Everyone has been a prisoner at one time, often in prisons of our own making until God sets us free. However, for some, the prisons they are in are made of concrete walls and steel bars. For those, they have no hope because the prison inside of them is just as real as the one they are inside. Prison ministry may not be something you’ve considered when looking at where God has called you, but this area has great need for caring people.
The idea of ministering to prisoners can be quite frightening, especially for anyone who hasn’t been around the darker side of life. However, this segment of society is often forgotten and ignored, and they need to feel God’s love and hope for the future as much as anyone. There are numerous ways to minister to this population, some don’t even require you to go inside the prison walls.
Angel Tree
One such ministry is Angel Tree. People purchase gifts for children of prisoners at Christmastime. The gifts are then wrapped and given to the children as presents from their incarcerated parents. It blesses the children who feel loved by a parent that is absent from circumstances and bad decisions.
Angel Tree also blesses the parent because they know someone cares enough about their family to donate the gifts and the time. It helps to keep the bond between parent and child so they have a relationship to build on when they are released. It can be the motivation to keep them from getting in trouble in the future and to keep the kids from following the parent’s footsteps.
Prison Fellowship
Angel Tree is actually part of this organization that seeks to help prisoners in many ways. However, it is just one option when it comes to ministering to the incarcerated. Prison Fellowship equips communities and churches to teach prisoners in Bible studies and with classes that develop life skills to enable them to be leaders whether they are in prison or released.
The Warden Exchange program trains wardens to make a difference in their facilities. Because they interact daily with hundreds of prisoners, they have the chance to make a direct impact on all of these lives.
The ministry continues outside of prison by helping those who are released re-enter society. Several areas of the country have dorms where the prisoners can live after release. Churches in the communities can provide support in many ways as the former prisoners seek to find jobs and living arrangements.
Acts 13 Christian Ministries
This organization has a prison ministry where they provide reading materials to prisoners, including Bibles. The goal is to help those who are incarcerated learn about God and develop a stronger relationship with Him. People who want to get involved can provide monetary donations.
These are just a few of the ways you can get involved in prison ministry. With everything from donating money to on-site Bible studies, there is something for everyone who feels called to this ministry. While you may think of prison ministry as something for men, women volunteers are needed as well. Numerous women’s prisons exist all around the country and they have just as great of a need for support as the men who are incarcerated.
If you have been part of a prison ministry, let us know in the comments. Tell us how you volunteered and the impact it had on your life. You just might inspire someone else to get involved.
