For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
During this morning's chapel service, one of the men stood up to share his story of how he came to be where he's at today...
and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
During this morning's chapel service, one of the men stood up to share his story of how he came to be where he's at today...
In the five minutes he spoke, he told a story I have heard so often, but from many different lips. "If I had not gotten arrested and come to prison, I'd probably be dead."
A large proportion of the men who make up the church that's behind these walls had a serious drug problem when they were in the "streets." Some of them were also homeless and lived under bridges or in cardboard boxes. And they all swear that God saved their lives by allowing them to be arrested, even though, at the time, none of them viewed their arrest as anything positive. Later, however, after months or years of confinement, one by one, each man was able to hear the message of salvation and place his trust in Jesus Christ, and only then did each man see the biggest picture, that God rescued them from their self-destructive ways.
The man who gave his testimony today has been in prison for about five years. He's also scheduled to be released within the next week or two. And he will be going to a shelter in New York City where he'll have to report to a parole officer as well as remain on parole for at least several more years.
Not surprisingly, this man expressed his fear of going back to the streets because he knows he will be surrounded by temptations. Furthermore, he has no family ties. There will be no one to welcome him home. He'll get no hugs or greetings. Instead, he will have to face the realization that he could eventually relapse and repeat the proverbial "revolving door" cycle of going in and out of prison again and again.
In any case, he now recognizes that his life had once been out of control. And, by his own admission, at the rate he was using drugs and stealing to support his habit, had he not gotten arrested when he did, he probably would not be alive today.
My hope for him, of course, is that he does well on the outside. I urged him to find a church with genuinely caring members who would be willing to give him spiritual support and emotional encouragement. I also told him to refuse to become discouraged if he finds it hard to locate such a congregation. Unfortunately, not every "church" welcomes ex-offenders and ex-addicts.
Then, near the end of our service, when the minister gave the altar call, this man came to the front and allowed us to pray for him. And in a very short time he will be walking out the front door of the prison, and he'll be on his way.
D.B.
A large proportion of the men who make up the church that's behind these walls had a serious drug problem when they were in the "streets." Some of them were also homeless and lived under bridges or in cardboard boxes. And they all swear that God saved their lives by allowing them to be arrested, even though, at the time, none of them viewed their arrest as anything positive. Later, however, after months or years of confinement, one by one, each man was able to hear the message of salvation and place his trust in Jesus Christ, and only then did each man see the biggest picture, that God rescued them from their self-destructive ways.
The man who gave his testimony today has been in prison for about five years. He's also scheduled to be released within the next week or two. And he will be going to a shelter in New York City where he'll have to report to a parole officer as well as remain on parole for at least several more years.
Not surprisingly, this man expressed his fear of going back to the streets because he knows he will be surrounded by temptations. Furthermore, he has no family ties. There will be no one to welcome him home. He'll get no hugs or greetings. Instead, he will have to face the realization that he could eventually relapse and repeat the proverbial "revolving door" cycle of going in and out of prison again and again.
In any case, he now recognizes that his life had once been out of control. And, by his own admission, at the rate he was using drugs and stealing to support his habit, had he not gotten arrested when he did, he probably would not be alive today.
My hope for him, of course, is that he does well on the outside. I urged him to find a church with genuinely caring members who would be willing to give him spiritual support and emotional encouragement. I also told him to refuse to become discouraged if he finds it hard to locate such a congregation. Unfortunately, not every "church" welcomes ex-offenders and ex-addicts.
Then, near the end of our service, when the minister gave the altar call, this man came to the front and allowed us to pray for him. And in a very short time he will be walking out the front door of the prison, and he'll be on his way.
D.B.
