Following Jesus- Behind The Prison Walls.

Following Jesus- Behind The Prison Walls.

My life is filled with services, prayer, retreats, church programs, and other events. By far, what I most enjoy is good Christian conversation and debate about Faith topics and Bible translation.

When I was invited to sit in on a group discussion about living a Biblical life while dealing with some of life’s current trends, I enthusiastically accepted. The venue was a large cafeteria. Six of us sat in an elevated section with the moderator, while dozens of others enjoyed coffee and bread in the main eating area.

Two of us in the “group of six” were visitors to what was apparently a regular meeting group. We were given the scenario and some background into the local church’s preaching on the topic at hand. Several concerns about that position were submitted by the main group. The other outsider and myself were asked to kick things off with a couple of minutes of what we thought.

It was not long after I spoke that I realized I was in way over my head. Not only was the conversation steered into Biblical depth by the other members of the panel, but the general audience was incredibly well-versed in the writings of Paul and quoted Jesus with authority in a way I did not so readily relate to the issue.

It was the most interesting and enjoyable conversation I had in a long time. I wanted to say how impressed I was with the depth and breadth of ideas raised, but I wanted to choose my words carefully. After all, there was a large banner in front of the room telling me, “Don’t be CON-descending!”

This was the cafeteria of a medium-security prison facility. Other than the moderator (their non-denominational chaplain) and the other guest (a rabbi), everyone else involved was following Jesus behind the prison walls. What they taught me that day is forever ingrained in my mind.

The inmates’ knowledge did not come solely from the direction of their chaplain. He was instrumental in providing Bibles, but a large percentage of the prisoner group also took advantage of the facility’s college program, which included correspondence courses on Biblical Studies, Pastoral Studies, Theology and more, like the programs offered by the International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) (http://www.iccscampus.org/).

Programs like this are thriving across the country. Those who are following Jesus behind the prison walls can find support and resources in the knowledge that comes from those courses. Reading the Bible is informative, but putting it together with practical studies helps inmates deal with the hardships of isolation, crime, and despair encountered in many of these facilities.

It is not unusual for prison to be that “rock bottom” moment when humans finally recognize that Jesus has been with them the whole time. Many prisons accommodate religious studies, books, visitors, and services. Inmates who are following Jesus behind prison walls tend to be model prisoners, making it worthwhile for facility managers to encourage their growth in faith.

Others rekindle their faith while incarcerated. An interesting note is that inmates finding or changing their religion in state prisons are most likely heading toward Islam, with Christianity a distant second choice. For this reason alone, we should encourage those following Jesus behind prison walls, as well as those who are seeking answers, by supporting prison ministries and prison educational opportunities like ICCS (http://www.iccscampus.org/).