I have it on the very highest authority that ministering to people in jail and in prison is very important to the Lord.*  So how do you do that if you’re not gifted as an evangelist and honestly don’t seem to be drawn to go into jails and prisons to share the Gospel?

Glad you asked.

I have to admit, until I spoke with Mark Earley of Prison Fellowship on KRKS Mornings, I thought the only way I could minister to prisoners was to go into the jails and share Christ through those phones you see in the movies talking to someone on the other side of the glass who I didn’t know and who probably didn’t care to hear my message anyway.  And, frankly, that just didn’t appeal to me.  So I every once in a while threw some money at the problem, through the Angel Tree ministry’s partnering with KRKS, and contented myself with the idea that I was fulfilling that aspect of the Lord’s concern.

Certainly, my donations help the cause.  But I learned there are so many other things that those of us who are not “evangelists” can be a part of in fulfilling this aspect of the Lord’s mandate.

How about helping prisoners who have received Christ transition after they have been released?  How about mentoring a believer after he or she is released and maybe even before he or she gets released?  (I personally am far more gifted as a “mentor” than an “evangelist!”)  Maybe you could reach out to a spouse or other family member of an incarcerated person.  Or maybe just be an encouraging friend to a former prisoner who is having trouble finding new friends with positive, godly values.  (There’s me again!  I’m a pretty good friend and encourager.)  What about your church? – perhaps it would be a good welcoming place to help nurture the faith of released believers. (Wow!  There I am again!) Maybe you’re in a position to help find or provide housing, or a job, or transportation.  These are all ways you can minister to released as well as incarcerated people and their families beyond the stereotype of evangelistic visits inside jails and prisons.

So if the stereotype of evangelizing inside a jail isn’t “you,” that’s okay.  There are plenty of other ways you can really make a difference in helping prisoners transition to a productive life, and, I believe, impact the culture in powerful ways.  Prison Fellowship was begun by former Nixon White House counsel and former convict (Watergate) Chuck Colson.  They have plenty of ways that are already set up into which you can plug, right here in Denver.  Prison Fellowship has an office in Denver which can match your personal giftedness with needs in four states.  You can get more details by calling the local office at 303-233-6966, or toll free at 1-866-333-6966.   Call and just ask them what are the areas of their need. 

I had an enjoyable conversation on the morning show Friday, June 6, with Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley.  Mark is a former attorney general for Virginia who knows something about law enforcement, government, prisons, and re-entry into society after being released.  He knows the answer to reclaimed lives can not be a simple matter of government involvement or law enforcement get-tough policies or burgeoning prison populations.  The high percentage of repeat offenders confirms those things alone are ineffective. 

He knows the answer is a changed heart, nurtured by godly mentors, a new group of friends and encouragers, and open-armed acceptance by church fellowships, all designed to instill, promote, and support godly habits and self-discipline.  When that takes place, the percentage of repeat offenders goes down dramatically.  If you call the local office of Prison Fellowship, they’ll give you the documentation.    And that means you can truly impact our society simply by letting Prison Fellowship plug you into areas of need that match your personal gifts.

Joel Ryan is the Executive Director of the office here in Denver.  He points out that the prison population in Colorado has grown by more than 600% since 1980 while the population in the state has grown by less than 60%.  About 9,000 prisoners are released each year in Colorado, with nearly 50% of those released going back into jail or prison in 3 years.  In addition to those volunteers who go into jails and prisons to share Christ (which is a very important aspect of the ministry even if it’s not “me,”) there are 406 churches in Colorado that are partnering with Prison Fellowship to provide a church home for released prisoners, there are 45 Bible Study groups, there are about 15 in-prison seminars each month, and over 8,600 children of prisoners being served through Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree ministry.  As you can see, Prison Fellowship has some great things already set up, all which are chipping away at  the rate of recidivism (repeat offenders) in Colorado.  

So assess your personal gifts, and call the local office to match their needs with your giftedness. 

As for me, I’m already assessing how I can work it into my schedule, as well as offering our Sunday fellowship as an apt place to help released prisoners grow in the Lord.

* “I was in prison, and you came to Me.  Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see You…in prison, and come to You?’  The King will answer and say to them, ’Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”

   -  Jesus speaking, as reported by Matthew.