A New Reality for Prisoners in Butuan, Philippines

I don't know if this photo looks like much to you, but it tells a rather remarkable story.

During our recent Journey of Compassion to the Philippines, the team visited a prison (two actually, but this story is only about one of them). One of our members shared his amazing story, which included time spent in prison a number of years ago. As he spoke, every eye was on him. Following this, another member talked about how Jesus came to give us new life; after her invitation, about 25 men and women asked Jesus to come into their lives. Then we invited those who were sick or in pain to come forward to receive healing prayer from the Impact team. They were obviouly excited to see their friends being healed right in front of them.

But then something new happened.

We invited anyone else who was in pain to come forward; eleven people came. But this time there was a change. I took just a few moments to teach everyone just how easy it is to heal people in Jesus' name. Then I asked anyone who wanted to do what they had seen us doing to come forward. Eleven needed healing and eleven prisoners came forward to pray for them (several of these folks had only opened their hearts to Christ five minutes earlier--not exactly prayer veterans). Every one of the eleven was instantly healed.

When the Kingdom of God comes, everything changes. There was now a new reality at the prison. No longer did they have to simply tolerate pain and sickness, waiting for the next medical clinic to be set up. From now on, they could watch Jesus heal through them. Now they were really excited. Men and women hugged us; the guards gathered around to shake our hands and thank us.

Something had shifted; the atmosphere was different. The Apostle Peter wrote: "In His grerat mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope".

So when I look at this picture, that's what I see: a living hope, a new reality. Because the Kingdom has come to the Butuan prison, and when the Kingdom comes, everything changes.