By Larry West

This quarter I would like to expand upon the idea I suggested in the last issue.

What are some ways in which the churches of
Christ can help to bring the truth into the prisons
and jails?

Bible correspondence courses are an especially good tool. Often those who are incarcerated spend a lot of time in their cells. There are several times during the course of a day in which they are waiting for the next unlock. Waiting to be let out for meals, waiting for the counts to clear, waiting to be let out to go to work or the chapel or to the yard, and sometimes they may be in their cells for days at a time when there is a lockdown. Bible correspondence courses provide a great way to encourage them to study the Bible on a regular, systematic basis. Many find incentive to study if a completion certificate is offered when the course is completed.

Last year we received a donation of 100 very nice Bibles. Knowing the way things go, I knew that if I simply gave them away, everyone would need one. So, I required that anyone who wanted one of those new Bibles would have to complete two Bible correspondence courses and bring their completion certificates to me. When they did, I wrote their name in the Bible, dated it and signed it and presented it to them. I still have men asking how they can get one of those Bibles! A man just came by today asking if he could do the courses for a Bible. Additionally, when they give an incorrect answer, there is the opportunity to discuss why they missed it and provide further scriptures for them to study.

We frequently receive notices from various religious groups that they will gladly furnish Bible correspondence courses,

study materials, tracts, Bibles, etc., to the prisoners. They ask that the inmate write to them directly with his request. Then they can bombard him with all sorts of religious propaganda as well as the materials he requests. Sometimes they do send pretty nice Bibles and they may bring them by to show them to me. Usually they are the version of the sender's choice and very often they do not get a reliable translation.

It would probably be effective to send printed forms to the chaplain for his distribution to the inmates. All they would have to do would be to fill in the blanks and mail them back to the congregation, its post office box, etc. Information needed would be that which would insure that the inmate would receive the materials in as timely a manner as possible through the institution's mail: Inmate's first and last name, his CDC #, his housing location, name of the facility where he is incarcerated and its correct mailing address.

Postage paid materials would not be necessary. Most inmates have or can get stamps. They are one of the items of barter and trade on the inside and can also be bought at the canteen. The State will mail 5 first class items per week for those who are indigent.

To be continued in the next issue .....