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My Personal Reflection of Prison Ministry

The Lord has put such a burden in my heart for people. I have prayed so many times for God to open the eyes of my heart, so that I will see people the way He does. God put serving in the prison ministry on my heart only a short while after I had truly learned the meaning of having a relationship with Him. God has changed me so much that in my former self I would not even imagine going into a prison, much less taking the time to pray and to minister for them. God began a deep work in my life

and He spoke to me to start prayer walking around the Barton jail. I had not even made it into the actual prison yet, but God was building a love in me for these men and women. I did not even know these people, and yet I would cry out for them in my private devotion time. I often compare this preparation time to the story of John when he was merely a “voice crying in the wilderness

” because the Holy Spirit was birthing something so grand within my life.

At this point in my journey through Prison Fellowship it has moved beyond going into the prison and seeing people who committed a crime, but it is about seeing each person through God’s eyes. I am able to pour out the love and grace that God has given to me and watch the different life transformations before my very eyes. This is such an amazing thing to witness and has caused for so much growth within my own life.

One of the greatest experiences in joining the Prison Ministry is that it really has drawn me closer to God and His word. As I am ministering to the groups of people in our sessions I am also being ministered too. God has given me freedom from my own chains and bondage during this season and has taught me so many great and wonderful things.

I truly believe that we are the light, sent out to shine in the dark places, like the jail, where hearts have the ability to grow cold and dark, where hope and faith can seem like a fairy tale. One of the scriptures that I hold tightly to is found in Isaiah 61:1-3 says:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to give liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To comfort those who mourn, to give beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.”

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