“Playing is fine, but I love these kids. I mean, this is a big deal for them; getting a t-shirt and being around players. It makes me really thankful for what I’ve got.”

No matter what Garret does with his basketball career, he will never achieve the popularity that he has in Mexico. His love for the children he works with is mutual.

-Please Pardon the Errors…Written On a Small Keyboard!

Bill, Rob and I went over the message and made our way through the numerous gates and ID checks. The prisoners were waiting at the covered sports pavilion. The band of prison believers was on fire and led in worship. Bill gave his testimony and a prisoner who is not a Christian translated. Bill was very pleases as the translator had many spiritual questions. I translated for Rob who gave a very straight forward message.

I did not realize how good the day was until later as the day before was “one of those days” when things did not go well. We do not always have great days but thank God for the ones we get!

-Please Pardon the Errors…Written On a Small Keyboard!

-Please Pardon the Errors…Written On a Small Keyboard!

Jose and Gabriel share a passion for prison ministry

Manuel had his eyes opened this morning!

The prison ministry is off to a great start. It really began a while back with the tall man in the photo to the right. His name is Gabriel and he has a burning desire for the churches to be reaching out to the prisoners of his state. He has worked tirelessly to involve his people in this difficult kingdom ministry. It was Gabriel who petitioned Dennis Adams to bring a basketball team to the Acapulco prison in July 2009. It was Gabriel who arranged our meeting with top state officials in January. He was overjoyed when he and Jim Blackwell extened an invitation to pastors to learn about prison ministry and 35 attended on Monday!

The prison team, included Manuel (pictured to the left) who is a new member of the Renaciament0 Church. Manuel went along on Tuesday to do sound for the group. In the morning, Jose preached in the morning to 150 prisoners and 89 indicated that they wanted to give their lives to Christ. In the afternoon, the former chaplain of the University of Alabama basketball team preached to 120 men and 60 said that they wanted to follow Jesus.  Are those high numbers? Well, of course they are! Keep in mind, though, that these men were not forced to be at the worship service. Most of them probably attended out of a spiritual thirst.

What really impressed Manuel, was that in the beginning of each session, there were mockers and jeerers. As time went on, however, those who wanted to hear, quited those who did not want to hear. In the end, it was some of the most vocal critics, who were broken by what they heard.

Lord willing, I will report from the prison later in the week.

Chip for the Team

took him into a lifestyle that was what he calls, “very low.” Bill went on to various positions in the athletic departments of major universities.

In 1991, Bill started to attend church so that his children would have that training, but it was not for him. In 1998, he had a great job at a major university and (little did he know) an athletic staff of 16 Christian believers who were “praying deeply for (his) repentance of sin.” On November 11, 1999, Bill gab his life to Christ and that is when the adventure began!

Bill has been involved in several ministries, but has recently become involved in a ministry to 2500 inmates in Oklahoma City. Through the friendship of Bill’s pastor at Henderson Hills Baptist with Dennis Adams of the Church at Arrowhead in Phoenix, he is in Acapulco this week and went into the state maximum security prison this morning.

Bill has no special or unique training. He describes himself as someone who was “really blessed but really lost.” Pray for Bill and the team, that they would be clear as they share the hope that they have. He spent

-Please Pardon the Errors…Written On a Small Keyboard!

-Please Pardon the Errors…Written On a Small Keyboard!

In the evening, Chip preached at the church, or outside of the church in the Renaciamento or Rebirth neighborhood.

-Please Pardon the Errors…Written On a Small Keyboard!