Prisoners praise gospel singer at Spring Hill

Prisoners praise gospel singer at Spring Hill Corrections Facility

Hamilton gospel singer/songwriter Nicky Moran entertained more than 120 prisoners at Spring Hill Corrections Facility this month.

Nicky, who is also a part time mental health nurse at the Henry Bennett Centre in Waikato Hospital, tours New Zealand prisons, performing and sharing inspirational messages. In between songs she shares the meanings behind her songs and offers words of encouragement to the audience.

Prison chaplains explain that the purpose of the tour is not just to entertain, but also lift morale and motivation.

“The feedback from the concert has been incredibly heartening with many prisoners asking for more concerts as a result,” says Reverend Viliame Tuisoso.

Viliame found the men to be very uplifted following the experience and many shared how much they gained as a result. One prisoner wrote down his feedback as below:

“Last week I had the privilege of attending the concert you organised in the whare hui with the visiting Christian Artist Nicky Moran performing for the inmates.

I just wanted to write and express my deep gratitude for making such an event happen here at Spring Hill.

Nicky’s presentation was very professional, but more than that, her ease of communication and candidness made self reflection easy which led to a strong desire to make critical changes in one’s life.

Everyone in the auditorium thoroughly enjoyed the whole event, with both guards and inmates still talking about it a week later.

It was truly an inspirational and motivational time that can only be healthy for those who attended and therefore the entire prison.

I along with many of the men who attended hope that it is not long before she and others like her come back.

Thank you once again for your foresight in making this wonderful time happen.

God bless.”

Nicky says she finds the tours rewarding and feedback from audiences is always positive.

Her varied song list includes covers of popular songs from well-known performers like Joe Cocker and Bob Dylan as well as self-composed numbers with a spiritual theme. Each song has a strong, inspirational message.

Chaplain Rangihono Huirama says that the change in some of the audience members can be significant:

“It’s the passion and love with which she performs that really helps the audience to find a little bit of peace when she sings. That little bit of hope can be all that’s needed to help someone on a path to making better choices actually turn their lives around.”

ENDS

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