The Message Trust has been working with young offenders in prisons since 2004. To mark National Youth Day on 12 August, we share some of the ways our work is pointing young people to Jesus and supporting them in their faith.
Spurred on by Romans 5:8 which says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” and Romans 10:14 which says, “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” everything we do is centred on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It’s the gospel that changes hearts and minds, and we know it’s only through Jesus that everything is possible. As we come alongside those in prison and share the good news, we’re seeing people respond and give their lives to Jesus. Just last year, we saw over 200 people accept Jesus into their lives.
One of our prison workers Phoebe has been getting to know two young men in prison. She said: “I started holding Bible studies with one of them several months ago, and from there they were telling me how they often spoke through the pipes with their neighbouring cellmate about God and faith. Since then, these two young people have been praying with others in the unit, sharing the gospel and it has been so encouraging to see how their growing faith has strengthened relationships between officers and other prisoners and brought such positive change in themselves too!”
It’s the gospel that changes hearts and minds, and we know it’s only through Jesus that everything is possible.
Oliver and Jerry’s stories are also all about seeing disciples make disciples. Prison worker Owain has been working with Oliver motivated by 1 Corinthians 11:1 which says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”. He recently encouraged him to be bold and try sharing the gospel with others. Owain said, “I mentioned to Oliver that I’d been chatting with another lad Jerry about faith too and he seemed interested, so I gently encouraged Oliver to strike up a conversation with Jerry so that they could chat about Jesus together. I ran through the four points with Oliver which explain the gospel in easy steps. Oliver asked me, “Can I share it with Jerry in front of you so that I can get it right?” I said that it isn’t about the right thing to say, but just grabbing the opportunity to say it. After that, he seemed excited and ready and just as I was leaving the wing, I could see Oliver approaching Jerry.
“I later found out that Oliver had shared the gospel with Jerry and given him a Bible. As he’d done this, Jerry responded and gave his life to Jesus. How amazing! I caught up with Jerry and he told me, “I can already see a change in me. Usually, I’m really negative and always think of the worst-case scenario. This week, my cellmate was anxious about something and where I’d normally of catastrophised the situation, I was peaceful and positive and assured my cell mate that it would all be fine.
“The next week, I wasn’t able to come into the prison to do the usual Bible study on a Wednesday but found out that Oliver and Jerry ran it themselves, inviting along some of their mates to hear about Jesus too ! Even better, two of those who came along were Pete and Rhys who were new to the prison. Pete told me that he’d been sharing his faith with Rhys who’d recently also started reading his Bible and now all four of them were excited to come every week to Bible study to find out more. I can’t wait to see what God does in the lives of these lads.”
"It’s the gospel that changes hearts and minds, and we know it’s only through Jesus that everything is possible."
As well as this discipleship support, some of our prisons teams in Wales and South Africa are even taking ‘Respect ME’ lessons – PSHE lessons about relationships and self-esteem education, all from a Christian perspective – and advance group evangelism material into young offenders’ institutions to empower and equip the young people to make positive choices going forward.
In South Africa, team member Shaun shared: “One day I led an advance session in the prison sharing the gospel and what it means for each of us. One lad was so moved by the good news of Jesus that he responded to the gospel right there. Since then, he’s grown so much in his faith that he’s become a chapel leader and even launched his own advance group in the prison where he and the rest of the group learn how to share their faith with others.”
It’s incredible to see what God is doing through our mentoring and 1−2−1 support, running courses, Bible studies, chapel services and prayer groups, and wrap-around resettlement support initiatives, helping us to share the gospel and journey alongside people. And we’re not slowing down. As part of our bold and exciting vision for the next three years, we’re hoping to start work in six more prisons across the UK to reach more young people and adults with the good news of Jesus and see even more lives transformed.
Find out more about our work with young offenders and get involved at message.org.uk/prisons.
