Sam* felt embarrassed and ashamed when his mum first came to visit him in prison. “I’m praying for you,” she said.
He paused for a minute, recalling the terrible choices that had led him to this moment: violent crimes, drug addiction, loneliness. His dad hadn’t come to see him since his sentencing.
“Please don’t,” Sam replied. And he meant it. Partly because he thought he didn’t deserve his mother’s prayers, but also because he felt them when he was tempted to do something he knew he shouldn’t. Something always seemed to prevent him from getting into the inner circle of troublemakers, when they were up to no good.
Sam wasn’t interested in religion, but he was craving something deeper. Something that could make sense of the chaos around him and bring him out of the dark place he just couldn’t seem to escape from on his own.
It was curiosity, more than anything, that saw him walk into a chapel service in prison one Sunday morning. Sitting at the back and hoping no one would notice, a fellow inmate spotted him. After the service, Sam was introduced to the prison chaplain who had just spoken to the gathering about forgiveness.
“I’m beyond forgiveness,” Sam said. “I’ve done too many bad things.” The prison chaplain gave him a warm smile and simply said, “No, you’re not.”
What followed was weeks of conversations and questions. Prison chaplains were there for Sam to encourage him in his search for truth. Eventually, he joined a bible study with a group of fellow prisoners. His desire to join the inner circle of troublemakers was gone. His focus had completely shifted, and he could finally sense a light shining in his dark world.
“I’m a Christian.” He couldn’t wait to tell his mother about his transformation and see the look of surprise on her face. But instead, she just gave him a knowing smile.
“I’ve been praying every day that you’d meet a Christian in prison and find out who God really is. God is in the business of answering prayers,” she said.
Today, Sam is free in so many ways. After he was released from prison, he started attending a church in his local area. He’s currently studying counselling, driven by a desire to help other young men like himself find the hope they’re missing.
“I have no doubt that prison chaplains are answers to prayer for many mothers like mine. I honestly don’t know where I’d be today without them.”