For the past few weeks...
Illustration
For the past few weeks, several volunteers from the church have been participating in a Bible study and support group with about ten inmates at the nearby central prison. The group meets every Tuesday evening for about two hours. Thus far, the volunteers have been leading the Bible study, though inmates have promised to share in this responsibility. The group discusses aspects of prison life ranging from adjustment to prison to separation from family and the difficulties involved in trying to practice Christianity in prison. After one of the sessions, a volunteer received the following note:
"Dear Mike,
It has meant so much to me and the fellows for you and your group to take of your time to be with us Tuesdays. It really shows us that someone really does care. I personally had pretty much given up on the church. But seeing the concern which you and the others have shown us has renewed my faith in God and the church.
Thank you,
Roy"
And we recall the words of Scripture: "I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
"Dear Mike,
It has meant so much to me and the fellows for you and your group to take of your time to be with us Tuesdays. It really shows us that someone really does care. I personally had pretty much given up on the church. But seeing the concern which you and the others have shown us has renewed my faith in God and the church.
Thank you,
Roy"
And we recall the words of Scripture: "I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
