God Is On The Move

Recently, we asked our church to pray. We shared on social media that something special was about to happen at our Sheridan campus inside the prison, and we asked you to pray for the men who were preparing to be baptized. We knew God was doing something but we had no idea just how powerful the day would be.

This past Saturday, 37 men were baptized at the Sheridan Correctional Facility. We originally planned for 33 baptisms, but as the service unfolded, more men stepped forward. By the end of the day, 12 of the baptisms were spontaneous!  Men who hadn’t planned to be baptized but simply knew the moment had come for them to publicly declare their faith in Jesus.

Before the baptisms began, each man had written out his testimony ahead of time. One by one, they came forward, took the microphone, and shared what God had done in their lives. Some stories were quiet and reflective, while others were bold and full of gratitude. But every testimony pointed to the same truth: God changes lives.

After each story, the room would erupt. Not polite applause…real cheering. The kind that fills the room and celebrates every life being transformed. It was powerful to witness. In fact, it made many of us think that we could probably learn something from our prison campus about how to celebrate when someone takes a step toward Jesus.

Another meaningful part of the day was seeing leadership rise from within the prison community. Two men from the leadership council were the ones baptizing their friends and fellow inmates. As each person came out of the water, there were hugs, smiles, and moments that felt deeply personal. It wasn’t just a ceremony, it was brothers celebrating brothers who had found new life in Christ.

Among the many powerful moments, one stood out. A man came forward who hadn’t planned to be baptized that day. He was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face. Through those tears he shared that he needed to do this right now. When he stepped forward, the entire room erupted in celebration. You could feel the joy and weight of the moment all at once.

It’s hard to fully describe what it felt like to watch 37 men publicly confess their faith in Jesus, step into the water, and share their stories of transformation. For many of us who were there, it was one of the most powerful ministry moments we’ve ever experienced.

Your continued prayers for the men of Sheridan Correctional Facility matter and they are felt. We can’t hardly believe thirty-seven men took a step of faith that will shape the rest of their lives.  God is on the move and He’s not done yet!