Tuesday, May 31st, 2016
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A week ago Sunday, it was my turn for prison ministry at the county jail. There were six men present, one of whom was Tyler. Just twenty-one years old, he wore a look of abject hopelessness, as if he had lost his whole family. The Holy Spirit moved me to offer to be his mentor when he got out of prison, which happened two days later.
We met for coffee last Thursday. Tyler was mostly quiet as we waited in line. When we sat down, he informed me his plan was to commit suicide as soon as he could after being released. He had been in treatment for drugs seven times and had tried to commit suicide four times. He had given up and wanted to end the struggle.
Tyler is a believer but had not signed up for the Gideon slot on Sunday. Why should he with what he was about to do? But the Holy Spirit moved him to come, and he eagerly accepted my offer – or should I rather say the Holy Spirit’s offer. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. To be continued this Friday.