A blue mosaic, black arrow and a key

by Yuri Zelentsov

A

ny reasonably devoted Salvationist can easily quote “I’ll fight” by the Founder. It is quite inspirational, dramatic and helps a lot when you think you are beginning to lose your focus. How many songs are written on that subject, how many essays, sermons and whole books!

I wrote a song, too - well, still writing. Everything rhymes and fits the music quite well, up to the “men go to prison, in and out” bit. I’m struggling with that one.

Maybe that’s because I never thought it would be my battle front to fight. Yes, I know Jesus talked about it, and yes, I have been to several prisons in Russia on short visits. But until now I have never really thought through why we do it - what is so important about it that Jesus took time to speak about visiting inmates.

Everything changed when we moved from Finland to Norway and they asked me to become a part of the Prison Ministry Team. The project was set up and I started to visit three prisons on a regular basis. One of them I can see even now looking through the window of my office in downtown Oslo. Every time I go there, I pass by one absolutely beautiful building that is covered from top to bottom in fantastic blue mosaic. It sparkles in the sun and really stands out from the monotonous grey of the mid-last-century architecture. Two minarets are piercing the sky - it’s a mosque.

(I wish Army buildings had a little bit more colour. It was no surprise when the Army’s HQ in Helsinki took a second-place in the “ugliest buildings of the city” contest.)

Almost every day I pass by this mosque. And almost every day I go to the prison across the street from it to talk to the men, those who “go in and out, in and out.” We help them with clothes and bring fresh newspapers, share time and pray for them and with them, hold Sunday Services, etc.

Among these men, there was Habib (name is changed). He spoke very good Russian and was always glad to have a chat. He was quite depressed and afraid for his future. It did not take very long for him to tell his story; he was very respectful of Christians and had no problem with sharing a prayer.

I was looking at the mosque through the window of his cell when he told me how very afraid he was of going back home if the government deported him from Norway. “They will kill me on the spot,” he kept repeating. He had had some kind of problem with the religious Islamic party of his hometown, and they had sent him a “black arrow,” which means that any true Muslim should kill him once met. “Nobody comes to talk to me; I don’t speak English, don’t speak Norwegian. But I am so glad you have a key,” he said, “and you can come to see me any time.”

That is true. You see, as Salvation Army workers, we have very special treatment here. We have our own key to the prison (not to the cells, however) and we can come any time we want and visit anyone we want, even with prisoners who are denied visitation. Big opportunities but even bigger responsibilities.

As I was passing the mosque on the way back to the office that day, it really got to me: I have the key! And not just to the prison door but, through Jesus, a key to the new life!

I was very determined to share about this “key” with Habib on our next visit. But when I came, he was gone - released, freed. And I panicked. Guards did not know where he went, how he went; they would not tell if he was deported or stayed in Norway. But I panicked, because I did not use the key I had to help him open a new door, a door to the future, where there are no black arrows chasing you, where you are forgiven and free.

With this I beg you to use the key you have to set others free from their prisons. The keys can be different; God gave you different talents, passions and gifts. Go ahead and find the door that your key fits.

But please come and visit those in prison, too. They need you, because you’ve got The Key.

Writer: For the last four years Lt. Yuri Zelentsov, 35, together with his wife Katja and son Anton (age 7) have run a Multicultural Downtown Corps in Helsinki, Finland. He became a Salvo in 1991, in St.-Petersburg, Russia. Yuri and his wife believe in relationships rather than programs, and therefore whatever they do is all about building stronger relationships and getting alongside people.

2 Comments to A blue mosaic, black arrow and a key

1. As I read this article my heart filled. At 84 years of age I have been in prison work for 15 years and know all that Yuri talks about. It’s a glib saying but you have to be there and do it to know God’s power, gifts and direction as we bumble our way through in service.
Stan Brown on January 24th, 2008

2. I find Yuri’s article interesting and true.

   I worked for 20plus years as a Correctional Officer in Manitoba’s [editor note: a Canadian province] Corrections System prior to retiring. Being a Salvationist working inside the system was an interesting experience ( and even today there are still a couple of Salvationists working as CO’s).

   Correctional Officers for the most part trusted the Sally Ann Officers and Workers in ways they trusted no other outside agency. I , like Yuri rote, never heard a bad word about the SA workers as compared to the chaplains and helpers from other religious and social service organizations.

   TSA is and was respected by both staff and inmates in corrections.

   As a correctional officer who worked the floor as a front line officer and progressed up the system to working for the Provincial Director of Adult Institutions ( as a Chief Correctional officer) I found that staff and inmates both would seek me out to discuss issues of faith and life issues.

   Like any floor officer I had to use force to restrain and deal with inmates in certain situations but even after the use of such those inmates respected you for doing your job and on more than one occasion I remember them saying–he didn’t keep hitting me after I was restrained.

   My concern in posting today is to suggest to younger Christians and salvationists especially to students of places like Booth College is for the lack of Christian staff. I would suggest that the role of Correctional Officer, the role of a front line worker in a correctional centre is one to which our young people could gravitate and have a big impact on society as a whole and specifically on the lives of inmates and staff of these facilities. Truly the impact of a believer in a closed system such as a jail or prison can be positive.
John Stephenson on January 24th, 2008

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