Mission Statement:
Set Captives Free Ministries is dedicated to restoring hope and direction to the lives of men and women in prison and on the streets.
Matthew 25:35-40, 45-46
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
(And then in the remainder of the chapter, Jesus spoke to those who did not help concluding with......)
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Susan, Emily and I went to Macon to hold the last service of 2011. Emily did an amazing job leading praise and worship. When she sang “My God is Real” several of the men stood to their feet. You could tell they were definitely moved by it. I sang “No Sin” and then gave the message on “The Father’s Embrace.” I had Emily close with another song. We had one man who did not want to come in and we “talked him into it.” He came up to me afterwards and told me that message was for him. Praise God! If it was just for that one, it made the evening worth it! We had an awesome time in the Lord.
We had 86 in service and it was an amazing service. I felt led to have an inmate open in prayer, so one of the ladies volunteered immediately. Her prayer was a “mini-sermon” and was anointed. Ms. Emily started out with praise and worship and then we finished up with two songs via Video Praise. One of the inmates sang a special and then another inmate from the Praise Dance Team danced to “Redeemer.” It was so anointed. Then Misty Dawn (another inmate) sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” in a way only she can sing it. It brought the ladies in the room to their feet. It made it very easy for me to deliver the message on “The Father’s Embrace” from the text on the prodigal son. Around 30 ladies came front for prayer at the altar call.
We had 38 in the service tonight due to some details being out late, etc. After praise and worship, Ms. Emily sang a couple of specials. The WCPRC choir sang and the praise dance team ministered. I ministered on “Fruit or Apple, I’m confused.” It was a message about how the devil tries to confuse us and some of the tactics he uses. We have to be aware of his tactics and be prepared in the Word. About 24 ladies came up for prayer afterwards. I praise God for the way He moves in the lives of people and uses the simplest things to change people’s lives!
This was our first service in the main prison at Hays State Prison for men. Our team included Melony Matteson, Wanda Waters, Emily Williams, Susan Slaven, Elizabeth Smith and Kevin Humphery. Since this was our first service we kept it short and simple until we could get a feel of the way the service needs to go. Emily led in praise and worship and Pastor Kevin brought the message. We had 55 in attendance and 9 came front for prayer. We had an amazing service. We later received an e-mail from a sister of one of the inmates. With her permission I am including her message: “Just a note to say thank you for visiting Hays Prison. My brother called last night and I have never heard such happiness in his voice in quite awhile. He enjoyed church so much and the great fellowship with all you guys. His name is Victor Ledbetter and he is a Christian and a wonderful man. Thank you again for the great blessing you were to him and I am sure many, many more and PLEASE go back whenever you can. Love, Donna Grant”
Susan, Emily, Ken and Melony held the service at Macon TC this month. Emily and Melony led praise and worship followed by a teaching "tag teamed" by Ken and Melony. I received an excellent report of the response and how the men interacted with the teaching on "Grace" and got very involved. It was a great evening of learning in the Lord!
The room was full again to capacity and inmates were turned away! We need a bigger room! After praise and worship, Ms. Emily sang a couple of specials. The WCPRC choir sang, the praise dance team ministered, and Misty Dawn sang a special before Pastor Lance Johnson came to preach! I was not there because I had jury duty, but I was told that it was an amazing service and I really missed out!!! Praise God for His move of the Spirit at West Central.
We had 86 women in the service! There would have been more but they had to turn them away because of restrictions by the Fire Marshall on the number of people allowed in the room. We did praise and worship and Ms. Emily sang a couple of special songs. The WCPRC choir sang, the praise dance team ministered, and Misty Dawn sang a special before Pastor Kevin Humphery came to preach! We had one salvation and then a long prayer line at the end of the service! It was an amazing time in the Lord!!!
We completed the 12 weeks of Anger Management and the inmates graduated on September 28th. We started a new class on Wednesday, November 2nd. Please keep us in your prayers.
