jstefan posted on February 08, 2010 10:47
Is God calling you to Prison ministry? Recently it came to my attention the need to have someone in our church who feels this special call.
Several pastors in our Northern Ministerium of the Chesapeake Conference recently visited an Adventist member in jail awaiting deportation. Falsely accused and with poor legal counsel, he plea-bargained. With only residency status, even though living in the US for 38 years, he was scheduled for deportation. This has now been drawn out in the legal bureaucracy for two years.
Four pastors visited him a few weeks ago. It was heart-breaking to see him on the other side of the thick glass in the visitation room. We shared Christian literature, songs, encouragements and prayer. He has been instrumental in studying with eight individuals and preparing them for baptism. Not locating an Adventist pastor to conduct the baptisms, he found a non-denominational pastor.
An inmate in Carroll County Detention Center told me that fellow inmates have requested an Adventist to conduct Bible Studies. I have been in contact with the Detention Librarian to see that the inmates have good hope-filled Christian literature for their library. They are able to go to the library one hour per week.
The Carroll County Ministerium recently appointed a new Detention Center chaplain. If you feel the urging of the Holy Spirit to undertake such a ministry, contact: Wayne Bauman at wayne.bauman@goodnewsjail.org.