|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Download
|
Te Ara Pono Reports 2009The Course of Te Ara Pono #3: 26-29 Nov 09(Reflections by Mark Wing: Lay Director)
Preparation and Vision Six months of training, and a lot more in preparation, has culminated in the incredible and wonderful experience for our team of Te Ara Pono #3 over the days of Thur 26 Nov to Sun 29 Nov, 2009. Our course, Te Ara Pono (translated as ‘The Way of Faith’) was run inside the Faith Based Unit (FBU), of Rimutaka Prison, Upper Hutt. The team was lead by Lay Director Mark Wing, ably assisted by Proctor Peter Johnston and included 15 other dedicated Christians from the Wellington Anglican Diocese. Attendees on the course over the four full days were 14 selected prison inmates (we call them pilgrims). Each course conducted has a central scripture (which guides and shapes the course vision), an image that epitomises the theme and a key song. Scripture for TAP #3 was: Colossians 1:13-14 ‘For he has rescued us from the domination of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.’ NIV translation The course image at the top of the page shows the light of Christ coming into the new day and banishing the darkness. Where light comes, darkness cannot exist. This course was about helping to take the light of Christ into Satan’s domination of the prison. As Paul said to the Corinthians, ‘For God who said, “Let light shine out of the darkness”, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.’ 2 Cor 4:6. Bishop Tom provided spiritual blessing and authority for the team to conduct the course in a small commissioning service in the Cathedral. A further crucial part of preparation included prayer coverage from the team member’s parishes and from the wider Cursillo community over the time of the course. The Course: Te Ara Pono (TAP) 3 TAP 3 was an intense four days, standing alongside the pilgrims and was full of: laughter, listening, drawing, discussing, meditating, praying, singing and most of all forgiving. The pilgrims are lead through a number of testimony talks from team members to a point of understanding that they; have truly been forgiven and to be able to fully know this they also need to forgive themselves and forgive others in their lives. There is no doubt that the prison environment is Satans playground and two words of prophecy given at the commencement were; Vigilance and Complacency. As a team we could not afford to be complacent and should be vigilant at all times. Scripture given was 2 Chron 20 in which Jehoshaphat hears a vast army is coming to attack Jerusalem. He calls the people of Judah to fast. The Lay Dir called the team to also prayerfully consider fasting or sacrificing something over the four days. On the first day God showed his humour when the booked prison lunch (not especially nice fare) did not turn up for the team and they had no option but to fast! We entered the prison gatehouse each day around 7.30am, walked to the FBU and shared Breakfast with the pilgrims and had to leave the unit at 4.30pm before the inmates had their dinner prior to evening lock-down. As a team we stayed close by at the Silverstream Retreat. Lunch each day was also shared with the pilgrims, apart from those fasting. This left most of the team somewhat hungry by the end of each day. Prophecy received during the evening team debriefs included; 1. The picture of a Tornado whirling around the Prison and especially the FBU. The unit chapel, where we conducted the course, was in the eye of the storm and was calm and held in Gods hands. · The trouble was the rest of the inmates in the FBU were at the full fury of the Tornado. From this prophecy we realised we needed to ask for extended prayer coverage over the guys not on the course. 2. Darkness over a valley then glimpses of tiny candle lights. These were easily extinguished by the wind. More lights came together and once together the lights were much stronger and could withstand the wind. · These were discerned to be lights of Christ in the prison and together they were growing stronger. Believe me this is happening rapidly in Rimutaka Prison. Te Ara Pono had a measurable impact on all team members. Incredible faith, openness and trust were shown by the pilgrims. It was a very humbling experience. For myself as the Lay Director I came to realise that the light and the face of Christ was already in the prison. We were really coming in to; search out the face of Christ. As Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 25:31-36 The Sheep and the Goats,
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory…Then the King will say… “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, …I was in prison and you came to visit me”. TAP Rimutaka Visit 23 May 09On the 23 May a team of 11 Wellington regional Cursillistas carried out a fourth day activity with a visit back into the Faith Based Unit in Rimutaka Prison. The theme for the day was God’s Friendship and my talk revolved around John 15:9-15. The day dawned wild and stormy and after negotiating the gate house (always interesting) we gratefully accepted a van ride up to the unit, which is a bit of a cross-country course these days due to the extensive building program going on. Sixteen inmates were encouraged to join us and we spent the morning until lunchtime in prayer, hearing a talk, testimony, prayer, small groups, laced with a large amount of worship (lead by our brilliant “musio” Paul Weaver). It was once again a thoroughly rewarding and entertaining day spending time with these guys of God, getting alongside and encouraging them. Some highlights of the visit were:
Also a number of very special parts of the day were:
As with all my visits into the prison I felt encouraged and grateful that we are allowed to visit and also fulfilled in the knowledge that we are going where God wished us to be, and step by step driving back the darkness that inhabits much of the prison. We plan to continue these Sat morning visits around every 8 weeks or so and later this year in Nov 09 will be running Te Ara Pono 09. Your encouragement, thoughts and prayers are very much welcome. We’re also very open to other Cursillistas becoming involved as prison visitors (of course many are already). Blessings Mark Wing |
|
|
|
||
