VOLUME APRIL 2002 c

April 29, 2002

OPEN AND READY

For me it has been an adventure living out the Christian life behind prison walls. In here one must conduct himself as a Christian in an atmosphere that's filled with anger and often swirls in a spirit of lawlessness.

For the most part, a majority of the men are either hostile or indifferent to Christianity. Many of them see Christians as weak. But if course, in realilty, being a believer in Jesus requires inner strength and courage, as well as a strong commitment. One's faith is going to be tested daily with all kinds of temptations and trials.

Yet there are many God-given blessings and surprises to encourage me along the way. Today, for example, I got to share my testimony with two inmates who, when they were on the "streets", were with organized crime. Now they're both doing long sentences.

I was utterly amazed when we started talking and they immediately began to ask me questions about my faith. We spoke for about 45 minutes. And one of them (I'll call him Sal, not

his real name), confessed to me that he has a brother who left the "mob" and is now living in Florida and who is serving the Lord as born again evangelist.

Today was one of the most spiritually productive times that I've had in long while. Jesus Christ definitely touched some hungry hearts. I was amazed to find these two men so open and ready to receive.

David Berkowitz

April 30, 2002

DEATH SENTENCE

I was listening to a news program on NPR radio when a report came on about prisoners who have the AIDS virus. This report went on to say that, presently, about 7,100 New York State inmates out of a population of approximately 65,000 men and women, are HIV positive.

While a majority of these inmates are not considered to be sick (yet), as they're not showing any symptoms, the fact is that they're carrying the virus. To me this is akin to living under the sentence of death.

I see their lives as examples of how people have been damaged and devastated by sin. Their bad choices in life have cursed them, leaving them infected with a virus which has no cure.

Most of these HIV positive prisoners will eventually die from AIDS. For those who have not as of yet begun to get the various opportunistic infections and disorders from a weakened immune system, their system will not be able to hold off the virus forever.

Some of these men and women will die while incarcerated. Other will eventually get out and return to their old haunts and habits. Many of them will rejoin the ranks of the homeless. They will find their way to city shelters or halfway houses, or they will simply settle for living in the streets, sleeping in parks or under bridges, etc.

I do not see them as having much of future. Already having been infected by the AIDS virus, having a criminal record, what are the chances for any of them going on to lead healthy, satisfying and productive lives upon release?

Being a Christian, I see the prison that I'm confined to as a wide open mission field. These men have been so self-destructive. For the most part thay've ruined their lives, and they know it. Regret has been a constant tormenting demon for them.

And while many may have no interest in changing, many more do want a new life. They're tired and burned out from lving lives of crime and addiction. Many have lost everything good they once had, like wives, children, and jobs.

Yet it is in this kind of environment that men are more open and hungry for splritual solutions to their bondages. So it is here where I must work, holding out the gospel of hope.

I do not see my being in prison as a waste. Today I see it as a blessed opportunity to share words of hope, to do what Christ has called me to do, to spread His love where there is so much hatred.

Like Saint Francis of Assisi, God has shown me how to bring good things where bad seems to dominate. where there is sadness, I can bring joy. I can do my part to spread the spirit of forgiveness. I seek to comfort others the way God has already comforted me.

David Berkowitz