ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

AUGUST 2011

August 21, will mark the anniversary of our first worship at St. Francis of Assisi Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It has been an exciting journey. We have tried to play our part, but it has been God’s work from the beginning. We have seen women decide to follow Christ, grow as his disciples, and become the leaders of their own church at the Timpanogos facility of the Utah State prison.

They have been Christ’s faithful ambassadors in a place that is often filled with hatred, despair, and darkness.

During the past month Bill Germundson and I have been able to tell the St. Francis of Assisi CC story at First United Methodist Church, Light of the Valley Lutheran Church, and Christ United Methodist Church. Several people at these churches have expressed a desire to participate in the St. Francis of Assisi CC ministry.

A ministry team that is helping released prisoners has formed. It meets at Granger Christian Church, 3232 West 4100 South, West Valley City at 6pm on the second Wednesday of each month. The meetings are opened to any interested person.

Hundreds of children in this state have a mother that is in prison. If we can help some of the women walk with Christ while they are in prison and help them continue to walk with him when they are released, the lives of their children will be blessed.

As more and more people express an interest in participating in this ministry, we are in need of someone to help us develop a data base. Plus, we are still in need of someone to help us develop a web page.

One or two of us plan to attend the Prison Congregations of America “Come and See” gathering held in South Dakota in late Sept. We look forward to meeting and learning from those associated with churches at prisons in other states.

On Saturday, July 30, we did a baptism at the prison. The angels of heaven celebrated and so did we at St. Francis of Assisi CC.

It seems to me that over 50 years ago, the church abdicated much of its ministry to state agencies and social workers. God bless state agencies and social workers, they have a place in helping people. However, what we are seeing at the prison is primarily a spiritual battle, so many of the women have been addicted to drugs. During the year, I worked at Adult Detox, I often thought of St. Paul’s words, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”(Ephesians 6:12), NKJV.

Once you are addicted to a drug it becomes your god, more important to you than the real God, your family, or your health.

One woman who wants to go with us to the prison has fought the battle against drug addiction. I asked her what she would say to the women at St. Francis of Assisi CC. She told me, “I will tell them that drugs are Satan trying to steal your soul.” This is a spiritual battle and the church should be taking the lead in the fight.

Thank you to all the volunteers who go to the prison to worship with the women. And think you to everyone who is working to create support systems for the women when they are released from prison.

The mailing address for St. Francis of Assisi Christian Church is:

                                      PO Box 571737

                          Murray, Utah 84157-1737

Peace and Joy,

Pastor Charles Hines