had just prayed that same prayer embraced him. Four lives changed forever by the Gospel of Jesus. Let me give some backstory regarding this “brand new” man… he had been coming to our KCRC service but then missed a week, another gentleman asked for prayer for him, he was worried about him especially since he hadn’t come to service. Then Tuesday came, with the very first song I noticed God already moving, particularly on this young man. Later during our Bible study another gentleman talked about how thankful he is for God’s unconditional love and that grasping God’s love has been a process and hard to wrap his mind around. The entire night was pretty incredible and at the altar call in a tiny concrete block classroom 4 men became brand new! I’ll never get over it, what a precious gift it is to share the love of Jesus and watch the Spirit draw people to Himself and change them right before our eyes.
The following night a 15 year old girl at Johnny’s church brought him $60, she wanted to sow into our prison ministry, she had wanted it to be more but this is all she could bring. How precious, what a blessing!
Friday…at the start of this week’s service one of our chapel workers, an offender, told us about a young man that had been at ACC for a year now but had never come to a Friday night service yet. This man had been searching, he had been dabbling in Wicca and other religions and the night before had come to another Christian service at the chapel. The chapel worker told me that he had talked with him earlier in the day and asked him to come to tonight’s service and he agreed. He sat rather stoic but still introduced himself when the welcome of newcomers was given, I couldn’t tell if he was singing along with the other men but I just continued to pray for him, that the Spirit would draw him. When Johnny got up to speak he was giddy, he introduced the man that had come and said that he couldn’t wait until the end of the service to give his life to Jesus, he wanted to do it right then! God…You are marvelous! At the end of the night he came to me and I congratulated him on his new relationship with Christ, he said he had been reading Romans today and he knew he needed Jesus. Just wow…the power of God’s Word, the Spirit’s leading…wow…
I’m so grateful for these opportunities, we all are (the Sing for the King team) and because of Jesus’ calling and people sending, even 15 year old girls, and so many of your prayers we are able to go and give the Gospel and see its power remove strongholds, break down walls, and make men new. Thank You for praying, for sending, but most of all, thank You Jesus for saving.
Christy Hoagland 