Editor’s Note: Mike continues his weekly reflections from Memorial Unit as our volunteers walk through Kingdom Man with the men. This week, an unexpected restriction became a real-life lesson in alignment, authority, and trusting God with what comes next.
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As we headed to the Memorial Unit to study Chapter 6 of Kingdom Man about alignment and headship, we were faced with a dilemma. We were told we could not bring any books, Bibles, papers, etc. into the prison. Apparently, an existing rule was now being enforced. My flesh bowed up a little, but then I remembered we are men under authority, and the authority said this, so we must stay in alignment and follow the directive.
I was expecting pushback from my fellow volunteers, as we are a bunch of free-spirited men who do not like to be told what to do. Seems like they have been reading Kingdom Man closely because no one complained. We went in just as normal, but with a lot less in our hands.
It’s funny how God shows up when you’re aligned under Him. We met in the Chaplain’s office and talked about an upcoming message on salvation and baptism—more to come on that—and then we walked out into the chapel where there were probably 120 men in white waiting for us.
Except at my table.
I noticed all my men were on stage, and they had instruments and microphones in their hands. I was fired up, as nothing will bless you more than 100 men in a prison chapel singing praise songs to the Lord. Let’s go!
I told them to do as many as they wanted, and they were excited. Four amazing songs of praise and worship, ending with “Gratitude.” Much to the embarrassment of some of my kids, my hands go up in the air as soon as I start singing, but not everyone worships this way. It was amazing to see all these hard men of different skin colors, backgrounds, and ages with their hands thrown up in the air and singing:
So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
Did I see a little bit of Heaven last night? Yep, but this was probably just the warm-up act.
After we shouted and applauded multiple times, I took the microphone to speak. I almost didn’t want to because I was afraid I might step on the “Jesus high” we were on.
Instead, I just opened my mouth and let the Holy Spirit’s words flow out about the salvation message and upcoming baptism.
The men didn’t know about it yet, and the enemy had been yelling at me all day about how bad of an idea it was and how the men wouldn’t respond well.
But at this point in my life, I am not aligned under the enemy but under the one true God. He had told us to do this, so we are marching forward.
One step at a time, men. One step at a time.