Profiting from prison - A story of conversion to Christ

We had spent a relaxed lunchtime and afternoon at our home with Arthur and Margaret (not their real names). Normally we went to see him, and spoke to Margaret later on the phone. We did stay with her once - not with him, of course - before speaking at the large prison near her home.

But Arthur was in another prison then. Would he be imprisoned again soon? His conviction had been quashed on appeal, as he had hoped for. (After all, he had foregone prison privileges rather than admit guilt for an alleged very serious crime.) Now he awaits another trial. The expected date has recently been put back for three months very soon before he was expecting it. How would you react to such uncertainty? If you are married, how would your spouse fare?

He has lost his good job, finances, friends and normality. 'No smoke without a fire!' some too easily say. But what if the fire was lit by others' criminality and if he has been burnt by their intrigue and dishonesty?'

'I have gained already'

Knowing of his awakening faith in Christ - to whom he was a stranger before conviction - I said: 'Arthur, it is hard now. You have lost your job, money and status, but in a thousand years from now you will say it was all worthwhile!' I shared my favourite one-liner, from a convicted, but converted, murderer in a Northern Irish prison: 'If I had never come to prison I would never have come to Christ'. His response surprised even me! I expected him to admit gratitude that God brought him through a serious suicide attempt at the very last moment, that his marriage was being rebuilt after his sinful infidelity, that his appeal has been successful to date, and that anyone trusting Christ will be in heaven with Christ after this life. Instead, he almost whispered: 'Gerard, I have gained already'.

He continued that he now knew God's peace; that he found a strange desire to read the Bible and that he took it to work with him to read when he had his breaks. He joked that his problem now was: 'I cannot lie to my wife any more: I just have to tell the truth now!'

Help from others

Before conviction, Arthur did not know if God existed. He had cut his throat after sentence, but was saved because the post-sentencing interviewing officer returned to the interview room to collect his forgotten lighter. He found Arthur in a growing pool of blood. Amazingly that officer had recently completed a first aid course covering just such emergencies! On 24 hours' surveillance after return to prison from hospital, and supported by his loyal and caring wife, Arthur began to use the DayOne diary and read its daily Bible verses. Help from a kind Christian chaplain, who had given him the diary, encouraged him.

Gradually the light dawned. During one visit he confessed that Jesus's death on the cross for his sins meant more to him than anything. Once he was jokingly criticised by a friendly officer for being 'too happy in prison'! God was at work!

But he has a very long way to go. And so has Margaret. Whether now free or incarcerated, please pray for him. Pray for a deepening faith and growth in Christ. Pray that Margaret - who says that only Christians have lovingly supported her - will come to rejoice in Christ as her Saviour too. And pray that, by God's grace, others will 'profit from prison' by coming to know the 'Son' who can 'set free' sin's prisoners to be 'free indeed'. Free to be changed and to be a blessing to those who otherwise they might have harmed. Free to glorify God!

Gerard A. Chrispin is Director of Prison Ministries, DayOne
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