Once Blind, You Helped Sy See
Discovering hope amidst the
shadows of confinement
in a prison cell.
In the New Testament, light is often used as a metaphor to explain people’s resistance to Jesus’ claim of being the Messiah, like a person standing in the darkness (Mt. 4:16-18). To resist the Gospel of Jesus as the Messiah is to have one’s sight obscured or to be unwilling to recognize and embrace the truth that Jesus brought. One's preconceived notions and fear of change can blind one from seeing the light of Jesus’ teachings and His fulfillment of prophecies. As people rejected His message, Jesus compared their response to darkness, representing their lack of understanding and acceptance (John 1:1-9; 8:12-20).
Just as light illuminates and reveals the truth, Jesus used the metaphor of light to illustrate that he was the source of divine truth and salvation, proclaiming that those who followed him would “no longer walk in darkness but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).
By using the light image, Jesus invites people to step out of the darkness of unbelief and into the light of faith to experience a personal relationship with God and the freedom from knowing Him as the Truth.
This journey to the light of Jesus is one man’s story in prison.
In the depths of despair as he sits in a prison cell, Sy, a non-observant Jew, enrolled in ARM’s Gospel of John study to distract him from his boredom. As he plunged into the words and teachings of Jesus, a spark of curiosity ignited within him. Questions arose, challenging his preconceived notions about faith.
The profound teachings of Jesus captured his attention, resonating with his deep yearning for a new purpose and redemption from his failed life as both a Jew and a criminal. What began as a way to entertain himself, his study of John’s Gospel led Sy to embrace Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He writes,
“Studies such as theses confirmed my choice to put my faith in Yeshua (Jesus) and accept Him as my Lord and Savior, who washed me clean with His blood upon my repentance and baptism.”
Jesus ignited a flame within Sy that could not be extinguished.
With an ignited spirit, Sy felt a calling to share the message of Jesus with others, extending that same hope of Jesus to his fellow inmates. Through Bible study groups, prayer sessions, and one-on-one conversations, Sy became an ambassador of Christ within the prison walls, spreading the light of Jesus to fellow inmates.
Sy's journey was not without its obstacles. As a non-observant Jew turned Christian, he encountered resistance and skepticism from fellow prisoners and prison staff, as he was often called a “traitor” as a Jew who was now a disciple of Jesus. Yet, through his unwavering faith and reliance on Jesus, he perseveres. Sy's transformation was not just external; it radiated from within, enabling him to respond to adversity with grace and forgiveness.
Sy's journey from a non-observant Jew to a fervent Christian exemplifies the transformative power of faith you provide prisoners through your partnership with ARM Prison Outreach. Sy's story serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities of spiritual awakening in prisons around the United States, reminding us that no matter a person’s circumstances, God’s Word can awaken the spirits of incarcerated people to the light of Christ.
If Sy’s journey from darkness to light inspired you, become an ARM Ministry Partner:
Give a monthly gift. Go to arm.org/donate, select “Prison Outreach,” type in the monthly amount you would like to give ($20, $50, $100, or more), then scroll down and check the box that says “Make This a Recurring Transaction.” It is that easy to become a monthly Ministry Partner.
Use your IRA retirement funds to help people in prison to find Jesus. If you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and are at least 70 ½ years old, you can distribute funds from your IRA to ARM Prison Outreach TAX-FREE! To learn more about using your IRA to invest in ministry, watch the video below from our Ministry Partner, David Duncan entitled “Using Retirement Funds for Ministry.” Also, click on the button below to receive your free E-book entitled “Giving Through Retirement Accounts.” As always, feel free to contact Troy at tnelson@arm.org, or by calling (417) 781-9100 if you have questions.