A Visit to Prison

Who executes judgment for the oppressed; Who gives food to the famished. Jehovah frees the prisoners;  Psalms 146:7

On the 1st of Oct, four brothers from the church in Gurugram and a couple of other saints from the church in New Delhi visited Mathura to meet our five brothers who have been loaded in the prison for the false charge against them as per the controversial and purported bill of conversion. The Lord is the true Judge and He will execute His righteous judgment to all at His time. This was my first visit to a prison ever. The processes involved were quite tedious. First, we need to register ourselves with a fee of Rs.10 per person and a maximum of three persons can meet one prisoner. Then, we had to wait for over two hours to be called. When we were called, there was the checking process twice, and a marking on our hand. Only then, we were allowed to meet the prisons at the designated meeting area between nested and iron-grilled fences. We were given about 27 minutes time to freely interact with the prisoners.

Our brother came to meet with us. I passed on the money I had brought for them as they had to pay for everything they needed in the prison at double the price. This money assistance would be of great help in the prison. Brothers were all exercised in their spirits and none of them showed signs of sadness. They were all cheerful to my observation, though I did not have the discernment of what would have been going on in their inward being. At least, they showed a cheerful countenance while we conversed with them. I had nothing much to say. I just looked at them and listened to whatever they had to say. My words of comfort would mean nothing at all. I did not want to be a false comforter. I know what pain they have been going through, psychologically, if not physically. I can only sympathize with them and pray for the Lord to release them soon.

I dare not opine concerning what transpired. I dare not say anything lest I displease my Lord who knows all things. I decided to leave my opinion to myself. There is no benefit in sharing any thoughts of mine. They are not going to change anything. What God has allowed, I simply amen. He knows why our brothers have to go through so much. I trust His presence has been with them.

Never in my life, had I ever imagined that one day this would happen. But now it has happened. In the future, I don't know what will happen. But I submit myself fully to the Lord that He may do what He please. We are here for the Lord and His divine economy. When I looked at the lives of the apostles, especially Paul, he went through the same imprisonments, not just once, but at least thrice. In all his imprisonments, he wrote his epistles which are now a major part of the New Testament. In like manner, the Lord must have something special in mind for other brothers and for the church in North India. 

Because of this situation, I have been advised by other brothers to take necessary precautions as I am also serving in the literature service and in the church. The enemy hates what we have been doing for His kingdom. On the one hand, we accept whatever the Lord allows or will allow, but on the other hand, we must take necessary precautions to not allow the enemy to play with our lives and the Lord's church. I have no answers to many questions except that the Lord knows it all and He will do what He deems best.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Mt 16:18

On our way back, I felt the need to cherish the parent of one of our brothers and the son of another brother. Therefore, I took them purposefully for lunch at KFC. I did not say anything except reply to the questions asked to me. I refrain myself from expressing my opinion. It's all pointless. I would just keep quiet and enjoy the cherishing meal together with the saints. Only once in a while when being asked, I simply said the Lord will release our brothers and He will take care of everything in His own time.

Now, we wait for the hearing for the bail plea and the release of the brothers with the closure of the case against them. Until then, we pray and pray and pray. The will of the Lord be done.