Garland Hunt
Our ministry to others can easily become rote, just another time slot in our calendars. But when we lose our passion for ministry, we also lose our power. In the days of the Books of Acts, when apostles Peter and John were thrown into prison, the power of their prayers was so great that it shook the whole prison. It affected the guard and the other inmates. It ultimately even impacted the guard’s family. They came to know the Lord because Peter and John carried His power and passion into the prison with them, and it was undeniably attractive to everyone who witnessed it.
Our prisons today also need to see people who are passionately devoted to Jesus Christ. Prison ministry needs to be a priority for the Church, just like it was a priority for Him. In Matthew 25, Jesus went so far as to identify Himself as an inmate. He says, “When I was in prison, you visited me.” When you spend your time to disciple, pray, encourage, and bring hope to an inmate, you are doing it unto Him. He takes personally everything that you do for an inmate or a prisoner.
All of us are leaders in some sphere, whether we are pastors, volunteer ministers, parents in the community, or servants within a local church. We must each recognize that prison ministry should be a priority. It’s not the only priority, but everyone can have a part to play in ministering to inmates and their families. One of the best ways to make a start is through Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program. Churches and volunteers are urgently needed throughout the country to let inmates and their families know about God’s great gift to the world: Jesus Christ. Learn more by calling 1-800-55-ANGEL or visiting www.angeltree.org. See what happens when the power and love of God infiltrate the lives of hurting families.