From our Young Adults
The Parchman Prison Trip: A Testimonial by Malcolm Saxon
I had the privilege to travel with First Pres last month to the state penitentiary in the Delta. I have to be honest in saying that part of my reason in going was to “just check it out,” to experience Parchman. As you may know, it has a rich history of being a pretty scary place (or so I thought).
It was just a day trip, and I knew some folks that were going. Plus, I knew we (the Church) are supposed to do outreach, but I had never done anything like this before. I feared that I would not have much to offer these men. How could I relate to what they were going through? Thankfully, God had a lot in store for our group that day. It was an experience that exceeded all expectations.
As we meandered through the Delta, my eagerness turned to fear as we approached Parchman. A sign on the side of the road encouraged those passing by not to slow down. The place was huge and ominous; it was also quiet and drab. What had I gotten myself into? Do these inmates really want to see us? Is the program going to work?
We pulled into the Parchman chapel and were greeted by the prison chaplain. He went through the rules and expectations for our visit. I was calmed by his demeanor; he was a very kind man. It was also an encouragement to see my team’s willingness, experience, and encouragement to do this work.
Next, we took off for the cell block. This was real; we were getting close. What did I have to offer these guys? – a question that ran through my head constantly. Of course I knew the answer was and is Christ, but did I believe it? Did I feel that I had to share Him differently to these poor broken men than the kids I deal with at First Pres and Jackson Prep? It’s funny that I KNOW these answers, but when confronted I looked inward instead of towards Christ.
After a quick frisk by a prison guard, our group broke in half and entered our respective cell blocks. They locked the door behind us. Interestingly, one female guard stood watching in an enclosed glass stairwell while we visited. The worship time was optional for the inmates, but most came to take part. We broke into a couple of songs before we shared from Scripture and sang some hymns.
The inmates ranged in age from early 20’s to late 60’s. Some men were in for life; some had terms of five years. Some were black; some were white; others Hispanic. They were all different, yet they all had the stripes of prisoners. We were well dressed and comfortable, and here we are were singing “Frosty the Snowman.” There we were—two completely opposite groups. It was beautiful. I had the opportunity to share some of my testimony. Now I know we are called to always have ours ready. It should be easy, right? A testimony to what God has done in our lives- wow, I dreaded sharing. Yet, God was gracious there also. I spoke of the story of the prodigal son or the Parable of the Gracious Father. I like the latter better. I talked of the struggle of being both sons before a caring and loving Father who constantly provides for us. God was good. And is good.
We sang more songs. The guys actually loved the singing; they really enjoyed “Silent Night”. After a while, there was not much difference in both groups. After a short sermon, the guys returned to our cells, where we delivered a clear plastic bag of goodies, which included shampoo, soap, books, candy, etc. What made the biggest impression on me was the inmates willingness to hang out and share about what was going on in their lives. How much time they had left? How long they had been there? How many kids they had? Where they grew up? What work was like during the week? Most of them had 8am-6pm jobs on the property. They were kind. Another fear of mine was that they would humor us for an hour, get their gift, shake a few hands, bid us farewell, and wait for the next church to come the week after. It wasn’t like that at all! That was such a blessing. I wish we’d had more time to visit.
I believe that most of the team experienced the same blessing that I did. We are called to love the downtrodden; these men are downtrodden. I feel that many of them have a great grasp of their sin and need as well. Some of the grizzled vets in at Parchman encouraged me in my walk tremendously. You could tell that they counseled and mentored the youngsters in there as well. It is refreshing to see that the Lord knows His flock wherever they are, and it was a grand privilege in being able to take part in encouraging them.
Neighborhood Christian Center Cookie Jar Project (Are you feeling hungry yet?)
The Pathway class filled Mason Jars with flour, brown sugar, sugar, and most everything else needed to make cookies. We were led by the very enthusiastic Nate Shurden, who spent most of the time snapping pictures and assuring us that you can never have enough brown sugar. At first glance, the tasks seemed daunting – fill and decorate 100 Mason Jars – but the company was entertaining and we finished quickly. All in all, I’d say it was a great experience. It gave the Pathways class a chance to get to know one another while telling stories, creating a mess in Sarah Marie and Anna’s kitchen, and providing the great supporters of
Mary Downing Forester (Cookie Jar Maker Extraordinaire)