This coming Saturday I will be driving up to Gatesville, TX to attend a volunteer training so that I can be a part of our church’s prison ministry. I attended the church’s training a few months back.
That’s a strange and scary ministry to be a part of you may think.
Yes, for most folks it is absolutely terrifying to go inside the walls of a jail or prison. How do you think the inmates feel?
So why would I want to do that?
Well, because I was one of those guys in there. In fact it was 14 years ago that I gave my life to God in a chapel service in jail.
The History
I had a couple of wild years in my teens where breaking the law seemed like the thing to do. I obviously wasn’t very good at it because I got caught, a few times. It was the third time that I realized that if didn’t change that I would be spending a lot of time behind bars.
I didn’t know it at the time but God was setting me up for a divine intervention that would change my life.
The God Encounter
One night I was in my dorm with a hundred or so guys and they called for a chapel service. I really wanted out of the dorm so I went. While I was there I listened to the guys talking, kind of, until I all of a sudden had this overwhelming feeling come upon me. The only way that I can describe it was that I felt like the worst person in the world. In my mind I could see all the wrong things I had done in my life all the way down to little lies I told my mom when I was a kid. I didn’t know it at the time but it as the presence of God coming near me.
Since I was in jail I did all that I could do to fight back the tears that wanted to overtake my being. Shortly after that the service ended and we headed back to our dorms where I followed one of the guys that had been in the service back to his bunk. I asked what this feeling was that I was having because I did not understand it. I honestly do not remember what he said or told me but I do remember praying with him and accept Jesus into my heart. He gave me a New Testament bible and I went back to my bunk.
The Impact that had on My Life
It has been 14 years since I gave my life to God in that Jail.
To say that the people who volunteered their time to minister to me is an understatement. Up until that time, at the age of 19 years old, I thought that my life was over. It was giving my life to God and learning about Him that gave me hope and helped me to change into the person that I am today – A husband of 10 years, a father of 3, a man who serves God.
Now it’s Time for Me to Give Back
In the last 14 years God has done some amazing things in my life and I am happy to say that I live a lifestyle that is totally opposite then the one that got me into jail. Jail is one of the most hopeless places in the world. Life is happening on the outside but is standing still for you. That is how I felt. I lost everything when I was in there.
I want to let guys know that there is hope in Jesus.
When I am done with this training on Saturday then I will need to go to a prayer training session at my church. From there I should be clear to go and minister in any jail or prison in Texas. It will be really different to be on the other side of the fence for once.
Pray for me that I can impact men’s lives that the way that mine was impacted.
One Comment
What an inspiring story Dan!
It’s always great to see someone giving back. I’m sure you’ll touch someone the same way you were touched. Great news about your health too! God Bless.