The Kingdom of God has Come?

I have really dried up on the blogging front.  No idea why.  I've probably just settled into work within the prison and the daily routine - and maybe nothing new happens from day to day.  (That can't really be true!?)  I have a decision to make however.  In the next 10 days my annual subscription is up on this blog site.  Do I renew or do I just retire?  I suppose you'll find out in the next 10 days!!

I've also been busy with a new group I've started.  It's called Exodus. I realised that for some of the guys who had been attending Chaplaincy things while in prison, and who had been starting at the very least to investigate the things of God, that once released they often fall away and don't make the transition into a local church.  So, along with one other guy who is now out on parole, I decided to start a wee fellowship group - for worship, Bible study, prayer and general support and friendship.  I told him that even if it was just the 2 of us we'd meet and pray for guys we knew.

It never was just the 2 of us!  We regularly have about 10-12 guys, all ex-prisoners.  Some have returned to the Christian commitments they have made previously, others are starting from scratch!  (During one study recently one guy asked "You mean Jesus came alive again??  I knew he died on a cross - I never knew he came alive again!)

I think it's helping!  One guy in particular came along a few weeks ago and prayed out from the bottom of his heart for God to help him and change him.  It was very real.  And what a change since - he said he left that night and has never felt the same since.  It's early days but he's now stayed out of prison for about 7 weeks - and only once before has he gone so long in the past 10 years.  He's off drugs, his family have welcomed him back, and he feels the urge to go round and apologise to folk he has offended against in the past and pay them back for things he has stolen.

Another guy announced that last week he went out and bought some shopping.  Not remarkable?  Well he said that was the first time he'd paid for his shopping in 5 years!!  Another guy announced that for 3 weekends in a row now he hasn't been lifted for being drunk and disorderly.  He did get into a fight two weeks ago (and had his jaw broken with a baseball bat!) and while family and friends all want to go for revenge, he wants to do it Jesus' way - and turn the other cheek and forgive.

Maybe not all remarkable stories - but as they were telling me these, and more, recently, I kept thinking "Behold, the Kingdom of God is coming among you."  Take control Father!

Comments

[Christina Harris]

Dont give up your blog Graham, God's going to be doing some great things with you and it would be nice to read about them,Just look at what he is doing with the prisoners!!This is only the start

[Sheena]

I received much encouragement through reading this!

[AnneDroid]

Fab. Really fab. Gave this post a plug on my blog too.

[Betty]

Welcome back - always great to read your
blogs Graham. Can't begin to tell you how
wonderful to hear the news from Exodus, may
it continue to flourish. True enough - the
Lord is expanding His Kingdom. Great to see the impact these lads are making too in the local church. Yes!! It is so encouraging. Will keep covering
you all in prayer.