South Bay Prison

KAIROS Prison Ministry Testimonies
South Bay Correctional Facility -

 

Bringing Light (love of Jesus) into the darkness.
Matthew 25:36

 

All glory to God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit!

 

 Here are a few testimonies that I wrote as the participating Inmate Residents shared on this Weekend:

December 1-4, 2011

•  When we came we had Questions ~ we found Answers ~ we are leaving with a Statement ~ God loves us and Jesus is Lord! This Weekend has created a spark of hope that we have a future. We can build on that.

♦  I was born and raised a pagan. Even though I’m still not a Christian, my eyes have been opened extremely. I am the type of person that analyze everything. I even analyze what I’ve analyzed. This Weekend was to be just a retreat from the compound. I first got to this Institution by a false profession. They asked what religion I was – I lied and said, a Christian. I just wanted to get here so I could order crosses for $30 and sell them for $70. I wonder if saying I was a Christian was just a precursor to my being a Christian. My secret – If I accept Christ, I will have to let my mom go. My mom instilled in me that Christians are the complete enemy. I am from a witch generation. My mom is a witch – her mother was a witch – her mother was a witch and on down the line.  Mom will see me as hanging with the enemy. She instilled – Home is where the heart is, not with the enemy. In spite of all that, I am taking from this Weekend – (paused and said) Wow~Wow! I have not experienced this kind of love in 18 years – Wow! I’m not ashamed to tell anybody, I cried. I love all you guys!

•  When I came I was searching, confused, and had mixed feelings. Now I am motivated to be more loving and have a stronger hope to live more perfectly because of the Agape love that has been taught.

♦ I have gotten stronger. The open sharing, unity, deeper understanding is beyond anything I had expected. Love is real.

•  I was straddling the fence – ready to give up – almost spiritually dead. This has been a revival with miracles. I’ve seen hearts mended, and friendships established, those broken and hurting seeking healing. I found I am not alone. I found new family, a new knowledge of peace. I found that we matter on the inside. I am in amazement of God’s work.

♦  When I came here I was completely empty – confused, and my energy was lost. Here, I found peace. I found that we have the same Father. This is an experience I shall never forget at the University of South Bay.

•  I thank God for these strangers, God-fearing men. 11 years ago I met the Master. 3½ days ago, God the Master called me here to remind me that He still loves me. I have a new family and they wear blues. I want you all to get to know the new me. Brothers, if I stumble don’t judge me, but lift me up.

♦  When I came I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard about the food, but I came with an open heart and mind. I found more of the love of Christ, humbleness, encouragement, and joy. I am taking the love of Christ with me and more encouragement to strengthen each other.

•  They call me country boy because I was raised in the woods. Christ was made known to me in ‘92.’ I went into the military and I was saved in ‘96.’ For the last 15 years I have felt alone. For the past few weeks it’s been really bad. I can’t say I wanted to give up, but the enemy put it in my mind. The message given this weekend – “You Are Not Alone” caused me to see God is my everything. I met some new brothers this weekend. I called mom and told her she has 35 new sons I told her, Don’t be scared because some are Spanish, some speak Ebonics, and some speak Creole.    You brought something out of me this week. I have laughed, cried, next thing I was up front singing “Cooling Waters.” I love you all.

♦  I have a deep respect for everyone. I didn’t come for the food. Even though the food was good ~ those were some big ole ribs. I didn’t know what to expect. I found friendship, companionship, loyalty, and new friends in Christ. I felt it when many said they loved me. I have an appreciation of the love God has for me and I am taking that back to the compound.

•  I may speak a little different – for the first 50 years I was Hindu up in the hills and I have been fighting the religion thing. I’ve been incarcerated 12 years. Something happened Friday. I felt fire inside me and I accepted Christ as my Savior

•  When I get out of here, I will go home and praise God I am saved. I met a lot of friends. I am expecting 35    brothers to keep an eye on me. When I fall I want you to lift me up.

♦  My life was like a box. Inside the box was anger, resentment, selfishness, pride. The Scripture says, Perfect love casts out things. When love stepped in the box this weekend, everything had to disappear. The people that came weren’t the only ones involved. They gave us some placemats drawn by little kids ~ this was special. I was the type of man that said, MEN DON’T CRY. I have cried so many times this weekend. May God forever bless you all for blessing us.

