Birkleigh and her team have spent the last month ministering in Kenya. Happenstance afforded them the opportunity to minister to convicts in a Kenyan prison. And what they experienced forever changed the world.
The thoughts going through my mind as we met the inmates- “I’m sitting here under the shade looking at about 100 inmates at a Kenyan prison.” “I’m so loved. They are so loved and I get to be here.” I was looking into their eyes, at their faces and seeing their desperation for truth, for someone to care, someone to pay attention to them and have hope in them. I didn’t even feel worthy to be in such an amazing experience. I get to see God open their eyes to see their true identity in Christ, to be forgiven and to see hope in their future.
I sat there as my teammate Tres preached about their identity in Christ. He prayed for them and gave them an opportunity to begin a relationship with Christ. As Tres asked them to stand up and claim their identity as a child of God, my heart broke because I didn’t see a convict, I saw a second chance, I saw God’s forgiveness and His divine plan.
One hundred men stood up that day with hands raised, some crying and heads bowed. I watched grown men surrender their lives to their maker. I saw hope that day. I saw God’s power and his glory on display in the most unlikely of places. I will never forget the faces, my emotions and the words that were spoken. I know that if God can change the hearts of what society says is scum, then He’s the God I want to serve and love. He’s the one that can do anything, and He has hope in us no matter what circumstance we’re in and no matter our past. He REDEEMS!!!
I’m sorry I have no photos but we weren’t allowed to. We’re hoping to go back before we leave in two weeks to baptize those that came to Christ! We’re so thankful to God for this opportunity.
*photo pictured is courtesy of Daily Mail
