A Day at the Youth Prison

Yesterday I was in for my weekly visit at the youth prison. The verse I shared as I went from cell to cell (there are 5 cells I go to) was James 4:7 – “Draw near to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Following is a sampling of what happened:

Youth prison (from early 2011)

Cell 1: This cell has a lot of guys who have given their lives to the Lord this year. They hold their own Bible studies/services every other day in their cell. Of the 17 or so in their cell, there are only 2 or 3 who are not attending. We played with the Bible trivia cards I gave them last week for Christmas. Along with James 4:7, we also talked about the rapture and what a surprise that will be for the guards if it occurs while they’re still incarcerated!

Cell 2: I encouraged a young man who has been faithfully reading his Bible and about a month ago received the Lord to begin leading his cell mates in a Bible reading time each day. Some of them have a desire to follow the Lord, but need someone to help them on a daily basis. I think he’s got a lot of potential in his leadership and I’m praying he accepts the challenge.

Cell 3: These guys haven’t gone to trial yet. I shared the Gospel with them trying to get them to understand that being saved is more than just following a list of do’s and don’ts. Jesus wants to be their “panaful” (best friend) and their “suprema” (gang leader). Six guys prayed to receive the Lord.

Cell 4: My conversation with one young man concerned his mom who is being threatened by her ex. He told me that if her ex touched her, he would kill him and his entire family as soon as he gets out (knowing a bit about his past, I don’t doubt him at all). We talked about why this would be a really bad idea, along with other options and solutions. We also prayed for his mother to be safe. I also encouraged them to read the Gospels and focus on how tough Jesus was as a man, who is worth following.

Cell 5: Some of the guys were telling me all they had read from the New Testaments I gave them last week for Christmas. My conversations also led to one young person telling me how he felt badly for earlier having talked badly to his mother. He “doesn’t have the kind of relationship with her to ask for forgiveness.” I encouraged him to swallow his pride and try to get her called and apologized to by next week when I return. He said he would do his best to make it happen. He also recently prayed to receive the Lord and is growing in his faith.

So I ask you to continue praying for these guys and my time with them each week. They are dealing with big issues and seeing how God and His Word apply to these as they play it out daily.

Pastor in Training

Yera (on left) with his friend Angel David on the day they were baptized.

I’d like to introduce you to Yera (Gerard). We met while he was a “guest” at the youth prison in La Vega. In January of this year, he gave his life to the Lord and was immediately freed from his smoking habit. Yera also learned to read, using the Bible as his textbook (I’m sadly amazed how many of the young men in the prison can’t read). Since that time, he has been devouring the Word, and I’ve been surprised on several occasions verses that he has learned since accepting the Lord. He came from a completely unchurched background–in fact–his mother has practiced voodoo in the past.

Yera began leading a nightly Bible study in his cell, with around 8-9 of his 20+ cellmates attending regularly. During visiting hours, when they are allowed out of their cell, he would visit youth from other cells and preach to them, too. So, it came as no surprise when he told me he wants to be a pastor.

He was released about two weeks ago, and the court named me as his guardian so he can pursue his pastoral call. He is staying with our family. Yera has already made several friends from the neighborhood with whom he is leading a Bible study.

Please put Yera in your prayers, that the Lord will continue to prepare him for the pastorate.

Short term team takes on the Witches!

Last week we had a team from Next Level Church in Ft. Myers, Florida with us.

Team from Next Level Church

Besides ministering in the street, in two youth prisons, some churches and a children’s home, we spent two days in the mountains. The team wanted to minister to an unevangelized village. We found one, named oddly enough, “The Witches”! (They say it’s named for a plant by the same name, just for the record). We invited them to come for a program the next morning. About 70 people showed up! We were amazed there were so many people around. They cleaned up their community center for us–it was being used to dry straw our first day there–and the team presented their program.

We prayed for the sick, among them, an elderly lady named Maria who had a problem with her heart and a lot of pain. After prayer, she was giggling like a schoolgirl because she felt the Lord touch her and take away the pain. Another woman, named Griselda, had undergone surgery three months before on her shoulder, but still had a lot of pain and limited movement. After praying, she was moving her arm freely without pain! God is good!

