Prison Ministry

Enjoyed my prison ministry chat about a week ago with a congregation member who coordinates the Kairos Prison Ministry between 1st Pres. Las Cruces and local prisons (both male and female camps).  I appreciated the stories he told me and I hope to get involved in Kairos (or some other prison ministry) at some point in my ministry if God so desires.  When I asked him for advice on prison ministry, this is what I heard...great wisdom in these words!

·         Don’t pry with prisoners, especially don’t pry about their sentence and jail time

·         Good way to start: tell me about yourself (family, hobbies, past jobs, etc)

·         Build repore with the inmates first

·         Get familiar with the inmates, but not too familiar    

     * Ie-you can joke with them, but jokes may touch a soft spot you are not aware of, so be cautious

·         Be real with them, but not too personal

·         Bringing them cookies or another sign of love & fellowship is helpful & greatly appreciated

Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,[g] you did it to me.’ (biblegateway.com)

Praying today & every day for those in prison, especially for HB who has 30+ years to serve.  Please join me in praying...have you considered writing an inmate? Some helpful websites:http://www.writeaprisoner.com/
http://www.inmate-connection.com/
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/inmates/writing.html