Sunday

Saturday Update
Yesterday morning I went to Athi River Prison to meet with their CR groups. God is really doing some amazing work there. Two officers that have a passion for CR started it with a group of 20 men last year. They meet every Friday afternoon where they break into two groups and do their Step Study workbooks. On Saturday mornings they have a Large Group meeting. There are Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Atheists together in this Christ centered ministry. The healing has been amazing. At the end of the step study (which every man completed!!), they wrote the things they found freedom from and were willing to forgive on a piece of paper and nailed it to a cross, then built a small fire and burned them in the middle of the prison yard.

There was one inmate, Joseph, transferred from Kamiti Maximum security prison in Nairobi to Athi River. He was at Kamiti during our first visit 3-4 years ago and heard a group of us share testimonies and talk about CR. When they asked for people interested in joining the first CR group at Athi River, he was very excited to join. He is now the CR leader.

They had a “graduation” in late January where many prison officials and local church leaders heard testimonies of several of the men from all religious backgrounds. Because of hearing this, prison headquarters fully now endorses and supports CR and has asked us to help them implement CR in all 93 prisons in Kenya! They are even funding the trainings. Athi River Prison was granted an office specifically for CR and they designated a classroom for CR. God is so good.

At Athi River, they have started the second “class” for CR with 36 men. Some men from the previous class are leaders now helping the second one. They would have more people involved but are limited by space. I met with them yesterday and taught the lesson HOPE at their Large Group meeting. They shared with me their interpretation of the lesson HOPE. Joseph was inspired to paint a picture about HOPE, including the acrostic. I asked him to teach HOPE from the painting. It was very creative and inspiring. They sang a song about CR that they wrote. I recorded a video of part of it and hopefully can upload it at some point.

CR has been going in other prisons for some time, started by some chaplains that have experienced the healing of CR also and it has helped so many inmates find healing. They have been very dedicated while facing many challenges. After this experience at Athi River, Prison Headquarters is now fully endorsing it and making the prisons accountable for the progress of it. The officer in charge of Athi River said that he will not grant a transfer from one prison to another unless they have gone through CR. Did I mention that God is good?

Sunday
Today I attended church at Children of the Promise Church in Kawangware, a slum in Nairobi. The senior pastor, Bishop Amos Wasala, attended our CR seminar in 2009. He started CR in his church but it has been a challenge as he is the only person trained. He is sending some church leaders to the 4-day seminar that starts tomorrow so they can be trained then get it going strong in their church. He asked me to “preach” today, so of course I talked about CR. It impacted so many people and it seemed like half the church came forward asking for prayer for things they struggle with, mostly unforgiveness. Now it's time for one of the simple pleaseures in life, having afternoon chai on the porch at Methodist Guest House with the house cat curled up beside me. :-)

Please pray for the people that will be attending the seminar that starts tomorrow morning, that it be the right people that God wants there from both churches and prisons. Pray for open hearts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide Morris and I as we teach.