The Bible, Jesus, Prison, and Lessons Learned
This past week, when the final prison gate closed behind me, I was filled with mixed emotions. I just finished teaching a six-week theology class for the Heart of Texas Foundation College Ministry. It is an incredible four-year program in a maximum security prison near my home. The men in the program are trained to be Field Ministers. Once they graduate, they will be sent to another jail around Texas to be a Field Minister in that prison. These men are learning to minister and pastor other men to find hope in Jesus.
How did I get involved in this? Well, the first time I went into the prison to check it out, I thought, what did I get myself into? For six hours each Thursday, I am in a room with forty other men, many serving long prison sentences. But once I learned that I would be equipping them to do ministry work, I could not say YES fast enough!
Over the past six weeks, I have laughed with these men, cried with them, had passionate conversations about theology, and learned more from them than they might have learned from me! It would take several posts to tell you everything I knew, but let me summarize this experience.
Standing in the prison library each morning in worship with these men was incredible. We sang some old hymns with sometimes someone playing a guitar. Hearing these men singing about being free in Christ hit me differently. I often fought back tears hearing them singing about joy, freedom, and the forgiveness Christ provides.
They have a passion for the Bible and want to learn more about Jesus, that was contagious. Our class was filled with guys from different walks of life, ethnic groups, and religious upbringings. Not all the men in my class are Christians; I am praying all will be soon! But these men had a passion for learning; that was refreshing!
These men spoke of having a new purpose and hope in life. I often asked, “Why are you doing this program during break times, before and after class?” They spoke of having a purpose every day. I will not forget one man with tears in his eyes who said, “I am never leaving prison. I will die behind bars. I have been in for almost 15 years, and for the first 15 years in prison, I was just wasting away. Then I came to know Jesus, and for the last ten years, I have purpose every day to live for Jesus and help other men. They spoke of wanting to see the lives of other men change; they said they wanted to see the prison they were in change for the better. My mind often went to the Apostle Paul and how he did prison ministry.
Prison is a dark place but there is hope. Each time I would walk down the long hallway to the college building surrounded by the cells and other men, I was reminded of the intense daily pressure they are under living where they do. These men are ministering in a challenging and harsh environment. The persecution they face for being Christians and in this program is real. They know this; they feel this; they live in this darkness every day. I pray for them to be faithful and to show the light of Jesus Christ. As I reflect on my time with them, I cannot shake the authentic happiness and humility of these men, who are at peace with their position and joyful in their new purpose in life.
