Late last year, Prison Fellowship volunteers walked out the doors of Victoria’s largest maximum security prison, Port Phillip Prison, for the last time. Having opened in 1997, Port Phillip’s closing brings about the end of an era for a number of volunteers like Paul, Rod and Pandian, who have brought the love and light of Jesus to the thousands of men incarcerated there over the years.
Paul, you have been volunteering at Port Phillip Prison for 22 years – Rod for seven years – and Pandian for six months. Tell us, how did this journey begin for each of you?
Rod: A volunteer called Keith was instrumental in me joining Prison Fellowship. He shared about it at church and his story lit a spark in me. Something gelled with me about being inside with them. It’s like Christ says, if you visit someone in prison, you’re visiting Him. When you get to know inmates, you realise they’re just people like you and me. I’m no better than any prisoner. We’re all sinners. They’ve stuffed up, like we all do. They’ve just stuffed up to a point where it’s against the law and they’re having to pay for it. You can change your whole life with one mistake. But that doesn’t mean you’re sentenced to be a sinner your whole life. We’re all saved by grace.
Pandian: It was just before I retired that I first read the Bible. I went to church every week, but I didn’t have a real relationship with God. One day I saw my son reading a Bible, and I was amazed. I asked him why, and he said, “The Bible is wonderful, you can read it too!” So then I asked my daughter, “How come your brother is reading the Bible?!” She laughed, but the next day, she brought me over a Bible to read. So I started reading… and I couldn’t stop for four days. When I came to the Sermon on the Mount, I started making a list, wanting to tick off everything I complied with. But I didn’t comply with even one thing. I started crying, repenting for what I had done. So I can relate to prisoners. That was 20 years ago. Since then, I’ve become addicted to the Bible and I want to tell the Gospel to others. I also recognised I was a bit judgemental, so I asked God how I could overcome that. God guided me into a role where you can’t really judge anyone!
Paul: I was in church one day, and at the back of the foyer there was a list of ministries you could join. I looked through the list and was saying “No, no, no,” to everything, but then right down the bottom was ‘prison ministry’, and I thought, “I’ll do that!” The first time I visited Port Phillip was for a chapel service run by the church. About 30 fellas attended. But a couple of weeks later, I thought there had to be more to it. I wanted to meet with the guys in their units, talk one-on-one. So I applied to Prison Fellowship.
“When you get to know inmates, you realise they’re just people like you and me. I’m no better than any prisoner.” – Rod
What did a visit to Port Phillip Prison look like?
Paul: Before we would go in, we’d usually hold hands and pray, “Lord, lead us to who you want us to talk to,” because at that time there were about 1,200 inmates at Port Phillip.
Rod: We were very trusted by the company that ran the prison. We were given our own set of keys, which meant we could wander through the different units. It was maximum security, so there were all forms. In some units we would only be able to talk to prisoners through a slot. We could even shake hands through the slot. We’d never force ourselves on anyone – we’d be able to pick up if they were keen for a chat. We’d also visit the guys in the psychiatric ward, walk and talk with them around the yard. A couple of times we played ‘carpet bowls’ with the guys.
What did you find the inmates would want to talk with you about?
Rod: Often they’d talk about what it’s like being a prisoner. Other times maybe current affairs, or their families. Sometimes you might think you’d have nothing in common with someone, but there was always something to talk about.
Pandian: It was a lot of listening. Some people will even share their story about how they ended up there. But we don’t ask them what their crime was. If they come out with it, they obviously want to talk about it. Sometimes we offer to pray with them.
What kind of response did you get to that – offering prayer – or talking about things of faith?
Rod: Most guys don’t come from a deep faith, but often, when we do bring the Bible or Jesus up, they’re quite interested to know what Christianity is all about. Pandian and one of the other volunteers, Lal, brought in a real prayer ministry, often offering to pray for the guys. We saw some mighty prayers – some very, very touched lives, through that.
Pandian: Most prisoners want to talk because their environment is very sad. Some have been sentenced to 25 years, or even life. They don’t have hope. So when you talk about positive things, things that comfort them, they’re so pleased. You can see it on their faces. They are so happy to see you – sometimes they will run and hug you.
We prayed for one man, a drug dealer. Later he told us he had decided never to go back to his old life. He would ask us to pray every time we saw him. Another prisoner had a Buddhist belief. I was very curious to listen to his beliefs, and then I shared about my faith. He said to me, “Do you have a Bible I can read? I’m a voracious reader.” Thankfully, I had a Prison Fellowship Bible with me. I gave it to him, and he told me he would study it.
