I was back on the street last night after so many months being away; it was good to be back. But that is not the reason for recording this memory. The reason I hold this memory in place is because of the stench that is still within my nostrils; a stench that awakened me this morning; and a stench that has awakened my pen for the Lord.

It was a busy night for prayer. After the message, the team is given assignments, but this night, I would never leave the spot that the assignments were given. We were in the process of encouraging the second person that had come to us to pray. I heard him before I saw him, before I smelled him. His name, I will call him Richard, was very loud and very drunk. As he approached our group I still did not really see him with my eyes, but in my ear, Richard consumed my members. Just as he passed by our group he said, “I need prayer”, and laughed. All I need is an invitation and I will walk in. I turned from the circle I was in and placed my hand on his shoulder and said, “I will pray with you”. He laughed again and said “Alright!” and laughed in his drunken state...

I want to share a miracle with you...

As I walked the crowed room I noticed the back row is full with four women that are engaged in spirited conversation. As the service begins, this group remains engaged in conversation so I go to the rear and say to one of them, "We are in service so the talking needs to stop."

You see, in prison, some inmates come for the service, but many come to meet their girl friend or mate, or just to have free time. If order is not established in the service, word quickly spreads in the yard that your service is for mating and free time. Throwing them out of service is an option, but how can they hear the Gospel if they are removed? Taking authority is the only way to gain control of the service and this day, authority had to be established.


As I preached I would walk to the rear to make eye contact or approach the back row because the chatter became a whisper or other forms of forbidden communications. The team knows as long as they don't disturb service, they can remain, so like kids playing on the back pew in church, you learn to tune them out and let them play quietly as long as they don't disrupt service.


There were times when the back row listened and other times they would slip away from the message, but they always stayed below the separation point...