08/29/2022
We had a wonderful service at Clemens TC 2 yesterday. Their small chapel was SRO with 46 men in attendance. The volunteers were Rodney Garrison, Stephanie Everts and me.
Inmate Rayon Dean, their service leader, opened the service with a welcome, opening prayer, and a scripture reading. Their unit band, led by Marco Reyes, played three beautiful songs: Reckless Love, Way Maker and Revelation Song. Then another inmate gave an exhortation on fighting the good fight. We continued worship with Chain Breaker, Graves Into Gardens, Fires, The Edge and Captivate Us.
Rodney Garrison gave a powerful sermon from 2 Cortinthians on our need for salvation. He kept the men grounded in the word ( "You don't have to believe me - here's what the Bible says...") and clinched them with 2 Cor 5:21 using an analogy that when a floor is dirty, you wipe it with a mop and the dirt comes off the floor and is transferred to the mop. When a window is dirty, we get a paper towel, wipe the window and when you look at the paper towel, the dirt is now on that. The effectiveness of his message is evidenced by 13 men giving their lives to Christ and 15 rededicating their lives to Jesus. Stephanie noticed that men had apparently brought friends with them when one particular man raised his hand, accepting Jesus, and the man next to him patted him on the shoulder in support.
Many of them were already aware of the upcoming crusade, expressing excitement over the event. Rayon said that they already have 18 men signed up for baptisms. I spoke with one of the officers as we came in as we had a little wait and mentioned the crusade. She was an officer during one of our crusades (maybe at the Wayne Scott Unit?) and talked about the Hellfighters riding their bikes through the hallways of the unit.
We received 24 PALs, 10 of which requested Bibles. TC 2 is in good hands with Rodney!
In service to the One who saves,
Bill Everts
Director, Less Than The Least Ministries