The Unnamed Warrior

One of the most difficult things to accomplish while ministering in the criminal justice arena is to "quantify" results. It is really not different from any other area of ministry except that the individuals we minister to are under an immense amount of pressure to "prove themselves."

An individual who is in prison and makes a decision to turn from their wicked ways and change the way that they view God, themselves, and the world is looked at many times as a "jail house" convert. Comments like "oh you just got religion to get out of trouble" are often heard and many times echoed by the masses.

In prison the only way to "prove" life change is time, time, and more time. Most of these men and women have made promise after promise only to fall on deaf ears of those that they have manipulated and maligned in the midst of their descent.

That is why when I share something from inside I say that is a snapshot of "an imperfect journey." The truth is we ALL are on a imperfect journey. I am not able to judge intentions or heart change only take someone at their word.Only God can judge a heart and we as humans can only evaluate actions.

With that being said I wanted to share with you another snapshot of an imperfect journey that I came across today.

I recently mentioned the book "Gifts of Freedom" that has had a tremendous impact on many of our inmates. Today I received some books back that an inmate returned since they were being released or transferred. In that pile was a partially completed "Gifts of Freedom" book with no name in it.

I wanted to share some of the thoughts of this unnamed warrior. I say unnamed warrior because that is who he or she is. They are "warring" for their future and destiny.

In a summary of chapter one subtitled "what's my purpose what went wrong" this is what they said to answer the question "what are the things you can do in the pursuit of His destiny for you?"
Response: I know Him a little better, no I don't understand completely, I must stay in this book and the Bible to keep up on what I am destined for.

Another question that was asked was in regard to accepting the gift of salvation and this is what our unnamed warrior said "I have received, but I am weak, my plan to grow spiritually is to keep close with God and to be able to live a better life so far it is very difficult."

I will share one more response with you that encapsulates what is needed, but not always acted on by those transitioning from prison. The question was asked about practical things that needed to be done to embrace "new life" and their response like so many we work with was "go to church, read scripture, and pray. Yes there are a lot of habbits [sic] I need to change, I will change friends, and relationships."

All that you or I can do is take them at their word. This snapshot is very similar to what we hear on a daily basis. There are many imperfect warriors that are wrestling and warring for their future and destiny. Pray with me that they maintain their will to fight to victory.