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North American North American
DivisionDivision
Prison Ministry, Prison Ministry,
Consultant and TrainerConsultant and Trainer
Dr. Cleveland HouserDr. Cleveland Houser
Justification for Prison Evangelism
I was an hungered and ye gave I was an hungered and ye gave
me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave
me drink: I was in prison, and ye me drink: I was in prison, and ye
came unto me. Then shall the came unto me. Then shall the
righteous answer him, saying, when righteous answer him, saying, when
Lord, saw we thee an Lord, saw we thee an
hungered, and fed thee not? Or hungered, and fed thee not? Or
thirsty, and gave thee drink? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? Or
when saw we thee a stranger, and when saw we thee a stranger, and
took thee in? Or naked, and clothed took thee in? Or naked, and clothed
thee? Or when we thee sick, or in thee? Or when we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee? And prison, and came unto thee? And
the Kingthe King
Justification for Prison EvangelismJustification for Prison Evangelism
shall answer and say unto them, shall answer and say unto them,
verily I say unto you,: Inasmuch as verily I say unto you,: Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto the least of ye have done it unto the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me.”unto me.” Matthew 25:35-40Matthew 25:35-40
Justification for Prison EvangelismJustification for Prison Evangelism
1.1. Matthew 25: 25-40 is Christ Matthew 25: 25-40 is Christ
Great Great Commission to evangelize Commission to evangelize
the prisonsthe prisons..
2. 2. Prison evangelism was the Prison evangelism was the
last ministry that last ministry that Christ endorsedChrist endorsed
while he was on earth. while he was on earth.
3. 3. On Calvary hanging between On Calvary hanging between
two thieves, Christ, did prison two thieves, Christ, did prison
evangelism: while Heevangelism: while He
Note:Note: The Theological Imperative of The Theological Imperative of Matthew 25Matthew 25
was on Death Row, He commuted the was on Death Row, He commuted the
sentence of a prisonsentence of a prison inmate from inmate from
eternal eternal damnation to eternal life. damnation to eternal life.
4. 4. Christ commands us to go Christ commands us to go
into the prisons and evangelizeinto the prisons and evangelize..
Note:Note: The Theological Imperative of The Theological Imperative of Matthew 25Matthew 25
not this the fast that I
have chosen? To loose the
bands of wickedness, heavy
burdens, and let the
oppressed go free, and that
ye break every yoke? Is it not
to deal thy
The Theological Imperative of Matthew 25The Theological Imperative of Matthew 25
deal thydeal thy bread to the hungry, bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that and that thou bring the poor that
are cast out of are cast out of thy house? When thy house? When
thou seest the naked, that thou thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him: and that thou hide cover him: and that thou hide
not thyself from thine own not thyself from thine own
flesh?” flesh?” Isaiah 58:6-7Isaiah 58:6-7
The Theological Imperative of Matthew 25The Theological Imperative of Matthew 25
1.1. Loose the bands of wickedness. Men Loose the bands of wickedness. Men and and women in prison are women in prison are sailing upon a sea of sailing upon a sea of wickedness with no compass nor sense of wickedness with no compass nor sense of
direction.direction.
2.2. To undo heavy burden through the To undo heavy burden through the elevating elevating power of the gospel.power of the gospel.
3.3. Let the oppress go free. The gospel Let the oppress go free. The gospel liberates liberates
the mind and makes doing time a more the mind and makes doing time a more tolerable tolerable event in your life.event in your life.
4.4. Break every yoke – stop the curse.Break every yoke – stop the curse.
NoteNote:: Operation Set Operation Set FreeFree
Spirit of the LordSpirit of the Lord God is upon God is upon
me; because the Lord has anointed me; because the Lord has anointed
me to preach glad tidings unto the me to preach glad tidings unto the
meek: he hath sent me to bind up the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives and the opening of the the captives and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound…” prison to them that are bound…”
Isaiah 61:1.Isaiah 61:1.
NoteNote:: Operation Set FreeOperation Set Free
Note: Mashiach to the Incarcerated
1. Mashiach made me Messiah –
anointed to preach, to
evangelize. 2.
Preach the good news of salvation and
forgiveness.
3. Proclaim liberty to the captives.
4.Opening of the prison – cells of self degradation.
Prophetic Prison Initiative::
Prison inmates are not insignificant
entities floating upon a sea of forgetfulness
but they are souls that Christ gave his life for.
“Christ identifies Himself with every child of
humanity. In order that we might become members
of the heavenly family, He became a member of the
earthly family. He is the Son of Man, and thus a
brother to every son and daughter of Adam.
