Antipollo Prison
780 Inmates
Hat turned sideways? Why are you standing in the middle of all those prisoners? These are just a few of the questions I’m sure people ask when they see this picture. The truth is, the men in the picture are my friends. I have laughed and cried with these men, being a little goffy isn’t a big deal to them.
For the past month I spent five days a weak ministering in the prisons of the Philippines, truly an amazing experience.
I heard someone say, people won’t listen to what you have to say until they know you care. Sometimes there’s too much pain to filter through to listen to someone talk about a better life. Without prior setup, and after getting permission from the Warden to minister in his prison, I ventured into the unknown.
It’s hard to paint an accurate picture of what it looked like, smelled like, just how it felt to be in a place like that. One cell holds 100 prisoners crammed in a space 40 feet by 60 feet, 3 to 4 people a bed, 4 bunks high. The house I grew up in was not much bigger than the size of this entire prison holding more than 700 men. 150 of the men were kept in isolation cells due to sickness or disease, in each of the cells was about 70 to 80 men. These men hardly ever went outside, and many die in the cell.
Where does someone begin to reach out to more than 700 men? Well, it was pretty simple. I just took the burden away of expecting to reach all of them, or change the world all by myslef. Instead I did what the lord says to do. I just showed love in the ways I could, spoke life to what they revealed. For about a week they felt me out, tested my authenticity. Pretty soon I found myself surrounded by an upwards of 60 men listening to what I had to say hungry for the lord. They would ask me everyday to do another bible study or discussion. And so I did, but it was very unplanned. I like to think we just hung out and shared our hearts to one another seeking the lord together, because that’s all it was. Some days I preached other days I sat and listened to their pain, other days I wept with them and prayed and prayed. At times I would find myself speaking to guards and later praying for one of the wardens with a teammate of mine. God was moving in that place, and was moving well before I got there. It is a very raw battle ground, some of the most detestable things happen in that place. Day after day I would walk into the male prison by myself. The guards never checked me; they would just wave me in and shut the door behind me. Prisoners would weep as they shared their pain with me. Many of them are so broken, starving for forgiveness. Others are being out right attacked demonically- crazy things have happened with those men. More than all that God is moving in that place!! Men are having miraculous visions from the lord! Many men have found Jesus and are on FIRE for the lord. Many have said “I’m thankful to God I’m here, if it wasn’t for being here I don’t think I would have found the lord or I would be dead” God is doing so much there, He is so good, there is a fire burning in that place.
By the end of my time there, I had the privilege to Baptize three men. In a very non traditional way I must add. In front of all the prisoners they declared their God, and their new life, and I dumped a bucket of water over their butts in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Sprit. Not really their butts, over thier heads first then the rest of their bodies.=) It was awesome and such a privilege, God deserves all the glory!!!
I’ve said many times that the Gospel isn’t about right or wrong… It’s about what is and what is not… It’s about life and death. During my time in the prisons 2 prisoners died due to sickness, but three became alive..this reality is more true than ever!!!
There is a family of fulltime missionaries in the area who are going to carry on this work. Additionally, Petter, one of the male prisoners I met, has been ministering in the prison before I got there. He’s actually one of the men I baptized. He is being released tomorrow and will join the team in ministering in the prison!! Praise God!
Facts…
<Many prisoners have served an upward of 5 years before they see their first trail. Most have been arrested for drugs and have done as little as sniff glue, some have done much more.
<Every month more than 5 men a month die in this prison due to health issues. The prison doesn’t receive any help from the government for medical assistance, not even basic medicine.
Until the month of March I will be on the coast of Nicaragua doing hurricane relief work. I won’t be able to check email or blog due to area I’m in. So thank you all for your support and prayers. I’ll talk to you upon my return.
Much Love to you all!
