In the Whale's Belly: Out of the Depth of the Prison I Cried

By Rebecca Borntrager Graber

In the Whale's Belly is a collection of real life experiences the author had while being involved in jail ministry in south Texas. Many of the chapters are written as conversations between the author and the ladies in jail, allowing the reader to listen in on the raw needs of those in jail and the answers given from Scripture. The ending of each chapter includes questions and notes that can be used in a personal or group Bible Study.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Aug 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667848907

Rebecca Borntrager Graber

Rebecca Borntrager Graber was born into an Amish family of ten children. She lost her mother at the tender age of ten and later taught school in the Amish parochial schools. She married Lester Graber, who was ordained as an Amish minister the second year they were married. Rebecca and Lester were shunned by the Amish church thirteen years later, after taking a bold stand against some extra-biblical Amish rules. Rebecca always enjoyed writing and was a frequently published author in Family Life, Young Companion, and Blackboard Bulletin, which were monthly magazines published by the Amish. She has conducted many women’s Bible study groups in her home, taught Bible classes at a local jail, and carried on correspondence with prisoners from a variety of jails and prisons. At present Rebecca, her husband, Lester, and their youngest daughter, Dorcas, live in Fort Worth, Texas, where they are members of Eagle Mountain International Church.

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©2022 Rebecca Borntrager Graber

All Rights Reserved

In the Whale’s Belly

Written by Rebecca Borntrager Graber

First Edition 2022

Cover design by Joseph J Graber

ISBN 978-1-66784-890-7

Dedication

I dedicate this book to Pastors Jerry and Margaret Wise. Without the guidance and encouragement of these wise disciples of Christ there would have been none of this to write about.

Out of the belly of Sheol I cried,  And You heard my voice. Jonah 2:2

I was in prison and you came to Me.

Matthew 25:36

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

Isaiah 61:1-2

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Prologue

Chapter One

I Enter In

Chapter Two

The Notorious Gang Leader

Chapter Three

I Can’t Stop Cussing

Chapter Four

Don’t Drink the Poison

Chapter Five

God Doesn’t Have Grandchildren

Chapter Six

She’ll Be the Death of Me!

Chapter Seven

Seek Ye First

Chapter Eight

I’m Worse Than Useless

Chapter Nine

I Want To Believe, But…

Chapter Ten

Vengeance Is Mine

Chapter Eleven

Someday, When I’m Ready

Chapter Twelve

He Took My Cares

Chapter Thirteen

Angels In The County Jail

Chapter Fourteen

Finding Your Purpose

Epilogue

Our Commission As Disciples Of Jesus

Teaching Helps On Thoughts To Ponder

Acknowledgments

Glory and honor to my Savior Jesus Christ for His finished work on the cross.  Because of that,  and only that,  I had a message to take to the county jail all those Thursday afternoons.

I was encouraged and inspired to minister to the inmates by reading devotionals from others in ministry who have gone before me and written about it.

Thanks to my husband Lester and son Joseph who  helped me with editing and formatting;  And to daughter Ruth for proofreading the manuscript.

A huge thank you to daughter Dorcas for reading every single word of the manuscript aloud as she helped me critique the stories,  testing and fine-combing it for errors and clarity. And thanks to her husband Sean for being the patient, unbiased arbitrator between us when the critiquing got heated.

And last but not least, thanks to son Joseph for his help in getting this published.

Introduction

It all started when we began attending Abundant Grace Church under the pastoral ministry of Jerry and Margaret Wise.  Pastor Jerry had been going to the county jail for decades preaching the gospel to the inmates. On Sunday mornings he would frequently talk about the fact that he could only preach to the men in jail and there needed to be someone ministering to the women. He’d ask the congregation to pray that God would raise up someone who was willing to do this.

After awhile I started getting the uncomfortable feeling that people were looking at me whenever Pastor Jerry made this request.

Then one Sunday morning as Pastor Jerry was once more praying for this need, my husband nudged me with his elbow and whispered,Why don’t you volunteer?

Me?!? Are you kidding?! I whispered back. You tell me I’m already doing too much!

But this seems to be something you’re called to do. I’d support you.

By the time Pastor Jerry stopped praying all eyes were on us. We were a small group so everybody could hear us even if we whispered.

Yes, why don’t you go? Margaret asked.