Prophetic Prison Initiative
His followers are not to feel themselves
detached from the perishing world around
them….the fallen, the erring, and the sinful:
Christ’s love embraces, and every deed of
kindness done to uplift a fallen soul, every
act of mercy is accepted as done to Him.”
--Desire of Ages, P.638
Prophetic Prison Initiative
“The 25th chapter of Matthew presents
the fact that when one open the door to the
needy and suffering we are welcoming
unseen angels. It was I who was sick. It was
I who was in prison. While you were feasting
at your bountifully spread table, I was
famishing in the hovel of the empty street .
Prophetic Prison Initiative
While you were at ease in your
luxurious home, I had no where to lay my
head. While you crowed your wardrobe with
rich apparel, I was destitute. While you
pursued your pleasures, I languished in
prison.”
-Ibid., PP 639,640
“InIn the great judgment day, those who
have not worked for Christ, who have drifted
along thinking of themselves, caring for
themselves will be placed by the judge of the
whole earth with those who do evil. They
receive the same condemnation.”
-Ibid., p 641
Prophetic Prison Initiative
Anti-social behavioral patterns dictate
the need for more aggressive prison
evangelism.
Prisons have become giant suck holes
that are draining community man-power.
Suffice it to say, the social
fabric of society has been
marred by the alarming
rate of civil disobedience.
Often this disobedience is the Often this disobedience is the
results of the deterioration of results of the deterioration of
social values that serves as social values that serves as
adhesive components for adhesive components for
strong families.strong families.
Social inequities of all
magnitudes have quadrupled
and have orbited the behavior
of humanity into various
destructive directions.
It appears that the social
behavioral patterns of a vast
number of individuals are like
a run away train that has no
conductor or sense of direction.
Because of the hopelessness and
escalating confusion in the lives
of distracted human being, it is
imperative that social
intervention from help
groups become a high priority;
in order, that the restoration of
normalcy in the lives of the
distracted will become a
materialized reality.
1.1. There are 2.3 million Americans There are 2.3 million Americans
behind bars in federal and state behind bars in federal and state
prisons and local jails.prisons and local jails.
2.2. The largest jail populations are:The largest jail populations are:
A.A. Los Angeles Los Angeles
County……….21,268County……….21,268
B.B. New York City……………….17,680New York City……………….17,680
C.C. Cook County, II…………….. 9,321Cook County, II…………….. 9,321
D.D. Harris County, TX…………..Harris County, TX………….. 7,5877,587
E.E. Dade County, FL…………….Dade County, FL……………. 7,0367,036
3.3. Texas has the largest prison Texas has the largest prison
population in thepopulation in the
USA.USA.
4.4. California has more prison inmates California has more prison inmates
than France, Great Britain, Germany, than France, Great Britain, Germany,
Japan, Singapore and the Netherlands Japan, Singapore and the Netherlands
combined.combined.
5.5. Texas has executed more inmates Texas has executed more inmates
than any than any
state in the USA followed by state in the USA followed by
Oklahoma.Oklahoma.
6.6. Less than a third of prison inmates Less than a third of prison inmates
have committed violent crimes.have committed violent crimes.
7.7. One out of every 150 Americans are One out of every 150 Americans are
incarcerated.incarcerated.
8.8. Prisons are a 40 – 50 billion dollar a Prisons are a 40 – 50 billion dollar a
year industry. year industry.
9.9. There are over 2,350 children There are over 2,350 children
locked up in adult jails every day.locked up in adult jails every day.
10.10.Over 1000 new prisons have been in Over 1000 new prisons have been in
the past 20 year.the past 20 year.
11.11.Over 90,000 women are confined to Over 90,000 women are confined to
Department of Correction Facilities.Department of Correction Facilities.
12.12.The women’s prison population has The women’s prison population has
increased by 138% over the past 10 increased by 138% over the past 10
years.years.
13.13. 54% of the women in prison are of 54% of the women in prison are of
ethnic origin.ethnic origin.
14.14.The average age of women in prison is The average age of women in prison is
29 and 58% have not finished high 29 and 58% have not finished high
school.school.
15.15.There are 198,000 children in the USA There are 198,000 children in the USA
whose mothers are in prison.whose mothers are in prison.
16.16.The vast majority of women in prison The vast majority of women in prison
are incarcerated for defending are incarcerated for defending
themselves from abusive husbands.themselves from abusive husbands.
Why Should You Be Interested In Prison Evangelism?
