Day 132: Praying for those working in prisons (2005)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 132 of 150 days of prayer.

• 'The people who serve God faithfully will shout loudly, because they are so happy' (Psalm 132:16, EasyEnglish Bible). 

2005

A Salvation Army Prison Chaplain writes,

‘Bruce (not his real name) had always been a handful. However, his rough and tumble ways as a boy turned into uncontrollable aggression as a teenager, resulting in many a run-in with the police. He was crestfallen when the judge handed him a long stretch in a Welsh prison.

‘On arrival, a range of professionals, including a Salvation Army chaplain, interviewed him. The chaplain spoke kindly and softly to Bruce and, after several interviews, trust was built up. This allowed them to explore as to why he was repeatedly getting into trouble due to his temper and aggression. Eventually, Bruce realised that it had all started when he found out that he was adopted and his inability to rationalise his feelings about this fact. 

‘In the days leading up to his first Christmas being “banged up”, The Salvation Army band came to play at the prison’s carol service. Bruce had been asked to read the Christmas story in the service and did well, despite his nerves. Afterwards, Bruce received many positive comments about his contribution to the service. This helped his self-esteem, something he had never experienced before.

‘Bruce struggled with being locked up in a cell, that is, until the chaplain suggested that he did some basic study, via The Salvation Army’s external study courses. Yet again, Bruce excelled at applying himself to the courses and enjoyed the conversations they created. 

‘A watershed moment occurred when Bruce asked how he could find his birth mother. The Salvation Army Family Tracing Department was contacted, forms were completed and a successful outcome resulted. It was a beautiful afternoon as the chaplain accompanied Bruce’s birth mother through the prison to be reunited with him in the chapel – the son that she had not seen or heard of since he was just a few weeks old. The hurt and heartache of the years melted away as they embraced. Despite the surroundings, there was “bright hope for tomorrow” because of the reunion.

‘Not long after, Bruce was relocated to another prison, this time with a determination to change. God, through The Salvation Army, was helping Bruce rewrite his story.’

Prayer

• Pray for all those whose lives have been rewritten by their encounters with prison chaplains.
• Pray for Christians working in prisons, that their ministry will be received as trust builds with those in prison.