Paul: Some guys might not want to accept Christ, or they won’t listen to it, but they’ll be affected by the love you show them. You’re not judging, and that’s planting a seed for later on. Planting a seed is very, very important. Salvation might not come straight away, but you never know what’s going to happen next.
About 10 years ago, I met a terrific fella, John ‘Paris’ McKenzie. He was a drug manufacturer and importer doing around 20 years. Every week we would have coffee and talk. He wouldn’t have much to do with Christianity, but we had a great relationship. Then he got transferred to Fulham Correctional Centre. A few years later, I got a message that he was coming back to Port Phillip. But then we learned he was coming back because he had cancer – not curable.
We visited him at the prison hospital and he said to me, “Paul, I’ve had a conversion. I’ve come back to the faith.” It was beautiful. A couple of weeks later, he had an encounter with the Holy Spirit. He told me, “Paul, I know I’m terminal, I’m going to pass away. Last week I told the Lord I was ready to come into His house. I started to say the Lord’s Prayer – and I got hit. From the top of my head right down my body. You know, I’ve been on drugs. But I’ve never had an experience like that.” After that, Rod and I baptised him with a sprinkle of water on his head. I’ll tell you, that man was born again. About three days after we baptised him, he died, personally knowing God.
>> Read a letter from John ‘Paris’ McKenzie here.
Wow. How do you think this ministry impacts inmates like John?
Rod: Many of the guys don’t have any other visitors. Quite often they’re estranged from their families. There were long-term prisoners who really loved Prison Fellowship – saw us almost as family. Prisoners would remember our names. Two guys who worked in the laundry would always make an effort to offer us coffee or lunch – showing us their hospitality, even as prisoners. It wasn’t just about us being able to bless them – they were blessing us.
Paul: When these guys get sent away, they often lose everything – their freedom, family, home. When they find out you’re a volunteer, not getting paid, that builds trust. If you tell them you love them, that means something.
Pandian: I think of the beatitude that says, ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ These prisoners often come from very broken families. Their parents had drug problems, or they were kicked out of home when they were very young. Once a guy shared about losing both his mother and father when he was just nine years old. As he spoke, I could see tears flowing from Rod’s eyes. He was mourning with him. Later, that prisoner told me how much Rod’s compassion touched him, saying “I’ve never had anyone cry with me before.”
“Later, that prisoner told me how much Rod’s compassion touched him, saying “I’ve never had anyone cry with me before.” – Pandian
How have these experiences impacted you?
Pandian: I don’t want to judge anyone anymore. This experience makes you grow spiritually – you start to see everything through God’s eyes, not through your own understanding. And I’m more thankful, thankful that I am not inside a prison, even though I’m still a sinner.
You know, I’m not a very big conversationalist. So at first I was very apprehensive of how I was going to do this. But I’ve learned that when it’s God’s business, He equips you. It’s just our willingness He expects. We’re not on our own, He is there.
Rod: I am very aware that I am no better than any prisoner. We’ve all sinned, and I consider it a privilege to be able to meet with them. I never would have thought I was strong enough to do prison ministry. But God has His own plans. It’s not about your skills, it’s about the mercy you have for other people.
Paul: Prison ministry teaches you to be humble. I’m a better person for it – it’s had a big impact on my life. I’ve learned you can’t do anything without prayer. You have to spend time with Christ. When we would walk in and pray beforehand, we would have a fantastic day! But if we walked in and didn’t pray, we would have a shocker – the enemy would come at us all over the place.
Today the prisoners of Port Phillip have moved on to other prisons. What is your prayer for them?
Rod: My prayer is that they will come to Christ, and that their time in prison won’t be wasted. I pray they can become – not just better people – but worshippers of God. That they can share the love of Christ to their fellow inmates. I think of the scriptures about freedom; having freedom despite being bound by prison. Being in prison must be awful. But I pray they will know they can still have freedom in Christ, and freedom from their sins. To not have their sins hovering over them, because Christ paid the way for us all.
Pandian: I pray for their strength and endurance. I pray that they can be transformed by the love of God.
Paul: It’s my prayer that they will be ‘set free’. That they realise their crime, and recognise that there is a higher power, and that’s Jesus. That they can cast all their cares upon Him, because He hears us. The transformation of an inmate, that’s what I pray for.
These are people who need salvation, just like we all do.
While Port Phillip Prison may have now closed, the impact of its faithful volunteers will be felt in the lives of inmates for years to come. Our deepest thanks to all those who served at Port Phillip over the years – planting and watering seeds in prisoners’ lives that God will continue to grow.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN VISITING INMATES IN PRISON? You can help share the light of Jesus with inmates around the country. Register your interest to volunteer here.
