This past week I was in a prison in South Florida. Prison Fellowship’s staff took me there to meet the warden and his staff, and to visit a 50-man unit in the prison. In this unit, the men are studying material from The Urban Ministries Institute (TUMI) in preparation to be leaders and pastors inside and outside the walls of America’s prisons. This two-year, seminary-level curriculum is intense.
As I entered the room, the 50 men were taking their usual Friday morning exam covering that week’s material. These tests are graded and the men need to keep their grades up to stay in the program and the unit. The room was silent – these men are serious.
When they were finished their test, I was able to encourage them and also pray for them. I also asked for their feedback so that Prison Fellowship and our TUMI partner, World Impact, can continuously improve the material and the inmates’ education. The men said, “Thank you for providing this for us! Being a unit together is so good for us, because we keep one another accountable and we can study and grow together. The volunteers that come in to teach us are the best. They really care for us and come on their own dime to help. We want to be leaders in the prison and when we get home – thanks for helping us. TUMI has not only changed me, it has changed my family. They come and visit because they see the change in my life. I now know how to read and understand the Bible!”
I was ecstatic when I left that unit. Those men look and sounded like Jesus.
The chief of security told me that his guards love to work in that unit because the guys are so well-behaved and respectful. The guards voluntarily took extra training to be able to help with the education process. The warden even told his officers that having integrity and character displayed by the prison staff was vital so that these men could see what Godly men and women look like. How cool is that?
As we exited the unit I received another surprise. The warden turned to me and asked if Prison Fellowship would like to run the whole building – five units of 50 men. We could create the church inside the walls of that facility, and could train these men to be leaders inside and outside the walls. They could change the prison in which they live, and their families, communities and churches when they are released. Can you imagine 250 men being commissioned to be missionaries in their current Jerusalem and then to their Samaria as they head home?
The warden was and is very serious. Pray with me for the volunteers so that his prayers can be answered. Ask God to rise up 250 men who desire to be discipled in the ways of Jesus. Pray for a generous outpouring of resources so this can become a reality. Ask God to multiply the great things happening in Southern Florida five times over!
Ask God for the whole building!
