“Before I begin I want to tell you something about myself. I’m incredibly excited to be here today. I’m excited because when I was younger my older brother went in and out of jail many times. And my Father is actually a jail chaplain. Because of these things I learned from a young age that no matter where you spend your days – Jesus loves you. And no matter where you spend your days – there is a hunger within all of us that can only be satisfied by the Spirit.”
This was how I began my message to the men’s prison in Molepolole, Botswana. The moment I heard “Prison Ministry” my heart jumped with excitement. My Dad was going to be so jealous and proud of me!
Walking through the incredibly tall, double gated entrance onto the court yard of an African men’s jail should fill a girl with anxiety and nerves if not fear, although for me, I couldn’t help but think “My Dad would love this!”
That morning I spoke to about 75 men. The audience was colored in tattered old red uniforms, some had a blue theme and the yellow outfits we later learned meant good behavior. It was a man in a yellow uniform that interpreted for me.
“I heard a great teaching on when Jesus fed the 5000 and I took many notes. I’m going to walk you through them. So this is not my message that I am about to give to you, I stole it. But it’s okay because it’s all for Jesus.” Seemed to get a laugh out of the crowd.
Walking the men through the passage I had the privilege to point out how Jesus chose to do this miracle. Jesus could have very easily made himself look incredibly powerful, snapping his finger to present a “Country Buffet” fest for these people but instead he told his disciples “YOU feed them” (Mark 6:37). His disciples responded just as I would, basically saying “Umm… are you kidding me? Do you expect me to spend a fortune on this crowd?” What Jesus had just done here was perfectly set the stage for his next move (Mark 6:38-42). He used the very little that the disciples had to feed the masses.
The story of Feeding the Five Thousand is a demonstration to how inadequate his followers are and how that is exactly where he wants us. It seems as though when we are at our lowest, arms open wide saying “Jesus are you kidding me? How do you expect ME to do this?” that he decides to reveal his glory.
My Dad is a jail chaplain. He previously sold used cars and before that (in his youth) he was hooked on heroin and alcohol. My Dad is Jesus’ prime subject. By the grace of God he escaped death and along with his GED and some fancy certificates he has been discipling and baptizing the least of these behind bars.
My brother got himself into all kinds of trouble while he was in high school. Whether it be for jumping his dirt bike over the school drop off, stealing radios or selling cocaine, we constantly had the police at our house. My dad allowed him to receive the punishments he deserved. He loved his son greatly, prayed for him often and constantly went to the Lord with arms open wide saying “Jesus are you kidding me? How do you expect ME to do this?” And by the grace of God my brother managed to become the valedictorian, attend University for Construction Management and now own his own business.
I walked into the court yard that day with the eye’s of my heavenly Father. I saw those men for the importance and potential they have on the Kingdom. These are exactly who Jesus came to save (Mark 2:17) and these men have the ability to influence and save so many more. They have the beginning of stories we all love to hear and my Abba Father gave me the opportunity to plant a seed. That morning 12 men stepped forward to commit their lives to Christ.
To many of us those behind bars may seem like a lost cause but the reality is, their stage is set up perfectly for Jesus to preform a miracle. They have nothing and we as his followers must simply hear his command and obey. Let our hope remain in him and watch his miracle begin.
This month my team is hosting a fundraiser to equip the men with Bibles, toiletries and shoes for the winter. Please click here and consider giving. Our goal is to raise the funds before we leave so that we can purchase the items and hand them directly to the prisoners.
