I watched a moving video about Welcome Witbooi. His story is not intended for sensitive viewers or readers. Many considered the life he was living very dark, and that probably is a good thing. 

He was part of the “Numbers” gang in prison. He was high up in the organisation, a general. But his ascent was not easily achieved. 

His assignment was to stab a prison guard to death. He received training for eight days. He then walked over to a prison guard who was actually good to him and occasionally gave him sugar. 

Behind him were two fellow gang members known as Wire and Glass. They had to kill him if he did not commit the act or protect him if something went wrong. 

Eventually, he had eight stars tattooed on his shoulders. A star for each person he killed. He was the general of the “Numbers” gang in prison for seven years. 

One day he decided to retire, but it wasn’t that easy. He had to arrange with the head of the prison to have four other generals from four other prisons come to his prison. This required the signature of the Minister of Correctional Services. 

Two generals stood before him to hear his argument. Two generals stood behind him, again fulfilling the role of Wire and Glass. The four generals conferred, and one told how Welcome came into his cell one day and saw that he was struggling to read. 

Welcome did not read him the letter, but instead over the next few months, taught him to read. It was because of this one act of kindness that they allowed him to leave the “Numbers” gang, without him losing his life. 

After that, he started studying and teaching others. He started with three prisoners and later filled an entire classroom. He was released on good behaviour. He had to fight his way back to fit into society, without all the things that the gangs used to bring him outside of prison. 

He founded BrightSpark Foundation SA, which now helps many young people to get out of the clutches of the gangs. Welcome has not only rebuilt his own life, but also helps young people build new lives every day. 

In the same way, Jesus brought about a new life for us. The old days in the prison of sin are over. We can now live freely with the prospect of eternal life characterised by goodness.  

24-25Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life! 

Let’s hold onto the Word of God. Let the new life Jesus brought us shine through in our daily lives. 

Scripture
1 John 2:24-29 

Reflection
Do you believe in the new life that Jesus brings?
Do you have the new life?
Are you living a new life? 

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the new life in God the Father. Help me to live the new life every day and never return to my old ways. Amen.