It is only a group of:It is only a group of:
☞ Murderers
☞ Sadistic Killers
☞ Rapists
☞ Child Molesters
☞ Drug Dealers
☞ Robbers
1. You are the best channel for
communicating God’s grace.
2. GOD calls you to be a fisherman.
a. Just, fish
b. God didn’t ask you to clean
the fish
Why Should You Be InterestedIn Prison Evangelism?
Why Should You Be Interested in Prison Evangelism?
3.3. Follow the method of Jesus as He identified with the downtrodden and disenfranchised. . .
a.a. Mary Magdalene
b.b. Publicans
c.c. Criminals
d.d. GGross depravity
Why Should You Be Interested in Prison Evangelism?
4.4. Isaiah 58:6,7 delineates Prison the Isaiah 58:6,7 delineates Prison the Evangelistic CommissionEvangelistic Commission.
a.a. Set the captives freeSet the captives free
b.b. Undo heavy burdensUndo heavy burdens
c.c. Loose the bands of wickednessLoose the bands of wickedness
5.5. God is in need of God is in need of YOUYOU! (Luke 19:31)
The evangelistic fervor of The evangelistic fervor of
any prison is dictated by any prison is dictated by
the security climate of the security climate of
that same institution.that same institution.
Security Attitudes:Security Attitudes:
a.a. MaximumMaximum
b.b. Death RowDeath Row
c.c. MediumMedium
d.d. MinimumMinimum
Methods of Prison Evangelism:Methods of Prison Evangelism:
a.a. Cell to cellCell to cell
b.b. Inmate worship servicesInmate worship services
c.c. Revivals or crusades Revivals or crusades
d.d. Bible studiesBible studies
e.e. One-on-one pastoral visitsOne-on-one pastoral visits
f.f. Pen Pal ministryPen Pal ministry
g.g. Ministry to inmates familiesMinistry to inmates families
h.h. Support group ministriesSupport group ministries
i.i. Transitional House ministryTransitional House ministry
j.j. Ministering to inmates childrenMinistering to inmates children
Non-AcceptableNon-Acceptable Evangelistic Evangelistic
Attitudes Toward Prison InmatesAttitudes Toward Prison Inmates
a.a. They need to be preached toThey need to be preached to
b.b. All inmates are religiously All inmates are religiously
inadequateinadequate
c.c. Make sure the inmates know that Make sure the inmates know that
you you havehave the truth and other religions the truth and other religions
don’t don’t
Non-AcceptableNon-Acceptable Evangelistic Evangelistic
Attitudes Toward Prison Attitudes Toward Prison InmatesInmates
d.d. Go in- preaching about the Go in- preaching about the
Sabbath, Health Reform and Sabbath, Health Reform and
the the Mark of the BeastMark of the Beast
e.e. Having a judgmental attitudeHaving a judgmental attitude
Non-AcceptableNon-Acceptable Evangelistic Evangelistic
Attitudes Toward Prison InmatesAttitudes Toward Prison Inmates
f.f. Using denominational jargon Using denominational jargon
like like the Spirit of Prophecy, the the Spirit of Prophecy, the
Truth, Truth, etc.etc.
g.g. Disrespect toward other Disrespect toward other
religionsreligions
h.h. Quench in-mate participationQuench in-mate participation
Non-AcceptableNon-Acceptable Evangelistic Evangelistic
Attitudes Toward Prison InmatesAttitudes Toward Prison Inmates
i.i. Don’t make an issue out of Don’t make an issue out of
inmate misunderstanding of inmate misunderstanding of
Bible TruthBible Truth
j.j. Abstain from personal opinions Abstain from personal opinions
and philosophies, and philosophies, JUST PREACH JUST PREACH
JESUS.JESUS.
Essential Characteristicsfor Evangelizing Inmates
a. LOVE – is an outgrowth of unselfish concern for
all persons involved
b. EMPATHY – is the ability to feel with people
and put one’s self in their place
c. SENSE OF MISSION – A desire to give this
priority; a belief that this is something
Essential Characteristics
for Evangelizing Inmates
that you would rather be doing than
anything else in the world
d. SPIRITUAL GROWTH – As you lead others to
a new spiritual growth, you must be willing
and anxious to grow as well
Essential Characteristics
for Evangelizing Inmates
e. TACT AND WISDOM – The Savior never
suppressed the truth, but He always uttered it in
love. In His intercourse with others, He
exercised the greatest tact, and He was always
kind and thoughtful. Gospel Workers P. 117
Essential Characteristics
for Evangelizing Inmates
f. GENUINENESS – There must be no pretense
in the lives of those who have so sacred
and solemn a message as we have been
called to bear.