Forgiven Ministry, Inc. - The Story of Forgiven Ministry

What can a grandmother and a team of volunteers do behind the walls of minimum, medium and maximum-security prisons across the USA? Well, let me tell you, it has been a wonderful divine experience. With obedience comes a blessing that we can’t contain or imagine. In 1987, my father died in a Federal prison in Lexington, KY. He had become a Christian a short time before that and I knew if God could save my father at age 61 that He wanted to save other inmates. Eight years later, I was asked to speak in a local prison and share what God had done in my father’s life. The promise I had made to God at my father’s burial was about to come true. At the graveside I shared with my wonderful husband, Jack that if God could use my life story that I would share it wherever God wanted me to go. The doors began to open to visit prisons with the story of God’s love and forgiveness. The overwhelming response to receive Christ was so many that we began to seek volunteers with the same desire for the lost behind bars. Today, we have over 100 volunteers ministering with us in prisons. I have been blessed to be a platform artist with Operation Starting Line and travel to prisons across the USA. Our team travels in North Carolina, West Virginia and where God opens the door to share His love. Luke 4:18 is a special desire of Forgiven Ministry as we let God lead us to do fulfill His will for our lives.

The program that God has given us a three-hour event anointed and used by God to reach even the most hardened criminal. We do a most unusual event that is packed with fun, food,praise, worship, movie and a living testimony of a changed life. Colorful movie posters and information posters are sent into the institution two weeks before our arrival announcing that something special is coming to their prison. God uses every tool to convince the heart of the inmates to attend the event. The men and women who come have a divine appointment with our Savior.

Food is a drawing card for the inmates. We set the stage for a theater. The volunteers serve popcorn, drinks and a candy bar. God has used those candy bars many times to touch the heart of an inmates. The material cost is high but the price Christ paid for their soul was much greater. The food is only a tool that Christ uses to bring them in to hear the gospel.

Christian Comedians are part of the team to bring joy to the heart of the men and women. Laughter is healing and there are many wounds to be healed inside a prison wall. Each skit ends with a special message that uplifts Christ.

Praise and Worship is a highlight in the program. The men and women stand to their feet and join in song and scripture reading. Sometimes, this is the only time they have attended a worship service. God has given us some wonderful talented singers that travel with us to share in song the love of Christ and message of salvation.

World Wide Pictures has been so anointed of God to produce the powerful movies that we show to inmates. We have just purchased new equipment that will enable us to show the films with the lights on. The screen that God has blessed us with is 14 feet by 10.5 feet. The velvet curtains that hang around the screen certainly set the stage for the drama that will unfold. I have watched as men and women serving life sentences weep uncontrollably during the movie. The movies are a powerful tool for a POWERFUL GOD !

The living testimony that follows immediately after the movie is always awesome. God has been convicting the hearts of the inmates for this time. Usually an ex-offender or family members of an inmate share from their heart what God has done in their life. Inmates know a con-artist and therefore they recognize a genuine story also. I cannot begin to tell you how God has used ordinary people who stand and testify in the prisons to what Christ has done in their life. A testimony of a changed life speaks millions to a lost soul. Christ left us in His word the testimony of the criminal on the cross, the last person to accept the Savior of the world.

Counselors are ready and equipped to share with any inmate that comes forward during the invitation. Whatever the need is there will be a very loving Christian to take that inmate by the hand and pray with them. We have been part of hundred of souls coming to Christ through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Forgiven Ministry is a tool that God has designed to work for Him. HE DOES IT ALL, GLORY!

Follow-up is a very important part of God’s work. We have been privileged to partner with Crossroad Bible Institute to share bible study with those who are incarcerated. The inmates express to us a desire to begin a bible study. Crossroad will send them the material and upon completion the study is returned to Crossroads. The Crossroad staff is trained to grade these studies for the inmates. These are uniquely designed to help the inmate grow dramatically in a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. The student receives a certificate on completion of the study. Inmates who use their time in prison to study what God written in His word will begin to seek a new way of life. God’s word can change an inmate to become a new daddy, a new son, a loving husband and a productive citizen.

A unique program to bring the love and forgiveness to the lost behind the walls and into the heart of men and women who Christ died for. The captivity of sin in the heart of man is only broken through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.