I had an amazing team go to Macon TC this month. Susan Slaven handled the service, while Emily Williams lead the praise and worship and sang some specials. Frank Devane brought the message. I was told that the response was very good and it was a wonderful service!
We will be furnishing toothbrushes for 1700 inmates at Hays State Prison for their Christmas gift bags. I know it sounds like a lot but we have 3 months. If everyone picks up 1 or 2 toothbrushes every time you get groceries, you’d be surprised what we can do. If you prefer to give me money, I will buy the toothbrushes for you. I have witnessed the most ungodly men shed tears of gratitude as they receive the gifts provided.
We had an amazing service at MTC. We actually had the joining of two ministries: Set Captives Free Ministries and Ye Visited Me Ministries, which is the ministry I used to be over. Pastor Larry Martin contacted me to ask if he could go with us. I lead praise and worship and then Ms. Joyce Cunningham sang “Amazing Grace” and she gave her testimony. Ken Matteson then gave his testimony followed by Joyce singing another son. Pastor Larry brought the message. Fourteen men prayed to make a re-commitment and to walk closer with the Lord and five of them were first time. It was an amazing service. Praise God changed lives.
God is so amazing!!!! Words cannot describe the service we had!!! WOW! That's all I can say! I stood in amazement as 82 women came into the room last night and they had to bring in chairs from other areas of the facility. Well, actually 85 came in but 3 of those were supposed to be in the GED class and had to go back.
We started out with prayer and started out by singing "Enemies Camp." The ladies love when we do that song because it gets so exciting. When we finished that song, Ms. Emily got her tambourine and led them in some upbeat praise songs before we went into the praise music video. The women raised their hands and sang praises to the Lord during this worship time.
Then the West Central choir sang a song that was written by one of the ladies and it was beautiful. This was followed by the West Central praise dance team and I've never seen any praise dance team any better than those four ladies. It was absolutely AMAZING! Everyone jumped to their feet and applauded when they were finished! Then Tanja Edwards (one of the inmates) read a beautiful and inspired poem that she wrote. Everyone agreed that we were definitely having "CHURCH!"
Finally, Pastor Kevin Humphery brought the Word from Luke 13:10-16 where a woman had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed down and could not lift herself up. Jesus called her to him and said, Woman, you are loosed from this infirmity. He used this scripture and applied it to everyone's life. Eight women came up for salvation and all but 12 came up for prayer to be "loosed" and their lives to be changed and to live a committed life to the Lord. So many have been coming up for prayer that we have to count how many are still in their seats! PRAISE GOD!
it was such an anointed service and the Holy Spirit was so evident from the first prayer to the closing prayer! Revival has truly broken out at West Central!!!
The Chaplain at Macon State Prison asked if we could please help the indigent inmates by supplying 12 or 16 oz. bottles of shampoo and unscented deodorant. These are inmates who do not have family to visit them or anyone to put money on their books. They are in poverty status. Please bring your donations to City Church by Sunday, July 3rd or contact Elizabeth Smith to see how to donate. Thank you and God bless you. Remember the words of Jesus...‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matt. 25:40
On April 28th I took 3 other volunteers along with me to Tift College in Forsyth, GA to be trained to teach a class in “Anger Management” to the inmates. This is required curriculum for them before they can be released. I will be teaching this class at Hays State Prison for men once a week. The other volunteers were trained as support and backup to help me teach this class and cover for me if there is a time I cannot be there.
On October 8th, Set Captives Free Ministries will be doing a service in the yard at Twin Cities, GA (near Savannah). This consists of an entire day (9 AM – 3 PM) ministering to the men out in the yard with music, testimonies, preaching, skits, mimes, etc. Relentless Warriors for Christ Motorcycle Ministry will also be taking in their bikes which really draw the men out to the yard. It will be a great day in the Lord! Please keep us in your prayers for many souls to be saved that day and lives changed.
