Big House Revival Ministry Log

January 29:

Posted by Paul Duke

After many communications with staff at Corcoran including the Associate Warden who has recently changed several policies for entrance into the Prison, I was on my way to sign a triplicate form at the Personnel Office on Friday afternoon so I could have my State Chaplain I.D. released and return to my ministry in the yards a.s.a.p.

It was my hope to minister over the weekend so I headed north early Friday after the L.A. morning commuter traffic thinned out. My drive was fairly uneventful and I arrived at the Personnel Offices of Corcoran Prison before 3pm. After filing out the required paper work and getting a brief update on new policies, I picked up my 2010 I.D. , drove over to the West Gate to check in and entered my mission field. When I arrived at the inner gate for A & B Yards I was told the Yards were down due to searches and preparations staff were making for a large exchange of inmates between multiple yards within the prison over the upcoming weekend. This news would have a far greater impact than I was prepared for as I wouldn’t be able to have Chapel Services over the weekend and would be restricted from even visiting the men due to security issues.

There is always an element of unpredictability in this ministry: by the time I make my 3 ½ hour drive to Corcoran, the Prisons dynamic can change radically. With the new restrictions due to the finances of the State of California and mandatory staff cutbacks, it only adds to the unpredictable nature of ministry within the system. After speaking with members of the staff and a fellow Volunteer Chaplain and my Brother in Christ, Dave Krumpe, I made the decision to return home and prepare for other potential ministry at my home church in Costa Mesa over the weekend.

Another dynamic within my ministry that is beginning open up is the opportunity to help inmates after they are released to re-enter the world without being caught up in their old patterns. I recently had the pleasure of connecting a parolee with a Calvary Chapel in his new neighborhood where they will love, understand and minister to his needs while holding him accountable as only a loving family can do. I now have the pleasure of hearing from him daily as he shares his joys and struggles with me.

I know in the midst of all this God is mightily at work in my heart as well as the hearts of the inmates, staff and their family members within the SATF community. I am blessed to serve in the capacities of ministry that I do as a Chaplain-Pastor and Worship Leader. It’s my hope to return to Corcoran on February 6^th but only God knows what the conditions will be at that time and if the Yards will be open. Please join me in praying for the inmates’ spiritual growth and for the Chapel Services to begin again soon.

In Christ,

Paul Duke

January 29:

Posted by Paul Duke

In Christ,

Paul Duke

December 12 & 13:

Posted by Paul Duke

Because of a lack of communication resulting from Cal State budget cuts, I no longer have a Protestant Chaplain on Staff at Corcoran who I have access to. As such, I was not informed of my need to re-apply all my paperwork, which they already have on file, for my State Chaplains Identification; including arrest record, personal info etc. It was my understanding that I only needed to take an eight hour brush up course on policies, protocol and political correctness to get my 2010 State I.D. This was a monster waiting to bite my ministry in the “rear pocket” which I would only learn of later…..

Saturday morning I drove up early in heavy rain from Los Angeles to Bakersfield where the rain let up and I was in thick fog… Yahoo! All of which slowed the flow of traffic down quite a bit and kept me from my surprise visit to B Yard, they’re in good hands with Chaplain Craig Sanders but I was hoping to say hello Vernon and the boys.

I walked over to A Yard and was greeted by the A Yard crew; we immediately opened the chapel and got to work on His business.

The inmates had planned two a Christmas programs which involved music, drama and the teaching of the Word. I was asked to bring a message for the men and spoke on the Love of God from John‘s Gospel in Chapter 1, and closed the service by leading the men in Worship. As usual in A Yard we had services at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm, both services were well received and the fellowship is growing again since the recent division of the body in A Yard.

Like the Christian Church on the outside of the prison walls, this Church is under attack through division caused by various “Protestant” doctrines. Our enemy comes to rob and destroy by abusing the understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a point of contention, leading to carnality, prejudice & pride. It is heartbreaking to see this yet through it all God is at work in the hearts and minds of those who attend the Church behind the Walls.

By 3:50 pm the announcement to clear the yard came over the sound system and we closed up the Chapel. I met briefly with Darrel and some of the other leaders and we ended our time of fellowship for now. I packed up and was on the road to my room in Tulare by 4:30.

Sunday, Dec. 13^th

I got up early (for a musician) at 5:45 am, did my usual preparation, last minute review, breakfast, load up the truck and hit the road to Corcoran.

We opened the Chapel in G Yard and prepared for the mornings service. Recently both the keyboardists for their worship team have been transferred and so the G Yard Worship Team is going forward as Christian Soldiers do in times like these to worship without instrumental accompaniment. After a brief conversation we decide to have the Worship Team sing four songs, I will then lead on three songs; share the message God has put on my heart from John’s Gospel and close with a time of Worship.

With what I have been experiencing in the Yards, I have been pressed to share on God’s, Love, Grace, Mercy and the price that was paid for Our Salvation, to build these men up to stand strong for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am deeply concerned with the wind that is blowing against the truth of God’s Word, that someday in the near future I may be locked out of my ministry behind these walls unless I too become a inmate.

We closed the service with prayer and a brief time of fellowship. I then drove over to Maximum Security (Yard “C”), to speak with and minister to the Lieutenant of Second Watch as well as visit my chaplains assistant who has been locked down in his cell for the last six months. The unrest in C Yard has forced the prison staff to relinquish the inmates’ privilege of going to chow hall, yard access etc.

I met with Lieutenant Goss before going to the cell block and promptly headed over to see our brother in Christ, Carlos.

