I’ve never been in a prison before. I didn’t really know what to expect. All I knew is that we were there to give two testimonies and a short sermon in front of the inmates.
13 accounted for murder.
There was a chalkboard on the wall just before the gate. It marked how many inmates there are and what they are in for.
As we entered the gate, a group of men sat around the perimeter of the courtyard. They were all wearing their red blankets like a toga with their arms tucked inside to keep warm.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a man shaking a tall stick with bottle caps tied to it as the man next to him beat on a worn drum. The traditional music set the tone as all the inmates were singing in their native Sesotho language. The men were moving their shoulders, clapping and stomping their feet as they sang to the beat.
We took our seats in plastic chairs as the chanting transitioned into a hush.
The pastor stood up to translate. His booming voice echoed throughout the mountains that surrounded the prison walls. There was one man in particular that I couldn’t help but notice. His facial expressions were soft and I had this sense of joy from him. I didn’t know why God has pointed him out to me but I simply took notice.
After the testimonies from some of my squad mates, Melissa stood up and talked about the life of Paul and how he was once a foe of God. She talked about how Paul had an encounter with God that changed his life and he ended up in prison just like them, multiple times. But he was imprisoned for his message about Christ. She talked about how nothing can separate us from the love of God and that at one point we’ve all been a foe of God. At the end of the sermon we offered the chance for anyone who wanted to receive Christ in their life for the first time to come forward.
The air was still and no one moved. I closed my eyes in prayer.
“Lord, please soften the hearts of these men. Let them be bold in standing up in front of their peers to claim You in their life.”
A few more seconds ticked by.
One…
Two…
Ten…
After a few more moments a total of fifteen men trickled to the middle of the courtyard.
My heart leaped!
There happen to be fifteen of us missionaries there. We each got to pray over someone as Payden walked them through the sinner’s prayer.
But the man I had noticed at the beginning hadn’t stood up. I had a feeling that he was already a Christ follower. He was one of the very few inmates that had a bible with him. There was writing down the fold of the outer pages, probably his name.
We left that day on a spiritual high. Fifteen new brothers in the Kingdom of God!
The following Wednesday we made our weekly visit to preach to the inmates. I recognized a majority of faces. Still there was the same man that I couldn’t help but notice. This time I felt the Lord tell me that He had something to tell him. I didn’t know what it was though.
“Maybe when we get back to the mission house I’ll do some listening prayer and write it down to give him,” I thought.
We opened with the song that most kids learn at VBS. Where half the room stands and sings
“Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah”
and then the other half stands and sings
“Praise Ye the Lord”
We showed the inmates how to sing it and then they joined it. They were so playful and enthusiastic as they stood and sang back and forth between each side of the courtyard. The smiles on their faces was pure joy in my heart.
After the song, we gave more testimonies and another sermon. At the end of the sermon the man that I had noticed stood up. He held his bible in his hands as the pastor translated what he said:
“Thank you so much for coming here and encouraging us.”
He said more that I can’t recall, but he was touched by our willingness to come each week that we’re here to share the joy of Christ.
Just the other day was our last time visiting the prison. Again, the same group of men congregated around the courtyard.
This time we performed the Church Clap dance for them. It’s a catchy Christian rap song that has simple but fun steps that they could follow along.
By the middle of the song, a good amount of the men were up dancing with us. One stood beside me as he watched and mimicked my footwork. We were all laughing and high fiving by the end of the song.
I couldn’t help but think that this is one of the only times in the week that they have visitors come dance and laugh and encourage them.
This time I was determined to talk with the man God had put on my heart since the day we got there. At the end of the sermon I walked up to him.
I told him that God has great plans for him and God has called him to greatness. That’s really all God had put on my heart to tell him. A huge smile spread across his face as he shook my hand thankful for the message.
As we walked away from the prison walls for the last time, I couldn’t help but think about how much I will miss their smiling faces.
I don’t know what each of them are in prison for. But what I do know is that God loves them. He loves them just as much as He loves me. He pursues them through people like us. He wants a relationship with each one of them.
I hope that this isn’t the last time I visit a prison. There is a hope to be had in this world and His name is Jesus Christ.
And every last prisoner of this earth deserves to know of Him.
