For this being my first time in
jail I have to admit it was incredible. Now I was not the one behind bars so
everyone can take a deep sigh of relief. However we were allowed to go into
this jail and visit the inmates in their cells. Before I tell the whole story I
want you all to honestly know that this may be one of my favorite experiences
on the race thus far.
So, just down the road from the
orphanage is Malaybalay City Jail. We where invited to go visit the inmates by
a former world racer named Will. Will has made a pretty awesome connection with
some of the inmates and had told us that a recent revival had broken out in the
prison. Entire cells of 40 plus men were coming to know Christ! The men are
hungry for the gospel. Will was telling us of some great stories of redemption
and transformation. Needless to say we couldn’t wait to go visit and see this
amazing place. Will especially asked me to bring my guitar along because the
men love to sing worship songs and really needed to learn some new ones. They
had only learned three songs since the revival and they are some old classic
hymns from a very old tattered hymnal. Will told me that he had been praying
for someone to come and teach these men some new songs. I really had no clue
what to expect and God was getting ready to rock my world yet again.
So we hopped into the army jeep
that I have learned to drive stick shift on while being here and took off for
the jail. By the way this jeep is amazing. It looks like it belongs on the set
of M*A*S*H. Anyway…So we drive for a few minutes and arrive at what looks to be
a big farm. We are greeted at the front entrance by an armed guard and the prison’s
water buffalo…yes you heard me right…a water buffalo. We drive a little ways
down a dirt road and arrive in front of some concrete buildings with the
typical razor and barbed wire on the walls. Right away you can tell that this
is not your ordinary prison. They can have up to fifty men in one cell. The men
sleep in bunk beds stacked 3 high. The cells cannot be more than 20ft. by 40ft.
I walked down the rows of cells and Will began to tell me about how revival had
spread from certain cells. We stopped at cell 4, which is one of the cells that
has had the most conversions and the men immediately came right to the edge of
the bars and stuck out their hands to welcome me and shake my hand. They were
so friendly and kind. They tried speaking their best English with me, which was
much appreciated! They honored us with a worship song in their own language and
it was amazing. They men had all noticed I had my guitar with me and Will
explained to them that I was there to teach them some new songs.
As soon as I
sat down and pulled my guitar out the whole cell fell silent. Will had told me
how excited they were to learn some new songs but I didn’t realize how
desperate they truly were. So the best way I knew how I began to teach these
Pilipino men new worship songs to sing to their awesome Redeemer. My teammate
Matt came along with me and was singing along. After each song they would pass
their “worship notebook” through the bars and asked us if we could write down
the words and the guitar chords of each song. It was perfect I would play and
sing and Matt would write down all the words and chords. I taught them three
more songs. The songs are, “Our God” by Chris Tomlin, “The Stand” by Hillsong
United, and a bridge from another Hillsong song called “Oh You Bring.” These
guys blew me away as they sang so loud, bold, and passionately for God. It was
such an awesome moment as we sang the Chorus of “Our God” and the jail rang
with these words: “Our God is greater, Our God is Stronger, God you higher than
any other, Our God is healer, Awesome in Power, Our God…Our God!” It was such a
powerful moment in my life. Here I am in the middle of the Philippines in a
tiny little prison worshipping God with men who had been redeemed by the same
Savior that I have. I loved the chance to teach these new songs to the men but
I didn’t just teach them empty words to sing. I would explain each song and the
significance it carried. I explained more to them what worship was and told
them that it was our hearts response to God for all that He has done for us. I was able to share the gospel as well and I had one of the men translate all of what I was saying. The men realize that they have next to nothing in material possessions. They
also realize that they do not even have their personal freedom yet they
understand that they everything they need in Jesus. In Him they find their true freedom…their soul’s freedom.
While we were singing other cells
began to ask Will if we could come to their cell and teach them these new
songs. So we went to 3 more cells and taught the songs. What was so powerful to
me was that as we left each cell the men would continue singing like we never
left! At one point it sounded like the whole jail was singing along with us! Here is what worship in prison sounds like. I hope it hits your heart like it did mine.
