The Alabama Six returned to Virginia followed by stories of their victory.  By all standards, the Alabama Six were underdogs in the battle they entered in the prisons of Montgomery and Atmore, Alabama.  They were a team of six facing opposition numbered in legions; a huge team  well trained in both offense and defense opposed the Alabama Six.  At the end of the week the underdog was declared to be more than victorious, and the favored team had lost some of its members to the Alabama Team. [This being the week after the XLII Super Bowl, a little game metaphor seemed to fit this report.  God had so blessed the team that they felt like Giants by His grace. Hyperbole ended.]

Paul and Rachel Brenneman, Pat Hertzler, Frank Vaughn, Pres Nowlin, and Bernice Shetler of the Oak Hill church made up the team.  Rachel, Pat, and Bernice worked in the prisons in Montgomery; and Paul, Frank, and Pres went on to Atmore.

                 The week in Alabama took on a new flavor as both groups had the opportunity to work with Powhatan Mennonite Church members—Donna Wyatt in Montgomery and Ed and Doris Ranck in Atmore.  That made the trip a reunion time with those folks we love so much.

The prison workers were joined by hundreds of volunteers from as far away as Colorado, Idaho, and Manitoba.  On the first day of the We Care Prison Crusade, all 356 of us gathered for a day of worship and inspiration, laced with some indoctrination by the Alabama Department of Corrections so that we would “do it right.”

On Sunday, February 3, the Powhatan team shared about their time in the prisons, a report that was highly positive about the work of the Lord in the prisoners they met. In spite of the opening paragraph of this report, their report was not about their triumph but rather about the ways they saw God’s grace work on the prison yards.  There was awareness that, in almost every contact made, the team sensed God’s presence with and his love for the prisoners and for themselves.  It is an experience hard to describe but wonderful to receive!

 Later reports on the team’s work will come as Donna Wyatt’s Missionary Support Team reports February 17 on Donna’s work and joy.  Still later, the Atmore team will sponsor an evening to view a video of a service in the Atmore Work Center, where they spent their time.