Jailhouse Interview #2

September 9, 1999
by Rev. R. E. Knodel, Jr. (Orthodox Presbyterian Pastor, Lynchburg, Virginia)

[Student John Reyes Incarcerated for Christ in the Lynchburg City Jail]

[Urgent Notice: Anyone who has written to John Reyes using the 823 Clay St. address will have their mail returned to them. The jail address was changed to P.O. Box 6018, Lynchburg, VA 24505, earlier this year. Whereas the post office delivered mail to the old address previously, during Flip Benham's incarceration, the "forwarding order" has expired, and some at the Post Office are refusing to make the local delivery of John's mail. Hundreds of letters have been returned!]

After two days of frustration at attempting to get into the jail to see John, I gained entrance Thursday morning. John was looking good, though a bit more tired than previously. The lights are left on most of the time, and John said the noise could be continuous.

But you can't keep the gospel down! And the Lord continues to bless John's incarceration. God says, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." (II Cor. 3:17) In this case, "liberty" marches on, behind bars, in Lynchburg, Virginia! Paraphrasing John 3: 8, we might say, "The Wind blows were it wills, the tyrannical judges of this earth be cursed!"

A number of the harder-cored inmates have come to John in the manner of Nicodemus -- late at night. John has told me of two men so far who incited fear in their peers by their mere "look." But during the last week both approached John after things had quieted at night, asking him, "Could I talk with you?" Then they have dropped their facade and unburdened their hearts, confessing the demons and pathologies which haunt them! One of these men with the moniker "Homicide," told John he was "really, really bad."

This has presented John with the wide-open opportunity to tell these men about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. These are not momentary "gospel drops." These are wonderful occasions where a lover of Christ has had the rapt attention of street-wise felons who have come to the end of their resources. John presents Christ to these men in the fullest and broadest manner he can muster. He told me that he has been able to witness to every one of the twenty-five men in his cell area. He commented that this really surprised him! He didn't expect it!

Now, every night, they have a scheduled bible study at 7:00 p.m. Various men have asked for bibles, and through a prison ministry, John secured ten Bibles for distribution this past week! The men gobbled up that supply, and have requested more as soon as possible. John said many of the men are reading their Bibles all day long!

Does the reader understand? Here we have men who are not making quick, superficial decisions for Christ. But rather are reading, and thinking first, and as the Lord works upon their hearts, they ask John for personal counsel and prayer. From the first week where one inmate made a profession of faith, now five additional men have asked Christ to be their Lord and Savior! In football terminology (in deference to the commencement of the NFL this week!) the score is now: Lynchburg Devils 7, Reyes' Raiders 42!

God is using John to raid the Kingdom of Darkness. Just as God used Abraham to rescue Lot from "Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him" (Gen. 14:5) , so God is using John to rescue other men captured by darkness. And by the way: In score posted above, I'm giving the devil 7 points for inspiring Judge Richard C. Miller to give John a six-month jail sentence. But we all know that that is going to be the most bitter seven points the devil ever won, here in Lynchburg. He's probably already begging the Lord to get John out of jail! But the Lord is saying, "Nope, you wanted him, now you've got him. Deal with it!"

Please pray for these men! Some have made previous professions of faith. Many inmates have previously responded to altar calls and the like. But they haven't enjoyed either true spiritual deliverance, or inclusion into the body of Christ! Pray for that in Lynchburg. John and I are already making plans for a ministry to these men after they get out.

Pray that we can find a meeting place in downtown Lynchburg where they can de-pressurize from their incarceration, form a Bible study of men with common experience where they can get some body-ministry, and finally, integrate themselves into some of our area's more biblical churches. We need the true Spirit of God! Such things cannot be accomplished through mere machinations of men.

Listen to another story: John has the men reading the chapter of the Proverbs which corresponds to the day of the month. October 5th corresponded with Proverbs 5 featuring twenty-three verses on the Adulterous Woman! John said that as they read through the chapter a number of heads drooped. Then one man asked questions which showed he didn't know the difference between adultery (illicit sex by married people) and fornication (illicit sex by single people). As John explained, the man puzzled. He did not know that fornication was a sin! He thought that sexual sin could only be committed by married people! Not being married, he had not understood how guilt could affect him from fornication. Sexual sin? In street talk it was agreed: "We all be doing too much of that!"

It would be funny if it weren't so tragic! So many of these poor men have been so victimized by sin and Satan since birth that they hardly know which way is up. They tell John, "The churches we went to didn't tell us that this was a sin." Or, "My preacher never told me the things you're saying!" Whether the talk involves sin, or the sanctification possible in Christ, God has delivered a Joseph right into the bowels of old Egypt. My brother, John Reyes, is giving out straight biblical stuff. And God is honoring his word, and apparently blessing with His Spirit.

Let me say it again, John-Reyes-in-jail is satan's worst nightmare! John is a man of short stature. But John is a man, and a man of God .. and a tall man at that! You don't have to be a giant to witness for Christ. But you do have to be willing to suffer. And you do need faith, even like a mustard seed. God will do the rest!

And the Lord in His Mercy is blessing John's faithfulness in this revival in the City Jail. I thank the Lord for introducing John to me through that infamous jailhouse matchmaker Flip Benham of Operation Rescue. Through Flip's willingness to witness in Lynchburg, and go to jail here, I have met a wonderful Christian man. And God is creating a brotherhood between us which transcends human capacity!

Remember John and his new found friends in our jail. Remember them especially at 7:00 p.m. in their bible study. And remember those of us who witness on the outside, especially at our service every Lord's Day at 3:00 p.m., just outside the jail. We labor yet, that more in our city would repent of their evil ways, and find the freedom that cannot be imprisoned, or jailed, or subdued!