No Weapon

2009 brought Crosswalk into partnership with Heads Up, a program to teach and mentor juveniles who are incarcerated in the adult system throughout Georgia. I have been working recently with the director Peggy Lieurance on preparing the young men at Burruss CTC in Forsyth for a family day at the end of this month. It was during one of these classes that I met Jonah (not his real name but you’ll see why it is appropriate if you keep reading). Jonah is a 16-year-old who is facing at least two more years in the adult system. He committed his crime when he was 14, right after he felt God calling him into ministry. Not swallowed by a big fish, but by the Georgia Department of Corrections, Jonah now sees things a bit differently.

One day in April as I drove to Forsyth, I turned off the radio and talked to God about the time I would spend at Burruss that day. I asked simply that He would give me an opportunity to share His Word with individual kids as we made Mother’s Day cards. Thirty minutes later as I ran around the library distributing various paints, glue, stickers and markers, Jonah called me over to his table. I was not expecting the conversation that ensued since I really did not know this young man at all. He began tentatively with a simple question about a scripture. Apparently I answered it in a way that told him it was safe to share his story. “We don’t see a whole lot of Spirit-filled believers come through these doors,” he said. “I just somehow knew that you were.” He went on to tell me that he had gone to church all his life and felt called to preach when he was 14, but he fought God until he was finally arrested, convicted and sent to Burruss. Now he feels closer to God than ever and believes that he is “in the belly of the fish” to study the Word and practice boldness in his faith.

Jonah and I are prayer partners now. One day as Peggy and I prepared for class, the boys walked in and took their seats. She was talking so Jonah didn’t interrupt her, but I noticed as he sat down, he looked at me and shook his head. He was not smiling. I quietly walked over and asked if he was okay. He grinned as he told me that God had revealed something new to him in his Bible study that morning. “Miss Gina been praying for me again,” he said. Then he added, “I been praying for you too.”

For the past few weeks the boys have rehearsed music for the family day event. For one of his songs Jonah has chosen “No Weapon” by Fred Hammond. One of his favorite lyrics is “No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I won’t be afraid of the arrows day by day from the hand of my enemy. I can stand my ground with the Lord on my side, for the snares they have set will not succeed.” To hear this young man sing this song with such conviction about God’s anointing on his life is a blessing that I could not have found anywhere else. I cover this young man with prayer every single day. Would you take just a moment right now and lift him up? The enemy doesn’t stand a chance against the power of the resurrection!