Some amazing facts from Jail

The last few weeks have been amazing. So amazing in fact that I thought I need to write a quick blog entry

* Picked up one of our juvies right at the gate when he got released. We are now in the process of pairing him with a mentor to help him navigate through life successfully (BEST. MOMENT. EVER to see him come out, recognize us and see the big smile on his face)

* At one of our locations the inmates have yard time during the summer every other week. My program starts at 6:30. The yard time starts at 7. You could think that 30 minutes cut in the program would really suck, but..... Since there are only 8 of them I spent the other 30 minutes last week shooting hoops with some of them and being able to just hang out. So even though our program is only 30 minutes long, I value the time I get to spend with them outside. So I'm a happy camper (who needs to really work on my Basketball Skills)

* Just a couple weeks ago we talked with the juvies about value and the question in the room was: Why do you matter to God? Their answers were awesome: We matter to God because He created us. And our prayers matter to God as well..
On the matter of prayer we then found out that these guys get together in a prayer circle before they get locked up for the night. A week later I actually saw the prayer circle and heard them pray for each other that night. (By the way, I never suggested a prayer circle! This was their initiative! I always just encourage them to apply their faith NOW!)


In numbers:

• At Jail we have 100% turn out to the program with 2 regular volunteers. 
• At prison we have 70-80% turn out of the target population (under 18 years of age) with one regular volunteer
• We are mentoring 3 kids and 2 parents right now. All of those kids are going through the court system right now. 

The more we work with youth and the court system we realize that there are LOTS of things we have to be aware of. The amount of waivers our parents and youths have to sign is insane, but it keeps it safe for us all.

I'm also very picky in the selection of my volunteers, which is the reason that you don't see crazy numbers... :)

Even though these are small beginnings, I think we are creating a solid base and (prayerfully) youths that will KNOW that God is there for them; no matter what they've done or where they've been.

So thankful to be part of this ministry that is presenting radical grace and Jesus to these kids.

Men's prison... For the first time.

In September 2011 I joined God Behind Bars with the plan to reach youth for God. It's a very general plan, but since I had never worked in prisons before it was probably a good thing it was so general.

We are talking youth in prison or youth who have a parent in prison and need a little help staying out (statistically they are 84% more likely to end up in 'the system' themselves)

So I worked towards that goal:
* Once a month I joined another group that already goes into a youth prison
* Once a week I go to a youth court and offer services as a mentor for youth that is in trouble.
* And once a week I share the God Behind Bars youth version at the jail, hanging with 16 and 17 year old's

Those youths in the jail are being treated as adults before the law and some of them will be sentenced to prison.

Since the beginning of December now I am able to 'follow' these youths to prison and continue to share with them about Jesus! It's one of the most exciting things ever!

In jail they have nothing to do and are quite happy to come to my program. But in prison this 'church thing' is part of their free time. And so far I still had more than half the unit show up to our program every week!

Would you pray with me...?

* Some of the youths in jail and also in prison are only there for a short time. I keep on telling them to find me at church, but they are unsure of church and other Christians. Pray that they come and we can help them on the outside.

* Some of them want to help their families. But they have some really crappy ideas that will get them right back into jail. Pray that they can find a legal job!

* The most repeated question I get is 'Can Jesus fix murder'. And while I have the best answer ever, it takes a while for that truth to settle. Pray for them to find Christ and be radically changed on the inside

* And a prayer request for myself: I need lots of prayer, clarity and strength! I love what I do, but you can never relax when you're inside. Also, a practical request: The prison is outside town and adds 100 miles weekly. That's a bunch more on my car, but also my gas money budget. Pray that God would provide for me!! :)

Conversations in Jail...

I haven't blogged in a while.

But of course I've been around my juvies. Remember them? Yep, some of them are still on the inside. And since the last time you heard from me we also had some new additions.

Over the last few weeks this is what's been going on:

One of them keeps on complaining that he feels bad now when he does something wrong. He's never had that before and it bugs him. (I tried to explain to him that this is one of the first ways that God speaks to us. He's still chewing on that)

Most of them have a hard time understanding that God really cares and loves them. They've been bad for so long that they truly believe that there is no hope for them. This is one of the saddest statements I have ever heard.

