WHY PRISONERS?

Most people in our churches do not or have never known someone personally who has been incarcerated. Because of this, we in the Church can easily overlook ministry focused upon prisoners. 

Yet, ministering to the incarcerated should be considered a function of the local church. These inmates will most likely leave prison one day and will drive on the same roads, eat in the same restaurants, shop in the same stores, and, possibly, live in the same neighborhoods.

True freedom, however, is not found in the inmates release from prison. True freedom in only found in faith in Jesus Christ.

As there is a hunger for the Good News offered through Jesus Christ in our prisons, the Church should seek to proclaim Christ to the prisoner and disciple those who come to faith. The Church’s biblical mandate to do this is found thus:

1.  As all men were created in God’s image, there exists an inherent dignity that gives all men value. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

2. The end of the Good News of Jesus Christ is that all who are bound by sin may be set free. Isaiah 61:1 states, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;….” And John 8:36 states, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

3. Jesus, who directly identified with prisoners, teaches that those who have experienced His compassion in being freed from their sin should desire to show that same compassion to others. Matthew 25:36 states, “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

4. When believers see themselves in the same condition as prisoners, then the believer will see the true unity of the Church. Hebrews 13:3 states, “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”