Taking Cookies and Cards to a City on a Hill

We drove in the darkness on a windy highway, making our way toward Wallens Ridge, a high-security level prison in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, on the edge of an old coal mining town called "Big Stone Gap." At night, all we could see was the huge full moon behind us, the shadowy light on the road before us, and the dark shapes of mountains all around, behind and before. Agnes was so excited for me to see! Finally we pulled over to an overlook and there it was: A prison placed on a distant mountaintop, lit up by powerful lights! The light seemed to shoot up into the sky, like a beacon of guidance and hope. It was almost “fairy-tale-ish” to see!

Yes, hope and a prison. The two don't seem to go together, do they? This story really starts with a town that lost its coal mining industry, and in so doing, also lost too many jobs to count. One lady had an idea -- a lady whose church and community rallied around her and prayed -- and asked the state government to place a prison on a hill, so that they could provide much-needed jobs to their community -- and give the people a ministry of love and hope. The land was provided and problems solved; the top of a mountain was ground down for a prison to sit atop it. Christian men and women walked the land, praying over it, asking God to bless whoever was imprisoned within its boundaries. A prison was built. Every room was walked through and prayed over. A man of integrity with a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ was hired as the warden of the prison. Another man with a passion for lost souls was hired to be the chaplain there. Workers and guards were hired and many jobs were provided. A few years passed. Three years ago, due to the presence of Christian influence and God’s obvious favor, Kairos was allowed to go in and take the light of Christ to that "city" of some 1,200 inmates on that hill. In that time, there have been some changes that have taken place in the hearts of many within those walls!

Some of the men there were taught as children that, yes, they had value that comes from God! After going astray and making some really bad decisions, Kairos has been the tool to bring remembrance of that truth back into their lives! Those who never before heard of anything about the Bible or Jesus Christ have now heard and are changed! There is Dennis, who began teaching illiterate inmates to read, and due to his remarkable change of heart and attitude, was offered a removal to a lower-security prison. Believe it or not, Dennis refused the first offer, because he didn't want to leave behind the job God had given him, teaching and ministering to these men at Wallens Ridge. There is also the guy who smiles and tells David that it's really okay. He has all the time in the world to read his Bible and spend time in prayer, getting to know His Jesus in the deepest way! And there is Charles, who is the leader of a famed gang. On Friday of last week, Charles accepted the Lord as his savior, and made a public profession of faith before his peers on Sunday. In doing this, he is placing his life at risk, due to his past involvement in gang crime and the desire of many to seek revenge and possibly take his life. But He says the peace and joy is worth the risk.

We drove up the hill on Thursday morning, and unloaded from our vehicles thousands and thousands of cookies, baked by people pretty much all over the Roanoke valley and even from the area surrounding the prison. The cookie ministry is a “sweet” part of the Kairos ministry, and every man in the prison (as well as all staff) is given cookies (even those not participating in the Kairos ministry program). My husband informs me that during the course of the weekend, there was one guy who became a pro at picking out the soft ones! These men NEVER experience home-baked items, unless you consider a square of jiffy cake to be “home baked.” The food they are served in the prison is extremely bland and boring, and they aren’t given anything with refined sugar.

During the course of our time in Big Stone Gap while the men were ministering, we women helped stock the food pantry at a nearby church and spent time in prayer, both spontaneous and planned, for all of those guys on the hill. On Friday we went into the prison to sort greeting cards for the inmates (later handed out to the entire prison by our guys on Saturday night), and that night I dreamed of counting out the right number of cards – DRAT! I counted wrong again! On Saturday we made the “residents” birthday cards, as they were given a “birthday party” on Sunday before closing. Many of them have never had a birthday cake in their lives.

In the evenings the guys gave us an overview of their day “inside,” and afterward we were fed and had fellowship at a small Methodist church, where it seemed I had known the folks all my life! Their distinct accents were warm and inviting; there were hugs for all, and they served us tirelessly!

I guess the highlight of the weekend was the closing program on Sunday afternoon. For the first time, there were knots in my stomach and the sounds of doors clanging before and behind rattled my nerves. Some men on our team said the women shouldn’t even shake hands with the inmates….would I pass such a test? When we went in to the gymnasium and saw all of those faces – all with the guarded look of hurt, need and a desire for hope and acceptance coming at me with the force of a flying boulder – the mama/sister/daughter in me responded and I had to swallow hard to keep from crying out loud! Seeing them and knowing that many of them will never see outside the walls of this prison during this lifetime can break your heart. Then when the guys took the mike to share what the weekend had meant to them, I was touched. There was no eloquence. Their words were simple and direct. Some only said, “Thanks for the cookies.” Some wanted to read a poem or wanted to say how greatly encouraged they had been by so many people giving their time to share with them. Some were shy and could hardly scrounge up the courage to say their name. About six had chosen to give their lives to Jesus, and some had received fresh fire for their continued relationship with Him.

And yes, I shook some hands. What else do you do when someone offers his hand and gives you a clear, grateful and honest look in the eyes while your husband is standing right by your side? What other response could there be for men who are sincerely in need of fellowship and encouragement and hope!

As we left our new friends inside and gathered outside the metal detectors, loud sliding doors and barbed wire to sing in our circle one last time, my heart was full and sober. I can’t say this weekend was “fabulous.” I can’t say it was “awesome,” as some would say. I would say I learned something about REALITY in the face of crime and hard-lived lives. I also learned that forgiveness is a hard thing for some to accept – including me! It’s hard to look at those “boys” (to me, that’s what they are) and think that they will easily grasp the forgiveness and change that Christ can bring about in their lives. So I’m keeping the list of those names in my Bible and I’m going to just lift them before the Lord. He knows their needs and can give them hope. I pray they will accept and open the gift God gives so freely – and see themselves with His eyes. And that they will “taste and see that the Lord is good” …as sweet and as good as a soft cookie and as powerful and foreboding as a city on a hill, bringing light and hope and goodness to each and every life!

Wes Killian