Our last two prison programs were today. After three weeks of practicing carols, drama and dance we finished our Christamas (sorry got Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child" in my head) programs at Bugungu YO and Bugungu YP. YP is always a celebration but YO is a very dark place spiritually. So we started there at 10:30 this morning.
As I was giving the opening prayer and remarks there was a couple of young muslim men standing in the front. They were openly hostile to our sharing the gospel in song, drama and dance. After our choir started I could barely hear them. They were intimidated by the men. So I went and stood next to these men, boys really, and began to sing with the choir. One of them moved away but the other stayed where he was. Soon he was starting to sing with the music.
When the one boy moved away Bev came up and stood beside him and began to sing. The men then started to enjoy the music. We had told them at the start that they could enjoy the music even if they weren't Christians but this young man next to Bev just refused. Between songs Bev told him that he could enjoy the music even if he didn't get saved. Jesus gives us joy and lets us dance in prison. Well that seemed to make a difference as his defiant attitude soon washed away.
The Birth of Jesus was told from Matthew and Luke with short dramas to fill in the story. Then Moro Steven, our prisons pastor, shared a very powerful message. And nine men gave their lives to Jesus, including the two muslim boys.
Then when the song and dance segment started the joy on the saved men's faces was indescribable unless you happen to be born again. In that case you know exactly what it looks like. Because we can see it every day in the mirror.
The Program was even better at YP. 19 men came forward to give their lives to Jesus and it was such an incredible blessing. I even met a guard who got saved as a prisoner in Kirinya Remand in 2000. He is still walking with Christ.
I am always amazed at what Jesus does. He saves people that 10 minutes earlier had been dead set against Him. He saves them in prison, on the street, in the hospital, at church. He saves us wherever we may be. Pray for those He is saving this Christmas and every day. Jesus is indeed the Gift that keeps forgiving.
Have a blessed and merry Christmas.
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What an amazing Christmas present...this brought tears to my eyes. We love you guys, and are inspired by your service and commitment to His call. May the Lord richly bless you, as we celebrate His first coming, and look forward to His second. God bless you guys!
ReplyDeleteDitto what Geiner said. I love the reality of the Good News and the reality of what you have recounted. The reality is so much better than the sentimentality of invented stories. May God continue to bless you as you continue to serve Him!
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