In Kenya of 2018, I was staying in a host home when I met a Kenyan in his early 20’s who was fervent for the Lord that was involved in direct ministry. I asked him about the things he was doing and he began to describe to me his ministry he created doing prison ministry— visiting the jail cells, preaching Christ, and being an outlet to men who were in chains, walking them through the Bible and also just being there for them in general; he loved them and he cared for him like no other. The moment I heard this, I was moved completely. Something in me was stirred at the thought of doing prison ministry... Years later, I watched a live YouTube video of Zach Williams singing “Chain Breaker,” “No Longer Slaves,” “to the Table,” and several other songs while sharing about Jesus in a prison, and I watched as the men were moved with tears as they worshipped and sang out to the Lord. Since that day, I have found moments where I am just in my car crying listening to those songs over and over again, remembering my Kenyan friend and what he does for a living, hoping I could do the same.

And now, here we are today! This past winter, our AFM team went to Lusaka, Zambia for two weeks to do hands-on ministry, preaching the gospel and loving on the people of Zambia. On New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2021, my team went to a village/town called Chaisa and we were split into groups of 3 or 4. In my group it was me, Micah Mirly, and Jayden Tennis, and our wonderful translator, Florence, who was on FIRE for Christ; we were so thankful she was with us that day.

We started off by going to a few houses and sharing about Jesus and encouraging those who were already followers of Jesus. One house we went to, a lady talked to us about her son who wasn’t following the Lord anymore. We got to encourage her and remind her that it isn’t her fault and that she needs to give herself grace and not to take on the “blame” for her son’s rebellion. After praying with her, and heading towards the street as we walked away, Florence paused and look at us and said: “So are we going to go to the police station down the road or what?” We all froze in shock. I couldn’t believe my ears. Florence then continued saying she felt inclined to bring the Name of Hope, of Jesus Christ, to the prison cells: a place that so desperately needed Hope. She said that we should go talk to the police station to have them allow us to go and do so. My heart dropped to the ground. I felt a ball of nervousness and excitement at the pit of my stomach as we approached the police station.

As we walked in, we were asked to sit and wait in the office around back. A few moments later, the Head Chief Officer and the Head Investigator of the police station walked in... they asked us several questions and then they proceeded to let us go into the police station and go down the hall to the jail cells. I then began shaking, realizing what was about to take place. We turned the corner and there in front of me was this jail cell similar to an American one that would host two inmates at a time; however, this one was of similar size but instead filled with 20-25 men all sitting side-by-side touching shoulders in rows. It was gut-wrenching to see…My heart broke immediately. Florence said that a few of them were in jail for crimes that they were never convicted of; it was in humane, it was injustice.

Prisons in Africa, specifically this place we went, were treated harshly. There were no beds, or food arrangements, or anything of the sort. It was cruelty at its finest.

Florence then looked at us and said “alright, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and share the gospel. They’re hungry for it.” I looked at Jayden and Micah; it was evident that all of us were hit with heaviness and stunned in the moment, so I prayed for boldness within me and then the Holy Spirit began to speak. I laid out the gospel completely; vividly describing the cruxifiction and what Jesus went through to get to each of their hearts. As I continued, Jayden and I went off of one another bouncing back and forth with scripture and encouraging them that their purpose and Hope is found in Jesus alone. After sharing about Jesus dying and resurrection, I felt a tug at my heart to share a testimony…but not my own. I felt a heavy pull to share about Paul’s testimony in the bible from start to finish. I shared about Paul’s life as if he was one of my bestfriends, and the freedom he experienced and even the chains he too was in. “Physical chains don’t define our freedom…It is Christ who defines freedom for us,” I said as my voice began to shake because of the tears I was holding back. The Lord gave me such a great love for these inmates—these children of God—that day, and I can’t even begin to describe such a spiritual encounter I had with the Lord. We felt the Spirit’s tug and as a group, we asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ today and began to describe what that would mean for their life, the true sacrifice it meant to give your entire life to the Lord but also depicting that it was a John 10:10 kind of life. Prisoners began shouting out, “yes! O’God yes!” One by one, each hand shot up to the ceiling…every man in their wanted to receive Jesus. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. I then encouraged Micah to lead them in prayer to accept Christ in their hearts, and I’m so thankful it was him who did so. I’ve never heard such a more spirit-led prayer; you could tell it wasn’t Micah speaking but that it was the Lord through him. As Micah put his hand up to the prison door to pray over the men, all the men stood up and walked up to the door putting their hands up to Micah’s, basically touching his through the steel bars. It was a connection like no other.

