by Dale Russell
Many times I have considered the first encounters inside prison walls. What makes this worthy of a revisit is the mindset before entering, and the drastic change thereafter. The personal discovery was that my mind was actually “locked up”! When you have worry, doubt and fear trying to seize you, it creates a lot of distraction. You know what you need to be thinking, but can’t seem to find the proper motivation to change it.
After some consideration there seemed to be (at least) six things I had to overcome. The resolve came directly from God and the prisoners themselves. God always has creative ways to inspire, and the AIC’s (adult in custody) discover purpose right before your eyes. Quite amazing, really.
6 ERRORS CORRECTED
1. Entering prison puts you in front of dangerous people.
Yes, there are lots of banging of steel doors behind you, but once inside you find folks who are anxious to politely speak. You find an eager audience surrendered to worship in the chapel and attentive to your presentation. After being together for over 12 years, there’s no doubt if trouble were to show up, there would be hundreds of AIC who would rally to protect you. God is ever present with His promises. I should have written this on the palm of my hand;
I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 41:10
2. Inmates are not like me.
At first, it’s easy to think I am so much better. These people may have created their own situations, but it doesn’t take long to realize a deeper view reveals loneliness, regrets, loss of family, loss of basic freedoms, and sincere words of redemption. I can trade places in my mind and imagine dealing with all these. I can even place myself inside prison, wondering what life would look like. We all wrestle with similar feelings. Difficulties may be magnified behind walls, but I’m not that different.
3. PRISON CULTURE DIMINISHES The value of a life.
Thanks to multiple blasts from the ever-present, self-serving media, prison always looks like a bit of hell. You can lose dignity, digits, or maybe your life. Unfortunately, reporting acts of kindness, paying it forward, community projects, purposeful determination, or deep surrender to God, isn’t worthy of the 6:00 news. That’s too boring.
Really, all you need to see is one letter from an AIC to their sponsored Otino Waa child. You can laugh, cry, imagine the future, and glimpse inside hearts within minutes.
Uganda, like the rest of us, is dealing with the second wave of COVID. The Otino Waa children are, once again, scattered into the local host homes. The need for food, because of a famine, is great. Medical care is scarce. The Otino Waa staff provide food and medical treatment in weekly visits to the kid’s locations. Since mid- 2020, upon learning of the situation, the AIC’s (sponsors or not) increased their giving by 24%! Does this mean they place great value on these lives? Why isn’t that in the news?
4. I’m GOING TO BE uncomfortable inSIDE PRISON and don’t KNOW WHAT TO SAY
This is a common perception until you actually experience prison culture. Our help to you includes, making all arrangements for you to visit, being with you the whole time and asking you to only sit and observe. This always becomes so much more, but that’s the promised situation for you. We have found that having your mind do a 180 in one day, changes you, leaves lasting impressions, AND possibly, the motivation to chase after a purpose.
5. “God, If I visit just once, will you stop badgering me?”
Back in 2007, the donations of two or three AIC were charming. Nice of them to consider such actions. When that number became 10, it became apparent a leap of faith was being asked. God gently suggested we go inside that prison. I said, “We don’t do inmates – just orphans.” Next, God let loose a flurry of arm twisting, including;
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.
Isaiah 55:11
I said, “Prison is a bit too dangerous, and I (we) are not qualified to do anything inside there.” I thought this was an appropriate response and was relieved until;
“But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!
—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain,
but a man or woman of action.
That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.”
James 1:25
Saturday April 11, 2009, and we are in the parking lot of Snake River Correctional, obeying instructions, but wondering what we have gotten ourselves into. Little did I know that life was about to take an unexpected turn.
6. 530 miles is too far to visit a prison.
Snake River Correctional is the largest prison in Oregon. 265 miles one way. You even pass through a time zone long before you get there! Who does that for a prison visit?
There seems to be enough razor wire to suggest it was purchased by the mile.
After attaching a body alarm to all visitors (really, will this be needed?) and no less than six steel doors, we find ourselves in the chapel with about 150 men. Lots of introductions and handshakes. They seem to love visitors, even if they don’t know us!
Then the music starts, complete with a group of talented, very animated, AIC musicians and everyone was serious about inviting the Holy Spirit into the room. Within minutes we knew this was going to be special. Loud, sincere worship. Hmm…., so this is the danger I had imagined? There was an amazing sense of calm and unity. (God is so good at this.)
The chaplain gave us the entire time frame, so we had free reign with 50 minutes.
Our presentation was about the history of Otino Waa and some of the best stories of the kids who thrive in this new home. This was long before Visions of Hope programs, so we suggested they could follow suit of others who had donated to these kids’ lives. The questions and response from these men were permanently imbedded in our hearts and minds.
God had to be smiling as we got back to the car. What started as a question of, “Wonder how long this will take?”, became expressions of amazement, joy and discovery. Shortly thereafter, a return date was set and so much has happened since.
In 2010 the first artists contributed 45 pieces of astonishing art. Today that number exceeds 3000 from hundreds of artists.
Those first SRCI contributors led the way for today with a combined (sponsorship, donations, art sales) total of over $187,000 to the Otino Waa kids – GENERATED FROM INSIDE PRISON.
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What are your thoughts on visiting a prison? What if your story of such a thing would leave a legacy for others? What if a spark of personal life change comes from inside a prison? How do you define purpose in your life? Could it be that your qualification for prison ministry is simply a willingness to be there? The worst thing you can do is sit back and say what you need or want to do, but do nothing to take the first step toward making it happen.
We are patiently waiting for the prisons to open again to visitors. When that happens, we want you to join us! It is not too early to start planning.
what you can do right now.
- Contact me to put you on a waiting list for the next prison visit or ask questions. dale@visionsofhope.org
- Those dedicated AIC sponsors send $5/mo. to support their children. That is a serious sacrifice in a prison economy. You can agree with that effort and be the silent partner, matching those $5. GO HERE
- Every month we send a mini newsletter to keep all our AIC contacts informed. YOU can add to that by writing a short note of encouragement. Your comments go out to over 400. A moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life. Send to: dale@visionsofhope.org
YOU GOTTA MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!
Do you believe you have a personal responsibility to make a positive impact on people? Small actions can have a huge impact, and one person, like you, can encourage many others.