Down the Mountain to the Jail

IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND BLESSING
to minister to the inmates at our county jail.
The place is small.  It holds around 150 people;
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE CHRIST ARE GREAT!
...and we thank God!

Down the Mountain and Through the Town

to the Little Jail House We Go...

The Lord is "The Way"

so please help us pray

He will use us to let them know!

 

Down the mountain and through the town

to inmates, His love to show.

The "seed" we'll throw

We'll "weed" and "hoe"

MAY THERE BE NO FORGOTTEN SOUL!

 

Interesting how this ministry, this journey began...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 My heart has always gone out to the needy.  A precious brother in Christ, who for many years was our associate pastor, sometimes shared his long-standing ministry as a prison chaplain.   My heart began to wish I could go to them a few years ago, and the desire...the calling?...only grew stronger.  One day, after Sunday School, I went to him and said, "John, I want to go to prison".  I knew he would understand.

 

Within a few days, my prayer was granted, only God Himself did it, without even the help of our pastor friend.  My husband came home from an Elder's Meeting late one evening and said that the local jail ministry had been handed to our church from another church.  Just like that!  "Up out of the blue".

The following Sunday, still in awe at God's "giving me the desires of my heart", I found John and said, "Did you hear?  I'm going to jail!" 

 

I was confused...He knew nothing about it.

 

Now my heart finds new meaning in "God works in mysterious ways".  There are no coincidences with Almighty God.  He orchestrates from His throne room in Heaven what we could never begin to figure out.  I stand amazed.

For the last six months or so, my husband I have been in that few
who've "made the sheriff's list".  There've been many rough spots
getting there, though,  and Satan has tried his best to destroy this ministry.
BUT OUR GOD IS GREATER.

 

 

 

The first time I walked into the hall with the cells and bars, I was alone.  But God gave the most absolute calmness and peace in my heart, that only the slightest of anxieties was able to fit! 

 

 

 

To say that I have gotten attached to these precious women, some not much more than girls, would be an understatement!  They are in my heart now.   In my journals.  Often in my prayers.  Each is so special and so unique.  They are no different than you and me.  They are wives and mothers, daughters and nieces, and friends.  Many profess  to know Christ as Savior and sometimes put my faith and walk with Jesus to shame...and to the test. 

Some of them are so caught up
 in darkness it seems hopeless...
 until I remember
Who it is there with us
waiting to forgive and heal!
 



All of them have lost their way
and need a friend.
Every person needs to be brought to,
or back to, Jesus-God's own Son.

 



SOME OF THEIR STORIES:

Meet "Jessila": (TRUE STORY). She always sat in the back, really not paying any attention, except maybe to the TV. But she'd smile at me. Sweet girl. Last week: Jessila--"Ms. Sandra, could you bring me a Bible? It has to be easy. I can't read well. I don't even care if it's one of those children's picture Bibles." Looking around cell, she says, "Well, at least I'm ASKING for a Bible! I've never wanted one before." (sweet, sincere smiles all around)....Now, fast-forward to this week. I can hardly wait to hand "Jessila" her NIRV (New International Reader's Version-written at 4th-grade level) New Testament ! It has big words...She won't yet know I'm holding onto a FULL "leather" NIRV Bible for her...let's see how she can handle THIS one first...THANK YOU, GOD!

 

Meet Rosalyn ... (TRUE STORY). She's young and happy-go-lucky. And she's the type that must have been pretty "popular" in school. Now she's in jail. And very addicted to Meth. During visits, it was rare for her to join us even a few minutes at the bars for our sweet routine: chat, encourage, read God's Word, share requests and praises, and finally pray together, our hands joined all around. Rosalyn just seemed to see no need. Later for a short time, she appeared to be getting interested in God, but it didn't last. OH! Then came that awful Saturday at the jail. Something major took place... and Rosalyn had been the instigator. New charges were added, and one ended up in the hospital. "Did you hear what happened, Ms.Sandra? With Rosalyn and a few others?" No, but I had ...noticed a new 'stillness' on 'Block B'. All the ladies seemed deeply bothered. Then I found out why.... Rosalyn was acting the same as always, showing absolutely no remorse or repentance, acting as if nothing had happened! And it also upset me, badly. Made me sad. HOW could ANYBODY be so unfeeling? A few weeks passed. Then, praise the Lord, something amazing happened! Rosalyn was up front at the bars waiting for me. She had maybe climbed the bunk to watch out the tiny window for my car?! "Ms. Sandra! Over here! I want you to know I have been reading the New Believer's Bible you gave me... with the 40 Days of Devotions in the front of it. Here, see? I am on Day 16, and I have not missed a day!" I notice tears in her eyes...TEARS!? "I am learning so much. I never knew any of this! I am going to finish this initial part and then follow the plan to read the entire Bible...It's changing my LIFE!!!" Yes. Praise God, more real tears. My heart is breaking with wonder and love for You, Father, how You can take such a hard heart and transform it with Your Word. Lord, I pray she gets saved. This one's in one huge predicament of a mess. Get her heart Lord! That's all that will matter in eternity.

 

Meet "Mary"...(TRUE STORY). She went into the Rhea County Jail, well, let's just say "very messed up". The women inmates often ask about her. PRAISE GOD, I can tell them, "Mary's in church. She's Facebooking about things like cooking with her family when they get home from church. Mary's saved and praising God every day!"...True Hope!

 

Meet "Livia": (TRUE STORY). She's quiet. Wary. Watchful. Hard. She's either giving that rare slight smile or, more often, smirking from the back wall...I never knew what she'd give those first several weeks. Then... Something's Shifting. I can see it in her; feel it. I recognize it as the very real possibility that God's Holy Spirit is wooing her heart. Last Few Weeks..."Livia" is always right up front at the bars. Asking LOTS questions, as she is reading the Bible through, cover to cover, for the first time. She saves them up for me, those the others can't answer. "WHY are there so many lists of people's names?!" (I will look it up and give her the real, the deep, answers.) "What are 'graven images'?" "What does 'covet' really mean?" I am still not certain of her salvation, but let me tell you, that lady brings me the greatest joy! I love her smiles and transformed countenance, her curiosity...and the tears over God's love that have replaced the smirks. "Lord, should I privately ask 'Livia' tomorrow if she has a personal relationship with the One she's growing to know? I've told them the plan of salvation many times. Father, I think it's time..."

I am excited to say I have started a Bible Study for the women I have ministered to while in jail, and now out.  I feels amazing to meet with them, not through bars, but in a church kitchen preparing food to eat and sitting around a table, Bibles open.

I hope you have "caught the fever", for I surely have it!
More to come on this ministry....