I went to prison this year! To a maximum security prison in MO. Thankfully, it was as a visitor!
I went with two men mentored through Legacy Shepherding – Louis and Jason.
Louis served 15 ½ years in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder. He now works for Set Free Ministries, a ministry that provides Bible study correspondence courses to inmates in prison. I went to learn, to see Louis in action, and to get a better feel for what prison ministry is like. I sensed my heart would somehow be affected, and it was.
Before going, I pictured this maximum security prison as having separate hallways and access points for the guards and staff (and us) to get around, separated from the inmates. I pictured the guards always being close at hand, escorting the prisoners everywhere, including to our secure location. Surprisingly, I pictured it wrong!
Entering Prison:
We entered the prison through a main entrance building (on the right in the photo, mid-way down), going through numerous locked checkpoints, where our IDs where verified. At one checkpoint, we were each issued a small box with a cord coming out of it. If you pulled the cord out of the box, the box would let out a high pitched alarm, alerting the guards we were in trouble. Jason jokingly said he wasn’t sure he needed the box. If anyone grabbed him, he’d be letting out a high pitched alarm of his own. He then gave us a muted example of his terrified scream!
The last door o
pened to the outdoors, onto a wide sidewalk leading into the main grounds of the prison, where inmates were walking freely to various prison facilities and others were recreating or standing around in the prison yard. I remember that first view when those doors opened to the outside and I suddenly realized there are no separate hallways.
We were inside the prison with everyone else!
The Prison:
The prison houses 1,656 adult males, all dressed in gray. Around the entire perimeter are two tall fences. One of the fences is an electric fence, designed to kill anyone who touches it.
Louis estimated at least half of the population in this facility have been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. They are in prison until they die, including some very young men.
The prison system is set up on a system of rewards that encourage good behavior. Elective programs and free time are available based on good behavior (possibly years of good behavior, depending on the program).
Set Free Ministries:
Set Free Ministries employs nine inmates in this prison to help grade and write helpful, positive comments on the correspondence Bible studies that inmates mail in from the state of IL. We had the privilege of hearing seven of these men share their testimonies with us.
In the movie Shawshank Redemption, the narrator basically says there are no guilty men in prison. They are all innocent. At least that’s what they claim. In sharing their testimonies, none of the Set Free men claimed to be innocent. These Christian converts took responsibility for their actions. They owned their offenses, and they seemed repentant. It was inspiring to hear the power of the Lord’s redemptive work in their lives since entering prison, and to see them now giving back and impacting the lives of other men behind bars.
In the evening, we attended a Bible Study that was open to anyone in the prison who wanted to attend. Thirty-six men attended. Both Jason and I shared something, and then Louis led the study.
Tours:
We were honored with the opportunity to tour a large woodworking facility in the prison. As we toured, the inmates eagerly offered to show us what they are working on – high quality work, sold cheap to state departments and state employees. The inmates took pride in what they were making. It was very sweet.
We also got a tour of the Puppies for Parole program. This took us inside a cell block where the inmates live. A trainer comes in and teaches inmates how to rehabilitate dogs. The prison brings in dogs that have issues, from nearby shelters. The inmates work with the dogs and hopefully get them to a point where the dogs may be adopted into loving homes. Inmates are not allowed to exhibit any negative behavior toward a dog, not even to reprimand them. They can only reward them for good behavior. The dogs live with them in their cells. We spent time talking to inmates, petting their dogs, and seeing what tricks they’ve proudly taught them.
A Heavy Heart:
Meeting so many guys with life sentences without the possibility of parole weighed heavy on my heart. These guys did bad things that deserve to be disciplined/punished, but never having the possibility of parole didn’t feel right in some cases. It doesn’t leave room for the possibility of people changing, repenting, growing, maturing, transforming, and being redeemed, which is a hallmark of what I believe is possible.
God is in the business of redemption and restoration. All things are possible with God. No one is beyond his reach! Who a person is at 17 is not who they have to be at 57. The system is basically saying these men can never be rehabilitated. I wish our prison system was more about rehabilitation than incarceration.
You Can Make A Difference:
It was a privilege to see Louis in action and to see the difference the ministry he is involved in is making.
As I reflect on my time in prison, I see how often I live like I’m in prison. I look around me and see others living like they’re in prison too. There are things that keep us from fully living the life that God designed for us, things that keep us from loving freely and extravagantly. Thankfully, Jesus came to set us captives free.
The heart of this ministry is to help facilitate spiritual prison breaks – unshackling prisoners (including myself) to bring about deeper intimate connection with the Lord, equip and empower young people in such a way that they may pass on to others whatever God has instilled in them, and unleash people to live out their kingdom designs and purposes, so we may all reflect more freely the love of Christ in the world.
God has been leading amazing young talent to this ministry. I’m confident they are going to have great impact.
As you consider your year-end giving, please partner with me financially in making this ministry available to young leaders who have the potential to make a huge difference in other’s lives and in the world. They need our help. I need your help.
Contributions are tax deductible.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate Jesus coming to be with you, to set you free.
In His Love,
Randy
PS If they ever offer you a turkey salad sandwich for lunch in prison, opt for something else!
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