March 1999 - Evangelicals Now - Christian Newspaper

Derek and Kathy Frost joined SIM in 1974 working in Nigeria, but they ended up in Canada with the mission's media team. However, God had another ministry in mind for Kathy . . .
I came to Canada to assist Derek in the office work here - at present, I log on to computer all the filming that he does, so that it can be catalogued and used at any time. It is very time-consuming and I knew it would be - so I prayed that the Lord would give me something else to do. I was thinking of perhaps women's work or children - but the Lord had other ideas.

That little word 'prison'

Friends in the UK were praying for a door of service to be opened for me - so imagine my surprise when that little word 'prison' kept appearing in nearly everything I did. People would talk about prison ministry to me; the pastor at church preached about reaching out and 'I was in prison and you visited me'! Two people who actually worked in prison came and sat next to me in church! And all the time, that little voice saying 'prison, prison'.
So, having told the Lord that surely he had the wrong person, I decided to phone the local prison. The chaplain on the phone asked if he could come and see me. We met; he was British! We got on famously and he said: 'Did I know the prison was a men's prison, 500 inmates?' - shock, horror, I had not thought of that!

A mum for the boys

The chaplain said he was looking for a 'mum' for the boys, and someone to take Bible studies. I told him my background with Boys' Brigade and Boys' Bible Class in Africa, two sons and two foster boys - he said: 'You are in!' So I took orientation, to know the rules and regulations of the jail, and have spent the last three and half years taking the gospel to the men once or twice a week. I have recruited six others to come in and do similar at the same jail.
I mainly work alone, I enjoy this as the boys open up and talk more than when in a group. Mostly I take a service/ Bible study and counselling on a one-to-one basis with boys that need help. The Lord has taken away all fear and I know he is with me - even when the guards get worried when I go into a cell to talk with dangerous men. I am maybe five foot on the outside but I'm ten foot on the inside!
The boys change dramatically when they become Christians. One youngster never could look into your eyes when you spoke to him. He was totally different when he was converted - he walked, talked, looked different. He came out of jail and went back into school to finish his education. When we phoned, he was still going on with the Lord. A similar thing happened to another youngster who said that he did not recognise himself when he looked into the mirror - his eyes actually shone back at him!

The worst man in the jail

They said that Joe was the worst man in the jail, last year. He travelled to court in the van with one of my Bible Class boys and prayed to receive the Lord. He was in solitary confinement when I took him a Bible - the guards were all scared of him and only dealt with him in pairs. I would talk with him through a steel door by kneeling down and looking into his eyes through the letterbox. We talked about the Lord and prayed together. I met him several times. One day he asked me to put my hand through the slit in the door - he took my hand and kissed it, and said: 'You must be an angel to come down here to see me!'
Joe was moved to a cell on the fifth floor and I went as usual to find him and pray with him. He said he badly needed to see his lawyer who had not been by for weeks. We prayed, and as we prayed, the key of the cell was unlocked by the guard and in walked his lawyer. Joe nearly fell off his chair with shock - 'Wow,' he said, 'God is powerful.' I stood up to leave but Joe said: 'No, don't go, we have to pray some more'! The guards know that Joe is no longer violent and are not afraid of him any more.

Taking in a cake!

Last Christmas, I took in a Christmas cake for my Bible class - all the boys were praying that I would be allowed in with it. It was in a large Tupperware container, and as we were praying, I walked boldly into the jail through the inspection section and up onto the second floor - passing several guards who just smiled and opened the doors for me. The cheer from the chapel that day was worth all the effort! I enjoy the work that the Lord has given me, and as I walk through the long corridors, the boys I know will call out and ask for a service - or books to read - or to say hello. There are five floors and usually on each visit I can only manage two services in different places. I know this is what God wanted me to do in Canada - he is really working in the men's lives here.
Sometimes I meet the boys when they leave jail. I give them my office number and address; offer to meet them at church; take them to the Salvation Army clothes centre; help with whatever they might need or their families. In my area there is not much in the way of help for them. Only one church in my area has a team that follows them up. Most churches are too busy with all their programmes - it is very sad and there is a tremendous need. The Salvation Army does a bit. My church gives Bibles and magazines, and sometimes if I need to help with clothing, they will give me a cheque to buy items for the inmates when they leave jail.
I purchase Christian books that will challenge the men. They have so much time on their hands, it is a real opportunity to give literature out each time I visit.
I thank the Lord that he has given me this work to do for him. My friends pray for me every time I go into prison - without prayer I could not work, for prayer moves God's hands.

Mother to the Prison

How God is using one woman among Canada's convicts

That little word 'prison'

A mum for the boys

The worst man in the jail

Taking in a cake!

Kathy Frost

Main Articles

Other articles