Going Back To Prison To Set Men Free

Last updated on: April 13, 2018 at 5:00 am by Jack Wellman

Going Back To Prison To Set Men Free 2018-04-09T14:19:12-05:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How did it feel for a former convicted fellow to go back to prison?

Shut-In Ministries

Our small church not only has a nursing home ministry, but also a prison ministry, and we based our nursing home ministry on James 1:27 where for many years I just read over that. It was only when one of our elderly church members had to enter into a nursing home facility that it occurred to me that these are some of the orphans and the widows mentioned in the Bible by James where he wrote, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” These shut-ins cannot go to church, so we bring the church to them! I once asked them, “How many of you are orphans and widows,” and nearly all of the hands shot up! Almost all of them were widows, widowers, and of course at that age, orphans, but God has not forsaken His own, even when they are old. God says that “even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:4), and God often uses others to do that “carrying.” I try to encourage the elderly there that “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green” (Psalm 92:15), and especially since they have eternal life. I can give them Jesus’ own promise that “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:25-b26)? Of course, most of them do believe, but prisoners are also shut-ins. In fact, they are “locked ins,” and some for life! It doesn’t matter…many of them are being set free in prison.

Keys to the Kingdom

I had no idea when I began this prison ministry years ago that, as a former convicted felon (in the mid 1970’s), I would be going back to prison, but not for committing a crime, but to be used by God to set men free. I believe it takes a man of God with the Word of God and the Spirit of God to create the children of God for the glory of God. In other words, it’s all about God and not about us! I never thought that Jesus’ giving the keys of the kingdom to the church would be a key that would fit a prison door. No one would have expected a former felon to be allowed to re-enter the prison population, but not as an inmate, but as a saved sinner on a mission to set other sinners free. Jesus says to me, to these men, and to all, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). I had the great privilege of preaching the gospel of repentance and faith (Mark 1:15-15) at the prison, and told these men that if they desired to be set free, they must abide in Christ’s word, and those words are found in Scripture. I was nervous before such a large audience, yet, I could say with the Apostle Paul, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16). This means the gospel has the power. I have no power. Only God’s Word and His Spirit have power. Elsewhere, Paul wrote that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). It is simply unleashing God’s Word that saves people, particularly when the Spirit of God opens their minds to it.

Baptized In Prison

After the service, I asked if anyone else wanted to put their trust in Christ. Many came forward, but not as a result of what I said, but as an effect of the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Anything I can talk someone into, someone else can talk them out of, but when it’s the Spirit of God that moves men’s and women’s hearts, it’s a mighty miracle of the soul that makes them seek repentance and faith in Christ. It is God Who grants repentance (2 Tim 2:25); it is God Who quickens the dead (Eph 2:1-2); and it is God Who draws men and women to Himself through Christ to be saved (John 6:44). After these men came forward in brokenness and confessing their sins, they finally saw their need for Christ as their Savior. Today, He is their Savior, but for those who reject Him, He will be their Judge. To be your Savior is infinitely better than for Him to be your Judge (Rev 20:12-15). Today would be the best of days to put your trust in Him, while it’s still called “today” (2 Cor 6:2), because death comes to all, and after that, the judgment (Heb 9:27).

Conclusion

What is the biblical basis for ministering to prisoners? I’m not sure, but I believe it is what Jesus taught in Matthew 25. He said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matt 26:35-36), and the way Jesus sees it is, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt 25:40). Some would argue that those prisoners are in prison on account of their crime, and they deserve to be there. Fair enough, but we must leave room for change. Any Saul can become a Paul by God’s Spirit, so I don’t believe we should try to narrow the focus of that verse (Matt 25:36). I would rather err on the side of evangelizing prisoners than to seek to minister only to those who are in prison for their faith. Of course, we should minister to them (if it’s even possible), and pray for them, but we should also seek out the lost, and in the most unlikely of places; behind prison walls. I have seen the hardest of men brought to tears and humility. I have seen men’s hearts of stone turn to tenderheartedness. That’s God’s Spirit at work! There is a great harvest…white and ripe, and so who will go with me? Pray for more laborers to enter into the harvest, because “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matt 9:37), “therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt 9:38).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is a writer at Christian Quotes and also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Bible Definitions

Prison Ministry

Prisoners

Previous Post

April 11, 2018

Why So Many School Shootings?

Next Post

April 16, 2018 How To Find God's Will For Your Life

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Job David Peter Isaiah