Jeremiah wanted Pa to share one more of his stories from the Philippines. This part of his adventure includes his experiences inside a prison. At first, Pa was determined not to participate. He’d had enough experience with criminals in the United States. He didn’t’ need to see more, but God had other plans.
Jeremiah: When we walk out what the Bible talks about that in our weakness and in our suffering and in what we go through, that’s often the fertilizer that makes the great things grow. It’s out of that adversity where God does great work.
And I know a lot of things happened when you were in the Philippines. Y’all ministered in a lot of places, but one that always really takes me back is when you went and ministered inside the prison there in the Philippines. And if you’d like to, I’d like to hear the story of you ministering in the prison.
Pa: On our itinerary for ministering, they said we’re going to minister in this men’s and women’s prison separated by a wall. And to give you a little background, I was a police reporter. I started out when I was 19 on the news, giving sports and then transferred into news. So, I had quite a few occasions of being around criminals, and I didn’t like them, didn’t trust them. Forget them. I had a bias against them. I encountered some very ruthless, horrible, mean people.
So that day, the leader of the group said, “Okay, Mike, you will be speaking today.”
And I said, “No, I’m not.”
She said, “What do you mean?
I said, “I’m not going. I don’t like prisoners. I don’t like criminals, and I’m not going to your prison.”
And she said, “But you need to go.”
I said, “No, I don’t. I don’t need to go at all. You have plenty of people to speak. I’m not going.”
And finally, one of the women, kind of faint-hearted, she said, “Would you please go to guard our purses?”
I am like, “What? I am in a prison with 500 people, and you want me to guard your purse?”
“Oh,” she said, “please.”
I said, “Okay, but I’m not saying a word,”
They said, “Okay, you don’t have to say anything. You just go.”
So we got there, and we’re lined up. We’re sitting on these benches, and of course they put me last, because I said that I’m not going to say anything. They’re going down the line, and there were all these well-meaning men and women giving their speeches, and they get up and they say, “We love you. We pray for you. We care about you. We’re concerned about you,” and this went all the way down the line. Well, then she came to me, and she said, “Okay, Mike, what are you going to say?” And I mumble under my breath, “I told you I don’t want to say anything.”
Then she starts to introduce me, “Here’s Mike Riggins. He’s from the United States. He’s a pastor.”
“I thought, “Okay, you want it. You’re going to get it.”
So I stood up, and I know at that moment that the Holy Spirit really overwhelmed me, not emotionally, but so emphatically. They were all squatted on the ground, and I looked down, and I said, “I don’t love you. I don’t even like you. I don’t even know you.” I said, “These people that come from America and say they love you, they don’t love you. They don’t like you. They don’t love you. Nobody likes you. Nobody loves you except Jesus Christ. He is the only one that truly loves you. He created you. He cares about you.
I said, “You know what guys? I could tear down these walls. And you would still be prisoners because of the bars on your heart, because you’re trapped in a prison of sin.” And I went on talking. Then I said, “Only God can take the bars off your heart. Only God can, right now, come in here and turn your life around, and you’ll no longer be a criminal. Because you’ll be free in Jesus Christ.” And I said, “Now, I’m going to ask you once, if anybody wants the freedom and they want Christ, you’ve got to stand up” . . . and nothing.
Then one man in the back stood up. I said, “Sir, today you’re free. Don’t worry about the walls around you, because God just set you free in your heart. You’re a new creature in Christ.” And then five more stood, and then 12, and then 20, and before long, 500 stood, and they were all standing. And I said, “Every one of you are free in Jesus Christ, because you have chosen to make Him the Lord of your life.”
And the guards were like going ape. They were like, “Oh my God, we’ve never seen anything like this before. Wow, this is phenomenal. Nobody has ever been here and done this. We cannot believe what’s going on.” I said, “So I want every one of you to form a line, and I want you to come by. I’m going to shake your hand. I’m going to hug your neck, because you’re now my brother in Christ.” They formed the line and came by, and I hugged them all.
I had one that came to me, and he said, “I can’t be free.”
I said, “Why?”
And he said, “I’m gay. I practiced this in the prison.”
I said, “Sir, did you accept Jesus?”
“Yes.”
I said, “Today you’re not. You’re my brother.” I reached out and gave him a big hug, and a big smile came across his face.
The guards were like, “We’ve never seen nor felt the spirit of peace upon the prison.” And the prisoners were like totally different people. I mean, you can’t imagine how different it is. If you’ve ever been in a prison, around prisoners, there’s hate and animosity and evil and everything, and it was gone. And so, one of the guards came to me and said, “We have a women’s prison next to this one, and they’ve heard what’s happened. Can you come and preach to them?”
I said, “Sure.”
I went over there, and I preached to them, “Jesus Christ, change you guys. You can’t get out, but you’re mothers. And you’re daughters. And you’re wives. And you need to do this. And God can change your life forever. And you will be new people, and God will help you get out of this place to live your life.”
And I prayed with them, and then I started laying hands and praying for the healing for the ones that were sick.
And they said, “But you’re going. You can’t go.”
I said, “I’ve got to go.”
They said, “Well, what do we do?”
And God reminded me of where I think it was Paul used a handkerchief and anointed it? I had a handkerchief, because I sweated like a Turk over there. I pulled it out, prayed over it, and anointed it, and I said, “Tear this in pieces. When you’re sick, lay it on you, and pray and believe God to heal you.”
I said, “I cannot stay.”
And it was just awesome. So from me not wanting to go, but the thing was the Holy Spirit said, “Tell the truth.”
Okay, I don’t love you, BUT God does.
These people don’t love you. They’re in America. They’re going to go back home. They don’t care, because you’re going to be out of sight and out of mind. BUT Jesus will be here forever.
Jeremiah: Yeah.
Pa: So that’s what happened.
Jeremiah: Well, thank you, Pa. I think that’s always been inspiring to me, and I wanted to share that with everyone else. And to understand the power of God to change the people around you, but the power of God to change you when you’re changing the people around you.
Pa: Yeah. It’s awesome. I was blessed beyond measure to have that experience.
Blessed of God to be there at that time.
Jeremiah: Well, thank you, Pa. If there’s ever more of that you want to share, just let us know, and we’ll get in here and do it again.
To hear the interview, visit our YouTube channel.
In Part 1 Pa shares how his journey to the Philippines began.
