“…For you had compassion on those in prison…”
Hebrews 10:34
It was the evening before I read this verse that my team was asked who would be interested in prison ministry for Sunday morning. My hand shot up before my head could process the question even being asked. So here I was, preparing for prison ministry.
I had been studying Hebrews for the last few days and this verse conveniently fell on that Sunday morning.
“Okay God, what do you want me to say today?” I asked with pride as if I were their savior. I’m an agenda kind of girl. I want to know what to say, when to say it and approximately how much time I’m given to ramble.
His response was “you haven’t even met them yet, just love them.” In other words “girl, you needa chill because I’m the One who will be speaking today.”
My ride pulled up with my three other squad mates who agreed to prison ministry. On our 45-minute drive through the South African farmlands and mountains we talked about everything except what we were going to say upon arrival.
The guard greeted us at the gate of Patensie Correctional Center to guide us through the bare halls and walked us through the thick prison doors. The doors swung open and there was a semi-circle of 60 pairs of eyes in orange jumpsuits sitting in chairs with crossed arms and tired looks there to greet us. We were escorted to our 4 chairs in the center of the circle and it was as if I joined the circus. Here I am, a white girl in my tie-dye shirt and overalls from the USA coming to talk to a bunch of prisoners in Africa who know a lot more about the real world than I probably ever will. Slightly intimidating.
As pastor Lucas led us into worship I sat in my chair and surveyed the room. There was a thick, heavy fog of oppression looming. I thought about how these men are stripped of their freedoms and locked away from the outside world. I felt compassion for them. So each person I made eye contact with, I would make sure to smile. It was a small, simple gesture, but it was amazing what a simple smile did for these men. They all seemed so hungry for affection from anyone from the outside.
I looked up to the ceiling with rays of sunshine peeking through the gaps and God whispered “Romans 5:8”
“..But God shows His love that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Hector led us in worship, Daniel read Psalm 139 and spoke on God’s creation of us. Then it was my turn.
“When I prayed about what I was going to say this morning, God told me that over anything else the most important thing for you to grasp this morning is that He loves you.”
With those last three words I grabbed 60 men’s full attention. I continued on in telling them that the same Jesus I have is the same Jesus that’s available to them. I told them that Jesus knew about every crime they would commit, every sin they would be part of, every shameful thing they’ve ever done and He still chose the cross. I read Romans 5:8, and told them how Jesus stuck by my side through my shameful past. I told them that just how God speaks to me, He longs to speak to them too. I told them everything that Jesus told me to tell them from the moment those doors swung open. We took a few minutes in silence to listen to what Jesus had to say to each one. After I prayed and headed back to my seat, I could feel the oppression lifting. I knew that some of them had heard the true words Jesus wanted to speak to them. We just had to give Him the time.
The last of our team to speak was Hana-Beth. She was given a word that morning and requested to go last. As she spoke, the words God gave her took everything that had already been spoken and tied it all together. None of us knew what the other was going to say, but because it was God-given it all flowed and made perfect sense.
When we’re fixed on an agenda, or fixed on words to speak it’s often us working from our own strength. I can never do anything of eternal value in my own strength- it’s always Him. God’s not in a rush. He might not give me any words to speak until the moment they need to be spoken, because that way He gets all the glory. It’s better that way.
Pastor Lucas continued to preach on dreams. He would continue to say “Never stop dreaming!” and “God has good plans for your life.” His determination to give hope to what seemed to be such a hopeless place was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
Thirty men gave their life to the Lord that day. They listened and it was evident on their faces that they were hungry for more. We shook hands, exchanged smiles and reminded them of God’s love all in the short hour of time that we were given.
Leaving Patensie was rough. I thought about the dedication Pastor Lucas exemplified and asked what made him start getting involved in Prison ministry. He shared a bit of his testimony of how him and his older brother would commit petty crimes together as kids. Something that started out petty turned into something much more for his older brother. Lucas went on to say that while he got out of crime, his older brother became addicted. For the last few years his older brother has been in and out of prison and that’s where Lucas’ ministry first began, by sharing the gospel and praying with his brother and his friends. Lucas now has two prisons where he shares the gospel, and he also conducts interviews. (He interviews the inmates to determine whether they are ready to leave the prison or if they still need more psychiatric help in staying.)
Lucas told us more about his life. He talked about his wife and his children, where he lives and his other hobbies. I enjoyed hearing about his life but I couldn’t stop thinking about his brother and how he wouldn’t get to enjoy the simple things in life that leave us in awe because he is still addicted to crime.
I thought about my life and my own addictions. I thought about how I used to be addicted to stealing. I thought about how I’m addicted to insecurity. I thought about how if I were locked away for my addictions of negative thinking, selfishness, arrogance or pride- I would be locked away forever. I would never get out. My file would always say, “DENIED.”
I’ll never forget the look of hunger and desperation on the faces of my new brothers in Christ. When we walked around and asked each one what they wanted prayer for, more than half of the responses we received were “I want to change.”
I want change for them too.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
Isaiah 61:1
