Prison Inmate Vistiation as a Ministry
Introduction
There are over two million people that are incarcerated in United States prisons today. Approximately seventy percent of these inmates will re-offend while on parole in less than three years. If these parolees have attended one or more faith-based programs in prison, the recidivism rate drops to approximately fifteen percent. Most of these people are repeat offenders and hardened criminals. There is no doubt that the punishment fits the crime in a great majority of these cases. However, that is no reason to sentence someone to a life of being in and out of prison. Because of the way the prison system is designed, inmates are not rehabilitated, they are just incarcerated. For the most part there is no influence in the inmate’s life that will make them change the way they think about crime. By visiting prisoners, not only would that person be fulfilling one of the Bible’s commandments and serving Jesus (see Matthew 25:26), but they will be making a difference in a person’s life. By befriending an inmate, one can give them hope and change the way they think about crime, therefore reducing the chances that they will commit that crime again and re-enter prison later in life.
Prison life
Prison is a tough world. An inmate’s life in prison is filled with danger and stress. Most people might think that an inmate’s life consists of sitting in his room watching television. Although inmates do have a lot of time on their hands, their lives are constantly being threatened with violence. There is pressure to join gangs for protection and material goods. It is as if the inmate has been thrown into a world of crime that he cannot escape. He becomes accountable to the new hierarchy of power that is in the prison. If he doesn’t cooperate, his life is in danger.
Why visit a prisoner
Usually the best time to visit a prisoner is on a Saturday. When visiting a prisoner, it is important to abide by the rules that the prison has for the visitor. Certain clothing cannot be worn and nothing but cash money can be brought into the prison. My experience at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, California was exactly like that. The rules were that only one key could be brought into the prison. They also limited the amount of money that could be brought to thirty dollars in singles. Visiting prisoners is not a one week thing. It is best to build a relationship with a prisoner so that the experience can have an affect on his life. By visiting regularly, he has something to look forward to. When the visitor starts to share the Bible and other personal experiences with the inmate, the inmate begins to think about the time he has spent in prison as a waste. Thoughts of starting anew and living a good life begin to seem possible again. Most prisoners are taught that they are bad because they were born that way. They have decided that they were meant to be criminals. Nothing could be further from the truth. By sharing the gospel with the prisoner, the visitor can bring the inmate to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and change his life forever.
Getting started
Finding a prisoner to visit is not a difficult task. The local church can easily provide a willing visitor with assistance. Prisons make accommodations for persons that visit prisoners as a service to society. Since I live in San Diego, I have posted two organizations that can assist in finding prisoners that want to be visited. This brings up a valid point. Prisoners must want to be visited. If the inmate is so wrapped up in prison world, he is lost and no one on the outside can reach him. This particular inmate’s only hope is the chaplain that works for the prison. Unfortunately, the chaplain only deals with inmates that come to him for help. Here are two sources for finding prisoners to visit. The first source is a very large national organization and the second is for California prisons only.
Prison Fellowship www.pfm.org
P.O. Box 452152
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310-671-5463
800-245-9998
Local Field Director Stephanie Woodend 619-441-9900
Stephanie_Woodend@pfm.org
Light House Prison Ministry http://www.lighthouse-ca.org/
Contact Neal or Judy Odom
819 S. Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
714-776-8719
Email: nodom@msn.com
The visitor/inmate relationship
The relationship with an inmate is a delicate one. Here is some advice. First and foremost, always be there. Agree that a meeting will occur every week, every other week or every month. The more frequent the better, but it’s most important to be consistent. Second, be friendly. Although the ministry is designed to bring the inmate to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, nobody can be forced to believe. Browbeating will do no good. Above everything else, be the inmates friend. Thirdly, suggest prayer and Bible reading. It is the hearing of the gospel that will bring Jesus into his heart (see Romans 10:17). Salvation does not come from man but by the Holy Spirit. Lastly, the inmate will be more responsive if the visitor shows some generosity. . This does not mean to buy his friendship. All I am saying is that if the visitor can spare a couple bucks for a soda or chips from the vending machine, it really goes a long way. Since we are on the subject of money, it is expected, especially early on, that the inmate will ask for money. By all means do not comply. If the inmate is there for monetary gain only, then the visitor will not reach him. If the visitor presents himself as a source of money to the inmate, then the inmate will take advantage of the situation. By keeping the relationship on an emotional level, it brings seriousness to the situation and weeds out any false motives. If the inmate continues to see the visitor even though no money is exchanged, then the inmate has a better chance of being helped. Do not comply with contacting anyone outside of prison for them either. This can get the visitor into trouble and can be a distraction to the task at hand.
Closing
The Bible states clearly that if a person visits a prisoner it is exactly like visiting Jesus himself. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to build a closer relationship with Jesus while helping another person at the same time. Good Luck and God Bless.
