I'm just back from three and one half days in Ware State Prison in Waycross. I've been in there numerous times, but each time is different in some ways. It all depends on the warden, the inmates in the weekend program, the weather, the cooperation of the officers and the cooperation of the chaplain.
This time the cooperation from all was great, the weather was good and the inmate population was the only main variable. The prison is crowded, the result of the state closing several facilities. The prison population is getting younger, probably the result of a lot of drug related convictions, and the authorities say this age group is difficult to control. A lot of them have had no structure or discipline in their lives, for various reasons, and they challenge authority at every opportunity. One of the officers stated that they used to have about 20 stabbings a year, and now it is runs that many per month.
The residents on our Walk were indeed younger, but we could not attest to the violence part. Our group's behavior is generally better because of the selection process and this time was no exception. They participated fully in the program, and their tears were genuine at the closing.
Prison is not a trusting environment. Inmates do not confide in another, because they can be betrayed or hurt, so a very telling symbol of the program's worth is the picture of 3 inmates, who did not even know each other when they came in on Thursday, sitting in a small group, holding hands and praying for each other. This is not an isolated snapshot, but the whole scene in the room was inmates in pairs or trios sitting together doing this. Included were blacks, whites and hispanics, everyone in ardent prayer for the other or others in his group.
Two comments from the closing summarize the feelings of a lot of the men. One said "I came in on Thursday knowing that no one cared about me, but here on Sunday I can say that there are men who do care and they point me to the One who loves and cares the most."
Another said that the best thing that ever happened to him was coming to prison. For one thing it kept him from being killed on the street, and he also found love in his life for the very first time.
It is true that we presented a Christian message, but the main thing we did was to show love to the men and treat them like human beings. A smile, a hug and a genuine concern goes a long way toward making a man regain his dignity.
It is not a hard ministry, but it is very gratifying to see the changes in the lives of the men who attend.
We all need to pray for inmates in our prison system. It is true that there are a lot of bad apples, even evil men and women, but it is also true that a lot are in need of someone who can point them the way to Jesus, and maybe smile in the process.
No comments:
Post a Comment