An Inmate’s Confession

Timothy began serving time in the LA county jail about the time I received my orientation as a prison chaplain. Like many African American men in this area, he was arrested for gang participation. Timothy faced a life sentence due to the severity of local sentencing enhancements and has spent nearly 9 years awaiting a better outcome than life in prison

I did not know Timothy by name but would see him from a distance whenever I met my students on his floor to teach Church-Based Seminary courses (TUMI). He was one of several African American men who hung out together and who were attracted to the discipline and fellowship shared by Black Muslims. These men rarely approach white Protestant chaplains, but after my TUMI classes I make it a point to speak with any of them willing to talk—usually about the differences between the Koran and the Bible. 

“Someone would like to speak with you,” one of my TUMI students said when I arrived on the floor one day. To my surprise, it was Timothy. He confessed he had walked away from the Lord the day he was arrested and joined the Muslim fellowship as soon as he was incarcerated.  

“I told my grandmother what I had done,” Timothy explained. 

“What did she say?” I asked. 

“She said she would pray for me and that I would find my way home. Now I’m ready.” 

I listened to Timothy’s confession and prayed with him to be fully restored as a follower of Christ. Then I asked him to phone his grandmother and tell her the good news.  

Please pray for Timothy: for God’s protection for him from persecution, for endurance to serve the Lord always, and for grace in the resolution of his case and the serving out of his time. We will always celebrate a brother returning to the Lord! (Luke 15:4-7)

Read more from Bob Lay.