Short stories from the inside of a prison

James. Charge murder. Currently serving a very long sentence.  Attended "Inside Program". (A series of Bible Studies addressing lifestyle choices and offending behaviour from a spiritual perspective) Came to faith/trust.  Requested to be baptised.

David.  Found guilty of GBH with intent. Currently serving 4 year sentence.  Came to faith while in prison. Testified in court to judge of this very fact.  Attended Inside Program. Commenced Emmaus correspondence studies. Wrote hymn. Didn't appeal sentence. Accepted sentence as embracing the future with God.

Matthew. Breach of Parole. Sought counselling. Tyring to make sense of incarceration. Encouraged to consider the new possibilities that God wants to introduce to him. Returned for further counselling. Found Matthew one morning in yard reading bible and devotional material.

Wing Service. Inmates in wing unable to attend Chapel service. Conducted own Sunday Service in wing with bible readings, talk, testimony and prayers. Leader of service reported this to chaplaincy on following Monday.

Tom. Armed robberies sentenced. DPP noted Chaplaincy involvement in submissions prior to sentencing. DPP asked whether or not his Chapel attendance and bible studies had made any difference in life? Barrister for DPP asked whether he knew any bible verses? Tom responded with five bible verses and would have continued but the judge interrupted and said to Tom "You've answered the prosecutions question more than amply."

Mark. GBH with intent. Sentenced for 5 years. Wrestling with conviction/guilt. Is concerned about his crime defining him as a person and therefore his future. Counselled him to see the sum of all his parts is tied not to his guilty verdict but to the powerful scriptural truth of being created in the image of God. He wants to explore what this means in terms of the sum of the all the parts of his being found made new and established in the living God

Andrew. Multiple charges of armed robbery. Trial commencing. Seeking help to deepen his relationship with God. Wants to be set free from compulsive lying. Seeking God's intervention and empowering.

Jack. Charged with drug importation. Trial commencing. Responded to Chapel service message. Sought counselling and prayer. Recognises the darkness that has characterised his life over many years. Seeking the light of God and His Word to empower and liberate him from bondage to a various addictions that have held him captive to a life of darkness.

David.  Assault charges. Trial commencing. Troublesome inmate. A number of internal charges. Brought to Chapel. Talented musician, intelligent, articulate. Wrote song expressing redemption in Jesus Christ.