I took Carlos some reading material including Chaplain Ray’s, “God’s Prison Gang” and the recent Calvary Chapel Magazine. We had our time of fellowship and prayer through the bars of his cell. As I was praying I asked God to reveal to me how I might minister to the other men in the cellblock of “Charlie” Yard. They have all been locked down for at least six months, some much longer due to gang affiliations etc. and it is impossible to approach them in their cells without being invited or known to them. These blocks or “pods” as I call them have twenty four cells spread out on a two story platform, twelve ion top, twelve on bottom with two inmates per cell. They all overlook a small area with a table, two benches and a shower area. As I looked down I realized this was a mini amphitheatre and with permission from the Warden I might be able to bring my acoustic guitar in to each of these “pods” and minister to the inmates, and staff, by singing Songs of Christmas and letting His praise fill this dark place.

I shared this idea with Carlos and took off to share this with Lieut. Goss. After reaching his office I not only was able to share this idea with the Lieutenant (which by God’s Grace he though was a great idea) but I was also able to share my testimony with him and a member of his staff. Goss said he would fully get behind this idea and speak with the Assistant Warden first thing Monday morning. I was so excited I almost danced out of the prison that afternoon, so looking forward to another opportunity to open the doors to minister to the men of Charlie Yard.

Little did I know of the warfare ahead that would come against this idea …..

Monday Dec. 14^th

Spoke with Goss and the Assit. Warden hadn’t come in that day.

Tuesday the 15^th, Got up to Corcoran and took my eight hour class. I tried to communicate with the Assist. Warden by dropping by her office, to no avail, left message.

Throughout the week, Lieut. Goss and I tried to get some answers on what I hoped would be a Christmas weekend outreach to “Charlie Yard”, with no response. I was still hopeful and asking many of my church family to pray for this opportunity to open up. The following Monday evening, Dec. 21^st, after returning home from serving with the team of “Monday Night” at CCCM, I received an email from staff at Corcoran informing me my paperwork for my State I.D. was not complete. I called first thing Tuesday morning left a message for the lady who sent the email and the dance began for the following week of phone calls to the Staff Offices of Corcoran Prison, which ultimately would end with me not having my new I.D. issued and being “locked out” from my ministry until I receive a new I.D. I’ve been told it will take about two weeks to be re-issued, meanwhile I’ll be praying and serving where called.

Please pray for this ministry, for the prisoners & staff of Corcoran, and wisdom, grace and mercy for yours truly….

In His name,

Paul

Big House Revival

November 28 & 29:

Posted by Paul Duke

With the first batch of official winter storms approaching and its impact on the “Grapevine” on Inner State 5 North being a consideration, I was preparing for the worst, checking alternate routs etc. for my trip to Corcoran. With all the info I could gather I left early Saturday morning for my adventure in driving. It was wet through L.A. and freezing on Highway 5 North but by God’s Grace I saw snow on the roadside with very little coming down and was able to push forward northbound without chains. After clearing the threat of snow while descending into the valley outside of Bakersfield, I came upon world class fog that slowed traffic considerably and only began to clear just outside of Corcoran Prison. About 45 minutes earlier I had called in from the road to check on the conditions of the yards and was informed of the lockdown status in A & B Yards due to a weapons search.

Once I cleared the gate, I visited A Yard’s “Deacon Darrel” in building 3, we had fellowship and caught up on some of the issues facing the church there. After my time with Darrel I waited until the Guard’s 2:00 shift change to speak with my friend Lieut. Pepper in A Yard to petition for an impromptu service in the Chapel…. he agreed… bless him Lord as we would have church just after the 2 o’clock shift change. I walked with great haste, you absolutely cannot run in the yards without the risk of being shot, back over to building 3 and gave the good news to Darrel before I prepared the Chapel for service.

We had limited time for our service as the men were assembled about 2:15 and we had until 3:50 before they would be called back to the buildings. As such I prepared to have a time of worship, prayer and to give a brief message to plea for unity within the Body of Christ in the yard. Unfortunately, there has been recent division in the Protestant fellowship over doctrines of the gifting of the Holy Spirit which the enemy has enjoyed using in his quiver of fiery darts. The service was anointed & the message received with gladness by those who attended, only time will tell its effect. We said our goodbyes and I closed up the Chapel by 4:00.

I cleared the gate, walked out to my truck and grabbed a quick meal of trail mix n’ juice and headed over to B Yard to see what opportunities awaited for ministry.

B Yard was down so I headed over to the program office to see if we could have an impromptu worship service in the Chapel. My hopes were met by a friendly staff that made arrangements for the men to be released from their housing to come to church, we had about 80 minutes before the men would be recalled for dinner. Praise God, we’re rolling!

With our limited time, I prepared for a similar program as we had in Yard A. I invited the chapel musicians to join me and we made a Joyful Noise of Praise unto Our Savior and Lord. The message brief as it was received a warm response and the men were returned to their respective buildings for count before dinner. On my driver back to Tulare, the faces of the men kept running through my mind as I prayed for their peace and unity within the Body of Christ at Corcoran.

Sunday November 29^th

I did my usual early morning drill of preparation and reached the East Gate by 8:30, opened the Chapel in G Yard and the men began setting up the keyboard and such as I was doing my last minute preparations for the services. The Chapels worship team sang joyfully in the tradition of a small Pentecostal or Southern Baptist congregation and I doubt if anyone out in the yard missed the sound of their worship of the King of Kings!

Continuing to teach through the Book of Romans we were immersed in the richness of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the First Century Church in Rome. I closed the service with a time of worship through song and we had 10 minutes left for prayer and fellowship before the yard was called. I watched the men as they walked back to their buildings and prayed that God would give them the strength they needed to hold on to the joy we’d experienced in our time together with the Lord.

Packing up my guitar, bible and teaching materials I headed to the gate and the drive home.

In Christ,

Paul

Big House Revival

Formerly Saul /// In His Name Music

Big House Revival Ministry Log

Sample Music

Pages