Every year in the Aglow Prison Ministry is exciting, but 2014 was an exceptional year as the ministry celebrated their 30th Anniversary. Throughout the years there have been countless powerful testimonies of what the Lord has done in the lives of women during their incarceration, and as they transitioned into new lives upon release.
Here are a few of the 2014 highlights.
- The annual California Aglow Prison Ministry Board meeting was held in January. Since CAPM has 8 Lighthouses throughout California, many Board members traveled great distances to come together for this meeting to join together to listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance in planning the year’s events.
- The power-filled “Prayer Explosion”, coordinated by SW Coastal Prayer Coordinator Julia Reiff and Regional Director Carolyn Suty, was held in February. Many of the Aglow Prison Ministry teams attended and were blessed to “explode in prayer together”.
- Leadership training for the Central Valley/Fresno Area was held in March. This amazing team of Aglow women, including a Spanish team who minister in Spanish, go into the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla (CCWF), one of the largest women’s prisons in the world. Thousands of incarcerated women have been reached with the Gospel by these dedicated servants.
- In April the Greater Bay Area leadership training took place which encompasses 4 jails. Many of the incarcerated inmates parole to this area. Numerous “Grads” are now serving the Lord under the leadership of Fran Anderson. (A "Grad" is a woman who has gotten out of prison or jail and is walking with the Lord on the outside.)
- “The 23rd Annual Retreat, held in June at the Evergreen Conference Center – Oakhurst, was the highlight of the year,” writes Jill Meskimen, CA Aglow Prison/Jail Ministry President. “Retreats present an opportunity for teams that minister to our sisters in the jails/prisons to celebrate their new lives with them as they are released. Many of the women were released this year, and the saving grace of Jesus reflected in their faces. They are strong in our Lord and the power of His might!”
- Leadership Training in the Greater Los Angeles Area was held in September. This is the area where the Aglow Prison Ministry began and also encompasses many jails and the California Institution for Women (CIW). In this area there is huge opportunity and few workers.
- In November many of the Aglow Prison Ministry team members attended the Aglow National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico! Jill writes, “We were so blessed to come together with other Aglow men and women to hear from and worship our Lord. Our hearts were filled with joy and we advanced our perspective for the future, coming home transformed!” Read the conference blog.
Jill concluded her report by writing, “These are a few highlights of our year, but the true joy is watching our Lord change lives right before our eyes as we minister to our incarcerated sisters. It’s all about Jesus, Who holds the answer for all who come to Him!”
Find out more about Aglow Prison Ministry.