This confirmed our message of salvation to them, and many responded in faith when we prayed. Afterward, they begged us to return soon. One man in his 30′s said that no one had stopped there to preach since he was just a little boy! So, as the Lord brings “The Witches” to mind, pray for them!

Thursday was an awesome day!

Several of the youth in the youth prison in La Vega have received the Lord. Two of these guys, Angel David and Yera, have been wanting to be baptized. Angel David was recently released, and his big desire was to be baptized. Yera also has a great testimony of how the Lord saved him and radically changed his life. He also wanted to be baptized. Thursday, the judge gave me permission to take him out of prison for a couple hours, and together, he and Angel David were baptized.

Yera being baptized

Afterward, we celebrated the Lord’s Supper together–the first time since they’ve become believers. It was an awesome day of celebration for us as they took the next step in their faith. Angel David is getting involved in a church and Yera is wanting to be a pastor when he is released (he already is leading his cell in Bible study each night).

Angel David taking communion

Your prayers for them are greatly appreciated!

Yera, Mark & Angel David after they were baptized

Tales from the Jail (I’m so pumped!)

There is so much happening at the youth prisons right now, I barely know where to start. It will take several posts to cover it all!

My last post, I introduced you to Miguel. He’s the young man who was arrested in January for armed robbery just after receiving the Lord. Since he was tried as a minor, he only got a two year sentence. He sees God’s hand through his arrest and sentencing. I was talking to him a couple of weeks ago, asking him how it was going. He told me it was going well. I asked if he was reading his Bible that I had given him.

Miguel told me that all the guys in his cell block (around 24) gathered every night for a church service. I then asked him who preaches. He said, “I do.” So here’s a guy, who has been a Christian since December 26, 2010, who is now locked up–and is already preaching and pastoring his cell block! I am so proud of him.

Mark with Miguel in Santiago's Youth Prison

I saw him last week, and he has been moved to a different cell block. As it had just happened, he hadn’t gotten a new Bible study going yet, but was working on it. Keep Miguel in your prayers. The Lord is working powerfully in his life, and using him as a baby Christian to pastor other young men. Pray for us as we disciple him.

Miguel needs your prayers

Miguel’s mother was murdered before his eyes four years ago (If you know of Alex, Miguel is his cousin). His father is distant, if not cold, toward him and his siblings. He ended up running the streets.

On December 26, Miguel came to church for the second time, and at the end of the service came to give his life to Jesus. The Lord began working in him and changing him.

Miguel receiving the Lord

However, three weeks later, some of Miguel’s old friends came around and by the time the evening was finished, Miguel was in jail after holding up a store. Today I was able to see him for the first time since his arrest. Miguel is doing well. He realizes that the Lord has a plan for his life. First thing, he asked Alex for a Bible. I “just happened” to have one with me to give him. His cell mates call him “the pastor”, because every morning he leads them in songs and prayer. Now they’re going to add Bible reading to that. Last November, one young man from the La Vega youth prison where I minister each week was transferred to this prison. He says he will also be part of the Bible reading time with Miguel.

Please keep Miguel and Pedro (the other youth), in your prayers. God is being glorified even in these difficult times for them.

Sharing Christmas Joy, Pt. 2 – Tales from the Jail

The Christmas holidays are especially difficult for prisoners, especially teens who are locked up and away from their family. We wanted to do something special for the guys at the prison I minister in each week to let them know they weren’t forgotten. So, with the help of five great churches who sent special offerings (two of these being youth groups!), we were able to help make Christmas bright.

Every prisoner received a NT, a phone card, candy and toiletries

We put together gift bags for each prisoner as well as all the staff at the prison. The guys’ gifts included an illustrated New Testament (the majority don’t know how to read, so they can at least look at the pictures of Bible stories), a phone card, candy and toiletries.

We also wanted to take them dinner on Christmas Eve–the biggest feast day of the year in the Dominican Republic, but the prison administration would not let us. However they let us come in on Three Kings Day (January 6) with a program and “snacks”. So snack we did! We brought in 50 large Domino’s pizzas. Each guy and all the staff got half a pizza all to themselves!

