Mercy Given in a Time of Need!
2nd Event
The second event was when we were on Sunday teaching at the prison. When one enters into the dining hall where we teach there is a guard cage above the dining room and on the walls, it states in large letters “No warning shots fired”. During our teaching in the dining hall a correctional Sergeant ask me to step out for a moment. He asked me that if we could speak to an inmate who just received news that his son was killed in a robbery. This was a very important move of God because there were no other chaplains on the facilities to do this on that day. We thought that the correctional staff was going to bring out this gentleman to a room in the protected area where we could talk with him. However, we were escorted across the yard behind the 14-foot-high security fence covered in barb wire. Around the yard that we entered there are guard towers overlooking the yard that had signs that state in large letters “No warning shots fired”. As we walked across the yard into the housing facility, we were reminded that no civilians are allowed to go into this area. Once inside a correctional officer over a loudspeaker called out this individual. As he came out of his cell and down the stairs, we saw a large stocky man with multiple tattoos coming to meet us at the table where we waited.
His name is Gary. He has been incarcerated for 29 years now. He stated that he is an active gang member and it became apparent that he was quite estranged from his family. He stated because of his past and present lifestyle he cut off all communication with his family. We were the only visitors in person that he has had in 29 years of his incarceration. As he began to speak with us, and told us that his son was killed that morning in an armed robbery. The mother of his son made an emergency call to the prison to advise him. We observed that he was quite distraught regarding the death of his son and he stated that he felt a lot of guilt because he really had no relationship with him. He trembled and cried. We spent about an hour with Gary inside the housing complex just feet from his cell. Can you imagine for 29 years of his life living is a cell with another man in a room that is basically 5 feet by 6 feet in size? And on top of this he never received a visit from any of his family for all the time he has been incarcerated.
To make a long story short we were able to lead him to the feet of our dear Jesus and he accepted Him as Lord and Savior. As we walked back from our visit with Gary, we thought on the great love Father God has for Gary by allowing us to go where no one is allowed as civilians. Never did we think that we would be allowed into the housing area of prisoners. God opens doors where no one else has been able to enter. We thank God that we are always prepared to share His love with those who He puts before us. Gary stated that he will begin to attend the Protestant services with us next Sunday in the dining hall. Please pray for all the Gary’s that have been held captive for so many years by drugs and violence. Gary obviously had someone praying for him for us to be able to minister to him.
We now understood why Satan tried to use that women evaluator that we spoke of in Part 1 to terminate me from the college was to keep Gary from hearing about the love and mercy of Father God. If I was terminated, we would have not been allowed in the prison to minister to men like Gary. Please keep the us and the ministry in your prayers because Satan will try to use every situation to defeat and hold back the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy Given in a Time of Need!
Claudia & Timothy