Prisoner’s
testimony demonstrates
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| “Having read the book about Jesus, I have learned that people should not condemn others. Instead, we should respect each other. I do not feel despair and will not give up.” |
CHIANGRAI, Thailand — When Tasanee Yanashiddhi of the Thailand Bible Society met Daeng in prison, she was moved to tears by the woman’s story of how, through reading the words of forgiveness spoken by Jesus to the woman caught in adultery, she came to know God’s love. Ms Yanashiddhi quickly realised that this testimony had the potential to bring that love to many others, especially to those who, like Daeng, were experiencing the physical burden of imprisonment and the emotional burden of guilt.
In Thai culture, as in so many others, there is great interest in hearing people’s life stories. With this in mind, and armed with funding from Opportunity 21, the Bible Society produced a special edition of the Gospel of John, named A Model of Love, which presents testimonies after a number of the significant events recounted by John. Daeng’s story, placed after John 8, joins those of a professor who became a Christian (after the story of Nicodemus in John 3), Aunty, who experienced healing (after the story of Lazarus in John 11), and a gang leader who became a Bible distributor (at the end of the publication). In this way, readers are able to link biblical incidents with experiences of people alive today who have experienced God’s love and forgiveness.
Model of love
Inspired by just one woman, the Bible Society developed a book which has proved so popular among prisoners that, after an initial print run of 10,000 copies in May 2003, a further 10,000 copies were printed a year later. Daeng herself has witnessed the impact of A Model of Love on her fellow prisoners:
“I organised a schedule for my sisters here to take turns reading the three copies that I have,” she writes to the Bible Society. “Now, almost all of the women have read it, and I have sent it to the leader of the men’s prison for the men to read. Everyone has praised the book, saying that it is very good.
Released
“Many people who have read it want to believe in Jesus. Some of them will soon be released, and they want to know where they can find more good books like this.”
The Christian organisations with which the Bible Society undertakes work in prisons are also reporting how positively prisoners are responding to A Model of Love.
“The stories in this booklet helped me to see things with a new point of view,” writes Ms Mayuree, a prisoner at Kabinburi Correctional Centre in Prachin Buri Province.
“It is a view which is encouraging and gives me hope. It gives me confidence to move on to a better life. God teaches people, no matter who they are, to forgive, to give others a chance, to support one another and not to blame others. We all make mistakes, but God is always ready to forgive us. I myself made a mistake which caused me to lose my freedom. Now I have to be far away from my family. I will never do it again. I do not feel discouraged and I have the will to start a new life. I wish to encourage others and will be glad to help those who need my help.”
Another prisoner, Ms Parichart, comments:
“Having read the book about Jesus, I have learned that people should not condemn others. Instead, we should respect each other. I do not feel despair and will not give up. I have taken the wrong path in the past, but now I want to be a good person again. I will be strong and start a new life.”
In addition to A Model of Love, the Bible Society has also used Daeng’s testimony in a special notebook for prisoners. Whenever they pick up the notebook, perhaps to write a letter, prisoners also have the opportunity to read the passage from John 8 and the story of how Daeng found forgiveness and love. Once again, the impact has spread far beyond Daeng’s immediate circle of fellow prisoners.
Encouraged
“I’ve had many people coming to me saying that they have read my testimony, been encouraged by it and have found their suffering or problems eased,” she tells the Bible Society. “This has been the general response. I am happy that my life can be a source of strength for others, and that this is another way that I can serve the Lord. Thank you!”
Pardon
Daeng has now been granted a pardon and hopes to be released in December. While looking forward to starting a new life outside prison, she emphasises that, spiritually, her new life has already begun.
“I am very glad that I will be able to come out and do all the work I’ve been longing to do; all that I am still unable to do right now. And of course, I want to continue in the new life that I have with God. Jesus walks with me, and he will certainly prepare the way before me. I don’t feel worried, because I commit everything to the Lord and depend on his Word for guidance.” (WR 388/18 - 10/11.04)