This month has had routine and a specific schedule. Tuesday to Friday is always filled with teaching from 8 till 2. That changed for just today. We left the school grounds at 8 and hopped into the ZOE church minibus. We would not be teaching, instead we would be visiting a jail for young adults. I have been to a lot of places, but jail is not one of them. I don't get in a ton of trouble. I didn't know how I would possibly relate to these young men.
Everything that followed after our arrival completely shocked me. 15 men chose to come to listen to us. It was not forced upon them. We didn't go and beg them to come. They just quietly came and sat. They listened intently as the boys from our team gave their testimonies. It was obvious many of them were hanging off every word. No one interrupted. No one whispered in the background. All attention was given to the one speaking. They happily moved their chairs to make small groups for us to talk more one-on-one with them. Without hesitation they asked questions and shared their own stories with us. They were curious. They expressed a strong desire to leave their past behind them. They wanted to know God and to leave this jail and dedicate their lives to him.
There it was! That is where I could relate to them. I know what it feels like to yearn for a deep relationship with God. I understand the confusion on why someone would die for my mistake. I have wondered orn why God felt I was worth that sacrifice. So I spoke with them. I encouraged and prayed. If the light in their eyes wasn't enough proof that this was clicking for them, their words truly confirmed it. One man told us about how he had never opened a bible before, but since arriving at jail 9 days ago, he had read it every day. Others had similar stories. The time came for us to leave. I never thought I would be so disappointed to leave a jail! However I am confident that some of those men will continue to search for God and grow into strong Christian men!
"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future."
