I’m pretty well acquainted with Bible passages like Isaiah 61. You know, “set the captives free” and all. It’s really good stuff, and I’ve even quoted it from time to time. It’s a pretty good one to use when you’re addressing addictions in yourself and others. God set us free!
But I’ve never been to a real prison. I don’t know what it’s like to have visible walls separating me from the life I’m supposed to have. I don’t know what it’s like to avoid thoughts of the future because I won’t have one. I have no grid for that. It’s absolute hopelessness.
Well unfortunately that changed a couple weeks ago in Trujillo.
There is a massive prison near the massive dump on the outskirts of the city. Every day we ministered at the dump, we walked by its intimidating walls. And every time I thought to myself, “Man that place freaks me out. Who knows what it’s like in there?”
Little did I know that before the month was over, I will have spent an entire day there.
This prison was made for around 1,000 inmates, but houses more than 2,000. It’s dirty, stinky, and dark. When you walk in, the spiritual atmosphere is nearly suffocating.
But here’s the amazing thing: when we entered those cell blocks, we brought the presence of God with us. Not to say that He wasn’t already there working on the hearts of the prisoners, but we brought something different and more tangible. We brought hope.
I expected to feel overwhelmed and fearful inside those walls, but instead I was filled with joy and peace. It’s like Holy Spirit was whispering, “No one is too far. No one has done too much. I can redeem them.”
After hearing that my mind was changed, which filled me with hope, the same hope that changed the atmosphere. Our whole team started to see that first and foremost these prisoners are people. Sure they’ve done bad things. Some worse than others. But that does NOT mean that they cease to have dreams and desires. It does NOT mean that they are incapable of love or repentance. Give me a break.
All of the sudden it seemed silly to divide people into good and bad or prisoner and free when I thought about the cross. Once again I was reminded that we’re all on a level playing field and the only thing that really matters is what Jesus did.
I think that when this truth sinks in we become free to love people. Our superiority complexes shatter and we are face to face with the true Gospel: we all need a savior. And to be honest, the prisoners probably have a better grip on that than I do. When I’m having a good day, it’s easy to forget.
God was speaking truth, and we were acting on it.
That day we visited four different areas of the prison, including the maximum security block. I got to lead worship in each one and every time someone either shared a testimony or a word of encouragement. We prophesied over inmates and exchanged stories. I shared the gospel with thirty people and at the end of the day we ministered to more than 200 inmates, six of which were baptized in a kiddie pool.
Before I left, one of the prisoners gave me a note. A maximum security prisoner to be exact. This is probably what drove it home for me:
”My friend, Justin. I am your friend also. My name is John Henry Castro Campos. I am from the city of Chiclayo. I am alone because no one comes to see me. I ask to please pray for my freedom and that God would enter my heart more and more, because when I pray I know that He listens to me. I am very thankful for your prayer. Take care and may God bless you and protect you. I thank you my friend, and your American friends.” (Roughly translated from Spanish)
We need Jesus, guys. All of us. All the time.
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I came to call not the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13
