On Going to Jail
I went to jail last night. I go to jail every Thursday night to minister at the Polk County Jail with Prison Fellowship.
Going to jail works out well for me. If I am traveling, the program continues very well without me. It doesn’t require much preparation other than prayer so I, with three other men, show up and interact with the 30 or so guys who come each week.
I felt that I needed to go to jail. When I was in Red Feather Lakes, I had plenty of opportunities to share Christ. In country towns you do. I think there must be some sort of counter intuitive law that states that as the population lowers the number of opportunities to share Christ increases. That’s because small towns have a web of relationships. As a community pastor, you’re expected to visit anyone from the town who is in the hospital. When you walk down the street, it’s much easier to start a conversation because you already know them. They want you involved in organizations like the Fire Department. You have wonderful opportunities to share Christ with children and teens. Anyone who believes in relationship evangelism should consider ministry in the country!
When I became Executive Director and moved to Dallas, I lost many of those rich opportunities to share Christ. My travel schedule prevents a ministry that requires me to be there every week. But now, at least every Thursday night, I can share Christ with guys who really need Him and are open to the Gospel.
Last night I made a connection with an event that happened outside of jail. A fellow had gone to our City Park and hung himself. We prayed for his family during our daily prayer time at the Village Missions’ office but I didn’t know many of the details. Well, last night I found out that the man who hung himself had attended the two previous Thursday night meetings.
I could not connect a face with a name. But I know that at least in those two meetings we presented Jesus Christ and invited the men to trust Him for their salvation. This man had heard the Gospel and only God knows if he had trusted Christ before he once again succumbed to alcohol and despair. As the guys filled me in on the details, I preached even more earnestly on the importance of trusting Christ and the importance of letting Christ control every area of our life.
It doesn’t matter what kind of congregation we stand before, in jail or out of jail. Chances are there are some or many who are deeply hurting. Some in the congregation will not live out the day or even the hour. We know this but do we live it in our preaching? May we always be ambassadors begging people, yes begging, to be reconciled to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