All 70+ prisoners plus staff received a half a pizza from Dominos!

Ministerio Jovenes Valientes presented the Gospel through dramas, testimonies, music and preaching

One prisoner was overheard joking that he was going to get locked up every November. Another told one of our guys he hadn’t had pizza for 2 years (I imagine many had never had pizza before!). Then we presented the Gospel and prayed with the guys to receive Christ and follow Him. Many responded.

Many prisoners prayed to receive the Lord and then we prayed for personal requests

Some of these guys have done some pretty scary things in their short life. But that is what grace is all about–God giving us what we don’t deserve! It is a joy to share with them each week, letting them know of Someone who loved them so much He gave all He had. Pray for them to grasp the beauty of the Gospel.

Sharing Christmas Joy, Part 1

Christmas is a time of great joy, but can also be a time of disappointment, too. We were glad to be able to remove some of the disappointment and bring some joy to the kids that are part of our newest church plant here in Santiago.

Kids opening presents during our Christmas celebration

Manuel excited to receive toys and not clothes!

Two great churches in the States helped supply gifts for the kids. We gave a package filled with candy and trinkets, a small toy and a stuffed bear to every child present. One boy, Manuel, was saying as he opened his present, “Please don’t be clothes! Please don’t be clothes!” He was so excited to get a toy! As part of our Christmas celebration, we shared the best gift of all–how Jesus came to earth to be our Savior.

Lali with her new bear

We were also able to give gifts and food to a woman in the neighborhood who has 10 children and no job, and to another family with five children. It is exciting to let them know that Jesus loves them and that they are not forgotten. Pray with us that the Lord brings about fruit from these acts of love to children whom He loves.

The Next Step in the Journey

If you’ve followed this blog, some of this might be review for you.

Two years ago, Jean Carlos was invited to church. He’d visited other churches with friends, but they didn’t really appeal to him. Then Jean Carlos got invited to church with us and accepted the invitation. A couple weeks later, he gave his life to the Lord. From there, he was baptized. Then he memorized some verses to earn a Bible. He really likes rap music, so he and a friend from church began writing and performing Christian rap music.

Jean Carlos receiving the Lord

Jean Carlos being baptized

Jean Carlos (on right) with the Bible he earned

Just recently, Jean Carlos announced that he feels called to be a pastor! So, this year we’re going to be working closely and strongly with Jean Carlos to train him in his calling. What a joy it is for us to be a part of this next step in his spiritual journey! Thank you in advance, for your prayers on Jean Carlos’ behalf.

Mark and Jean Carlos

Our desire is that the Lord will trust us with more young people who feel the call to pastor. Pray for Him to continue to send them to us and to call them into ministry!

Kids loved VBS!

Last week we held a Vacation Bible School organized by our interns, Daniel Rife and Elly Getts for neighborhood kids in our facility in Ensanche Bolivar in Santiago.

Elly, Olivia and Daniel sharing with kids.

Thursday's Super Stars all won certificates for ice cream!

We had a water theme using stories from the Bible that deal with water.

The kids learned: God forgives us; God provides for us; God protects us; God strengthens us; and God is faithful.

Drawing Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry ground.

The kids had a great time and by the end of the week, we had grown to 53 kids. The last day, a lot of kids prayed to receive Christ, which was exciting.

Praying to receive the Lord

Also on Friday, we held water day. To be able to control it a little more, we held it indoors. The kids were having a blast, and used every opportunity to super-soak the building (nothing got damaged)! I got beaned in the forhead with a water balloon, and I’m sure some kid feels like he’s David and I’m Goliath. We all had a good laugh about it.

Who knew you could throw water balloons indoors?

Another really funny sight was a girl who tried to throw a bucket of water on everyone, and somehow in her swing it somehow ended up over her head, and she’s the one who ended up wearing all the water. Divine retribution, I call it! Where’s the video camera for AFV when you need it?!

We’re planning another VBS in our new church in just a few weeks! More fun ahead!