I wonder what you picture when you hear the word ‘prison’?  I would imagine high walls, barbed wire and security systems with people in drab uniforms.  Most of my images came from television shows or movies which showed incredibly harsh conditions being inflicted on well deserving criminal types, or alternately mean prison officers bullying innocent victims of an aggressive justice system.

What I did know is that this is a place where chaplaincy occurs and if ever there was a place where the light of God needs to shine it would be in prison.

I was asked if I could see myself taking up a chaplaincy role in prisons as my next appointment.  Almost immediately my response was, “Absolutely!”.  Then the reality and doubt set in. 

I have been a congregational church leader for 95% of my ministry years, what on earth did I know about being a chaplain … in a prison?  In response to that thought, though, this specific part of a Bible verse kept running through my mind: “… I was in prison, and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36). So I said, “Yes”.

While I am available to be sent to any of the prisons in the South Australian network I am currently based at Yatala Labour Prison which is our maximum security prison in suburban Adelaide, housing up to 860 men.  Most people assume I would be working in the Women’s Prison, which is literally 1km down the road, but the demand is greater at Yatala for now, so that is where I serve … and I love it.

As a rule, the men need to request a visit from the chaplain and they don’t need to specify a reason.  Often it is in their first few weeks of incarceration, or because of a crisis that has occurred either inside or outside the prison walls. 

Getting in to see and speak with the men can be tricky with plenty of obstacles I need to navigate about their availability, whether there is a secure space available. All it takes is a court date, a medical or legal appointment, staff shortages or an incident in their unit and my planned visit needs to be rescheduled.

When I do get to sit down with them we are left one on one in a secure room, always on camera and I need to be seated closest to the door.  I wear a duress alarm that I can activate in an emergency, but despite this setting and these constraints I am quickly able to focus on the man in front of me and just have a conversation. 

I do have a habit of making the men I meet with cry!  I learned early on to 1. Always have a packet of tissues with me and 2. Always allow time at the end of a visit for the men to compose themselves before heading back to their unit.  Their tears are often the result of me demonstrating a combination of curiosity about how they are going, and compassion, but I count it a real privilege to be invited into their world and vulnerability.

Sometimes they want to tell me why they are incarcerated. (I never ask.) Sometimes they want to explain that it’s not for a ‘violent crime’. Sometimes they want to see if they can shock me with what they’ve been up to. With each conversation I pray that my ‘outside face’ doesn’t reflect what may be my ‘inside face’, even for a moment! I have noticed that when my responses to them don’t change based on what they share the barriers begin to come down even more in subsequent conversations.

One of my favourite activities to do is chapel services.  I am part of the roster where I can have up to twelve men in the room where we freely discuss scripture passages and how it may apply to our lives.  Sharing the Easter message with them this year was especially poignant when I was talking about Jesus accepting the punishment for our wrongdoings, basically serving the sentence we deserve.  It was a special moment for me to share in.

I realise that I am not only a Chaplain for the residents, but also for the staff and have been making it a habit to introduce myself to the officers who are bringing the men to meet with me or that I pass on my wanderings.  Recently one of the staff asked if, the next time I am talking to God I could ask for something for him.  He believed that God was more likely to listen to me!  One of the other staff members recognised me at my local Parkrun.  He approached me the following Monday and we have regular running conversations that he draws other staff members to join in with.

When people find out where I work I have been asked many times if I am scared in that environment.  At this stage I can honestly say I have never felt fear of the men.  A Chaplain is not a symbol of authority, and we have zero impact on things like accommodation, sentences, privileges etc.  We are there at their request, to listen.  We hold their stories and offer comfort and compassion as we can. 

What I have felt, primarily, is the respect of those I encounter and that is down to the Chaplains that have gone before me and the others who are currently part of our multi-denominational, multi-faith team.  I am the newbie on the block as I only started in January and while the learning curve has been steep, and fast, it has also been a joy.

The main thing I have learned is that no matter where I am in ministry it comes down to the same thing … relationship.  Being willing to build relationships with those that God places in my path and I try to do this without judgement, which is even more important in my current location. 

The men I deal with are facing very real, very severe consequences for choices that have been made and if I can offer the love and hope of God to them for however long they are residing at the prison then I am more than happy to do so.

As the co-founder of The Salvation Army, General William Booth, said in his last public address: “while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight.” Bringing light to fight the darkness in this place is a battle I am willing to be a part of, for as long as I am needed.

Be blessed.