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11-17-13 Information and Q&A over lunch about Prison ministry
Let me start by saying “ Once upon a time ( a few years ago), Cindy and I were standing outside the prison walls waiting to go inside to share the gospel with inmates along with the other volunteers for the Bill Glass Champions for life Prison ministry team. We had done this several times before so we knew what to expect. We noticed however that there was a large group of very nervous people huddled together on the edge of the parking lot. They were talking in low tones and looked at the prison walls with nervous faces. Who were these folks?
They were all members of the same church. They said their pastor told them that they had to go to get used to witnessing to others. They reminded me of a group of sheep ready to bolt and run at any moment, if someone yelled wolf. We tried to assure them that all would be well, then the gates were opened and we all went in.
At the end of the day, after sharing our faith and listening to amazing testimonies, once again we stood in the parking lot outside the prison walls. The transformation was complete. Like a caterpillar that has been transformed into a butterfly with wings and the ability to fly, these folks from the church were a transformed lot. They were smiling, confident, sharing their stories of how God used them change lives for all of eternity, to encourage the fellow Christians in prison, and to plant seeds of faith in others.
Their pastor was right. It was an experience of a lifetime that changed how they looked at witnessing opportunities in the future. This is what we hope for in our church. They took a step of faith in uncertain territory and trusted God to speak through them and draw people to himself. God rewarded those steps of faith. I am confident that God will reward our steps of faith also and make us ready to witness effectively to those in our own community.
Our goal is to have at least 100 people from our church go to prison on January 25,2014 to share the gospel with inmates. What are the steps needed to make this happen and what is a typical day like?
Sign up- even though the event is Jan 25, the signup deadline is Jan 3. They must have all applications in this far in advance so all volunteers can be run through the criminal background test to ensure that they do not let bad people in with the prisoners. We all know how busy the Christmas/New Year’s holidays are so if you wait until the first of January to sign up, you will probably forget and miss the opportunity, SO… we recommend that you sign up before the end of November. It will be done and you do not worry.
COST - $15 - This pays for the supplies and platform guests, etc. It’s a small price to pay for this outstanding opportunity. If after the event, you do not think it was worth $15, let me know and will be happy to personally reimburse you. If this is a financial obstacle, let me know. We will make a way.
Where to sign up? Go to our website, there will be link to the Bill Glass Champions for Life website follow instructions, easy.
What if You sign up and emergency comes up and you cannot go? You have donated $15 to one of the best evangelistic causes around. Good investment!
In house witness training; to help you develop a comfort level with witnessing before the event, we will have a one hour training session after church on Sunday Jan 12 (two weeks before the event). There will be youth fund raising lunch provided (yummy), then after lunch for in less than one hour we will all meet to review how to use the witnessing track to share the gospel. You will see how easy and effective it is. You will get the opportunity to practice on each other, then say “This isn’t so bad after all”.
Final prep – Friday night – Jan 24, 6pm – 9pm at our church!–‘Twas the night before prison and all through the church there was the final prep for the next day.
This will be the meeting conducted by the Bill Glass Champions for Life ministry team.
1)We will get abbreviated training on the use of the tracks again for witnessing
2)We will hear about the do’s and don’ts of what you can and cannot do in prison and what to wear
3)You will receive your assignment – prison you will go to and what time you need to be there the next morning ( Saturday)
4)You will be introduced to your team leader who will be with you to guide you and provide direction the next day.
5)You will be introduced to all other volunteers that will join you in your assigned prison
6)You will participate in a mini worship service to prepare your heart for the next day and offer this all to God’s glory
a)Meet the platform guests
b)Sing worship songs
c)Prayer
d)Short sermon
Go home for good night’s rest.
Day of the event – Saturday Jan 25.
Get up early and be at the prison at the assigned time with your driver’s license.
Meet outside the gate in the parking lot. File inside in alphabetical sequence.
Talk with the prison chaplain to get the scoop on the prison, and how we will be assigned to what area.
