This memoir is very different from all the rest as the attendees are inmates and most will never have the chance to read this. God has opened many doors for me and I love how He never tops out and can always top the thing He did last! This time was no different… yet very different! If you have read past memoirs or my July Newsletter you know of “Our Blessing” who until now I have left nameless. Her name is Suzy, and along with everything else she does, Suzy and her sister, Dee, have a passion and calling for prison ministry…youth prison ministry to be exact.
Two weeks ago, I traveled to California and through Suzy and Dee’s efforts and with the authorization of Superintendent Finley, I was given the awesome opportunity to minister inside the walls of the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility. Superintendent Findley’s Executive Assistant, Anna, worked tirelessly planning out all the details and scheduling to make this day possible. Every time I turned around she was there making sure all flowed smoothly - continually checking on me and always the encourager! Thank you, Anna, and may the Lord bless you BIG for all your efforts!
As the men filed in I must admit I was intimidated, it was very similar to how I felt when I went to the prison in Antigua to tell Donaldson (one of the men who was an accomplice in my parent’s murder) about Jesus. Wanting to leave, yet knowing in my heart I was there for a Divine purpose! The men were cold and hard. They made little or no eye contact with me and within minutes of being before them, I felt the Holy Spirit empower me. I spoke to them with a boldness and, yes, a bit of an attitude. I knew this event was NOT mandatory for them, and each one had willingly chose to sign up to come. Of course, I also knew their main motivation was to get out of their cells, not to hear me speak! But whatever the case may be, they were there. One of the first things I told them was that I believe it is God who makes the opportunity to share Jesus and as Christians, we must be ready at all times to seize those opportunities. However, if we try to make our own opportunity and cram Jesus down a person’s throat, we can do more damage then good! I went on to explain, “I am not here to preach at you, but was invited to come and you all willingly chose to be here…right?” Immediately, one inmate shouts out “NO, I was forced to come,” and before I could respond a few of the other inmates rescued me and put him in his place - it was great!
And then it happened…I literally watched God’s favor wash over this group of men. Most started looking up and making eye contact, they started to engage by verbally responding to things I said and many laughed out loud! Not only did they soften towards me, but I towards them. I no longer wanted to leave, but wished I had more time with them. So much so that as they were being dismissed I asked Assistant Superintendent Brown if I could walk the rows and speak to the men as they were leaving. With her permission I walked up to each man, some completely ignored me, some shook my hand and some eagerly waited for me to get to them and spoke kind words of thanks and some even blessed me! Wow, what an amazing experience! I pray with all my heart that those men will know that their Redeemer lives, that forgiveness is available to them, and come into the knowledge of God’s unmerited, saving grace!
It was 45 minutes before the women filed in and when they arrived, it was then I remembered that this was a “youth” facility, ages 12 (yes, 12!) to 25. Unlike the men, these girls looked their ages. Far too young to be incarcerated, or should I say, far too young to have robbed, assaulted or murdered someone. Their crimes horrific…their stories heart wrenching! Sin is sin and breaking the law is breaking the law and there is a price to pay for both of them. But, when you hear about the 12 year old (we’ll call her Gracie) who was sexually abused by her step dad since she was seven and later by his friends for which he would get drugs in return, (and her mother knowing about it) attempts to take her own life, but in the process her mother walks in, sees what she is about to do and starts speaking cruel words of abuse to the point where Gracie turns the gun on her mother and then when the step dad comes in, she shoots him too! Now she is in prison for 35 years with one shot at parole.
There are countless stories like Gracie’s and thanks to people like Suzy and Dee who answered the call God laid on their hearts, Gracie is getting to know Jesus in a very real way! The girls in Suzy and Dee’s Bible Study live for every Sunday afternoon when Suzy and Dee enter those prison gates to share Jesus Christ with them. What I found even more amazing was God’s Divine favor that Suzy and Dee have with ALL the girls! Everyone knows them, hugs them, calls out to them and Suzy and Dee know them all by name and each of their stories! May these two incredible ladies be an inspiration to us all to reach out beyond our circle of influence and our comfort zones to make a difference for Jesus in the lives of others!
Even though the attendees of this engagement will most likely never read this, I close in saying thank you for choosing to sign up and for coming to hear my testimony. I pray each of you will come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and if the Lord is willing, He will make a way for me to return to you and share more about who He is, what He has done and how very much He loves you!
In Christ’s Love and mine,
Bonnie