Prisoners in jails across the UK have heard a dynamic new presentation of Mark’s Gospel explaining the call of Christ to them.
I Am Mark creator Stefan Smart has completed a month-long tour of his presentation of Mark’s Gospel in eight prisons. His August tour was part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Daylight Christian Prison Trust.
One prisoner who watched Stefan’s performance said: ‘This is one of the darkest places on earth, and what you’ve brought today is light. We badly need the light.’
I Am Mark is described as a ‘dynamic new, word-for-word, solo performance,’ and ‘a full-bodied drama, with [the Gospel’s] characters and nuances brought startlingly to life.’
The tour started in HMP Hatfield – Stefan’s first prison visit for many years. He said the prisoners ‘clearly loved it’ and five copies of Mark’s Gospel were taken by prisoners to read later.
Writing on Daylight’s website, Stefan said it was ‘hard to exaggerate’ how moving his visit to HMP Wakefield (a Category A high-security prison) was a week later. ‘A sweeter bunch [of men] one could not expect to meet,’ he said. Some were believers and others were seekers.
He added: ‘One prisoner, a studious looking younger man, said something I hope I’ll never forget. “Your performance was transportive. Just for this afternoon I forgot I was in prison. And let me tell you: of all the things we as prisoners need, this is the most valuable.”’
Afterwards, Stefan shared his testimony of how God had met him one night and of his tears and emotion. Then as one of the prisoners left, he said: ‘I know how Stefan feels. When I first visited the chapel here in Wakefield prison, the presence and love of God for me was so powerful, that I, too, burst into tears.’
Daylight’s CEO, Gaius Phillingham, commented: ‘Sending Stefan into prisons to share his I Am Mark presentation of the Gospel has been far more exciting and challenging than ever we thought it would be. But the rewards are worth it! Even if we will not know all of them until we meet in glory.
Stefan also visited HMPs Ranby, Chelmsford, Wayland, Deerbolt and Low Newton.
