A letter wound its way into my hands this week from a man currently serving a lengthy sentence in prison. Raised a nominal Catholic, during his time inside he has come to know the Gospel and given his life to Jesus. Now in his 30s, incarcerated for over ten years, his unfolding testimony is wonderful to witness.

The letter speaks of a man who, alone in his cell with no-one but the Lord and nothing but Scripture, is meeting profoundly with God in a way that is completely changing his life. It is so refreshing and challenging in its simplicity that I must share it:

I’ve had a lot of time to spend with God and I have to tell you that I finally really feel His love. I’ve felt it before but not like this. I feel full of the Holy Spirit.

So this is what happened. I was feeling really lost, low and confused and really lonely, and I remember something [I had been told] about forgiveness and telling God everything. So I did, I told Him everything I’ve ever done in my whole life and had done to me – every dirty little sin. I asked to have a clear head and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I prayed for about five hours and it really worked – I feel amazing – for the first time in a long time I don’t feel angry, I feel happier and I am smiling :-)

I could stop there. But the next part was unforgettable:

There is more…so a long time ago I heard God tell me he wants me to be an evangelist. Well I asked Him again: if this is what He wants me to do, can He show me? Ezekiel came to my mind so I started to read Ezekiel 1 and 2. Then Ezekiel 2:6-8 made me feel really warm and like He was talking to me, and also 3:17-18. I then got scared and stopped reading!

I don’t know what’s happening to me…but it’s good…can you find out what I need to do to be an evangelist? Or can I just go on the street and preach?

What an amazing God we serve, who sees the lonely, the lost and forgotten – those who have been left behind by society – and meets them when nobody else can, transforming them from the inside out until they not only know Him, but want to make Him known to any who will listen. Truly: He can raise up children out of stones to tell of His great name (Matt 3:9).

In times to come, the Gospel will once again be preached in this nation – although it may come from unexpected places and forgotten voices.

In the meantime, will we forsake all and be obedient to the call of the Lord, wherever it takes us and whatever it demands of us? Do we know how much we’ve been forgiven? I speak to myself as much as to you.

Join me in praying for this man – and for the many more like him – and for ourselves.

Author: Frances Rabbitts