The Harvest Behind Bars
Kimberly Rae Thigpen
Mission fields are often defined by demographics: statistics of race or religion or economic level. One thing that defines them all, however, is that every field is full of sinners. Sinners needing salvation.
Some fields have thick walls instead of borders, and razor wire to keep people from escaping. Those living inside are not termed civilians, but inmates. Some will die there. This mission field is the prison, a field full of sinners needing salvation.
Those who live there stretch across a vast array of demographics. The inmate can be stereotyped but not easily defined. Each has a story, a heart, dreams unrealized. They are separated from mothers, wives, siblings, and/ or children. Some proclaim innocence; others admit guilt. What hope is there for those whose lives will end without one chance to enter a church building? What missionary will go inside this security-defined field to reach them?
Source of Light goes there, slipping in quietly, words on paper, hope inside an envelope. Our lessons have no staples, to be acceptable for those in cells. Our Discipleship School missionaries, counsel, disciple, and pray. They spend their days grading lessons, responding to questions, sending godly material to address specific sins, fears, or stated needs.
The United States, land of the free, houses more prisoners than any other country in the world. The number of incarcerated in America is more than the population of the countries of Bhutan, Suriname, and Grenada combined. This mission field is in desperate need of the Gospel.
The Madison Discipleship School sent out 60,400 Bible lessons in 2018. Over half of them went into jails and prisons in all fifty states. A lesson can “spend time” with an inmate even when programs or people cannot. There are students even in solitary confinement who receive lessons and appreciate the contact.
SLM’s sixteen basic Bible courses give them a grounding in doctrine, with a very practical application to their daily walk with God.
“I thank you deeply for all that you do to insure that I am able to receive these Bible studies!! Each one brings me closer to the Lord in the understanding of His Word! And I have been able to refer many other women here in prison. Thank you.”—Susan
“Two years ago I was full of despair, having lost everything, going through withdrawals, and looking at ten years in this jail. After beginning the Bible study from Source of Light, I gave my heart to Jesus in a spirit of brokenness and vowed to serve Him and understand Him more. This Bible study has been a continual encouragement and help as I am growing in Christ. At times it has been up and down but I have found a great joy, a peace, and a longing to serve others. One day I hope to be a pastoral counselor.”—Terry
From Crime to Christ
The question comes to mind: does the Gospel truly penetrate the heart, or is it just “jail-house religion?”
A wonderful person to answer that question would be a man known as “Red.” Getting jail-house religion (becoming religious in the hopes of getting out on good behavior) will do this prisoner no good. Enrico Dizon, “Red,” was condemned to serve three life sentences plus 17–20 years.
Arrested for murder, kidnapping, and illegal detention, Red was incarcerated in a maximum state prison in the Philippines. He confesses, “I killed people for a fee.” But then, “God divinely intervened.”
In 1992, a warden introduced Red to Christ and he was “completely transformed.” An inmate introduced him to Source of Light. Red completed 14 adult courses, then went on to college level (WWBI) material. Ten years later, he became director of his own Associate Discipleship School inside the prison. The first year, of the 141 inmates who finished the first course, 117 accepted Christ as their Lord.
The prison leaders saw how the ministry changed lives of prisoners for the better and granted Red a lot to build a church—in prison! Since 2006, prisoner Red has been Pastor Red. In 2007, they began a theological school.
Becoming a leader for Christ in a prison has been far from easy. Red has been “detained and investigated, punished, humiliated, shot, [held] hostage, etc…. Sometimes I have to climb a catwalk that has barbed wire and cross the boundary of another notorious gang area just to preach the Word of God.” Red and the spreading network of redeemed who serve with him have sent out over 400,000 lessons, worked with over 36,000 students, and seen over 15,000 decisions for salvation.
Not long ago, their VBS brought in hundreds of children. What kind of children come to VBS in a prison? Prisoners’ kids, highly at risk for future criminal behavior. Over 200 children accepted Christ.
Red and those who serve with him have fully turned from darkness unto light (Acts 26:18). Their ministry statement includes:
Our Covenant to God: from this day onward we surrender our lives as… prisoners of Jesus Christ. To win the lost at any cost.
Jail-house religion? Hardly. Red and many, many others have experienced a transformation that has changed them forever—for this life, and for eternity. The God who turns caterpillars into butterflies and pain into pearls, can turn assassins into pastors, and criminals into heroes.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
