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Connecting Streams Coming to Life

Written by Eric Reynolds

October 31, 2011

She spoke like a woman on a mission – like there was work to be done.

When I asked Donna Mitchell about Connecting Streams, she wasted no time dropping the punch line: “We take the under-alive church to the broken and marginalized. When they come together, both come to life.”

I’m a step behind and need to catch up. Unpacking this takes time and she’s gracious with me.

“We bring volunteers to prisons and watch God work in the inmates lives. The Lord is moving. God wants to build oaks of righteousness in places like the prison.” There is something about this woman that compels. I’m believing the things she says, even without the testimonies. But she’s got those too:

“These are the words of an inmate in a Connecting Streams group: ‘I just want to thank all of you women… My whole life is changing since I became a Christian… Every week you come I learn more… You’ve helped me more than you could know.’ In fact, the prison groups are going so well, the guards are asking for a group of their own!”

Its all so wonderfully simple, I’m having trouble thinking of questions. Then I remember something she said earlier… something about the under-alive church.

“There is a direct correlation between stepping out in faith and experiencing God. The volunteers get so excited. The ones who go to prisons are now witnessing more in their everyday lives.” What strikes me is that this ministry is so effectively rejuvenating for the church.

It’s a double whammy. On one hand, sleepers are waking and rising as they visit prisons (Isaiah 60:1 and Matthew 25:36) and spiritual chains of the lost are being loosened by truth (Isaiah 58:6 and John 8:32).

“We have built the infrastructure, learned about process, and have a big vision. A new team is just starting in the Fraser Valley.”

People waking up and coming to life? It’s an exciting time at Connecting Streams and I leave blessed by a chat with Donna Mitchell.