A story written by Pastor David Brown, MCF-Faribault volunteer and pastor of the Fourth Avenue Methodist church in Faribault
Grace and peace to you, friends.
I had the opportunity last night to go to MN Correctional Facility-Faribault, medium security state prison about 6 blocks from where I live. I go in with a group of other Christians on the second Tuesday of the month, for a time of worship and testimony. Last night about 60 guys attended. One of the guys had just arrived from Stillwater last week and was amazed at how many Christians there are at MCF-Faribault. (He also mentioned how glad he was to be able to go outside from building to building and see the sky-a rare occurrence at Stillwater, apparently…how we take things for granted).
We sang some Christmas carols with a keyboard and a couple of guitars. Their voices aren’t great, comparatively speaking. But as we closed out a set with “Angels We Have Heard On High”, tears welled up in my eyes. Here in this small conference room, fluorescent lights glaring, behind razor wire and double chain-linked fences, security that no gate crashers could get through, with snow falling outside, a group of Christians were singing their hearts out. I thought that this is what I like about the Church. That it doesn’t matter if you are in a stained glass window sanctuary with candle light, or under a tree in Uganda, or in an adobe building in Guatemala, in your own home, or in prison…God is present and receives our songs of praise and worship. It seems to me that we get so caught up in doing worship “right” (which generally means ‘the way I like it’) that we lose sight of the very nature of the Kingdom of God. That the gates of heaven have been opened and through God’s gift of Jesus, the world is welcomed in. I wonder if the angels cried with me last night at the prisoners songs of praise?
At the end of the meeting, we gather in a circle and pray. The men were invited to pray for what is difficult for them at this time of year. I was struck by the fact that most of the men did not pray for themselves, or follow directions! Instead they prayed for each other and people they knew who needed prayer. They were “others” focused. two prayers were especially meaningful to me. One man prayed for the victims of his crime, that they would be comforted during this season. Another prayed for the Correctional Officers in the prison and their families. That they would be blessed and that God would show them favor. Two great, unexpected prayers. I was grateful to be there praying with them.
Which led me to think that the great percentage of American people never get to experience what I experienced on Tuesday night…The Church behind the walls. It is there, it is thriving, and God is at work. I know that the number of Christians compared to the overall prison population is small. I know that there are many, many bad, evil men and women in prison. But I also know that there are a few who are sincere, faithful, seeking after God and looking for a changed life….and experiencing it. I heard a testimony last night where a man was glad he was at MCF-Faribault. It is the place where God finally became real to him…through the faithful witness of both the insiders…and those who come to minister from the outside.
So…during this Advent and Christmas season, I want to encourage you to remember that there are those in our midst who are lost, forgotten, left out and left behind…and many of them are believing that God will work in their lives in a new way to restore to them the “joy of salvation.” I am thinking that God might use you to be the vehicle to do that. And that would be a pretty cool Christmas gift to receive…for both “them” and “us.”
God bless you richly in these days.
Pastor David Brown