Write to prisoners.

I was actually thinking about this. I have various penpals across the world. I swap what are called "Friendship Books" and you add your name and send it on. These occassionally get in the hands of prisoners and they will write.

I used to throw them away.

But, last week, what arrived in the mail? A letter from a prisoner. (I do have a PO Box). I haven't thrown it away. Yet I haven't written. I think this post concluded what I need to do. Thanks, Sdorde.

I belong to a prison support bulletin board.
Prisoners really do appreciate anyone willing to send them mail.
So many of them have no connections outside the prison.

Even on that board where a lot of folks are the loved ones or prisoners there is a birthday card project. So the inmates get cards other than just from their loved one.

I also started a quasi-prison oriented website. I have links there to other penpal sites if anyone is interested.
I am not sure if I am allowed to post links on this board so I would ask you to PM me if you want more information.

People are in prison for reasons. Corresponding with them is far from safe.

Hi,

There are ways to write to them safely I think though. Churches will forward the mail. I myself am looking for a church to do forwarding. A post office box isn't safe, because of the freedom of information act which for a filled out form gives the name and address (physical) of the holder.

P.S. There are all types of people in jail for many reasons. Paul was in jail. There but by the grace of God, go I. It's smart to be safe though.

Take care,

tapero

desi said:

People are in prison for reasons. Corresponding with them is far from safe.

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So is stepping outside of your front door every morning. Or signing into the internet everyday. Who know what kind of nut-job you'll run into. I'm sure there are a lot more crooked people on the streets than there are in jail.

So basically because they have done wrong then we should condemn them? Perhaps you should take a peak at this verse:

Matthew 25
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

A few years ago I was involved with a local group that had decided to put together Christmas presents for inmates. You didn't have to participate. I wrestled with it as I had the same attitude that you had, yet they still are humans and even if they do wrong, they're still entitled to compassion.

I didn't do it. And the fact that I didn't do it is still stuck with me.

Caelda said:

So is stepping outside of your front door every morning. Or signing into the internet everyday. Who know what kind of nut-job you'll run into. I'm sure there are a lot more crooked people on the streets than there are in jail.

So basically because they have done wrong then we should condemn them? Perhaps you should take a peak at this verse:

Matthew 25
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

A few years ago I was involved with a local group that had decided to put together Christmas presents for inmates. You didn't have to participate. I wrestled with it as I had the same attitude that you had, yet they still are humans and even if they do wrong, they're still entitled to compassion.

I didn't do it. And the fact that I didn't do it is still stuck with me.

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Would you let a "saved" convicted child molester babysit your children or date your 19 year old daughter? It is a matter of risk, not faith, of which I speak. Blind trust in people is foolhardy. Blind trust in God is a necessity.

desi said:

Would you let a "saved" convicted child molester babysit your children or date your 19 year old daughter? It is a matter of risk, not faith, of which I speak. Blind trust in people is foolhardy. Blind trust in God is a necessity.

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As the cliche goes, that's apples and oranges. Letting a saved convicted child molester babysit my kids or daughter (if I had any) is not the same as writing a simple letter, via the mail to a prisoner. Yes, there's a risk, but as I stated above, there's a risk in just stepping outside of your door every morning. I rate writing to a prisoner and going about my business day to day in public about the same rating. I am not placing blind trust in people. How do you know that God isn't telling me to do so?

The question about letting a convicted child molester babysit your child is different from writing a letter to a prisoner! Prison ministry isn't conducted in a manner that places you personally at risk. Homeless ministry for that matter is conducted in a safe manner too...but that doesn't mean it is unessacary provided commonsense precautions for your own wellbeing and safety are taken care of. You're allowed to set boundaries! But to completley ignore this part of the population isn't biblical at all...by being a Christian you acknowledge that you are a sinner, do you somehow reason that your sin is lesser than those in prison? Lemme give you something to think about....the night Christ was betrayed he was betrayed by more than one person. Judas sold him out, unable to handle the guilt by his sin he took his own life instead of repenting. Peter denied Christ not just once but three times and warmed himself by the fire of the Romans, his difference was that he repented and asked for forgiveness. Now Judas gets the anger from all of us, we think "How dare he do that to our Lord?" But seriously, I think both men had just as bad sin-the difference is how they handled it. So I say to you this; Jesus cared about the least and the lost and he died for everyone because of his love for the saved and the unsaved. His is perfect and had no need from you at all and yet he had mercy on you. He is the embodiement of compassion and I'm going to try my hardest to live up to that ideal because I'm no better than anyone else here.

Here is some information from a lady who writes many prisoners and is involved with one of the penpal sites. I asked her for testimonies and/or tips for those considering writing prisoners.

Hi! I've been writing prisoners since last September and have learned a few things. *shrug*

Here's my experience for whatever it's worth.
** Pick one or two to write and be prepared to wait. After six weeks I didn't hear from the 5-6 I'd chosen and wrote ANOTHER 5-6. All but one wrote back so I was flooded with letters! Ack!
** Get a PO Box! This gives you a measure of safety in case your address is stolen or traded. Wouldn't want anyone else to look you up upon release now, would we?
** In your first letter, state your intentions. If you're looking for romance or just friendship, be specific to avoid problems later. I have somewhat of a form letter where I state friendship only as I'm in a relationship, I can't offer legal or financial advice, and how often I expect to correspond. It states other things but it's been so long since I wrote an intro letter I've quite forgotten what exactly I include. LOL

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I agree that there is a great need, and I appreciate those who do this. I work in a Federal Prison, and I'd also like to add that there are just as many folks who are out to scam. Please be careful. Don't give any personal information as to your location, etc. and be aware if they ask for money.
Meet the spiritual need!

Okay, I started to write the letter and became very apprehensive while doing so. I re-read the inmate's letter and it made me even more uneasy. Then I thought of these posts. I'm not sure if the anxiety I started to feel was due to these posts or if God was telling me no. I thought for sure that I was suppose to write to these people. Perhaps I am suppose to write to them, but as someone above indicated, going through a church or an organization. Unitl I find that organization, I'll stick to writing to the troops.

Here is another testimony from a lady who writes many prisoners.
She is right a lot of them do wonderful art on the envelopes.

Hi,
I write to close to 20 inmates. I have 2 on death row, and a lot of lifers. My experience in writing them is very rewarding. I don't know what I would do if I opened my mail box and I didn't get such nice letters all week.
I especially like the envelope art, and they all know it
Most of the guys I write, I got right off the LostVault site. There are many there that have no one at all to write to. Imagine being locked away for so long with no contact on the freeworld. It's sad!!
Happy writing!!
Dee

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