Faith Seeds Travels to New York

BEDFORD HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

It always amazes me how we can present the same material and teaching to women and find the Holy Spirit leading in distinctive ways. As we made our way to Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison, we quickly discovered that the five hours we spent with roughly 40 women would be unique.

Our Prayer Seminar was part of a three-day retreat for the women, which focused on prayer and fasting. The event was held in the prison chapel, which contained God’s peace. We saw several women come in with puppies. They were part of New York’s innovative Puppies Behind Bars program (for more information on their program and services, visit www.puppiesbehindbars.com ).

The women actively participated in the program with questions, sharing of their testimonies, and their prayers. A powerful moment occurred when every woman who had a child stepped forward to “stand in the gap” and pray for the salvation of her children. Many tears were shed as the women poured out their hearts for their children. It was evident that much healing was taking place with women’s hearts and their minds.

It was so encouraging to watch the women taking notes, asking where Scriptures were located, and learning effective ways to pray for themselves and to intercede for others. The majority of the women signed up for the full Prayer and Intercession Discipleship Program correspondence study, which is sent out chapter by chapter to the women.

What will I remember from this day? I’ll remember the officers who escorted us up to the chapel. I’ll remember the tears which seemed to flow on and off for nearly all five hours. I’ll remember the looks in the eyes of the women as they prayed for their children. I’ll remember when half the women stood up – and kept standing, and standing – as the Spirit of truth was keeping them up and setting them free. And, I’ll remember the faces. This is the fifth prison where we have conducted the Prayer Seminar – we’ve been to New Mexico, two facilities in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and now New York. In all those places, it is the faces I remember.