L.O.V.E. Stories: GO visit
A man wearing a red shirt carries plastic chairs into a windowless concrete room. On his third load, one of the volunteers, a female seminary student asks, “Are you expecting that many?” The man bringing in the chairs says something about having faith. Others enter the room and shake my hand to introduce themselves. Soon, most of the chairs are occupied by about a dozen men wearing various articles of red clothing. Song books are handed out and someone calls out a favourite number. “It is hard to sing these choruses acapella,” I think to myself as I try in vain to keep time with my feet and stick carefully to the melody. The unified singing echoes off the bare walls. It is loud, quite tuneless, and every man joins in enthusiastically. Yet, it is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard.
Photo credit: Tim Andries
We spend some time on prayer requests. These are the usual: family members, illness, and the like. One man will be released in a few days. I share the story of Joseph. I am a bit long winded and too detailed in parts, but they all listen attentively and ask a few pertinent questions at the end. The hour flies by and soon it is time to say goodbye to this group. There are more handshakes and best wishes for the man who will be getting out.
Still, it is important to remember this is a prison. There are unwritten rules inside these walls and they are different from the rules on the outside. There is a hierarchy of sorts among inmates and grown men will fight over what may seem insignificant in order to maintain their status. While we want to show prisoners that we care about them, we need to gain some understanding about what is appropriate during our visits. Therefore, visitors to correctional institutions are screened and ministry volunteers are required to have a training session with the prison chaplain.
Surely Jesus knew that it wouldn’t be easy when he equated visiting prisoners as a kindness shown to the Lord himself (Matthew 25:36). Those who have committed crimes worthy of a prison sentence often have many issues that have brought them to this place. Most of the incarcerated have grown up in dysfunction, suffering neglect and abuse of all kinds. Often they have never experienced real love and acceptance. Consequently, anger, negative behaviour patterns, and addiction frequently become the only way of life they know.
A stint behind bars doesn’t necessarily change this. While there are some worthwhile programs offered by various institutions and organizations, the Christian volunteer can offer something unique. A person who gives of their time to visit inmates can not only listen and be a positive role model, but can point the incarcerated person in the right direction: to the unconditional grace and forgiveness that Jesus offers.
“GO,” a ministry of Trinity Western University, is one such opportunity to share this love in the prison. A group of students visits a local institution each Wednesday. For more information, contact: Sunhee Jung sunfield94@yahoo.com
Rose Scott
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