About five years ago during a Keryx prison ministry weekend at Chippewa 
Correctional Facility, I encountered an interesting man.
At a Keryx weekend, most every volunteer is assigned as a “sponsor” for one or two prisoners who are attending the weekend. Our sponsorship duties include answering any questions he may have, trying to befriend him and so on. On this particular weekend, I was assigned this rather large young man in his early 20′s. About 6’4″, probably weighed about 240 and was all muscle. He also was covered in tattoos – even on his shaved head. He identified himself as a member of “The Embassy of Satan.”
Well, well.
I remember him well for two things:
1) His prior encounter with another prisoner who was attending the weekend, and
2) His being an inconsistent Satanist. First, let’s take a look back at number 1.
In the year or two prior to this, being about 2002 or 2003, I was then on the rotation to go into our local county jail and give the Sunday sermon. I did this for approximately ten years and in that time, there was only once when I had to threaten to have a prisoner removed for being disruptive. This young man sitting in the front row was being noisy, talkative, turning around and interacting with the other prisoners and so on. I tried pausing and giving him “the look” a couple times but when that failed, the threat of removal was made. He quieted down somewhat after that – at least enough where we could continue.
This disruptive young man (remember, this is not my Satanist friend) ended up getting sent to prison and was transferred to Chippewa. He had been told prior to entering prison to sign up for a Keryx if he ever was in a prison that offered it. We received the names in advance of those who had signed up and this young man was not on the list. Well, when the weekend began on Thursday night, we greeted the prisoners attending as they walked down the hall and who pops up in my face but my friend from the county jail and he says, ‘Guess who’s HERRRRE!!!” This young man, was, to say the least, still somewhat cocky.
The next day I’m talking with my Satanist friend (we’ll refer to him as MSF from now on) and this young man from the county jail (CJ, for our purposes) comes up and interacts with us, then leaves. MSF then proceeds to ask me how I know this young man and I tell him the county jail story. MSF then gets this big smile on his face and then tells me a story. He tells me about how he and CJ were in the Level 4 housing unit at this prison together and how CJ was quite a character, thinking he could run the housing unit and manipulate other prisoners. MSF told me enough became enough one day and he and few other prisoners (and he gets this big smile and his face at this point) “took care of CJ (using his prison nickname).” He said after that, CJ gave them nooooooooooooo problems. I asked CJ about the story later during the weekend and he said he did receive “some education” from MSF and a few other prisoners.
Now, to address point 2.
During our conversations MSF reveals he has a son and that he loves his son. I also asked him about his Satanism and what he was required to believe and confess. He said that to enter The Embassy he had to deny Jesus Christ and take a blood oath. I asked him upon whose authority he did this. The conversation went somewhat like this:
He said, “Satan’s.”
I asked, “Do you know Satan is a liar?”
“Yes.”
“So you denied Jesus Christ because Satan told you so?”
“Yes.”
“So you believed an instruction from a liar. You know Satan can do nothing BUT lie?”
“Yeah, I know that.”
“Why did you believe a lie, then?”
“Because it’s true.”
“Did you hear what you just said?”
“What?”
“You just said you believed a lie spoken by a known liar – a being you yourself believe to be nothing but a liar. How can you do that?”
“I just do.”
“Do you believe everything else Satan says?”
“Yes.”
“Why?
“Because it’s true.”
“How can whatever Satan says be true when you know and believe all he speaks is lies?”
“I just do. I don’t know. I just do.”
See the problem?
Later we had a conversation about his son.
I asked him if he loved his son. He said he did and that he would do anything for his son. I started asking more questions.
“Does Satan love you?”
“No.:
“Does Satan love your son?”
“No.”
“MSF, I have to agree with you. Satan doesn’t love you or your son. We talked earlier about you believing Satan’s lies, remember?”
“Yes.”
“The love you have for your son – where did that come from? Did it come from Satan? If Satan is the ruler of all and you have submitted all your thoughts and all your life to Satan, then everything you express comes from Satan, right?
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“Does Satan love anyone?”
“No. Satan hates everyone.”
“Including you.”
“Including me.”
“And your son.”
“And my son.”
“If all Satan has given you is lies and hatred, then where does your love for your son come from?”
“I don’t know.”
“MSF, it came from God. He gave you that love for your son but you just won’t acknowledge it.”
“I guess so.”
“Well, if it didn’t come from Satan, where did it come from?”
“I don’t know.”
See what dilemmas arise?
By the end of the weekend MSF was still a Satanist. He is a very talented artist. On Saturday he brought me some of his artwork. he had made these very detailed pen drawings that were amazing in their precision and clarity. he said, “These were the most presentable ones I could bring over here. You wouldn’t want to see the rest of them.” One could only imagine what they contained.
I don’t know where MSF is today. We departed as friends. All I can do is pray the Holy Spirit has intervened in his life and changed his heart. So that he will know peace and truth. Also, so his son may know peace and truth.
