Yesterday was an exciting day. We went to a prison in south Florida that has been plagued with violence. All of the inmates there are serving long sentences; most face life without the possibility of parole. There are many gang members incarcerated in this prison and because of the violence, all privileges have been removed and they are in almost continuous lockdown. This means they receive no visits to the recreation yard, no programs – no nothing! Just eating and sleeping and being confined to small cells in the smoldering swelter of south Florida heat which is hotter than hell.
A friend of mine holds a high position in the state correctional department and she recently asked me to come down and discuss a faith based initiative that is being implemented in this facility with the warden and other officials. She wants to see positive changes in this prison and the goal is that when the inmates begin to learn of the hope and love of Christ through the institution of several new programs including a fully accredited seminary in the prison, that the violence can be reduced.
I didn’t want to come unless I could offer my testimony to the inmates while I was there, and while they agreed to allow it; they were concerned. I recruited Murf the Surf and Kenny Munds to accompany me and together we went down to see how we could help out. Prior to entering the yard we attended a meeting with my friend, the warden, and various state officials. They had decided to do something unprecedented and allow every inmate in the facility (to include rival gangs) on the yard at the same time.
Yikes!
This had never been done in the facility prior to this and they were very concerned that violence could erupt. Tensions were running very high at this facility and even old Murf, who has been in some 2500 prisons and served over 20 years himself, said it was as serious a situation as he’d ever seen on a prison yard.
The warden shared their plans to deal with the violence if and when it erupted. They had several men stationed in towers overlooking the yard with rifles and shotguns, they had swat teams assembled and ready waiting in rooms surrounding the yard, they were videotaping inmates all over the yard and every available guard was on duty.
We felt it was more important that we should pray and we did so right there in the meeting room. Then we headed for the yard. Murf served as MC and Kenny warmed them up with several songs. Normally Kenny keeps them clapping and rolling with laughter, but no one was even cracking a smile.
Hmmm . . . Tough crowd! I prayed again before I got up to close it out with my testimony. At the end hundreds indicated they wanted to follow Jesus. There was no violence, and no riot; just men seeking peace, joy, and love in that hell hole. To be fair there were more men that did not make a decision for Christ, but it is a start.
I woke up thinking about some of those men. I spoke to probably a hundred or so men and I never ask, but many times they share their stories. One guy had killed the man who raped his little sister; another had killed his wife and his best friend whom he caught in the very act of committing adultery; another had killed someone in a car crash while drunk; another was involved with an armed robbery that went awry, and on and on.
Most had been serving time for decades; one man told me that he had already served 40 years.
While most of us are far removed from these guys, Jesus Christ is with them this morning. He knows their crimes and stands willing to forgive them if they will just allow Him into their hearts whereby He can heal them.
While still on the cross Jesus saved a man that was being executed. He has a heart for lost tortured souls. Please pray for these men this morning. If you cannot bear to pray for them, what does it say about your faith? We are told to emulate Jesus and He loves the lost and forlorn which means we should do likewise. His love is not reserved just for the people dressed in suits and ties that stream into church with big smiles and hearty handshakes every Sunday.
Just think about this for a moment: the very first person who went to heaven after the crucifixion of Jesus was a criminal who was being executed. Selah . . .
Luke 23:43
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
May 29, 2014 – Click here to listen