I went to prison today
Monday, November 5th, 2007
This is one of those places you didn’t think you’d ever want to go, but today I saw God at Crossroads Correctional Center (prison). I attended the closing ceremony for the Kairos weekend. Thirty offenders were gathered with 35 Kairos volunteers for a life-changing experience. I listened for over two hours to these men share about how the love they had experienced impacted them. The volunteers had exibited unconditional, non-judgmental love. I heard many of them talk about how they had done wrong and how they were now forgiven by God, but still had to pay for their crimes. The prison selects the leaders from among the 1400+ population to be part of the meetings. Many of these leaders are at odds with one another when the weekend begins. They become a family of brothers that learn to care for one another and they learn to listen. Walls are torn down and the love of Christ is exibited. I was in tears as I heard these men talk about the difference they hope to make in others lives.
One man talked about how he hoped to pass along what he has gained to his 14 year old son who is headed in the same direction toward destruction. One of the muslim leaders who accepted Christ this weekend was later seen trying to lead one of the Buddhists to faith in Christ - how amazing!
I heard one man say that in 38 years of incarceration there has never been a
program that made a difference like this and he pleaded with the warden who was present for a third Kairos to come so that another group of men could be reached. God is calling out the men of our churches to volunteer for the next Kairos in May of 2008.
