God taught me to see the gold in the women I visit in prison

The number of women entering the criminal justice system has increased significantly in the last 30 years. Last month, the government announced commitment to reducing the number of women in prison in the UK through ‘the Women’s Justice Board’. This brings hope for change to those supporting women within this system. Sometimes things can take time to change, but in the middle of it all, God is always working:

“Anyone can see the dirt in someone – be the one who finds the gold” Proverbs 11:27

I am a gold miner. I spend my days looking past the dirt and dust that has covered people’s truest identity – the gold deep within them. I spend my days with some of the funniest, strongest, most beautiful women I have met. Women who are walking through many difficult things: trauma, abuse, addiction, homelessness and domestic violence. Women who live in prison.

I first visited prison nine years ago and after a day with the women, I wanted to spend my life there (without getting myself a conviction)

I first visited prison nine years ago and after a day with the women, I wanted to spend my life there (without getting myself a conviction). I started working for Junction 42 around this time. Junction 42 is a charity that believes all people can be transformed by the hope of the gospel.

At Junction 42, we journey with people from their first day in custody to release into the community (and often back around again). We help people feel empowered by building confidence that they can create, they can share their story, they have a voice.

The prison environment is not for everyone, it is structured yet unpredictable, sad and joyful. But it is the place for me, and God has shown me over and over - it is also the place for him. He loves it in there and every day I see him in somebody I meet. Let me introduce you to a couple of his favourites:

When Kelly came to the art group, we were working on a group artwork saying: “She believed she could, so she did”. Reclaiming this cliché phrase to represent women finding the confidence to tell their stories, leave violent relationships and learn new skills. When we finished, she declared, ‘this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever done’. Kelly loved God and often sang her heart out to Lauren Daigle’s ‘You say’. She also struggled with addiction and homelessness and was in and out of prison, but every time I saw Kelly I saw Jesus. Kelly died last year. At her funeral ‘You say’ was played, leaving the mark of her godly identity on her family and friends.

Claire loves Holy Spirit and is so overwhelmed with emotion by him. Claire also loves the man who beat her up until she nearly died three times

Claire has spent her life in and out of prison, homelessness, abusive relationships, survival sex and violence. Claire loves God. Claire has told us to leave her alone, begged us for help, called us 17 times in a day for a food parcel and then told us she hates the food. Claire loves Holy Spirit and is so overwhelmed with emotion by him. Claire also loves the man who beat her up until she nearly died three times. Claire loves the Bible and shared with us at her cell door - ‘we have this treasure in jars of clay’ overwhelmed with tears she said: ‘I am the treasure, I have just realised I am the treasure’. Claire is now living safely, spending her days reading, learning to cook, volunteering for a local church and encouraging others who have been where she was.

These are the not-so-glory glory stories that don’t fit our linear understanding of a faith journey. They are messy, unravelling in unexpected ways, but are real and pure gold. During 22 years in ministry, I have noticed how easy it is to think we have the right answers and forget to simply love the person in front of us. When we bring our agenda, tick-boxes and pride, we can miss what God is already undoing, unravelling, healing, restoring and revealing. We miss the gold.

Are you also a gold miner?

It starts with being open to getting to know people: it opens your eyes to see how wide and deep God’s love is for them. He meets people where they are. When you stop and sit with women who have worked as sex workers since childhood, battled addictions, survived domestic violence, been arrested and imprisoned multiple times, and lived homeless for long periods, you will always see the amazing love of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. You will see the gold.

We would love if you would pray with us for the prison - not as a desperately sad place in need of Jesus - Jesus is already there. He always has been, and we see and feel him there more than anywhere else. Here Jesus meets the oppressed, welcomes the sinner, binds up the broken-hearted. Instead, pray for the women - that they would see the gold in themselves, for our team to see what he is doing and get involved, to remain low and humble, open and listening.

Pray that we will keep mining.