We talk a lot about church and if they would ever fit in. Most of them think that they will stick out like a sore thumb at church and every one will look at them. They are concerned about what to wear and if they can actually wear their usual attire (some of which would be associated with gang colors). 

These conversations help me understand how hard it is for someone to come to church and this also helps me to be aware of how much I judge at times. How cool would the world be, if these kids would just have to deal with their own insecurities about coming to church, rather than having to deal with the very real reality that people at church are going to judge them. 

(We don't like to admit that, but let's be real here: We all do!)

They have major questions about faith, God, Jesus, the Bible and dinosaurs. More questions than I will ever be able to answer. So I am talking with some friends who will help answer some of these. Even though I am not the right person to address most of these questions, it fires me up, that they have these questions in the first place. Stuff is moving along. 

Sometimes you hear stuff you don't want to hear. Like when they have court and feel like cussing out the judge was actually a good idea. Or when they feel like the whole world is against them just because of the color of their skin. Or when you meet one of the guys... AGAIN. (after he had been released). 

My prayer: 

I'm asking God to continue to show 

His love and His grace to these kids. 

I am praying for their unit to be known 

for kindness and respect in the whole prison. 

Please join me in that prayer. And if you know stuff about the dinosaurs and God, please let me know! :)

Conversation in Jail: Poof and gone...

A while ago I walked into my usual Juvie session and noticed that 2 of my regulars were not there. So I asked where they were, kind of expecting an answer about them being in trouble and not allowed to come.

The answer I got though was different: 'They had their sentencing and have been sent to prison.'

That statement still rocks my world. And don't get me wrong, I am NOT questioning the justice of it all. I can not ever do that, especially since I don't know what these guys have done. The only thing I know is, that they have been bad. Some of them VERY bad.

I just have seen glimpses of awesomeness in these guys. Glimpses of just scared 16 or 17 year old guys. And I know a little bit of what a maximum or medium security prison is all about. And it scares me to know that these 2 guys are now in prison.

There was so much more I could have and should have told them about Jesus. But I didn't get the chance to do that. I didn't even get a chance to say good bye.

It makes me sad, but I know the God I serve: The God who can fix murder! And I can trust that He is still with the guys in prison now.

In John 17:4 Jesus says that 'He completed the work you (God) gave me to do.' It's an extraordinary statement considering that there were still sick people and still many people who hadn't met him. Yet He says that He COMPLETED the work. But it's about the work that God GAVE him.
So my hope is that I have completed the work in 'my' 2 juvies and that God will send someone else to continue the work that has started. He's cool like that!

Another lesson in trusting God. When have you needed to trust God with people you loved?

Conversation in Jail - Can Jesus fix murder?

I wish you could meet my juvies and see the things I see.

A couple weeks ago this happened:

'Miss, can Jesus fix murder?'

I was blown away by this question because it was so raw and honest. So much depended on the answer. There was so much fear in it. So many 'what if's'. It was one of the best questions I've ever been asked.

I love that I serve a God who said 'YES' to all of our sin.

What happened next was that I explained again what Jesus has done for us and how it is available to us. And then I saw it...

I saw the guy who had asked the question out of the blue quietly close his eyes and murmur a prayer. He accepted Christ that day.

Thank you Lord for saying YES to us.

Violence in Jail

So it finally happened.
An outburst of violence in the jail while I was there. It had to happen once. Now it did.
It wasn't directed at me or even any other person. The door took a beating. But if the officer wouldn't have responded so quickly it could have been 'someone' instead of the door.

I realised during my lesson that something was up. 3 of my juvies were VERY distracted. And once they were dismissed and on their way to the room they started to 'sort it out'.

Honestly? It was a bit scary. Not because I was in any danger (I wasn't). But because it showed me what these guys are capable of and it reminds me why they are in there.

Has anything changed? No. I still love hanging with them and know I am safe as long as I abide by the rules of the facility. This was just a good reminder.