HE WHOM THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED
Chaplain Chuck Wade and Jackie
My husband and I first became involved in prison ministry through “Kairos”
(“God’s special time”) in 1985. We witnessed how the love of God could
melt the hardest hearts and totally change the direction of even
the most habitual offenders and those serving life sentences. One time while
waiting to be escorted across the yard, the guards brought a man into
the room covered in chains from head to foot. God broke my heart when He
spoke to my heart saying “Tell them they don’t have to live this way.”
God is raising up mighty men of God from brokenness and hopelessness
at “Freeland Church of God”, named by our brothers who are incarcerated at
Saginaw Correctional Facility in Freeland, Michigan. Since the prison
opened in 1993, we have held monthly services. Presently, six other local
churches also go in to minister and help build up the body of Christ
under the Prison Chaplain, Brian Hunt. Shield of Faith services are held
on the first Sunday of each month, with a morning service for those in
“Level Four”. The next month we do an afternoon service for those in
“Level Two”.
Approximately 100-130 men attend the Shield of Faith services. The men
play instruments, worship God, and when we walk in His Love, the anointing is
flowing powerfully! We challenge them to boldly share Christ with their bunkees,
as well as those in the yard. We encourage them to disciple their brothers. They take
offerings. To see these men give soap and other personal items to
bless the new believers in need is such an outpouring of love. Some of
these men write and send offerings of their wages (which can be five
dollars for a whole week of work) to bless the ministry at Shield of
Faith. This is awesome fruit showing where their hearts are.
They encourage us through their lives and letters and we pray that
when they are released they will join us in fellowship. We have
experienced awesome favor of God with the staff and guards. All praise
to God the Father, Jesus Christ and the precious Holy Spirit for the
open door to go in and minister to these men. If you feel God tugging at
your heart and would like to go through an orientation for clearance to
go in to minister God’s love to these brothers, please contact us
through the e-mail addresses for more information. We discourage women
from attending unless accompanied by their husbands.