There are variations based on the prison and access but usually
1)Meet the prisoners as they file onto the rec yard or gym to hear the platform guest. The event has been publicized for weeks and posters have been on the walls letting them know of what is coming. The prisoners come of their own free will. They do not have to come, but come they will, by the hundreds because this sounds really good to them and they have heard from others what a great event it was last year, and the year before, etc.
2)Often you get to sit with the prisoners during the “entertainment” portion. This is where the prisoners are wowed by music and incredible testimonies from professionals that they can relate to. Sometimes these professionals are famous crime persons who have served their time in prison and have come to know the Lord. – Every testimony is incredible. There is a “show” in the morning and in the afternoon with a different performer.
3)At the end of the testimony, the platform guest will give all of the inmates an invitation to talk with teammates (us) about the difference that Jesus can make in their lives.
4)Many will come to you and you can also go to them and share the gospel via the track and your personal testimony. There is plenty of time allotted to share.
5)The prisoners are then called back into the prison and into their pods ( groups of 20-50 men or women)
6)A pod typically consists of a large meeting room and individual cells that house 2 – 4 inmates.
7)You will then get to go to a pod with at least one other person to interact with the prisoners one on one. You will have 1-1.5 hours to learn more about them, and share the gospel several more times as God leads. You may share the gospel 2-5 times or 10 or more times during this timeframe typically – very laid back setting. The prisoners overall love to have you there. No other ministry group gets allowed in the pods except Bill Glass Champions for life Ministry, because of the great reputation.
8)Lunch - you get to eat with the prisoners in the pods - their food. Eat a big breakfast because normally their food is pretty nasty, but you will find something there to sustain you during the day.
9)You can take a break for restroom or snack in the officer’s dining room any time you need to.
10)You will always be paired with a veteran when you go into a pod, so you will have guidance.
11)After lunch, there is a more relaxed time with the prisoners to share for another hour or so. This can be some of the best time to share, because they have seen how much you care and that you are a real person with good stuff to share.
12)Then all teammates are called out to the yard/gym to prep for the afternoon show. Meet the inmates as they come out, same drill as morning. New inmates come because of work details. New hearts will be touched with the testimony and gospel of the platform guests and as you share the gospel one on one with the inmates
13)After the afternoon program is completed and the time of sharing the gospel has been done, the prisoners are ushered back to their pods. There is a new spirit, a lot more smiles. You will be looking at brand new Christians. You will be looking at others who are already Christians, but needed some encouragement that you have given them. There is feeling of awe in what God has done that day. There is a feeling of fulfillment and a knowledge that there was nothing else that you could have been doing all day that would beat this. God has been glorified and exalted!
14)Then you will go inside with the other teammates to complete the paperwork. A tally of the number of inmates and guards that made a profession of faith in Jesus, rededication, assurance of salvation, needs a Bible, interested in a correspondence Bible Study to grow in the faith as well as the number of prisoners you have given information to about Bible studies for their children. You will be given the opportunity to be a part of the team of people who come every week to help these new Christians grow, if you want. The Chaplain will be close to tears as he/she sees the harvest. The Prison officials will thank you for coming, because it makes a huge difference in the prison morale and attitude after this event every year.
15)After this you can go home or go to a celebration meal and service where there is a recap of the events of the day and a time of sharing and praising God. It will be a very good day.
16)You will be confident in your ability to share the gospel with or without a track.
17)There are many types of people in this church. Some of you are extroverts, some are introverts (an extrovert is a person who is energized by being around other people. This is the opposite of an introvert who is energized by being alone.) I tend to more of an extrovert. My wife, Cindy is more of an introvert). You might think that prison ministry is only for extroverts. I am here to tell you that is not true.
18)Short testimony from Cindy. Cindy will share her testimony in the Jan. 12 training.
19)The event is Jan 25. I urge you to sign up today or this week, while it is fresh in your mind.
Matthew 25:31-40
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For 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, 36I 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? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Jesus has commanded us, just before he ascended to heaven to go and make disciples. He assured us that He would be with us. We can have confidence of his purpose and presence with us as we go as a church to prison.
I am confident that God will reward our steps of faith also and make us ready to witness effectively to those in our own community.
Will you join us?Questions? Call or email Ken Rector (512)415-6193 or .