Today I was able to go to the prison to minister to some of the women there along with squad mates Vicki, Angie, and Melissa. We only had about an hour there to do a short Bible Study, but that short hour proved to be absolutely amazing! There are about 60 women in the women’s unit of this prison (they are all crammed into one large cell, and they sleep on metal bunk beds, 3 high, lined all the way down the room on both sides, no mattress, just a piece of plywood with wallpaper covering it.) They have a small common room that they brought some of the women out into for our time with them.
We sang a song for them, and then they led us in 3 songs in Tegali, and it was so amazing! As soon as they started worshiping in their own language, their voices filled the room, and it was beautiful! I don’t think I have ever seen people worshiping with such joy and genuiness as these women were. They were lifting their voices in praise, so that the whole prison could hear them, and it was truly incredible! Then Melissa gave a short Bible study on mercy and hope in the Lord, and then we were able to get 2 of the women to share their stories with us.
Beatrice, who has been in the prison now for 5 years, told us that she was there because she got caught selling drugs. Her friends influenced her to sell them, and it was the only way that she could provide for her family. She came to know Jesus in prison, and He has changed her life. She told us that she feels the reason she is still there is because God is still changing her. She is married, but is still in love with another man, and the Lord continues to change her heart.
Then, Mama Lia gave her testimony. Mama Lia is 62 years old and has been in prison for 3 years. As she was telling her story tears of joy flowed from her eyes. She said some people were doing drugs in her home, and although she was not involved, when the police came in, they arrested her also, just because she was there. She is innocent and is serving time in prison for something she didn’t even do. But she told us that upon coming to prison she found the Lord, and He has made her realize that because she was tolerant of what was going on, it was as if she was doing it also. She told us that her strenght and hope comes from the Lord, she relies on Him daily.
To God be the Glory. The Lord is using these strong women in an incredible way to minister to those around them. Never in my life have I seen such strength. These women may be behind bars, but their souls are free! They could never be more free than they are behind those prison bars! They are free because YOU, JESUS, are living IN them! Lord, I thank you for the example and witness those women are being for the rest of those prisoners. Continue to give them strength and hope in YOU. Lord, continue to use them for Your Glory. They are beautiful, Jesus and I thank You for using them to speak to me today.
I thought I was being Kingdom, but man, THESE women DEFINE KINGDOM!! Praise Jesus.
Matthew 25:34-40
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.”
