Treasure Digest: For I Was in Prison and You Visited Me

God is calling some in prison. If your pastor mentions that there are prospective members in prison in your area, what can you do to help? Talk with your pastor and consider these ideas.

An inmate needs to be connected to the real world. He needs to know that someone believes in him and understands what he is going through so that he will hang on to his humanity and be a better person once he is released.

Mail time and visitation are the only bright spots in an otherwise drab and brutal life. While most people can't actually visit inmates due to prison regulations and visitation lists, others can write. Consistency is important in fostering connections and hope. The average inmate gets very few visits and a letter only about six times a year. In addition, after having been incarcerated for a year or more, an inmate is likely to find that for the most part he has been forgotten by many of his friends and family members. This is very painful and discouraging to an inmate.

Visiting with an inmate, whether by mail or in person, does not mean condoning his wrongs. It is very inspiring to an inmate when someone he is close to holds him accountable for his behavior by expecting the best of him. Giving him examples of former inmates who are now doing well is also helpful.

Letting him know that you are looking out for his family members is a wonderful way to foster his connections to the real world and helps the family members as well. From my own experience I know that it is rewarding to help someone in prison become a person that society can be proud of.