I can remember when I was going through the motions
of being a Christian. I was busy following the "Coliseum
games" and "Chariot races" of our day and thinking
of how much I must do and not how much can I do. I guess the best
term to describe it is lukewarmness.
"...for I was hungry and you gave Me food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you
took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you
visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." Matthew
25:35, 36.
I was thinking of how each one of us will answer
our Lord on the judgment day about reaching out to our fellowman
when he is in need.
Many in the world feel that those in jail or prison
are not worth the time and effort to teach the gospel ... I am
ashamed that more of our brothers and sisters are not involved
with the jail and prison ministries. The denominations are "running
over one another" to come in and to speak and teach.
The most successful way I see to go into these
institutions is to have teams of two to four who can work together
to make sure someone is always there and have some time off for
vacations, emergencies, etc. No, you do not have to be a preacher.
The main thing is to truly care and love your fellowman. As the
saying goes, "I don't care how much you know until I know
how much you care." Those who care will be the most effective
and successful. It takes patience and perseverance with love just
as out there. You will find someone who has time to listen.
I have never seen or heard of anyone threatened
during the services. I believe if you ask anyone involved, they
will tell you they have more disruptions in the services out there.
Remember the man in Matthew 24:30 who was afraid
to use the talent his master gave him. (v. 25) "The harvest
is ripe but the laborers are few."
Let us not be like the church at Laodicea (Revelation
3:15-16) and make our Lord vomit at our lukewarm righteousness!
Let us bear fruit. Matthew 7:19, 20.
I am sure if you are interested in the ministries
to jails and prisons that Ron Reeves of the Golf St. church of
Christ, Elkins, WV, or Gene Miller who works with those in the
Central Regional Jail, Flatwoods, WV, could give you some guidance
and insight.
If you cannot, I am sure there is a poor neighbor
or widow down the street or someone forgotten in a nursing home
who would appreciate a visit and a brightening up of his or her
day! In His Service, Dennis Burch. Matthew 25:40. #24333 Huttonsville
Correctional Center, PO Box 1, Huttonsville, WV 26273. (Read brother
Dennis' report on page 7.)