It has been close to 18 years since I attended by first service at the Cherry Street Chapel. I accompanied two members from my church that were Gideons. From that point on, my life would never be the same. While there, I heard these words, “You will never know who Jesus Christ is till Jesus Christ is all you have.” In spiritual terms, two different men may say almost identical words, but the power lies not merely in what they say but in who they are. I knew within my spirit those words were true and my brother had something that was real. I have continued being a part of the Prison Ministries since I heard those words. For the last 10 years, I have had the privilege to serve on Saturday morning at the Danbury Jail in Stokes County through the Gideons. We go to each cell and hand out Bibles, and I encourage inmates with those words, “You will never know who Jesus Christ is till Jesus Christ is all you have.” Some of God’s greatest treasures are locked up. In our prisons and jails are brothers and sisters who have almost been destroyed by the enemy but now have the potential to be used to bring forth glory to God. “And we know all things work together for good those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) I have never been in prison and God has blessed me with many possessions. I have spent many years wondering how I can understand Christ in the same way when I’m on the other side of the prison bars. The truth is all of us are in the prison of sin. Our Lord doesn’t need our possessions. He asks for our lives good or bad. The key that unlocks all cells is death of self. A faith that proves itself by what we lose for Him, namely ourselves. “Then Jesus said to them all: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Glory and the Glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:23-26). As I reflect on being a part of the prison ministry and how I have been blessed, I have always wondered who needs the other the most — those on the outside or inside? The truth is we need each other. The Lord has given us more than 58 “one another” verses in the Bible. When we serve others, we will find our Lord there and the next move of His Spirit.
Mike Long
Mizpah Moravian Church