My kids were 9, 6, and 4 when I made my first trip to Ohio in 2011. Now they are 19, 16, and 14. Those 10 years are some of the most significant years that our family will ever go through. I'm not 100 percent sure of how they will remember "Dad's Saints Years" but there are certain things I hope they take away from it. I hope they don't see me as just doing something good but rather as obedience to the Lord. I hope they see this not as a way of helping the inmates feel better for a day but rather God's command to take the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. I hope they don't look at the challenges and discouragements that sometimes come from being in the Saints Prison Ministry and decide that serving the Lord is too much trouble and stress. I hope they see it as worth it and know that God is in control and they can find joy in that as they faces trials of various kinds. I hope they see the Lord as more beautiful and awesome because of my time serving the Lord behind bars the last 10 years and beyond.
Today we went to the DeSoto CI Annex. We have been to the main unit several times over the years but this was at least my first time going to the Annex. We played our first game and lost a tough 9 inning game. During the game I did have a good conversation with a Latin gentlemen who said he was a believer. We discussed why it was hard to be a believer in prison but that God is still good and that He is worthy of our worship and praise no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in.
During the ministry time, I handed out some Gospels of John and some tracts. I ran into one man who didn’t like that we were handing out literature. He wasn’t upset because of what we were handing out but rather he was upset that inmates have other needs like socks and clothes. I understood where he was coming from and I really didn’t engage him in the debate as there were other guys that needed to receive literature. He said that guys will take the literature we give out as a sign of respect but they will discard it later on. I tried to understand his concern and it did provoke some thoughts about what we could be doing better, but, I wish he understood the Gospel and that the biggest problem in the hearts of every man inside and outside the prison is that they stand in the judgment of Holy God and that the only hope of being reconciled with Him is to repent and put their faith in His Son.
After lunch, we returned to the field we actually shared the Gospel first. Saints veteran John Chisholm shared the Gospel message with the men. We then got to play and won a 17-9 ballgame.
During the second half of the day, we had three men indicate that they committed their lives to the Lord.
After we left Desoto, we returned to the hotel, had devotions, and enjoyed some pizza and wings as a team. Tomorrow we finish up the trip at Charlotte CI!
