HERE I COME... TO THE PRISON TRENCHES OF AFRICA

Dearest Friend,

Power of Prayer! Some Pastor friends of mine could not emphasize enough the importance of the power of prayer when you go into the trenches of Africa prisons. I agree. I have had a front row seat to see God's miracles because of prayer. So, I am counting on you...

Many of you have stepped forward donated your hard earned money, and are expecting God to impact the lives of the poverty-stricken prisoners and training for the prison chaplains/pastors. Basic prison supplies are extremely limited, while voodoo/witch-craft and "works" is the mixed theology in their daily lives.

Thursday morning I am leaving for those trenches in Africa and I need your help. Will you take a moment to follow our call for prayer, and battle for these souls.

• Like the Apostle Paul, please pray that God would speak boldly through me. I am asking that His perfect words would anoint and flow through me and the team with a freedom from the Holy Spirit.
• That we would "get the love thing right" and love everyone like Jesus in the dark corners of Africa.
• Satan and his dominions would be hog-tied and helpless. No satanic forces would hinder this entire mission. No corruption or disruptions.
• Travel mercies as I am traveling alone much of the time. 

• June 11-21st HIM Prison Ministries (myself) is partnering with Spring of Hope International Ministries http://www.springhope.org out of Spokane Washington to follow up with the prisons I worked with last year in the Kendu Bay, Homa Bay area of Kenya. To train inmates and church leaders in prison mentorship. I will be going into three prisons to preach the Gospel and train/disciple inmate leaders inside of prison. I am excited to be bringing Bibles donated by you and the MOPS MOMS in Minnesota, along with a letter of encouragement for each inmate receiving the Bibles. "Lord, may I be granted permission by the prisons officials to take photos of the inmate's excited faces."

• June 21-27 Please pray for safe, timely travel, as I venture back to Nairobi to conduct our (first annual) Prison Leadership Conference in Nairobi. This is much more exciting than I ever imagined. God has flung open the doors for prison ministry in this vast, bustling city. 
• I am hosting along with SMiMS Charity http://www.smimsafrica.com a prison ministry conference for up to 50+ Prison Chaplains, Pastors and Leaders from around Kenya June 22-24. They are traveling in to collaborate together, encourage one another and be trained in Christian prison mentorship. We will finish up our conference by attending a Nairobi prison together. (This could possibly be the first conference for prison ministry of it's kind in Kenya.) "Father, God, please invite, hand-pick and release the right prison chaplains/leaders for this conference."
• Wednesday, June 24, We finish up our conference, hand out their awards of completion and then we are tentatively scheduled for an interview on Nairobi's local TV program to heighten awareness in prison ministry.
• Thursday, June 25, I meet with ex-offenders for a day long conference. "Heavenly Father, may these precious ex-offenders find purpose, encouragement and restoration through our time together."
• Friday, June 26, debrief meetings and planning for next years conference. I leave Friday for the USA and return home Saturday to sleep!

Please pray for the details of the trip and for my preaching and training. "Merciful Father, put together the perfect message for each and every group?" 

I am leaning into God, depending on His provision and sovereignty for this "exciting and nerve-rackingly, fabulous trip!" 

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And I said, "Here am I Lord, Send me!"  Isaiah 6:8

Shug Bury

P.S. I am still looking for God to prompt hearts to donate on-line himprisonministry.org towards this prison mission and the upcoming events this year in the USA. Is God prompting your heart? I am hoping to post updates on Facebook, my web-site, and my blog when available. 

Hallelujah International Ministries - H.I.M.

http://www.himprisonministry.org

http://www.shugsprisonblog.blogspot.com 

MOPS MOMS REACH OUT TO KENYAN PRISONERS

M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Preschoolers) reach out to prisoners in Africa. 

M.O.P.S. is partnering with H.I.M. Prison Ministry to raise funds for Bibles. But they don't stop there, they are adding a special touch... they each personally wrote letter of encouragement for each inmate receiving the Bibles.

WHY? Because they want the men in African prisons to rise up and receive Jesus Christ. To begin their life anew. That this is not the end but a new beginning in Christ. Can you imagine, if these men are encouraged to read God's Word, become transformed from the inside - out, the impact they can make in their communities when they are released. All because it started with a prayer, a bible and a letter...

In Kenya, Africa, the prisons are filled with hopelessness and regret. H.I.M. Prison Ministry will be preaching the gospel and distributing these precious Bibles for MOPS in June 2015.

The prisoners who are often forgotten on the fringe of society will receive the love of Jesus through a handwritten letter from a MOPS Mom.

Please pray that the prisoners in Kenya will study God's Word with their new Bibles and be encouraged by the letters. May both the giver and the receivers be blessed more than they could ever ask or imagine!




If you would like to support H.I.M. Prison Ministries please contact Shug Bury at:

shugbury@himprisonministry.org

HIM Prison Ministry 
P.O. Box 87
Chanhassen, MN 55317

All donations are tax deductible.

