|
I've been involved in prison ministry since 1997, and have found it to be one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Underlying my commitment to reaching out to people in prison is the realisation that, literally, 'There but for the grace of God go I'.
Consider the following story...
Adolph Eichmann, best known as the architect of Nazi Germany's 'final solution' - the extermination of the Jews in the death camps, started lfe as a normal human being, whose first job was as a door-to-door salesman selling vacuum cleaners. In the rise of Nazi Germany, he worked his way up to being the man respoinsible for orchestrating the death of 6,000,000 Jews. At the end of World War 2, he fled to South America, and was eventually kidnapped by Israel's Mossad and returned to Israel to face trial.
Yehiel Dinur was a survivor of Auschwitz, one of the extermination camps Eichmann was in charge of. Called to testify as to what happened in the camp, he was brought face to face with Eichmann in court.
The world's press was in attendance, and there was much speculation about how Dinur would react to being brought face to face with Eichmann, who was being portrayed as a monster.
When brought into the court to give his testimony, confronted with the person of Eichmann sitting in the defendant's dock, he collapsed on the floor in tears, shouting and sobbing incoherently. When questioned by the press about his reaction, he explained that it was not from hatred, anger, or horror, but because he saw that Adolph Eichmann was just an ordinary man, like you or I, and that Dinur was capable of the same atrocities.
When interviewed, he said “I was afraid about myself – I saw that I am capable to do this…exactly like he.”
He had realised that sin and evil are the human condition.
That the defect belongs to all humanity.
There are degrees of sin, but we all have that flaw that only relationship with Jesus can mend.
Our society tends to lump prison inmates into a stereotype, and judge them long past the completion of their sentences. Recidivism rates are often quoted as support for the 'Zero tolerance' policies of various governments, but you only have to know some of the stories behind some of these people's lives to wonder if you or I would have been any different.
As someone whose past included drug dealing and addiction, I have found that most people in gaols can relate to my story, and as God called me into this ministry I found there is no place for an "us and them" mentality in the heart of a Christian - when Jesus ministered here on earth 2000 years ago he came to the lost.
Our involvement in prison ministry is in a number of forms...
Chapel Services...
Monthly Chapel services in Sydney's Long Bay Correctional Centre, where I assist the Assemblies of God Chaplain in running chapel services. I lead the worship and preach a Gospel message.
Outreach Concerts...
I have performed in most gaols in New South Wales that are within a reasonable driving distance from Sydney, usually performing once or twice a month in all types of correctional centres.
We are currently planning on ministering on a regular basis through prison outreach concerts.
These concerts run for an hour and a half, and are really in the form of a church service, in that the ministry consists of worship music followed by the sharing of the Gospel.
Overseas Prison Ministry...
I have ministered in gaols and prisons in Central America (in Nicaragua and Honduras) and hope to also minister in the United States prison system in the near future. |
