Is it linking hands and sharing my story with women locked behind cold metal bars in the Philippines? Is it dancing in the rain down a busy street in Thailand? Is it throwing a spontaneous pizza party for a group of Muslim-Malaysian college students? Maybe it’s welcoming in Christmas Day at a nightclub in Singapore? Or worshiping under the starry skies in Lesotho?
That’s the thing about freedom; there’s no single definition. It refuses to be boxed in.
Today we visited a local prison in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. The facility is guarded with sharp pieces of broken glass around the perimeter. The 19 of us stepped into the prison and were greeted by a group of inmates who were banging drums made from scrap materials and clanging maracas crafted together with bottle caps. Somehow they managed to make a beautiful sound as they danced around the courtyard. All of our faces lit up.
Moments before entering the prison, my team leader Ryan asked if I would share my story. For those of you who don’t know, both of my parents served time in prison for a period of my life. My mom, a single mother at the time, was sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit. These were some of the hardest years, however, they were certainly the most formative.
When Ryan asked, I took a moment to ask Holy Spirit what he wanted me to share. Within seconds I was reminded of a verse that I was led to one night my freshman year in college. Paul wrote to people in Philippi from prison,
“And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”
??Philippians? ?1:14? ?NIV??
This became my battle cry throughout the remainder of my undergraduate years. It seems like an oxymoron that Paul’s chains would grant others the freedom to spread the gospel; but God has a way of taking broken situations and using them for good. It just takes a change in perspective.
This verse was the catalyst of my calling into ministry. Which, mind you, completely freaked me out at first. I had no interest in it. But he reminded me that it was during the years of my mother’s incarceration that I drew nearest to him. He reminded me of how diligently she prayed for me and my siblings while she was away. Because of her faith and God’s grace, her prayers were answered. He used her chains to set me FREE.
When we talk about freedom in Christ, we often get trapped in discourse about sin. While this is key, freedom in Christ encompasses so much more. So far on the Race my understanding of how free we truly are has been expanded like never before. I’m learning that liberty begins in the heart then moves on to infiltrate every area of our being. It drives us to use our time learning more about God through scripture, in service to others, resting, and simply having fun. It allows us to have a glass (or more, let’s be real) of wine without feeling the need to get wasted, eat a brownie (or two, let’s be real) instead of the whole pan, dance like a crazy person at a nightclub, choose to exercise for yourself instead of feeling forced to protect an image, and overall make healthy decisions that are rooted in the gift of understanding true freedom.
It alters the mindset of a man locked behind prison walls. It tells him that his prison sentence does not have to be a time of oppression, but rather an opportunity. That in Jesus our circumstance does not dictate our identity as FREE.
Today three of us shared our testimonies and my teammate Miguel gave an amazing word. The atmosphere in the prison shifted and hearts were moved. There were tears all around. Five men walked to the center and decided today was the day they’d choose freedom. They accepted Jesus into their hearts and moving forward, their lives will never be the same. They’re forgiven, righteous, and dearly loved. Are they still physically in bondage? Yes. But their location is not indicative of the work God is doing in their hearts. They truly are FREE.
Here’s a challenge. Start asking God how he wants you to use your freedom. When you invite him into the equation, I guarantee he’ll drastically expand your perspective.
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Thank you so much for reading and following along my journey!
Much Love,
Stella
IG: @stellaagee
YouTube: Stella Udeozor
