Mission Opportunity- Jail Ministry
Our current criminal justice system is in many ways more criminal than just. But take heart we can do something about it. Did you know that the US has just 5% of the world’s population and yet we hold 20% of the world’s prisoners? Did you know that in the US 1 in 20 men have gone to jail, 1 in 5 African American men have been in prison?  For those who are finally released, freedom is generally short-lived: over 70% of ex-prisoners are re-arrested and re-incarcerated within three years. For huge numbers of people, prison is a way of life. Prison is a revolving door experience that only succeeds, as someone has noted, in being, “an expensive way of making bad men even worse.”
 
One has a higher probability of being in prison in the US than in almost any other nation on earth, including the Soviet Union. It is especially disturbing to see that the poor and people of color are much more likely to be imprisoned for their crimes than are the middle, or upper class. This situation is an embarrassment to the Church. Because our Lord announced the nature of his ministry in public worship when he read the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…(Luke 4:18)  The embarrassing truth is we are not doing well in following our Lord on this. Rather than ignore the truth or point blame at a failed system, we can choose to draw near to the Lord, pray, join with others in The Church and together do something good about it.
 
When God speaks, His Word comes into being! This “proclaiming of the good news” and “freeing of the prisoners” is happening and will continue to happen as a fulfillment of God’s Word.  It is exciting to see even small glimpses of this happening right here, right now, as we participate in the Kosciusko County Jail Ministry!
 
Chaplain John Boren of the KCJM shared with me recently that while it is exciting to see the large number of local jail inmates make commitments to Christ; within two years 97% will leave their commitment. Of those who made a commitment to Christ while in jail, 60% will be re-incarcerated unless they continue to be disciple. Of those who made a commitment and are in partnership with a Christian mentor only 25-30% return to prison.
 
Several of us from Walnut Creek have been meeting with Chaplain John Boren and others on Saturday mornings 9:00-10:00 at the Court House Coffee East. There we here inspiring testimonials from some who have had their lives turned around by Christ as a result of the KCJM. We join in edifying Bible study and inspiring devotions, and we are given invitations to participate in hands-on ministries, that are making a real and lasting difference in the inmates’ lives and our own.

I have a vision that some day a person who has been lost in sin, and life of crime will repent, commit to Christ , be loved by us with the love of Jesus, mentored in our walk with Jesus, and one day become a leader in the Church here at Walnut Creek. This may not happen all at once, it won’t just be the ministry of one or two people, but rather a team effort. But it will happen! Begin now to pray for this. Come join us on Saturday morning as the Spirit leads. This is one of those ways that God brings in the Kingdom of heaven. It is breaking in all around us. Can you see it? This may just be the way God is reaching out to you. The Kingdom of heaven is very near, don’t miss it!  
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Pastor Jim