The most important thing is listening
- deansimpson7
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
BY MAJOR BELINDA DAVIS – PRISON CHAPLAIN IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
I wonder what you picture when you hear the word ‘prison’? I would imagine high walls, barbed wire and security systems with people in drab uniforms. Most of my images came from television shows or movies, which showed incredibly harsh conditions being inflicted on well-deserving criminal types or, alternately, super mean officers bullying innocent victims of an aggressive justice system.
What I did know is that this is a place where chaplaincy occurs, and if ever there was a place where the light of God needs to shine, it would be in a prison.
I was asked if I could see myself taking up a chaplaincy role for the prisons in South Australia as my next appointment. Almost immediately, my response was, “Absolutely!”.
Then the reality set in. I had been a congregational church leader for 95 per cent of my ministry years, so what on earth did I know about being a chaplain … in a prison? In response to that thought, this one part of a verse kept running through my mind: “… I was in prison, and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36).
While I am available to be sent to any of the prisons in the South Australian network, I am currently based at Yatala Labour Prison, which is our maximum-security prison, housing up to 860 men. Most people assume I would be at the Women’s Prison, which is literally 1km down the road, but the demand is greater at Yatala now, so that is where I serve … and I love it.
As a rule, the men need to request a visit from the chaplain, and they don’t need to specify a reason. Often, it is in their first few weeks of incarceration or because of a crisis that has occurred either inside or outside the prison walls.
Getting in to see and speak with the men can be tricky due to numerous obstacles I must navigate, such as their availability, whether a secure space is free, and factors like a court date, a medical or legal appointment, staff shortages, or a security incident in their unit, which can all lead to my planned visit being rescheduled.
When I do get to sit down with them, we are left one-on-one in a secure room, always on camera, and I need to be seated closest to the door. I wear a duress alarm that I can press in an emergency, but despite this setting and these constraints, I am quickly able to focus on the man in front of me and just have a conversation with them.
Emotional support I do have a habit of making the men I meet with cry! It was shared with me early on to always have a packet of tissues with me and always allow time at the end of a visit for the men to compose themselves before heading back to their unit. It is often the result of demonstrating a combination of curiosity about how they are going ... and compassion, but I count it a real privilege to be invited into their world.
We can provide a range of religious resources, including Bibles and Christian books, as well as Qur’ans, prayer mats, and books on Buddhism and Hinduism, upon request.
One of my favourite activities to do is the Sunday chapel service. I am part of a roster that allows for up to 12 men in the room, where we freely discuss Scripture passages and how they may apply to our lives. Sharing the Easter message with them this year was especially poignant when I discussed Jesus accepting the punishment for our wrongdoings, essentially serving the sentence we deserve. It was a special moment for me.
“The main thing I have learned is that no matter where I am in ministry, it comes down to the same thing: relationship.”
The Positive Lifestyle Program is something I have recently been trained to facilitate, and I have the opportunity to guide individuals through an eight-week program, examining areas of their lives such as self-esteem, anger, grief and loss, and loneliness. Again, it is a real privilege to be afforded, and I already have multiple participants lined up to work with.
I also realise that I am not only a chaplain for the residents but also for the staff, and I have made it a habit to introduce myself to the officers who bring the men to meet with me or whom I pass in my wanderings. Recently, one of the staff asked if I could ask God for something on his behalf the next time I talk to Him. He believed that God was more likely to listen to me than him!
One of the other staff members saw me at Parkrun, but I didn’t see him. He approached me the following Monday, and now we have regular running conversations that draw other staff members to join in with.
I have been asked many times if I am scared in the prison. At this stage, I can honestly say I have never felt fear of the men. A chaplain is not a symbol of authority, and we have zero impact on things like accommodation, sentences, privileges, etc. We are there to listen, primarily. We hold their stories and provide as much comfort and compassion as we can.
What I have felt, primarily, is the respect of those I encounter, and that is thanks to the chaplains who have gone before me and the others who are currently part of our multi-denominational, multi-faith team. I am the newbie on the block as I only started in January, and while the learning curve has been steep and fast, it has also been a joy.
The main thing I have learned is that no matter where I am in ministry, it comes down to the same thing: relationship. Being willing to build relationships with those that God places in my path. I try to do this without judgment, which is even more important in my current location.
The men I deal with are facing very real, very severe consequences for choices that have been made, and if I can offer the love and hope of God to them for however long they are residing in prison, then I am more than happy to do so.
More information on prison chaplaincy Salvation Army prison chaplains are available at correctional centres throughout Australia and are part of a multi-faith chaplaincy team. Where a Salvation Army Chaplain is not operating in a particular prison, a referral will be passed on to another member of the chaplaincy team. Chaplains provide a range of support to people in prison, such as:
· One-on-one support – emotional, spiritual and pastoral
· Regular visits
· Chapel services
· Bible studies (not available in every prison)
· Referrals to other agencies in preparation for release
For more information, click here
