Click here to read about Todd’s first adventure to Angola Prison, April 2010:
http://www.ridinghighministries.org/angola-prison-april-2010/
Angola Prison Ministry Photos:
The Wild West was the featured attraction on each of SRCI’s three yards on July 2-3, 2011. Three wild horses, two cowboys, a cowgirl, a bull rider, a bull fighter, and a powerful musician made up the Riding High Ministries’ (RHM) team based in Shelley, Idaho. SRCI Religious Services, led by efforts of Chaplain Tom Armstrong, sponsored the ministry event.
Todd Pierce, RHM President and PBR Chaplain with the “Built Ford Tough” series, worked a wild horse in a 40-foot round pen. Todd’s wild-horse presentation is called “Born Wild, Created to Be Free” - a presentation using the breaking of a horse to illustrate the Gospel message from the Bible. Pierce worked the horses to the conclusion of saddling, bridling and riding in the round pen. All the while, 500-600 inmates on each yard listened to him liken his relationship with the horse to God’s relationship with people. “God’s purpose for us is to be more than just livestock like this horse is right now”, panted Pierce as he drove the horse around the round pen, “God wants you to yield to His gentle hand, just like I want this horse to yield to my gentle hand. You can be broke hard or you can be gently broken”. On occasion, Todd was launched into the dirt. The inmates’ attention was captivated to new levels! Dusting off his pants and picking up his hat, he emphasized, “Just ‘cuz this horse bucked me off, my desire hasn’t changed for her. I still want to have a relationship with her. You need to know today that despite your bucking at God and trying to throw Him off your back, His love for you has not changed.” Accompanying RHM was professional musician Dan Donnelly, professional cowboy/bull rider Justin Palmer, PBR/PRCA/NFR bull fighter Dusty Lapp and RHM intern Whitney Wieber. SRCI Activities provided snow cones to all inmates on the yard. Combined with the warm Independence Day weekend sunshine, powerful music, wild horses and cowboys, the event is still a conversation point by both inmates and staff. The yard photographers were busy taking event pictures and even busier later taking inmate’s pictures with Todd and the horse.
On Sunday morning, Todd and team shared a more up close and personal experience in the Snake River Correctional Minimum Facility. A gentler, well-mannered horse was brought in (Thanks, Chaplain Armstrong for bringing in “Sassy!”) for Todd to speak to the inmates using “Sassy” to illustrate about a life demonstrating good discipline and yielding the fruit of a disciplined lifestyle. Riding High Ministries’ staff viewed the weekend as a great opportunity. They shared their desire to bring the presentation to other Oregon facilities with Religious Services Administrator Gary Sims. For more information about Riding High Ministries, view their website: www.ridinghighministries.org
About the Chalk Drawing:
These words are by a prison inmate at the Snake River Correctional Institution for men in Ontario, Oregon where Pastor Todd did three horse-breaking Gospel presentations the weekend of July 2-3, 2011. The words accompanied a chalk drawing of Todd and a horse by the same inmate. When the piece was started, it wasn’t intended to be traced or drawing backward from the original picture. Even though I made this small oversight,
Snake River Correctional Institution Photos Slideshow:
Photo on right: The Riding High Ministries’ team at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, OR.
Here is a testimonial from Facebook:
I want to thank you for bringing your program to Powder River Correctional faucility in Baker City, Oregon…I have a loved one there and I got a call tonight…He described every detail of the presentation and said it is something he will remember as long as he lives…He also said it is all everyone there has been talking about all day and throughout the evening..It means so much to them, that they were worth the time to share your gifts..it means more than you could possibly know.. Thank you so much
Kimberley McCaw
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