The most common response to the question ‘How have you been' is that we are busy. It can often be a throwaway line, but in this case, the last six months specifically, we have been swamped!
As the prison system emerged out of Covid-19 and Operation Foundation was invited back; we suddenly found ourselves swamped with opportunity and need. Our team and resources were stretched as we responded to what was placed in our hands.
Being busy is one thing, but could we be effective and have an impact amid these increased activity levels?
The Operation Foundation team are dedicated to the theme of ‘Making Him Known’, with the understanding that our character will speak louder than our words. We were now being asked to step up to levels of activity that a primary focus and attention to character could only support.
The team went from facilitating eighteen programs in the 3rd quarter of 2022 to fifty programs to 724 inmates in the 4th quarter of 2022, followed by fifty-one programs to 734 inmates in the 1st quarter of 2023. We have been busy!
Tracking the impact was equally important, and our team debriefs suddenly became holy ground. We evidenced the incredible strength of team witness, stories of inmates coming to tears of repentance and unfolding celebrations of hope, all beautifully woven through the activity.
Here is one message from the team.
A lot of hurt, pain and anger, and not forgetting SHAME, opened up during Trauma Healing. It has helped the brothers understand what trauma is and what responsible steps to take in the restoration process. Towards the end of our class today, there were a lot of questions and breakthroughs….
…and here is another one.
The classroom was packed, but still, they kept informing me that a friend wanted to join our class and asking if I could include his name as well; by the time True Identity started, there were around 23 men sitting in class. The True Identity sessions began to shake them a bit, and they also did some internal digging into who they truly were. Some of the brothers broke down and shared their life and plans before being sentenced. True Identity challenges them, and I could see them responding to the One knocking at the door of their hearts.
We have always counted it a sacred privilege to journey with the men and women in prison. To respond to the leap in activity, we have doubled down on our team training and development so that we can be confident that we are both having an impact and ‘Making Him Known’.
Below are the last two quarterly engagement snapshots and pictures of some of the team and guests at our recent OF Leadership Roundtable.
