Two weeks in! Thanks for all the comments and for keeping up even during this sporadic time of posting until I can get on a decent schedule. The encouragement and comments tell me this is a good (God) idea.
So I told you there would be several stories coming from my time in the prison, and I haven’t even really begun to get into the incredible ones. Most of these men I met a couple of months ago, but I’m beginning to be trusted with some of their stories and feelings now that I have returned. John was one of the men I met a few months ago.
John was not a Christian when he first came to the prison, but was saved within the cell walls. Even when I showed up the first time, it was obvious he was still a little hesitant about his faith and had quite the reputation to upkeep. He often hung in the back shadows of the cell, so it shocked me that I actually recognized his face yesterday. The biggest difference this time around was that instead of being back in the shadows, his face was right up against the bars, hanging onto every moment I spent there.
After a time of teaching, I came back to John’s cell to see if I could talk with any of the men. John was the first one to approach me. He walked up with a guy named Junard (I will tell you his story tomorrow, bring your tissues…) and was translating for my conversation with Junard who was the leader of the cell. At one point during the conversation, I apologized to Junard, but asked John how he was and asked if he could tell me a little of his story.
John has been in prison for 5 years now and has been a committed Christian for about two months. Junard, who is his closest friend, would speak to him daily about the love of God and that he was supposed to rise up and help lead the 47 men in cell 2. As hard as John tried to ignore the voice of God, it was obvious there was a calling on his life that was louder than the lies Satan was trying to feed him. He has had so many doubts about stepping up and leading because he knows it will isolate him and he doesn’t want to feel lonely. And now there may be a chance that Junard may leave soon (again, story to come…) and he is terrified of loneliness.
To get his mind off the subject, I asked him his testimony and his whole attitude changed. John knows that if he had not been arrested, he would be dead. He has made many poor decisions in his life, many that should have cost him his life, but by God’s grace, he has been rescued in an odd way by being sent to jail. Now, after 5 years, a transformation has occurred in his life and while he refuses to go back to his old life, he is still submitting to God’s will if it means he has to stay in prison.
John wants out of those prison walls so badly, and knows his heavenly penance has been paid by Jesus, but is still submissive to God, even if it means a life in prison. When he started talking of the love of God in his life, his entire demeanor changed as he was speaking truth over himself. It’s refreshing to see someone share their own testimony with such joy and excitement and it was so obvious this was a new man.
John is a leader. He will rise up and be a powerful tool for the kingdom of God within or outside of that cell. And he has a community that will love and surround him, but even when they’re not there, he will never be alone. I look forward to watching this man grow. Exciting testimonies will come from the life of this man.
Part two of this story (Junard’s) will come tomorrow…