•  I thank God – God picked me up. This was more than a life-giving experience. I was the type you don’t want to be around. I have never cried this much in my life. I had fun. I got something out of this weekend that I thought I would never get. I love what God can do TO and IN people. We give up on God, but God never gives up on us. I have been up and down the road to other Institutions. God brought me to South Bay. The Officers here have given me a chance.

♦  This weekend, I saw men in here break down and cry. I thank God, because in 15 years
I haven’t seen so much love.

•  A testimony from one of the inmate servants who was serving us: My wife just passed away. Instead of going back to the dorm and mourning there, I wanted to stay and continue to be a servant to my brothers. This hurts ~ I love my wife. Keep me in prayer. God will see me through.

  I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all. Our Great God keeps showing Himself strong and mighty to forgive, save, heal, comfort, encourage, and give hope. Thanks be to God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit for all that was accomplished on this Weekend. It was an awesome experience we shall never forget. Many blessings to all Contributors and Supporters that were used of God to make this Weekend and these Testimonies possible. God bless you!!!   Amen

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10

Evangelist Leroy Freeman – http://mtcm.com

December 2-5, 2010

• This is the best experience that I have ever had. I plan to keep it. I have something to share on the other side. I have friends that I never knew I had.

♦ When I came I had questions and I got answers. I have carried a burden for thirty years. I have buried it – let it go. I got my sins washed away.

• I felt so much love from the volunteers. Instead of them being with their own children, they are here with us.

♦ Thank you – I appreciate this Weekend. Prison is not easy. It seems that out of sight is out of mind. Showing good goes a long way. It’s good to know that we are loved and haven’t been forgotten.

• I made it clear – one of the main reasons I came was to eat. KAIROS shared another kind of meat. I saw I was not alone through the Prayer Chain and the Posters. It changed my concept completely. With no contact with the outside you feel alone. For the first time in a long time, I kneeled and prayed.

♦ I love all here and all over the world. Once I am released, I have a calling to come back and do what you all are doing.

• I came selfish and confused about what God had planned for my life. When I was younger I experienced writing on posters. I never thought I’d be receiving posters. It’s amazing to have my eyes open to release selfishness. Like an onion more layers have been peeled away.

♦ What a blessing to be picked for this Weekend. I can’t describe how I feel. I have to keep going for myself and my family.

• What a great time. You don’t have to have substances to have a great time. I saw grown men hold hands on each other’s shoulder and march as a train all around the room. They drew me into it. Next thing you know – I had a smile on my face – enjoying it. It was not a drug or alcohol induced.

♦ I had a good experience of peace, joy, and support. As I read the letters, I was uplifted as I read. Sometimes it takes years to forgive a lot of things. I forgave a lot of things. I slept good.

• I say “Thank You” to God for allowing me to experience this. There is a brother here that I was struggling with. God said, “Put it to rest.”  – “Come here brother.” The other brother came up front – they shook hands and embraced.  What a moving experience.

♦ I now realize that I am not alone. It’s going to get better.

• I came here rejected and broken. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t want to come. I see now the great purpose for being here. Thank You Lord.

♦ Before I came to KAIROS – I felt once I was locked up in a place like this that I wouldn’t be able to find this kind of love. Talk about putting up walls. Through this Weekend, I found I’m not forgotten. I have God’s favor. I now know I shouldn’t be ashamed to worship. I am not ashamed that I believe. I am not ashamed that I cry – that I get emotional. I am proud to be a Christian believer.

• I was already following the Lord when I came here, but I had gotten in a rut and was not progressing. I wanted to re-ignite the fire. This Weekend was like lighter fluid.

  What a mighty God we serve. He keeps showing Himself strong and mighty to forgive, save, heal, comfort, encourage, and give hope. Thanks be to God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit for all that was accomplished on this Weekend. It was an awesome experience. Many blessings to all that were used of Him to make this possible. To God be the glory!!!   Amen

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  Hebrews 6:10

Evangelist Leroy Freeman -   http://mtcm.com