Prison Ministry
In 2007, God caused us to
start paying attention to the WHOLE verse that we have used for years
in our hikers' ministry. The verse is Matthew 25:35-36 For I was
hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me
in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you
looked after me. I was in
prison and you came to visit me. A few of us felt God's stirring
and we began to pray. Then we began to talk. Through some
amazing ways, God showed us what He would have us do and He affirmed
our thoughts when we read Hebrews
13:3 Remember
those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are
mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Wow!!! How had we missed
that for so many years? God would allow it no more and we jumped
in and have been blessed again and again.
We have been able to assist
ex-offenders and their families with immediate needs. We have
been able to help with the needs of the Lighthouse Rehab program in
Bristol for ladies with addictions who are between jail and home.
Currently, we have 12 members of the church sharing their lives with
pen- pals in various prisons across the country. We have two
families visiting inmates at a local prison. We work closely with
Hands and Feet Ministries, Riverplace Re-entry Program, Faith in
Action, and Virginia CARES as well as the chaplains at the regional
jail in Abingdon and Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City,
Tennessee.