As I stood there shivering in the pouring down rain, I couldn’t believe my eyes. All I could think of was get me out of here! As we walked past barbed wires, bars on the windows, and stray cats roaming, a heaviness of darkness pierced my spirit. My heart was racing for what I was about to encounter.
I’ve never went to prison before but, today was the day. You’re probably thinking what?! No, I didn’t commit a crime. Our squad went to Craiova to share the gospel with teenagers in prison. It took a lot of courage as we walked the streets to enter the prison. To be totally honest, the only thing that gave me peace was a blue painted cross on an old white door that led into the prisons church.
As we stepped foot into the church, about 50 teenage boys and girls turned to look our way. It was awkward and terrifying at the same time. They were sitting in white chairs and staring with confusion as to why we were there. We sat down on the opposite side of the room and our host began to speak to them. He shared the hope to them about Jesus forgiving our sins.
Then, two people from my squad shared powerful stories from their lives of how Jesus radically changed their hearts. Two teenage boys went up and professed their salvation and prayed over a girl from our squad who spoke. Little did they know, the girl from our squad and them had very similar stories.
Afterwards we got into small groups with intentions of sharing the gospel with the teenagers. I was in a group with all girls. “You’re first,” the translator said to me. “Okay,” I said with a deep breath. I shared about the darkness of my past and how my life drastically changed when I asked Jesus into my heart. As I was sharing I couldn’t help but think sitting right next to me might be a murderer, a thief, an addict, regardless, God loves them.
Two other girls from our team shared their stories after me and we asked if the teenage girls had any questions. “Did God still love you before you asked Him in your heart?” one girl said. Yes, God always loves us but now because of asking Jesus to forgive me for my sin and to be the Lord and Savior of my life, I have a right relationship with God. I will live in Heaven eternally with Him, and you can to, we responded.
“We have 5 more minutes before we have to leave,” our host came around and said. Before we left we wanted to make sure we invited them to accept Jesus into their heart. I asked them if they genuinely meant it, to pray a prayer of faith. Confessing our sins to God with the understanding of His death, burial and resurrection for us so that we can have new life in Him.
“Jesus loves you no matter where you are and what you have done. He wants a personal relationship with you because He loves you,” I said. “Do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?”
“Da” (Yes, in Romanian) several replied. As they prayed the prayer of faith back to me, I couldn’t help but smile. 6 girls had tears in their eyes and professed accepting Jesus into their heart.
We talked with the girls afterwards about what it looks like to live for Jesus and wanted to keep them connected with the church. These 6 girls I may never see again, but today all of Heaven is rejoicing. They once were bound in chains and behind bars because of their sin but now they are SET FREE in Christ!
(This is a picture of our squad and ministry hosts’ that served in the prison ministry)
