By Tierce Green

The Alfred D. Hughes Prison Unit was not much to look at when we pulled into the parking lot at 7 AM on Saturday morning. It came to life as volunteers arrived and stories were told about how God is using 33 The Series to change men and shift the culture behind these walls. Terry McDonald, one of the volunteer leaders, had invited me to join them on this special day. It was the 2nd Annual Chariots of Fire Basketball Tournament between prison all-stars and former college, pro and semi-pro players from the free world, an event initiated and organized by one of the inmates—a real fireball whose life has been radically changed.

When I walked into the chapel for some pregame introductions, this inmate’s eyes lit up when he recognized me from 33 The Series. He passionately recited the manhood definition that is the foundation of 33:

Reject Passivity! Accept Responsibility! Lead Courageously! Invest Eternally!

I have subscribed to these four elements of authentic manhood for a while, but they were supercharged by his declaration today! We high-fived and automatically embraced in a big exhilarating brother-to-brother man hug.

What came next was totally unexpected. I was whisked into a storage closet by this inmate and five of his friends. I was a captive audience, and they began to speak freely about their relationship with Jesus and what they were learning about real manhood. They asked direct questions about my own personal experience with the principles they’ve heard me teach on video. Our closet conversation was intense, urgent, and transparent. Then we huddled and prayed for one another.

The outdoor concrete basketball court was thankfully covered to provide at least some protection from the Texas heat. There was a pregame program of inmate speakers who were gifted communicators. Texas State Representative Carl Sherman gave an inspiring challenge that was filled with well-used principles from God’s Word. His endorsement gave weight to the culture shift in this place. The main theme from all of these speakers was the unity they are experiencing as brothers in Christ—proof for the world that Jesus is the real deal (see John 17:20-21).

I had the privilege of speaking at halftime. Talks like this are easy and personally life-giving for me. I just shared from the overflow of my heart. The high point at halftime was when the inmate worship team led a song called Redeemed. "...You look at this prisoner and say to me 'Son, stop fighting a fight that's already been won.' I am redeemed! You set me free! So I'll shake off these heavy chains, wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be. I am redeemed!"

Redeemed is an up-to-the-minute story for most of these men. As the message connected with their hearts, the crowd naturally moved from the sidelines to center court, first hugging each other, then kneeling as they sang and wept and prayed. Many of these inmates experience more freedom behind bars than some men do in the free world.

It was truly an incredible day!

LISTEN: Redeemed, by Big Daddy Weave