Prison Ministry

Hi Jim!!!


Every Saturday, when I am not working, I and a group of other Pastors/Musicians/Christians go to our local county jail. We hold an average of 4-5 services with about 20 prisoners that last about 20 minutes. We open in prayer, sing a few hymns and then hear a short messege. When I first started participating I thought that I would be a blessing to the prisoners, but I was wrong. The prisoners have been the ones who have blessed me. I wake up Saturday morning sleepy and groggy, but when I get inside the chapel and the services begin, I just feel as if I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Even asleep.

Any time you minister anywhere it is always the minister who receives unspeakable blessings. If only Christians knew how much they were missing they would quickly get involved with these ministries.

I write letters to Christians in prison, been an incredible experience in ministry for me.

Info to do this about half way down the page (please do not access any Muslim links on the site, as the christianforums owner has informed me they promote violence against Muslims):

http://www.jiloa.org/

I have no one on my active list now, but I have had the awesome priviledge of introducing prisoners to Jesus. WOW! Awesome. What a thrill.

But writing to prisoners who are already Christians and ministering to them as a brother is quite a special ministry that requires special Grace. May God bless you in a very special way as you minister the love of Jesus to this special part of the Body!

im sure yall wont mind hearing my opinion....i think most prisoners in jail are very sorry for what they did and want to change and what better way then jesus...i mean what better way and what a supirse and blessing it is to see prisoners worshipping god, considering some went against god doing the things that got them into prison in the first place...it is a great blessing that some will leave their very changed because of people like you! and because they have god! and personally i think people like you guys are true blessings also!

amen..

Even though these men and women have committed crimes we should not negelect their need of a Savior. Today I was shaking hands with one of the prisoners and he said this to me," We are not all bad people, sometimes we make bad mistakes." This is why we need jail ministries. These are people just like you and I, who have families, friends, and dreams. I love to read the words of Christ:

Matthew 25:34-40
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

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AMEN! How true it is. Sometime GOOD people make VERY BAD mistakes! But JESUS NEVER turns His back on any that call out to Him. NEVER! What an Awesome Saviour! What a Friend!

Three weeks ago I went on a three day revival at Brownsfield, Texas with Rock of Ages Prison Ministry.  I played a mandolin in the praise group at the evening service and witnessed all day during the day.  Man what a blessing, 16 inmates excepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I also I go to Big Spring on the fourth Sunday of every month my church puts on a evening Church service for those inmates then about once every three months I go to Colorado City for a service.  I see some amazing movements of God inside of the prisons.  The first time I went in I was so supprised at the reception you get some of these guys are starving for the truth.  I haven't had any bad experiance in the system yet and with Gods help I hope I never do, some near miss's was going into Colorado one night and about the time we started in they had a big fight and had a lock in luckly I was still on the outside.  It is a blessing to serve in this Ministry for sure.

I also have a web ministry TrustingJesus.com It is a Christian Community for Fellowship and Sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Please Visit.

I have been to Sunday worship services in prison before.
And in those services I felt the Spirit of the Lord more than in any place I have ever been before or since.

The prisoners ran the service except for the actual sermon.
The music leader I believe had killed but was a "new creature" in Christ.
The men always enjoyed and appreciated when outsiders came in for music specials.

Definately a worthwhile ministry.

jhpence said:

Hi everyone,

I'm Jim, and I was wondering if anyone else here is involved in prison or jail ministry?

I'm a full time freelance writer, but I'm also involved in prison ministry. I do gospel chalk art and music programs in prison units in Texas.

Let me know if you're out there.

Jim

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Hi Jim:
I have just been sentenced to a federal prison - (long story) - I should know in 3 weeks which one - but I have surrendered my life - as divinely directed to full time prison ministry. I know that in federal prisons it is more difficult to do music programs, etc - as you are dealing with the Bureau of Prisons - which is basically a division of the US Government - and thus lots of red tape. But keep up what God has called you to do.

selah7 said:

Hi Jim:
I have just been sentenced to a federal prison - (long story) - I should know in 3 weeks which one - but I have surrendered my life - as divinely directed to full time prison ministry. I know that in federal prisons it is more difficult to do music programs, etc - as you are dealing with the Bureau of Prisons - which is basically a division of the US Government - and thus lots of red tape. But keep up what God has called you to do.

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I know this sounds cliched, but if your spirit is free in Jesus, you are free no matter where you are. I visited a fellow in prison for over 15 years. I saw him give his life to Jesus, get a bachelor's in Sociology, a MDIV in Theology--all while in prison--and he has led hundreds of men to Jesus. He just got out 2 months ago!

Stay strong in faith--not knowledge--and learn to walk through the discouragements and doubt, because those things are but lies which satan uses to trip us up and prevent us from experiencing the miracles of God. Love your fellow inmates unconditionally; be patient in earning their trust; and youwill reap a harvest of souls beyond your wildest imaginations.

God bless you, sis. You're in my prayers.

I minister and teach every week at max security facility for over a year now. I have been blessed beyond measure and have grown to the point in my walk with the Lord where I do not even recognize myself.

God is awesome and has opened many doors for me to preach and teach in other venues because of the prison ministry.

Raygn

Wow, thank you for sharing your experiences.
I've felt called to this ministry, not quite sure why--the part of the cited Bible verse that says "In prison, and you visited me" has always stood out, as long as I can remember, even before I did anything with my faith. Now I really want to do it. There's a county jail in walking distance from my college campus, and I want to go down there & try it out now.

Five years of county Jail and Prison ministry and two solid years of Nursing Home ministry. I can promise everyone that if you try it, you will be blessed beyond your wildest imagination. Nothing like seeing a big tough character with tats everywhere, that has lived a hardened life of cruel sin, hit his knees and cry out to Jesus for salvation."Then again" holding that little shaking frail hand of the elderly as they confess Jesus into their lives is very powerful as well. To stand in front of these two groups and preach the Word of God is just plain awesome, even though some of the little ole ladies in the nursing home are meaner and scarier. lol
I just love serving Jesus in all areas