Bible Study Visiting Those In Prison

[JohnDB]

The scriptures talk about visiting people in prison.
Which people and why?

I know that people have created whole ministries around visiting and ministering to Convicts.

Soooo

This is leading me to this...
I've been watching a show called 60 Days In on the A&E channel.

Most normal people don't do well in jail.
Many of the guys remind me of my coworkers.
But I saw where the convicts have a Bible study one minute and then do some recreational drugs or get into a contract fight the next for an unpaid debt for some cookies or something else like that.

What exactly is the point of visiting Those in prison when I'm not sure that there is not a lot of damage on both sides of the situation.

Trying to figure out what God was intending on this one.

 

[jasonc]

The scriptures talk about visiting people in prison.
Which people and why?

I know that people have created whole ministries around visiting and ministering to Convicts.

Soooo

This is leading me to this...
I've been watching a show called 60 Days In on the A&E channel.

Most normal people don't do well in jail.
Many of the guys remind me of my coworkers.
But I saw where the convicts have a Bible study one minute and then do some recreational drugs or get into a contract fight the next for an unpaid debt for some cookies or something else like that.

What exactly is the point of visiting Those in prison when I'm not sure that there is not a lot of damage on both sides of the situation.

Trying to figure out what God was intending on this one.

Because if,the church avoided the inmates who would be saved in prison?

I knew an evangelist who was sentenced to 99 years and did 5.He got saved and God worked out his freedom.its not in the cases but it happens .

 

[JohnDB]

Because if,the church avoided the inmates who would be saved in prison?

I knew an evangelist who was sentenced to 99 years and did 5.He got saved and God worked out his freedom.its not in the cases but it happens .

I've seen quite a few "salvation cases" that lasted about 3 days after their release.

People often want a Savior but have no real concept of gratitude either.

 

[jasonc]

I've seen quite a few "salvation cases" that lasted about 3 days after their release.

People often want a Savior but have no real concept of gratitude either.

I'm not saying you,are wrong .

Remember by,post about Chris ,a pedophile who had such a claim .

 

[WIP]

The scriptures talk about visiting people in prison.
Which people and why?

I know that people have created whole ministries around visiting and ministering to Convicts.

Soooo

This is leading me to this...
I've been watching a show called 60 Days In on the A&E channel.

Most normal people don't do well in jail.
Many of the guys remind me of my coworkers.
But I saw where the convicts have a Bible study one minute and then do some recreational drugs or get into a contract fight the next for an unpaid debt for some cookies or something else like that.

What exactly is the point of visiting Those in prison when I'm not sure that there is not a lot of damage on both sides of the situation.

Trying to figure out what God was intending on this one.

I wouldn't have the slightest clue as to how to do it. To just walk in and ask to speak to an inmate, any inmate, just seems strange and I wouldn't know what to say or how to even start a conversation.

 

[JohnDB]

I wouldn't have the slightest clue as to how to do it. To just walk in and ask to speak to an inmate, any inmate, just seems strange and I wouldn't know what to say or how to even start a conversation.

Actually refreshing to see an honest and humble answer.

And considering many of my coworkers...I'll admit that it's very difficult at times to be gentle as a dove while being wise as a serpent.

 

[for_his_glory]

When I had the privilege of going into the prisons and holding Bible study with the inmates I always had a packed room and for most of them it wasn't because they wanted to know Jesus, but they had an hour worth of freedom from their cell block.

Don't get me wrong as many did study their Bible and asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, but one thing I would tell them is that it is easy to accept Jesus while you are confined, but it's harder to keep Him when you are released. It was those who were released that I found back in the Bible study that told me I was right as they told me that if they would have kept Jesus in their heart when they were released they would not have returned back to prison.

Those inmates that were about to be released, but didn't have an address to be released to could not be released until they had one so the ones who were at least trying to better themselves my husband and I would let them live with us until they got on their feet again, but they had to abide by our house rules and attend Church and for the most part some did well, and some went back to prison as we only gave them one chance.

Here is my point to all of this as we helped with their needs as they had nothing and this is what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 25:36 about visiting those in prison as James 2:15, 16 brings it to a better light about visiting and literally helping the destitute (those in their own prison of despair) as showing our faith to them by works of love in helping to meet their needs instead of just praying for them. So, there are two kinds of prisons.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

When I think of prison ministry, I think of believers sharing that hope we have in Jesus Christ with those in an otherwise hopeless situation. Prison is definitely a rough place and it changes people, not always for the better. There are usually traumatic experiences involved.

I believe some prisoners get genuinely saved, but others are false converts. It's not much different than those that aren't in prison being genuine and false converts.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Believe me when I say this for this for this is the God's honest truth and I can't emphasis that enough. If I didn't need to be doing this with my fiancee Joe, then I probably never would have done it in the first place.