That day, the whole prison cell accepted Jesus, every single one of them publicly professed Christ as Lord…And there is more. After we prayed, we all sang worship songs in their own language together that echoed throughout the entire prison! The prisoners were dancing and shouting thanksgivings and praises to God. It was angelic! Truly felt like angels had entered the building.

But the moment that hit me the most was when I stopped singing for just a slight moment to take in all that was happening as if I was watching on the outside of a movie happening, and I slowly looked over to my left, and my eyes couldn’t believe what I saw….The prison guards began to JOIN IN and sing out to the Lord WITH US! And get this, one of the guards/workers that day was the woman’s son from the FIRST HOUSE we went to in the story above! Her son whom had fallen away from the Lord was right there; he was right here with us listening to me share the gospel and was singing with us in the prison! My face flooded with tears; my heart was racing uncontrollably…

I couldn’t stop thinking about how humbling it was and truthfully, how honored and privileged I felt in that moment to get to witness such an encounter of the Holy Spirit at work. I will never forget it…After we worshipped, one of the men was still standing at the door with his hands on the door and tears streaming down his face. I felt like something more was happening within him and you could tell he was immensely moved by the Lord. I said “Sir, what’s your name?” and he began to look up at me slowly with tear-filled eyes, and said, “My name is…Paul. I AM Paul!”….WOW! Did that hit hard! It makes even MORE sense why I felt such a strong pull to share about Paul’s testimony in the bible because of this very man! The Lord is so radically intentional and I will forever be amazed by Him. Thank you Jesus!

When we left the prison that day, the Head Chief Officer and the Head Investigator of the police station were outside laughing and asked why we all were filled with tears. His exactly words were: “Why? Ya know… Those are all just a bunch of criminals in there...” I looked at the Head Chief Officer in his eyes with righteous anger and said, “No. Those men in there, are Children of GOD.” Those men aren’t just any other men; they are children of the Most High, the Father of mercies, the Friend of Sinners, the King of Kinds, and…the heavenly Father who loves them so deeply and intimately.

When we arrived back at the church where we started off, 30 minutes later a man walked in. We recognized him for some reason and then it clicked! Micah realized it was one of the men who was in the prison cell where we just were! Apparently, moments after we had left the police station, several of the men were let out of jail and were FREE to go! Thank you Jesus! One of them, whose name I can’t remember now, said he came right to the church the moment he was let go so that he would know where to come on Sundays now.

I cannot believe still to this day because THAT’S the day, that’s THE DAY that I will never forget… I will never forget how much the Lord humbled me. I will never forget the power and authority the Spirit has. I will never forget the men’s faces when preaching the gospel, the compassion and power the Cross carries. I will never forget looking over at the prison guards singing songs of worship and praise with us. I will never forget Florence’s words when she said, “alright, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and share the gospel. They’re hungry for it.” I will never forget the urgency the gospel is for my brothers and sisters. And I will never forget how intentional and gracious the Lord is with me in allowing me to have an opportunity to share His name with His people in such a manner. I pray that I will continually have opportunities where I am stretched and pushed beyond my comfort zone, beyond my understanding, beyond my own fleshly ability where I get to preach the gospel but also get to suffer for the gospel as well, even if that too means as a prisoner. Likewise, I too am forever a prisoner for the Lord like Paul, no matter my circumstances.

For He is my refuge,

He is my rock;

He is my Hope,

He is my Life.

— Carly Orcutt, 23 years old