'I didn't think I could co-ordinate the program in a prison!'
Jeanette’s story | The comfort of lounging in God
“Psalm 91 has always been a favourite of mine – the whole chapter. And in 2004, I was asked to be a director of Prison Ministries. It was a big responsibility.”
“As a director, you have to choose a team of 35 people and train them and journey with them for a whole year, co-ordinating the program in the prisons. I didn’t think I could do it. I had said ‘no’ before! But that time, I prayed about it, and while I was praying, I happened to be walking along a beach.
“Right in front of me on the sand, there was a lounge chair. I’d never seen a lounge chair on a beach before! So I sat down on the lounge chair and it was very comforting. Then I looked up and I saw an eagle. The whole thing felt like it was straight out of Psalm 91 – ‘Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty …’ (verse 1).
“The lounge chair was very restful … and I felt like God was saying to me, ‘I am with you and I will protect you. You are not doing this in your own strength, but in my strength.’
“So, later, I said ‘yes’ to being the director of the prison ministry … and everything went so smoothly that year. The team came together so well, and the program in the prisons went really well. I could tell you so many stories! There was so much evidence of God’s hand in it!”
Jeanette’s story is part of Eternity’s Faith Stories series, compiled by Naomi Reed. Click here for more Faith Stories.