The last two days doing jail ministry were so amazing it was hard to say goodbye to those wonderful ladies. It was beautiful getting to spend time with them, worshiping and studying God’s word together. I loved being able to hear their stories and share their burdens with them. Last Friday I preached to the women on Philippians 2 and how they have a choice to be obedient servants as Christ followers in jail and that even in their cells it is an opportunity to follow Christ and His example He set for us during His life on Earth. It was also wonderful bringing Alana the second time to jail ministry because after I preached we were able to worship with the guitar. Those women have so much joy and energy for the Lord and it was incredible to hear their voices singing praises to their Father even in their current situations.
Some of those women have some of the saddest stories I’ve ever heard and since they have no money, they are subject to the corrupt government of the Philippines, making them stay in jail years longer than they actually deserve to, and even though some have no honest lawyers or no prospective hearings, they are still rejoicing in the Lord. What an encouraging image to see…women who are imprisoned and have nothing in terms of Earthly desires or privileges but EVERYTHING IN JESUS. Those women minister to me in ways they don’t even comprehend.
Ministering to the women of the Antipollo jail has been an experience I will never forget. In the short time I have known and loved the women, God has shown me such incredible things through their lives. He has shown me that no matter what injustices you have either practiced or had practiced against you, the Lord will use it for His glory if you let Him. He has shown me that whatever happens to you, good, bad, prison, freedom, sickness, health, etc. etc. remember to rejoice in your suffering and have faith in the Lord your God who will fight your battles for you and get you through all things in His time and in His will. This passage in Matthew 25 really sums up jail ministry and I’m so glad Addie preached on it this morning:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Addie emphasized how each one of the women sitting in that jail was just as important to Jesus as any one else and that Jesus would leave His entire flock to come and find them. Though they may seem like one single woman sitting in a jail cell in the Philippines, they are the most precious thing in the world to our Lord and Savior. Addie also encouraged the women to remember that it’s not just about being that one lost sheep, but it’s about what happens after you’re found. She encouraged the women that they need to love on each other and on those when they are freed from the jail, and to remember everyone they meet is Jesus…so treat them well.
I want to leave you with a thought provoking idea. What if we treated “the least of these” like Jesus wants us to? What if we looked after those prisoners? What if we clothed those with no clothes or feed those who hunger? What would the world look like? Think about it…pray about it…and start living it.
my small group of ladies in the jail
Roxanne on my left and Beverly on my right…love these two!
the whole group of us at the Antipolo City Jail!
