Conflict of interest - prison or neighbours? | Gerard and Phillippa Chrispin

Conflict of interest is a serious concern in many walks of life, notably in politics and in the city. A Member of Parliament must divulge all his personal business interests so that he is seen always to be acting scrupulously fairly and impartially in his parliamentary activities. Likewise, those who work in the city must be careful not to use or share their personal knowledge of city business to give either themselves or others an unfair advantage in share dealings.

For us, however, there is a sort of conflict of interest most days. Several times a week we rub shoulders with the criminal fraternity on our visits to prisons to share the gospel. We meet some who have hit the headlines because of their high profile crimes or court cases. On other occasions it is the ‘jack-the-lads’, shop-lifters and petty criminals who regularly end up the wrong side of the bars, often with the ‘help’ of alcohol or drugs or both.

Neighbourhood watch

On the other hand, we are the co-ordinators of our local neighbourhood watch. It is a simple and effective way of doing a spot of community service and being generally friendly and helpful. We want to be salt and light in our road, not just the folk who put DayOne text diaries and tracts in with their Christmas cards.

But some strange situations arise. A while ago, we were awakened in the middle of the night by the screams and yells of some of our neighbours, whom we shall call Bob and Anne. We leapt out of bed and flung open the window, to see Bob (shouting) and Anne (screaming) running towards some men, who had actually been sitting in their new BMW, grappling with the ignition. They fled empty-handed, and the getaway car roared up the road, making good their escape. Apparently, they had been actually inside the house, successfully searching for the keys when they were heard and chased. The audacity of it all was amazing. Having ascertained there was nothing we could do, we returned to bed, while Bob and Anne awaited the police. Early next morning, we slunk quietly off on our long journey to HMP Wormwood Scrubbs to take the Sunday morning services. We say ‘slunk’ because, at that time, it didn’t seem wise to be demonstrating too much solidarity with the criminal fraternity! Our neighbours know what we do in prisons and why, but befriending convicted criminals seemed the wrong note to strike early on that Sunday morning!

The late chaplain

An even more striking example comes to mind of the Sunday morning when we were awaiting the arrival of the chaplain in the reception area of a large northern prison. He is a great friend and supporter of Day One and Daylight. He was very late, and we began to wonder if we had made a mistake in the arrangements. He eventually arrived in a taxi, and told his story. He had been burgled in the night, and his car, which the burglars had filled with his property, had been driven away. He had been up half the night seeing the police and generally dealing with the situation.

We wondered how he would cope with confronting two prison chapel morning congregations containing many burglars, thieves, and robbers. To his great credit, and thanks to God’s grace, he said not a word about it, and led the service with his usual charm and Christian compassion.

We were horrified at another prison to hear that the Roman Catholic chaplain had been severely beaten up by some of the local louts. Conversely, the inmates had been outraged and gossip had it that they were taking steps to ensure that the attack on their friend was avenged! Needless to say, the chaplain, while appreciating their loyalty, did not en-courage them!

Gospel and grace

Some crimes are far worse than those mentioned above. We sometimes find ourselves disgusted by some of the things we hear — and Gerard had come across some nasty situations as a criminal lawyer before we started working for Daylight and DayOne. So why do this prison work? Why stretch out the hand of friendship to those whose crimes we can sometimes hate even to think about? The answer is simple and twofold.

Firstly, the wonderful gospel we share of the cross of Calvary and the forgiveness to be found in Christ alone is the only way that sinners can be forgiven and restored and lives can truly be changed. It happens, and sometimes we see it happen. ‘If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation’, says God’s Word (2 Corinthians 5.17). And ‘any man’ must include repentant sinners on the other side of the bars. They must hear too. ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’ (Romans 10.14).

Secondly, it may be hackneyed, but it is true to say that there, but for the grace of God, go I. We could all so easily find ourselves in their shoes. So many people inside are just like people on the outside whose sin and failings overcame them in circumstances where we might have failed too. If God had not saved me, where would I be now? If God had not also kept me, what might I have been now? We can only humbly kneel at the foot of the cross ourselves, in gratitude and faith, and do all we can to reach out a hand to other strugglers with life’s restless sea.

Gerard and Phillippa Chrispin,
DAYLIGHT Christian Prison Trust and DayOne Prison Ministries

More details from DAYLIGHT CPT, PO Box 1333, Southampton SO16 7XY, Prison@DaylightCPT.org

Conflict of interest - prison or neighbours?

Gerard and Phillippa Chrispin share some insights into their work for the Lord in prisons

Neighbourhood watch

The late chaplain

Gospel and grace

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