Prison ministry is
open for business

By Roger Galstad

EAU CLAIRE, Wisconsin--"Place any metal items you have in this tray and then walk through the metal detector."

I complied with this command, but it wasn't until three failed attempts to pass through the detector without setting off the alarm that I finally discovered all the metal objects on my person.

In addition to coins in my pockets and car keys, I had to remove glasses, belt, pen, ring, wristwatch and finally shoes. Then I was allowed past the reception area of the Jackson Correctional Institution in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.

This was not a place I had chosen to come to. In fact, on several occasions in the months preceding my first visit to a prison, I had told myself that I would never serve in a prison ministry. The idea of serving in a prison ministry was not at all appealing. In fact a number of self-justifications had come to mind as to why such a thing would not be practical.

I simply would not fit in with the age, culture or interests of most of the inmates. That justification settled, I went on with other pressing requirements of the bi-vocational ministry and the necessity of making a living.

In March 1997, Pasadena forwarded a letter from a member inmate who was requesting a visit. He had been transferred to Jackson Correctional Institution from another institution.

"Oh no!" God was opening a door, a door into prison, and by his Spirit I was compelled to go through it.

That first visit with Eugene was unforgettable. Every door had to be opened electronically by guards behind control booths enclosed with bullet-proof-glass. The prison staff were trained to be wary of everyone they encountered.

Prison is a spiritually dark place. Most inmates seem to have no desire to consider coming to Christ. Of the more than l,000 inmates in the institution, about l00 attend the Protestant worship service and 25 to 30 attend the weekly Bible studies.

Eugene was imprisoned at age 22 for a murder he committed at age 20. He is a lifer, having been sentenced to life in prison for his crime. About l5 years ago Eugene was baptized by our district superintendent, David Fiedler.

Over the years Eugene gradually lost contact with the church and finally decided to recontact the church to ask for a visit.

I began seeing Eugene every four to six weeks. He was encouraged to participate in the Sunday evening worship service at the institution and the weekly Bible studies. In addition, I encouraged our members to write to him. All of this began to have a positive effect on him.

After a short time, the chaplain, Alan Minshall, began to notice the amount of time and attention I was giving to Eugene, and he invited me to speak on occasion at their Sunday service. Not long after that he asked me to conduct the Tuesday evening Bible Study twice a month.

Because of these opportunities, other inmates began to request personal visits and counseling. It was beginning to become clear that the Holy Spirit was creating a prison ministry, the ministry that I never wanted, and in fact had rejected until he opened the door.

This past December I asked our congregation to join in a 40-day fast. Each of us took one, two, three and even four of the 40 days to fast. The resulting blessings by God have been beyond our expectations.

In the past seven months, positive fruits have been born in both the prison ministry and in our congregation. First of all, I conducted the first baptism in the prison since its inception just over five years ago.

Since January we have had eight baptisms at the prison. In our Eau Claire congregation we have also had four baptisms since January. It is clear that God has been working mightily among us since the January fast.

After working with the inmates in the Bible study group for some time, I can't help but develop a strong affinity and brotherly love for each of them.

On occasion someone is missing, and I later find out that they were transferred to an out-of-state prison because of overcrowding here. It is sad that we had no time to express a good-bye, as they are taken away with little notice. My heart also goes out to those transferees and those released who I never really invited to accept Jesus as Savior. That error has been corrected. Now at every opportunity I boldly invite them to new life in Christ and offer my services to them for baptismal counseling.

In one Bible study I told them: "I am here for your spiritual benefit. If any of you want to come to Christ, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, I'm open for business!" This was greeted with cheers, with five inmates raising their hands and one shouting, "I want to be baptized!"

The main lesson I have learned in this God-inspired prison ministry is that we Christians need to make ourselves available to the unsaved and that we need to make it known in no uncertain terms, "I'm open for business!"

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000