by Leonard Heatherly
Lighthouse Missions
May 24, 2004

The razor wired 5 acre compound known as TPW holds 744 daughters in hardened captivity. This cruel enemy is not the law that placed them there; it's not the staff that has authority over them; it's not the family nor society that has forgotten them. The enemy is the "spirit of the anti-Christ" (religious spirits) that would make the freedom of the Gospel unattainable and keep their hearts in chains.

The insurgent group of 10 assembled at 9 AM the morning of May 22nd in Harriman, 180 miles from their target. A caravan of 3 vehicles transported them up the Rockwood Mountain onto the plateau and into the central plains of Middle Tennessee. The lead vehicle played warfare music by Morningstar as each of insurgents prepared themselves in their own way. 30 minutes from their target, they assembled as a group in Percy Priest Park for corporate prayer: cleansing; purifying and dedicating themselves - ready to lay down their lives for those in captivity.

Just before noon local time, the volunteers crossed the check point and entered the battle field. A small group went into solitary, the hardest area of punishment for those who haven't conformed to rules of confinement and those awaiting execution. The balance of the troops went to a staging area known as the annex, these volunteers ministered in the near hundred degree heat of a gymnasium. Both groups were received by thirsty captives, rejoicing in the fellowship and good news.

The volunteers (sometimes referred to as Leonard's gorillas) regrouped at 1:30 PM in the mess hall bulging with approximately 150 captives from the main compound.

A message was loosed in regard to the spiritual essentials of mercy and grace actualizing into Glory - God's ability to do good, manifested through man. Caution was spoken that giving God "permission" to work in your life, falls far short of the requirement of "submission" to the Lord. Several volunteers gave Scriptural based, bondage breaking teaching. As Penny sang "Mercy Seat", many dozens of the captives fell on their knees, symbolizing "running to His mercy". For 2 hours the special forces group laid on hands and met each captive at their point of need.

At 6 PM that evening, in a standing room only chapel, the activities started with a 20 minute war dance, declaring that God was claiming back His land and daughters. A deliverance ministry of the 6 remaining volunteers stirred among the captives... in a small cubical adjacent to the chapel packed with volunteers and inmates, the screams and wails could be heard throughout the building (not all deliverances are noisy, but some are).

"Let no man be your umpire" was Charlie's teaching theme, relieving those who had been needlessly burdened with trivials about makeup and hairdos. Focus was placed on righteousness, peace and joy.

Early the next day, Sonja began in Segregation with an acapella rendition of "Amazing Grace'' which brought many faces to the small glass windows of isolation, including one condemned to die. Shouting through the steel doors, many women eagerly received encouragement and the love of Jesus.

Later, the Sunday Chapel Service was packed again as sweet spirit of mercy swept through the place. It was typified by the testimony of an inmate: "She hobbled across the room on her cane Saturday afternoon. All flustered, she cried out to Janie, 'You've got to pray for me right now. It feels like my heart is going to exploded.' She began to weep. Later, she placed a phone call telling her Mother 'I can't stop crying'. Her Mother told her to just cry, Baby; cry out all the sin and pain. Hours later she wakened her room mate asking her to talk with her. Sunday morning, her face was a glow saying, 'They can lock me up 24/7 - 365 days a year for the rest of my life, but no body can take away what I got'."

More than 100 inmates had been personally ministered to 1 on 1. Dozens had experienced deliverance and a touch from the Holy Spirit. Six were water Baptized. And, a joyful but weary team of the final 4 remaining troops returned to home base in the sunshine and splendor of a glorious afternoon, planning for the next battle.

A large collection of prayer requests were packed away for continued ministry. The first one that was opened started with the statement, "When I was 2 years old my parents sold me for $35..."

This report represents only a glimpse of the impact of this battle. About 200 such battles are behind us now, with many more intense battles ahead and much more is yet to be done. We shall not stop until all are won.

We greatly appreciate the prayerful support of those who share in compassion for the lost and discarded - especially those who wait to hear Jesus' words, "I was in prison, and you visited me."