You should do it. Lois, another member chimed in.

You’d be good at it. Dorcas, our youngest daughter encouraged me.

Who else if you don’t? My husband wondered.

Feeling outnumbered and convicted I agreed to pray about it. The congregation wasted no time. They gathered around me and laid hands on me and prayed.

I spent the following days soul searching and seeking God’s face.  I never felt called to the jail ministry.  There was a constant debate in my mind.  I had heard and read too many stories of Christians who were imprisoned for their faith. I’m scared of the mere mention of jail.  Martyrs were tortured in those dark, evil places.

Then the Lord spoke to me through His word in Isaiah.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. (Isaiah 61:1)

That’s a prophecy about Jesus.

Another scripture got my attention.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)

The next one convicted me:

I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. (Matthew 25:36)

And this one clinched it:

And He said to them,Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

Well, it almost clinched it.

I’m a woman. Women don’t preach. I was raised believing that women were to be silent and not preach.

Let the women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. (1 Corinthians 14:34)

Well, I guess the jail isn’t exactly the church.  (Thinking back later I was surprised that I didn’t recall the words of my Dad when he’d say,  Wherever we sing hymns or read and discuss the Word of God,  we’re having church.)

I gathered up enough courage to go see the officials at the jail, as Pastor Jerry had directed me. My eyes scanned over the form they gave me to fill out. One of the requirements was that I had to be an ordained minister to be allowed into the jail for group visitation.  I turned to leave the building.  Ah-ha! That lets me off the hook.

But Pastor Jerry was not so easily daunted. We’ll have ordination services for you and Lester (my husband) next Sunday.

After being ordained to the ministry I filled out the forms, got the required TB test taken and waited for the phone call that would let me know I was cleared to go in.

A week went by.  Then another and another. Maybe that was all that was required of me, just to be willing, and now I am free of the obligation. But Pastor Jerry suggested that I call the jail to follow up, so I called the jail.

Yes, you are cleared to come in now. They told me. Just let us know when you are coming.

In August of 2009, I entered the county jail for the first time.  Clutching my Bible in one hand and my purse in the other I pressed the button to notify the attendant to unlock the doors.  When I stepped inside the heavy metal doors clanged as they closed behind me.  I knew I was starting a new chapter in my life.

Prologue

As with all notable happenings in my life,  I kept a journal of my visits to jail.  I was always thinking of and preparing for the books I’d write someday.  As friends encouraged me to write a book about my jail experiences my mind started mulling over possible titles. What would be a unique title for this book?

Then one week the Holy Spirit prompted me to teach on the story of Jonah. I discussed with the girls in jail, the choices Jonah had made which led him to hit rock bottom. He had run as far as he could run trying to get away from the mission God had called him to do. He could run no more when he ended up in the whale’s belly. He had to face up to his consequences which led him to cry out to God.

As I was talking to the girls, all at once I had a fleeting Holy Spirit moment where I got a visual of the side of a whale with the skin peeled back and a group of inmates clutching the ribs, like prison bars, as they peered out from the depths of the whale’s belly. I was so shaken by the revelation that I had to take a moment to recover my composure.

Thus was born the title: In The Whale’s Belly.

Chapter One

I Enter In

Should I call the jail again or shouldn’t I? My mind was busy as I quickly washed the prickly pears which I’d picked earlier and set them on the stove to boil. After they were soft, I’d squeeze them and use the juice for jelly.  What do people see in this jelly?  I guess it must be because it’s a novelty and I do sell a lot at the Farmer’s Market.

After lighting the burner under the pot, I turned to find a paper and a pen on the table by the computer. I reached for my Bible and quickly found the book of Isaiah. I copied the first two verses of chapter sixty-one on a sheet of paper and taped it on the wall behind the table where I mixed and worked the noodle dough. I wanted the words where I could see them to memorize the verses as I worked. After the paper hung on the wall I read out loud:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me,

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn."

I paused, then prayed, Lord, I know that those verses are Your word for me now and I will walk in it. I claim those verses as Your command and blessing. And in the name of Jesus I break through every barrier the devil is trying to set up to keep me out of jail. I bless the Captain of the jail and anybody else in authority there and ask that they would permit me to come in. I pray for wisdom to know when to call and what to say in order to get cleared. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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