PRISON INMATES RESPOND TO SENIOR CITIZENS SUPPORT!

(This was my response to the Chaplain after telling the inmates about the Seniors who are praying for them.)

Dear Chaplain Gene,

It's just one of those things... I cannot get those beautiful joy filled faces out of my mind from your Senior Living service! 

This past Saturday evening, I preached two services in prison. I shared with upwards of 150 inmates about my experience meeting you and the wonderful people at your Senior service. I shared how your precious Seniors have been praying for their anonymous prayer requests for the past nine years. 

One of the many stories I shared with them was about your organist. She came up to me and shared that there were three specific prison prayer cards that really touched her heart. She feels called to pray for those three... "until eternity!" When I shared this with the inmates at Shakopee prison, they began to cry, reaching for tissues. They all were so touched and moved from the stories I told from the seniors as well. 

The man who said; "I am a talker! I love to talk to people, I ask their name and start a conversation. After we have been talking awhile... I tell them about Jesus!" They laughed and loved it. I shared about the table of women at who had attended BSF in the past. (By the way, this year we started the first-ever BSF, in the world, at Shakopee prison.) Your table of women said; "We are coming back in the Fall for Revelation!" The Shakopee inmates who attended BSF this year hooted and applauded like they were all one big family. Last but not least, one Senior sadly said; "I wish I could meet the women I have been praying for... I recognize their handwriting over the months and I know its the same person that I had prayed for before." I told her, I believe Jesus will introduce you two in heaven. Jesus will say; "Job well done, good and faithful servant," as he introduces the two of you.

It was beautiful to see the inmate's eyes opened to the fact that Seniors would even care about them, all the more pray for them...until eternity! 

I was the one deeply blessed to share all that God is doing on both sides of the razor wire. We all were reminded of a valuable truth, that those totally committed to God are totally committed to God's people. I am praying for prison awareness, that even more Seniors will join in the cause for caring for the forgotten in our society. 

In HIM,

Shug

DON'T MISS INVOLVING SENIOR CITIZENS IN PRISON MINISTRY!

ARE YOU INVOLVING THE SENIORS IN YOUR COMMUNITY IN PRISON MINISTRY?

HOW ARE THEY INVOLVED?
As part of our prison ministry we have a Letters Of Encouragment team. The inmates are given an opportunity to write prayer requests. Our church team prays over these precious prayer requests and writes back with encouraging scripture. We then remove the inmates names (for security and privacy) and copy them off to the local Senior Center each week.

I was invited to come in by the Senior Living Chaplain and give updates to the entire center as to what I see God is doing in prison as a result of their prayers. The following is what I shared.

It's working... Your prayers are being answered! 

Because of your prayers... last time a young (20 something) woman came into our prison service. She had tattoos with occult symbols on her arms, she told the woman sitting next to her she didn't believe in God. She had a strange darkness around her face as she cried throughout the beginning of the service. I do not know why she was crying... but what I did see was Jesus reveal Himself to her.

Because of your prayers... towards the end of the service, I shared about the "scales" falling off of Saul's (Paul's) eyes when he had an encounter with Jesus. It was like a lightbulb went off for her. I then gave everyone an opportunity to receive Christ as their Savior. When I looked up after the prayer, she looked completely different. It was like she could literally see again. The darkness disappeared and she was smiling. I was told by another inmate, she believes she received Christ as her Savior. 

Because of your prayers... this hurting woman crossed over from the chains of the occult, from hell and damnation, to eternal life in heaven. Can we even begin to absorb the divine impact of this? Pray she returns and has a thirst for Christ.

Countless prayers are answered... 

• We started with 25 inmates coming to our services ten years ago and now we have upwards of 200 inmates and two back to back services.
• We used to praise God with a CD and small boom box, now we have a team of 40 who rotate coming into prison with a full band.
• A inmate on BSF sharing day in prison, shared she received Christ during one of our church services and then fell in love with Jesus through studying His word in BSF. 
• Another woman shared our Church services and Wednesday night Bible studies have impacted her faith dramatically and has changed her life.
• One woman who was in for multiple murders received one of our prayer letters, confessed her sins and gave her life over to Christ.

What God is doing in prison is nothing short of a revival! HALLELUJAH! Please continue to pray that the enemy is bound and God empowers all of us to BOLDLY proclaim the Gospel...

• Over 150 inmates have been baptized (full immersion) because of your prayers.

Romans 1:16-17.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew. then for the Gentile. For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteousness will live by faith."

The Seniors clapped, cheered... even shouted "Hallelujah and AMEN!"

"Our God is an awesome God he reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and might. Our God is an awesome God!"

MAY I ENCOURAGE YOU, DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THESE PRAYER WARRIORS IN THEIR SENIOR YEARS!

(Please see the follow-up post on the responses of the inmates to the Seniors support.)