By Gus Casey, Wellspring Church crusade participant
In early November, I had the privilege of serving with sixteen incredible men on the Saints Prison Ministry crusade to South Florida. When ministering inside prisons, timing is critical and every movement has to be precise. As a military man, that fits right into who I am. I was raised to prepare, plan ahead, and be on time and it is how I operate to this day.
The third morning, I was responsible for one of the vehicles, containing half our team. Everything was perfectly on schedule – bags packed, team in uniform, hearts ready – until the hotel room door refused to open. Three of my teammates were inside with their gear, and no matter how many key cards I tried, that magnetic lock wouldn’t give. I must’ve gone back and forth to the front desk five times trying new keys.
Finally, after more than an hour, maintenance showed up with a crowbar. And together we forced that door open! Mission accomplished… just later than expected.
Because of this delay, our speaking lineup had to shift. The guys who were originally scheduled to share their testimonies at the prison weren’t the ones who ended up speaking. And for someone like me – disciplined, structured, always on time – that tested me a little. But God was working.
When we arrived at the prison yard, it became clear that the men who stepped up to speak on short notice were exactly the ones the inmates at that facility needed to hear. Their individual stories connected in powerful ways, and several men in the prison yard came to know the Lord that day.
And that’s when God reminded me: Even when my timing is precise… His timing is perfect.
What looked like an inconvenience was actually God’s alignment. A locked door placed the right men in the right yard at the exact right moment. Even for someone who prides himself on preparation and punctuality, the message was clear – His schedule is always better than mine.
