A prisoner’s encounter with God
I wrote this Christian poem while serving as a prison chaplain in a men’s high-security prison. I went inside the prison each week with a male Chaplain. We were allowed to sit and chat with prisoners in the common area, inside the cell blocks. I often felt like I was a spectator watching in amazement at how God was working in the prison through the Bible, which was often read by the prisoners while they were locked in their cells.
This poem is a true story of one such prisoner, a young adult who had never been involved with God or Christianity before. He was covered in tattoos, and my partner Chaplain and I had never spoken to him before this event.
Prison Fellowship is a worldwide organisation that offers Prison Chaplaincy and reformative services. Most major Christian denominations also have volunteer Prison Chaplains. Let’s pray for and support the Chaplains who volunteer their time to visit prisons around the world each week, sharing God’s love and forgiveness with prisoners and helping transform their lives. Beverley Joy.
Listen to the poem – Imprisoned by God’s Love
The steel door locked behind us
A prisoner approached, excited
Tattooed face, intense eyes
We said, “Giday, how can we help?”
“Are you the Chaplains?
I must talk with you?”
So, we sat at a table, cold and steel
And we listened in wonder as he told us his story…
“I woke up yesterday with a voice in my head
Saying “Go, talk with the Chaplain. Ask him what Jesus did.”
“This voice in my head, I could not ignore
It was so persistent, so clear, so sure.”
The prisoner shook his head in bewilderment
“I’ve never thought about Jesus or God
Or read the Bible or go to church
Never wanted to, never cared.”
He had never spoken to a Chaplain
It was considered uncool, embarrassing
But that morning, he rushed over, keen to tell us about his dream.
“I sat and listened to the chaplain
As he explained what God had done
And how much Jesus loves me
And that God will forgive my sins.”
“My eyes were opened, I felt free in prison
God’s love and forgiveness invaded me
Amazing peace washed through my veins
As I prayed to God, the sinner’s prayer.”
“I can’t read very well
But he gave me a bible and a devotional
I read it every night, locked in my cell
Alone with God, I read and pray.”
“I want to go to the church service every week
With my new mate, who’s a Christian
I want to sing and hear Chappy’s prayers
That will remind me I’m loved and forgiven.”
It was hard for him to believe
That God has forgiven him of his sins
He doesn’t understand all he reads in God’s Book
But, deep down, he believes it is true.
He continues to struggle from day to day
With past addictions and his mental health
But with a nod and a smile, he chats
With the Chaplains who visit prisoners each week.
Beverley Joy © 2018 Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.
Listen to all my poems HERE
Image by AgnieszkaMonk from Pixabay
Image by Werner Moser from Pixabay
Simply Story Poetry 
Leave a comment