Healed in prison

Since I was young, I’ve had a desire and thirst for the Word of God. Now that I’ve been an inmate and incarcerated since 2003, I’ve actually had the opportunity to participate in several Bible study programs. I heard about Christian Science in prison and wrote to The Mother Church in Boston. Then I learned that there are Christian Science Committees for Institutional Service. Shortly thereafter, I met a volunteer Christian Science chaplain.

The theology of Christian Science was different from what I was brought up with. But as I read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, including its chapter of healings called “Fruitage,” along with testimonies in the Christian Science Sentinel, I saw that I must never put God in a bag or box—to me that means that God is always able to do what seems impossible and to exceed expectations. Also, the Christly love the chaplain kept showing to me meant more than anything, especially since all I have is God. That statement may sound kind of churchy, but I’m convinced that the Creator has a plan for my life, and I’m praying to allow His plan to be fulfilled.

There’s a saying that “education without application is speculation,” and I wanted to prove this religion for myself. I’d had a pain in my knee for some time, preventing me from running around the track as I like to do. Then I saw that I needed to use what I was learning in Christian Science. I asked the chaplain to pray with me and to give me Christian Science treatment. She agreed and also suggested a number of healing Scriptures to think about. I hadn’t been to the doctor about my knee, and I wasn’t taking any medication.

It was then that I started reading Science and Health more carefully. I seemed to naturally stop thinking about my knee as I began to think more about God. The pain in my knee eased. As I kept studying, I gradually began to see myself as God’s child—spiritual, whole, complete, lacking nothing. The concept of myself as His beloved child, and of Him as my healer and total life source, began to emerge. The pain completely left, and I was able to run track again. This healing occurred in December 2005 and has been permanent.

As I drew closer to the Father, I realized that there were certain activities I couldn’t indulge in, such as “hustling,” which is against prison rules—I’d been proud of the fact that I knew how to “network,” and “run the system,” to trade items to other inmates for things I couldn’t afford to buy. I’d told the chaplain about what I was doing but had never asked for her prayers to overcome this practice, because it didn’t occur to me to stop what I was doing. But at some point it came to me that I had a choice. I could stay on the straight and narrow way with what I was learning about God and what He meant to me, or go back to my old ways of doing things.

God has given me the grace to continue following the spiritual way, and the chaplain’s continued guidance has been instrumental. Honesty, integrity, and virtue are traits I’m learning how to demonstrate more fully in Christian Science—and I’m no longer involved in hustling activities.

Prison can be a very dehumanizing environment, where you’re consistently brought down by others who are not working to change the direction of their lives. But now I’m finding out how to rebuild my self-image to love myself as God’s child, whole and good. The chaplain has helped me see myself as God views me and to diligently seek my validation from God, and not from others. More and more I’m able to disregard the negativity around me, and to trust God and listen to Him instead.

Written from the depths of my heart.

Joel Mingo | Jacksonville, Illinois, US