Compelling Stories of Transformed Lives - The Power of Prayer Send To Printer | Close Window

By Carmen Warner-Robbins, Welcome Home Ministries

“7:00 AM it shall be, I’ll be in prayer with you and the other men on yard two, daily at that time”. Prisons are lonely, painful and dangerous places to live. However it may be the only thin that keeps someone alive and away from the streets. KAIROS [the Greek word for the fullness of time, or God’s perfect time] is an international prison ministry. Modeled after the Cursillo ministry, this ministry is a mini course in Christianity, grounded in Jesus’ love.

It was during one of these KAIROS weekends that I met Bill. He had been incarcerated over 25 years when I met him. The weekend and subsequent ministry weekends had totally transformed him mentally, physically and spiritually. Even though he would never be released from prison, he began to see a purpose for his life.

It was during one of these KAIROS weekends that he and I, along with other KAIROS brothers and sisters made an agreement to join each other in prayer, where ever we might be, from 7:00 AM until 7:10 AM every morning. This committed time became a priority for both those inside and outside of the prision walls.

It was several months after one of our weekends, during a reunion time, that he requested paryer for his health. We all gathered around him and lovingly lifted him up to the Lord. However, over the course of the next few months, his condition became increasingly worse eventually resulting in a medical evaluation at a local hospital. He was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. Our KAIROS community continued to keep him in prayer as his condition steadily worsened. It was on a ministry weekend about two months later that we discovered the severity of his condition. He was in the infirmary and unable to join the inside ministry team.

Bill’s fellow inside KAIROS team members decided to make him a large card, to be signed by all of the inside and outside team members. The card was beautiful, reflecting the love, the support and the prayers from over 90 women and men. My husband and I were granted permission to visit Bill in the infirmary and bring him his card. As John and I entered the room, we could not believe our eyes. In just a few short months this six foot three inch robust, active, energetic man had wasted away to about one hundred and ten pounds.

As our eyes, met, despite his weakness and pain, Bill smiled. Too weak to even sit up, he beckoned us over to the side of his bed where we sat and updated him on the prayers of the ministry. We shared the purpose of our visit and gave him his card. This man, who had been known as one of the toughest and most powerful leaders of a gang in one of the nation’s major urban centers, drew the card to his chest and began to weep like a baby. We were touched by the privilege of being able to share in this very private and deeply moving moment..

As my husband and I got up to leave, following a moment of quiet prayer, Bill reminded me of our 7:00 AM prayer time and said “I’ll see you at 7:00 AM tomorrow”. “ It’s a deal,. I’ll be there”, I responded, not knowing where I would be physically, but knowing that I would be with him before the Lord.

The next morning, the 7:00 hour came as I was driving to work. As usual, I kept Bill, his family and his well being in my prayers. Somehow, I felt a gentle reassuring presence. Returning that evening, I found a message to call the prison Chaplain. I found him at home and he shared in love the fact that Bill had passed away. I was saddened, but I knew that Bill was with the Lord. “When did he die?” I inquired. The Chaplain, not being aware of the beautiful visit my husband and I had with Bill the day before, said, “Bill died at 7:10 AM., and his hands were folded over his chest, holding a card he had received from his KAIROS brothers”. I thanked him, hung up the phone and immediately fell to my knees.

Our gracious God, in his love for Bill, a lifer in prison, brought him home at the end of our prayer time that morning. Bill had kept his promise to see me at 7:00 AM and God kept his promise by granting Bill his final wish. Bill, I know keeps praying for his prison brothers, and we shall all see him again sometime soon.

NOTE: If this has stirred your heart, remembering someone that you have ministered to, submit your story for inclusion in the next newsletter.

References

1. Byock, I. [2000]. “The Nature of Suffering and the Nature of Opportunity at the End of
Life” Module 1. Nursing Care at the end of life. ELNEC Curriculum,
AACN and COH[Will need to spell out these abbreviations].page M1-63.

2. Sontag, Susan, [1979] “Illness as Metaphor”, Vintage Books: New York NY, page 125

3. Lewis, C.S. [1962] “The Problem of Pain”, MacMillan Publishing Co: New York, NY

4. Guyatt, H., Cook, D.[1994]. “Health Quality of Life and the Individual, Journal of the
American Medical Association, Vol. 272.August 24/31, p.7008