HereAmISendMe.org

The Real Thing

About three years ago I was visiting inmates in the Jackson County Jail in Altus, Oklahoma. I always visit on Sunday afternoons from about 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. I had brought my acoustic guitar on this particular day because the residents enjoy music. I was standing in front of a cell, which held approximately 20 to 30 inmates. As I was speaking to the men, a pastor friend of mine, J.P. Williams, walked in just in time to see a powerful move of God.

I was explaining the fact that many of us had tried different religions and beliefs in the past. I reminded them of the old Coca Cola advertisements using the phrase, "The Real Thing." I told them that many of us had tried religion which resulted in emptiness and unchanged lives. I told them that I had something better; something that would last, I called it "The Real Thing." I told them that the real thing was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I offered it as a free gift to those who wanted a better life. One man stepped forward and said, "Tony, I want The Real Thing." Another stood up and said, "I do too," followed by three other men, five in all. The five men came to the bars and held my hand as I led them through the sinner’s prayer. It was an awesome moment as we all felt God’s presence and power. After the prayer for salvation, one man stepped forward and said, "Tony, I want to pray to recommit my life to Christ." Then many others stepped forward also wanting to recommit their lives to Jesus. As I led them through the prayer, joy unspeakable welled up inside of me. Tears of thanksgiving and humble gratitude started to flow. After the prayer, the first gentleman that was saved asked me to play a praise song.

The words are as follows: "More love, more power, more of you in my life. More faith, more passion, more of You in my life, and I will worship You with all of my heart, I will worship You with all of my mind, and I will worship You with all of my strength, You are my Lord." I also sang "I Can Only Imagine." As tears of joy continued to flow, some of the guys started keeping a rhythm by drumming on the wall of the cell. It was so loud I imagine the jail staff was wondering what in the world was going on back there. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Paul and Silas praising the Lord as the earth began to shake. The power of the spirit was so strong that day. I doubt that I will ever forget that experience. As I was leaving the jail, my friend Pastor J.P. Williams asked me if I had time to go get a Coke somewhere so we could talk. We went to Friendship Inn in Altus to have a short talk. J.P. asked me how I acquired the influence and power to have what he had witnessed an hour earlier. I simply told him that there wasn’t a special formula for prison ministry. Just pray for them and love them with the love of Christ. After that day, J.P. and I shared many wonderful times of ministry preaching, praising, and evangelizing with the love of Christ. To God be the Glory!