To The Least of These
I spent yesterday evening, Saturday, at Jefferson City Correctional Center visiting a friend who after 30 years of incarceration has received his out date, which means he is now scheduled to be released. His out date is three years from now, but the way the prison system works, once you get an out date it literally happen at almost anytime with good behavior. Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege of seeing him go from a man that is trying, but struggling, to a man that is patient and kind and fully committed to Christ. I’m not telling you this to get a pat on the back, because for me it was just visiting a friend. No different than driving across town to visit another friend. Besides, I in no way can take credit for his growth. Besides Jesus, there were other people and ministries that visited him as well as chaplains, guards, and many, many others. I am telling you this to put some statistics before you that in some way will put those that are incarcerated on your heart as it has been a passion of mine for the past several years.
The United States could open a new 1200 man facility every four days and still not have enough housing for those incarcerated.
90% of all inmates will be released. 80% of them will return to prison shortly after their release.
It is estimated that within ten years that over 50% of the U.S. population will be incarcerated. This may seem hard to believe, but with the increase in population and the fact that crime is becoming a family business. “Escape from New York” is now a possibility. The next time a local law enforcement officer stops you to give you a speeding ticket or a warning, you might consider thanking that person for what they do instead of complaining. They are literally coming into a time when they will live in a war zone.
As one well known minister has said, he does prison ministry for one reason. Some day they are all going to get out. You really can make a difference in an inmate’s life. Many of these people come from other states and are very often forgotten even by their families. You don’t have to accept their crime in order to be a friend to them and you don’t have to take sides. If you think you might be interested in being involved in prison ministry in some way, let me know, I might be able to point you in the right direction, or talk to your pastor. You don’t have to be a big theologian, either. You can be a pen pal or even get on an inmate’s visiting list and make occasional visits. There is also the VIC program, Volunteers in Corrections, which I was a part of at one time. There are also other ministries like Prison Fellowship Ministries, which was started by Chuck Colson. There are many more such as Mike Barber and Mike Glass. MorningStar Ministries also has a chaplain training program which isn’t necessarily a prison chaplaincy program, but it’s a start.
Admittedly, prison ministry isn’t for everyone. If you look up gullible in the dictionary and your picture is there, it isn’t for you. You also have to be able to say no. Other than that, all you need to do is be a good listener, talker, and friend.
Mat 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
Mat 25:36 ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
Mat 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
Mat 25:38 ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
Mat 25:39 ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
Mat 25:40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
God Bless,
Dave