Naujan District Jail Visit
Months before our arrival, we had talked through the itinerary and a visit to the local prison was scheduled. Pastor Cesar wanted us to see the ministry that they had with the PDLs in their country (People Deprived of Liberty). I wasn’t personally excited about it having done some prison ministry in the US. In the US, there are a lot of hoops to jump through and a lot of separations between the prisoners and the visitors. I thought it might be good for the students on the trip to see the lesion to add to the cultural engagement aspect. It is safe to say my attitude was at best apathetic.
Once in the Philippines and beginning to hear Pastor Cesar’s heart for the Journey ministry (an off shoot of Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship), I began to warm to the idea. I love seeing what the Lord is doing in a different context and then being able to encourage those that are doing it.
When we headed out that day, it happened to be the hottest and most humid day of our trip. The sun was out in full force. When we arrived at the prison, we stood in the sun to check-in. I was pretty sure that my polyester shirt was melting on my shoulders. We were not allowed to bring in our phones. We brought in our musical instruments and the hygiene packs as gifts for the PDLs. (A hygiene pack consists of a washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap). We signed-in at the guard station and immediately entered the prison yard. The guards were unarmed, and I was uncomfortable. It was explained to us that this was a low security prison. Almost everyone there was in the prison for theft or drug use and/or dealing. It dawned on me as we stood under the slightly cooler covered area that many of these people were probably experiencing a more stable life in the prison than they had on the streets.
As we waited under the covered area it became clear that a formal ceremony was about to take place. A front table was set up. A microphone and speaker system was in place and the guards and prison warden were present and visibly excited for us to be with them.
I was seated at the front table with the other local pastors who run the prison ministry. It is always a humbling privilege to meet such wonderful men who are laboring so diligently in difficult situations.
A stream of yellow shirts began to flow into the seats under the covered area.
Before we arrived, Pastor Cesar made it clear that we should not wear yellow or we may not leave the prison. We could only hope he was joking.
Everyone was cooperating and finding seats and helping other people find seats. Each of these PDLs had graduated from or were currently going through the TPJ Journey Bible Study Fellowship.
I felt like I was at a press conference. I was called on to introduce our team and give a greeting. Our team led a few songs of worship. Afterwards one of the PDLs joined our worship team and sang lead. He was incredible. As I sat there, I could almost feel my heart changing. The Lord was really teaching me a lesson about second chances, about the power of the gospel to transform dark spaces, about God’s redeeming love and about the power of the presence of gospel people to provide hope in the midst of despair. As we passed out the hygiene kits, the looks of gratitude and thank yous for such a humble gift was overwhelming. The 5 women that were there were just as excited about getting the plastic bag the hygiene kit came in.
Before we left, I was asked to share a closing prayer for the staff and the prisoners. By this time my heart was overflowing with thanks. A closing prayer to express it was almost necessary.
God is in the business of giving second chances. He is simply calling his church to be the hands and the feet and the voices that take the message of hope to the darkest places.
