Reflecting on a Ministry Experience

During the summer of 2024, I took part in a local ministry effort aimed at sharing the gospel with individuals in a nearby jail. This involved speaking with young men and women facing felony charges and awaiting transfer to prison about the God of the Bible and Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Having been confirmed in the Catholic Church just a year prior, I felt unsure about what I could genuinely contribute. It was my first time engaging deeply with the Bible, specifically through the Didache Bible, which integrates the Catholic Church’s teachings.

There was a powerful statement made during our discussions: without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, there wouldn’t be a resurrection or victory over death, and our path to salvation would remain forever obscured.

The coordinator of the service led weekly sessions lasting about 45 minutes, typically for a group of around 12 participants, the majority of whom were black men. Each gathering included a Bible reading followed by a thoughtful discussion. It was really something to witness these prisoners reading and grappling with the text, genuinely questioning and recognizing their life situations.

In the third session, after our prayer, the coordinator presented the theme of the day and asked me to lead a discussion on what it means to be a man. Honestly, I was caught off guard. But then, something unexpected happened. For about a minute, I shared insights that I had never articulated before, or even considered.

Looking back now, I can truly understand what people mean when they say the Holy Spirit can speak through you.

I expressed to those young inmates that true masculinity is marked by two key traits: the readiness to take responsibility and the courage to make sacrifices.

This is why I believe Jesus exemplifies what it means to be a man. God has taken on the responsibility for all of us. As Tim Tebow eloquently put it, God’s wounds represent our sins. We can’t redeem ourselves from these sins without His grace. Therefore, out of love, God sent His Son to bear the immense moral burden of injustice that afflicts us all.

Jesus also demonstrated the second key trait through His voluntary sacrifice on the cross. He died not merely for us, but because of us. This sacrifice was unique—voluntary and redeeming. Without it, there wouldn’t be a resurrection, and the hope for overcoming death would be lost.

I reassured the young inmates that, regardless of their circumstances (which we didn’t delve into deeply), it was crucial for them to assume responsibility if they hoped to forge a better path upon their release.

We needed to take simple yet significant steps right away, and I laid out some suggestions:

• Avoid falling in with gangs.
• Support fellow inmates who are in need.
• Enhance reading, writing, and basic math skills using the prison library.
• Start or join a Bible study group.
• Pray daily for forgiveness and guidance.
• Acknowledge Christ as their Savior.
• Speak without using profanity.
• Refrain from seeking revenge against others.

I also emphasized the importance of cultivating physical discipline alongside mental discipline, similar to my own journey. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we have a duty to nurture the gifts we’ve been given by God.

As noted in the Gospel of John, Jesus bore the cross—a heavy load—heading to Golgotha, where He ultimately died. It made me wonder: how many American men today could heft 100 pounds for any distance, much less endure lashes and bloodshed along the way?

I shared parts of my own story, explaining how I finally accepted Christ as my King and found freedom from a long-standing battle with addiction. I invited the inmates to consider my journey, especially if they struggled with the concept of an unseen God, as I often did for many years.

My father, a Marxist, struggled with mental illness, hindering his ability to take responsibility. Yet, despite my own missteps and misgivings, God did not abandon me. He led me through confusing and seemingly insurmountable life challenges, always promising that it would all work for my good. Eventually, I opened my heart to His love and guidance.

As the session concluded, there was a heavy silence.

Once we reconvened outside in the parking lot—a weekly tradition—the coordinator was visibly emotional. She told me, “I can’t believe I found a godly man like you.” However, she was absent for a number of weeks afterward, seemingly reconsidering her earlier assessment of me.

Then, in a conference call later in July 2024, I was dismissed from the ministry. After reflecting on my testimony, the coordinator decided she could not have a Catholic leader on her team. She expressed that there needed to be no theological divide among those presenting to the inmates. Consequently, she felt I should not return, nor should the Didache Bible.

I was taken aback but responded by quoting Christ, who advised the apostles to “shake off the dust” if people wouldn’t receive their message.

That was the last time I heard from her, and I didn’t return.

The Unexpected Turns

In a surprising twist, I ended up leaving my Catholic parish and discovered a deeper connection with the Risen Christ. Things deteriorated once the diocese began promoting content by a Jesuit priest, James Martin, who is known for his controversial views regarding LGBTQ matters.

Yet, the diocese failed to inform the community about Martin’s background or why it was an issue.

The final straw came during a Mother’s Day sermon when a priest, who had never mentioned prayers for Christians suffering violence worldwide, instead requested prayers for aborted children, illegal immigrants, and homosexuals. Merging the tragedy of murdered infants with political issues demonstrates a severe misalignment of moral responsibilities.

Jesus was not a political figure; had He been, He might have advised the Romans on governance. Instead, He was the embodiment of God, dying for our sins so that we can live eternally with Him.

Though I identify as Catholic, I find Voddy Baucham’s insights resonate profoundly: the Bible doesn’t call us to invite Jesus into our hearts. Rather, it compels us to repent and believe, urging us to joyfully obey God’s commandments and live in communion with Him forever.

Ultimately, we should strive to tread the path of the ultimate man.