 

[Christ the King]

I believe some prisoners get genuinely saved, but others are false converts.

What exactly is a "false convert"?

I've seen quite a few "salvation cases" that lasted about 3 days after their release.

I hear that once ur saved u can't be unsaved. Does your church believe something else or are u referring to "false converts"?

 

[Who Me]

Which people and why?

In biblical times as up untill recently there was a minimal amount spent on feeding prisioners.
They were dependant on family and friends bribing the guards to let them visit and bring food etc. No one to bring you food then you starved unless you were important enough to be displayed at your execution.

Christian visited bring food, water, clean clothes, medicine and the gospel for prisioners and the guards.

If interested in prison visiting, join a team that provides you with training and some form of outside support for prisioners.

 

[Susannah]

Back in 1982 I used to go to San Quentin with Alcoholics Anonymous. Then I switched to a Christian Ministry. One day I told the inmates about how I I got robbed day before. They all surrounded me and gave me hugs and said they were so sorry. It amused me. But they had all been saved and so now it was just a matter of supporting them on their prison journey with God watching over them.

 

[for_his_glory]

The first time I went into the prison to share the Gospel I was taken back a bit by the knowledge some of them had in the word of God. Inmates do not need Bible thumpers pointing out all their sin that caused them to be arrested as they already know they messed up. Just like anyone else they need love and compassion in the ways that Jesus taught. It's all about edifying and lifting them up to help them see the self worth within them.

One thing that would put us on the same level is that I would tell them that there was no different between them and me other than they were caught for what they did and I never was.

 

[Susannah]

One of the reasons I got involved in prison ministry is because God spared me that. I went to jail three times but always got probation. My son has anger issues and has been arrested 5 times and he was also spared prison. Being locked up is horrible even if you deserve it. But it does bring you to God sometimes.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

One of the reasons I got involved in prison ministry is because God spared me that. I went to jail three times but always got probation. My son has anger issues and has been arrested 5 times and he was also spared prison. Being locked up is horrible even if you deserve it. But it does bring you to God sometimes.

I do believe that it's helped my fiancee in this sense since I don't think he would have (actually neither of us would have been able to) been able to get through this time being separated if it wasn't for God's help. At first I was afraid what people would think of me and us being together, but who cares about what other people think anyways? As it's really only God's judgement that counts.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

What exactly is a "false convert"?



I hear that once ur saved u can't be unsaved. Does your church believe something else or are u referring to "false converts"?

The definition of false convert here refers to someone that says they believe God and have converted, but in their soul they actually didn't fully accept Jesus Christ and are still carrying on in sin. Another word for this is "lukewarm" like we see in Revelation 3:15-16.

 

[JohnDB]

From what I understand...
Prison is a very different place. A completely different mindset is needed to survive there...a place where everything can be bought or sold over food items.
And there are no real friends whatsoever.

Visiting them reminds them that there is a life they have outside of prison...where they are loved, wanted, and desired for just them being themselves.

And it's going to be important for when they get out. It's gonna take Joey some time to get "back to normal" after he gets out.
It will be difficult for him to not look for angles to get "one up" on others and to relax about others trying to take advantage of him.

 

[Susannah]

You are right. When a prisoner bonds with a Christian outside of prison and have their support when they get out changes the recidivism rate drastically. The program I was with had statistics. The rate of those who stayed out once they were released went from something like 20% to 80%. All these prisoners had converted to Christ.

 

[for_his_glory]

Whether it is actually being housed in prison, as it is extremely hard to exist day to day in their, or the prison in our own mind as one secludes themselves from others. Theirs is an existence of mental torments of depression and anxiety and low self esteem as they can no longer deal with the situations that surround them. They need a support system that will build them up and edify them as they need someone who will believe in them and be there for them mentally, physically and spiritually. We all need at least one true friend that will be there for us.

 

[Susannah]

Isolation for more than 19 days is considered torture. In prison some people have been in isolation for years. I saw a movie about a man who was falsely convicted and spent 15 years in isolation. They movie was about his psychological adjustment once he got out. It did not go well and he committed suicide. I do not remember the name of the movie but it was really sad.

Crime and punishment is controversial. I learned the hard way that some criminals belong in prison as they are dangerous. But I believe in humane treatment.

A good movie about something good coming out of incarceration is American History X. A Nazi prisoner has a black cell mate and they bond. He does not want to be a Nazi by the time he gets out. Sad ending, however, as his Nazi friends do not want to let him to and they murder his son.

Warning to those who try to do prison ministry alone. Don't. Many prisoners want to take advantage of bleeding hearts, so go in with a group and set firm boundaries. God will guide you to the one who really want to know Christ.

If you are with a group it is ok for women to go into a men's prison. One guy told me once he came to the meeting to "smell the ladies' perfume," and stayed when he found Christ.