Yesterday evening my friend Al and I decided to go to one of the prison's recreation yards to get some fresh air...
Normally we would have been in the chapel for a worship service. But the ministry team that was scheduled to come in had to cancel. So, Al and I found ourselves with some free time on a nice night.
As we were walking together Al and I were approached by a prisoner of Jamaican descent. We could tell by the look on his face that he was under lots of stress. It was only several weeks ago that he first began to attend some of our chapel's services. I remember praying for him when he went for his first time. He had come to the altar seeking prayer.
Now Al and I were trying to encourage this man to share what was on his mind. He told us that he had learned that his wife was found to be HIV positive. In other words, she had been exposed to the AIDS virus.
He has been incarcerated for about six years, and he only has a few years left on his sentence before he could go home. This man almost began to cry. He knew and understood, when he received the news, that his wife had been unfaithful. She confessed to him over the phone that she had slept with another man. Sadly, and unknown to her, he was carrying the AIDS virus. My heart went out to this fellow inmate.
Al and I spent about thirty minutes talking to him as other prisoners passed us by in their circular travels around the yard's walking path. Al and I were silently praying as we took our turns speaking to this man about his situation. Neither of us wanted to give him bad advice or speak within the framework of our limited human understanding. As Christians and ministers, we wanted to give him words of encouragement and genuine spiritual help.
This prisoner was in deep distress, and he was devastated at the news he received. Yet in these kinds of situations the Lord is faithful. God gives wisdom to those who ask for it. And He seemed to give Al and me the words to say. We embraced this man, and we shared some Scriptures with him too.
The best part is that while this prisoner was certainly hurting, he did not hesitate to tell us that he wants to forgive his wife. I'm sure this woman was lonely. At the time she needed companionship. They also have two children. And now that his wife has been exposed to AIDS their relationship is taking on a whole new dimension.
I am no marriage counselor. Al and I told this man to continue to seek the Lord and to come to the chapel for fellowship. We promised to each continue to pray for him, and as we were ending our talk, he told us that he definitely felt better.
Al made him promise never to lose faith in God because of this setback. And as for now he is going to handle things once he's released from prison. Al and I fully trust that God will guide him and give this man wisdom. We both also promised him that we will keep all this confidential. No one who is reading this journal knows who this man is.
D. B.
As we were walking together Al and I were approached by a prisoner of Jamaican descent. We could tell by the look on his face that he was under lots of stress. It was only several weeks ago that he first began to attend some of our chapel's services. I remember praying for him when he went for his first time. He had come to the altar seeking prayer.
Now Al and I were trying to encourage this man to share what was on his mind. He told us that he had learned that his wife was found to be HIV positive. In other words, she had been exposed to the AIDS virus.
He has been incarcerated for about six years, and he only has a few years left on his sentence before he could go home. This man almost began to cry. He knew and understood, when he received the news, that his wife had been unfaithful. She confessed to him over the phone that she had slept with another man. Sadly, and unknown to her, he was carrying the AIDS virus. My heart went out to this fellow inmate.
Al and I spent about thirty minutes talking to him as other prisoners passed us by in their circular travels around the yard's walking path. Al and I were silently praying as we took our turns speaking to this man about his situation. Neither of us wanted to give him bad advice or speak within the framework of our limited human understanding. As Christians and ministers, we wanted to give him words of encouragement and genuine spiritual help.
This prisoner was in deep distress, and he was devastated at the news he received. Yet in these kinds of situations the Lord is faithful. God gives wisdom to those who ask for it. And He seemed to give Al and me the words to say. We embraced this man, and we shared some Scriptures with him too.
The best part is that while this prisoner was certainly hurting, he did not hesitate to tell us that he wants to forgive his wife. I'm sure this woman was lonely. At the time she needed companionship. They also have two children. And now that his wife has been exposed to AIDS their relationship is taking on a whole new dimension.
I am no marriage counselor. Al and I told this man to continue to seek the Lord and to come to the chapel for fellowship. We promised to each continue to pray for him, and as we were ending our talk, he told us that he definitely felt better.
Al made him promise never to lose faith in God because of this setback. And as for now he is going to handle things once he's released from prison. Al and I fully trust that God will guide him and give this man wisdom. We both also promised him that we will keep all this confidential. No one who is reading this journal knows who this man is.
D. B.
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