Jacob's Story

See Jacob's Artwork

Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be Glorified. 1 Peter 4 : 11

In August 2002 we received a letter out of Kabwe, Zambia, from a dear brother, telling us of the death of a young man called Jacob. While a part of me delighted in the knowledge that the young man who had come to be like a (spiritual) son to me, was with Jesus, the other part felt such loss - far deeper and more painful than I'd have thought. And as the tears flowed freely and I tried to tell myself “you only met on paper!“ I saw it all went far deeper than that.

I was taken back to March 2000 and a Christian poetry magazine that had arrived in that morning's post, only to flick open its pages and have 'Max Sec Prison Zambia' leap out at me! I'd closed my eyes to that address. I did not want to see... But, struggle as I did, battling away, almost like the Jacob of Genesis 32 : 22-32, still the address looked back at me! This was not my plan I wanted... Then I saw so clearly, “use me, Lord,” I'd asked, but with a sort of catch 22. Heal me and let me go out into the world for You. Let me... And I knew, there and then, it had been working for the Lord in the hope of basking in a little self-glory that I'd hoped for... Something safe, clean and where I could have the odd pat on the back for being... Oh dear!

But our Lord had His plan and showed me it was not what was done for Him that would stand the fire (1 Corinthians 3 : 13) but all He did through us. I was brought to repentance and He changed me so deeply. Out went the worldly thoughts and feelings towards prisoners and in flooded - His Love.

So far our Lord has not taken me back out into the world, but He has brought the world to me, to my bedside - a world of pain, suffering and being treated as less than human, a world of persecution and being told you're FORGOTTEN... UNLOVED... SCUM.

In writing to Jacob, our Lord answered our Jabez prayer (1 Chronicles 4: 10) and has led Penwork into 33 countries. In March 2000 our prisoner listing held just that single name for Kabwe, Zambia - our Jacobs. Today it holds going on for 600!

The need is HUGE in a country in gripped by hunger due to a failed corn crop. At times it overcomes me and I look with worldly eyes at the large postal costs, medical care, the pressing need to fund WHITE clothing, particularly shorts and lightweight trousers/jogging bottoms, to replace the tattered rags they wear. I think of the number of inmates who walk barefoot and who have to beg to borrow another's shoes so they can visit the toilet without fear of picking up unwanted diseases. I picture five or more men in a cell made for one... the mad rush to grab a small scoop of bean porridge... And, yes, for that moment I take my eyes off You, Lord and from within a cry goes out “Are You there!?”

Your Arms seem to enfold me. Why did you doubt My child? (Matthew 14 : 27 - 33)

Then a vision came: there I was standing (Praise You, Lord) and a sea of little faces all looking at me, because a bowl of rice had been placed in my hand! But what should I do? Take a few of the hungry aside and give them all they need, or try and feed all who were sent our way? Into my mind came the feeding of the 5,000 and what Jesus did with a small lad's packed lunch. So, a little rice was put into each person's bowl and no matter how many came forward there was rice enough for all. Praise God! As again it was driven home.
IT'S ALL IN HIS HANDS, not yours,
Just do the work of Him who sent you.
He will work in people's hearts to meet all the needs.

From penning that first letter to Jacob, SO MANY such letters have gone out, to other prisons, in other places.

Jacob's mother died when he was 8yrs, his father died while Jacob was in his early teens and his beloved sister, who took over his care, also died. This seemed to give birth to a lot of anger and bitterness. The resulting poverty led to crime and a 20-year jail sentence in a maximum-security prison (his release was due in 2005). And within 2 years he lost his wife and his wife's family took over the care of his two young daughters, now to the best of our knowledge in their early twenties. Jacob had not seen them from babyhood. He so longed to see them...

Coming from an all-Muslim background it was not easy for Jacob to leave it all behind. In fact it cost him, as he lost the friend who visited him and brought food from time. But Jesus became LORD in and of his life. Bit by bit, He worked in this young man, and from the thorn brought forth a rose that bloomed to His Glory...

It brings to mind the story of the young lad on the sands one morning. He had come across hundreds of starfish who had been left behind by the outgoing tide. So he started to pick them up, one by one, and toss them back into the sea. An elderly man stood by watching, He walked over to the lad and asked “Son, have you not seen the huge need here on the beach? What difference do you hope to make?”

The lad stopped, He looked at the elderly man, then to the hundreds of beached starfish and then down to the one lying in his hand. After a while he looked up at the older man and smiled. “Well,” he said, “I know what you mean, but it sure makes a difference to THIS ONE.” And he tossed the starfish way out to sea. A tear trickled down the older man's face as he, too, bent down and took some starfish into his hands. One by one he tossed them out. “Yes,” he said, “you're so, so right; to that one it sure makes a difference.”

And to Jacob Penwork Ministries gave love and care, was Christ to him, and made a difference; as it does to every inmate you write to... as do the goodie bags you sent, and the brother who can see to read because you cared enough to send glasses.

We thank You, Lord, for Your gift to us of Jacob, lent to us for but a short time, but from that one seed that has fallen to the ground and died will come many. And we are so blessed to have known and loved him.

Yes, every one life touched with His Love does make a difference.