Recently, a mother wrote to Prison Fellowship asking for help. Her 25-year-old son Aaron (a pseudonym) is serving time in an Iowa prison for a non-violent offense, but because he has had a problem with anger in the past, he’s being held in disciplinary detention, better known to inmates as “the hole.”
Aaron’s mother writes that he became a Christian in “the hole” by reading God’s Word. His salvation gladdens her heart, but now she comes to us with a simple plea in his behalf:
[He] can’t leave his cell. … He is never visited by a chaplain or anyone else. [He] is very hungry for Christian teaching, reading material, and anything that would help him grow in his new faith in Christ … [He] frequently expresses how his heart aches to be able to talk to a fellow believer. He has not yet been greeted in person by a brother in Christ since his salvation. … [He] would LOVE to read Inside Journal, or any other spiritually encouraging materials. …
Inmates often write to Prison Fellowship asking for copies of Inside Journal (our quarterly newspaper for prisoners) or other spiritual support. But there’s something especially poignant about this request from a mother.
It’s so easy to forget that every prisoner is someone’s son or daughter, and while their crimes must be dealt with, their parents would do anything to see them restored to new life. If their earthly parents love them so deeply, how much more must God’s heart ache to bring them new life! How much must He desire His people to go into prisons and help them!
You can be part of God’s rescue mission to restore lost men and women. Learn more at www.prisonfellowship.org.