A Night of Transformation
On the night of July 3, 1997, through heartfelt tears, I cried out, “Jesus, if you are real, come into my heart and change my life.” Immediately, His resurrected Spirit entered my body, and I felt empowered by the reality of His presence.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
After two hours of crying and thanking Him, I asked, “Lord, what do I do with my life?” He responded, “Return to Michigan. Turn yourself in to the authorities, and tell the men in prison about Me.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
I knew I would be in prison for a long time, but nothing mattered except following Jesus. One week later, I returned to Michigan and turned myself in for the two bank robberies. In the Kent County Jail, through the eyes of Christ, I saw men whose lives had been destroyed by sin.
Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I wanted them to know the freedom, joy, and comfort of knowing Jesus Christ. I would purposely interact with them to plant the seed of Christ in their hearts.
Three months later, I received a stiff sentence of 8 to 48 and 10 to 60 years in prison. Due to my violent criminal history, I knew I would most likely spend the rest of my life behind prison walls.
Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
However, my desire to serve Christ and point men into His arms did not diminish but rather increased. In Jackson Prison, my burden for the souls of men intensified. I was able to sense their pain.
My first two years were spent in a level 4 maximum security prison, spending 23 hours a day in a cement cell. Needless to say, the days were long and quite challenging. However, I occupied my time by praying, memorizing scripture, and reading my Bible for hours at a time.
Joshua 1:8 - “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Eventually, I was moved to a lower security level where the prison population was booming. Through my eyes, Jesus saw a multitude of lives destroyed by sin. I devoted my time to steering my fellow inmates into the arms of Jesus Christ.
So many stories of victories, but I will only share one that stands out in my mind.
A Story of Redemption
In 2001, at the Carson City Correctional Facility, I befriended an older “grumpy” gentleman named Bill. Bill was 61 years old and serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. He had been in the prison system for close to 30 years.
One summer afternoon, after watching Bill for a while, I decided to befriend him with every intention of planting the seed of Christ in his angry and restless heart. That day, I walked with him on the prison track and asked if he would like to attend a weekly church service.
His response left me speechless.
In a harsh tone of voice, he scolded me without mercy for about three minutes. He screamed, “I have been in prison for nearly 30 years, I have watched you Christians, and all of you are fake. I want nothing to do with the church.”
Needless to say, I walked away from Bill feeling like a complete and total failure. Instead of bringing him closer to God, I alienated him from God. However, although discouraged, I did not give up on Bill. I continued to talk to God about Bill’s life.
Galatians 6:9 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Two weeks later, I approached Bill again as he walked the prison track. This time, I expressed concern regarding his health. Bill and I walked the track and talked for hours. Over the course of a few months, Bill and I became best friends.
Bill was the head tutor at the prison school. Through his assistance, I had become one as well. One particular evening, Bill and I were sitting in a prison classroom grading and reviewing assignments. All of a sudden, I heard the sounds of groaning, wailing, and weeping.
I looked at Bill, thinking he was having a massive heart attack. Huge tears were flowing down his face. I asked if he wanted me to call the guards for medical assistance. His body trembling and through tears streaming out his eyes, he said, “Martin, 30 years ago, I killed a man. I hammered him to death. I am a murderer. God will never accept me.”
He could not stop crying. Tears of regret, sorrow, and remorse continued to flow down his face. At that moment, prompted by God’s Spirit, I pointed him to the cross and introduced him to the person of Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Through tears and sobs, Bill voiced a heartfelt prayer to God. He confessed his sin and accepted God’s pardon through His Son, Jesus Christ. Immediately, the Spirit of Christ entered Bill’s body. Bill raised his arms in victory and wept even more, thanking Jesus Christ over and over. His tears were tears of gratitude and eternal happiness.
As my heart bubbled with inexpressible joy, I got teary-eyed and began thanking God for His love and mercy over Bill’s life. God gave me the opportunity to disciple Bill for a few months before I got transferred to another prison. After my departure, Bill became a spiritual leader under the umbrella of Alpha Prison Ministries at the Carson City Correctional Facility.
Matthew 28:19-20 - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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