Fruit of the Spirit

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

Fall 2003                                                            Volume 4, Issue 4

I was in prison, and ye came unto me... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt. 25:36,40 Prison Report

By Ted Parks (Guest Editorial)

In Matthew 25, Jesus illustrated the scene of Judgment with the separation of the sheep and goats. It was there that the Lord spoke of those who had seen Jesus in prison and went to Him. He then clarified the claim by stating, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (v.40). These words of the Lord have often haunted me, as I have resisted past opportunities to go into the prisons for evangelism. However, after much patience and gentle persuasion, Larry West was able to convince me to accompany him to his office at the chapel of Folsom State Prison.

Before entering the facility, I had my own set of expectations; mostly based on movies and television. As we entered the outer gate and passed through the first security check point, I did my best to try and hide exactly how nervous and scared I was to be entering a medium security level prison. I was carded, scanned, and searched at various points between the parking lot and the chapel door.

Finally, Larry led me through a maze of buildings and we found ourselves in a five tier (story) housing building for the inmates. We passed through this area, surrounded on every side by the residents; occassionally stopping as an inmate would greet “Chaplain West” or when Larry wanted to point out to me some interesting feature to the building. I saw the dinning area, where Johnny Cash performed for the inmates years ago. The holding cells, where condemned prisoners once awaited execution, each contained thirteen bars and were exactly thirteen steps away from the hanging room. I even stared down into the granite quarry from which the inmates, by hand, chiseled out the stones that were used to build the more than a century old correctional “castle.”

Once we had reached the chapel, we found that there were a half dozen inmates waiting for Larry to unlock the doors. These men were clerks for the various chaplains and spent two years each working in the chapel, before they would rotate into a different job in the prison. Once in the office, I found a seat with my back against the wall and out of view of the door way or windows.

Larry began work immediately as he went through the various security precautions that he was responsible for in the chapel.

The entire day (a Saturday) was filled with scheduled services for numerous religious groups. Though Larry did not participate in these services, he was nevertheless responsible for giving the inmates access to the materials they needed and then making sure everything was returned and locked up immediately after use. Every inmate present was required to report in to Larry and he verified their identity with their ID cards, checking the names against the list of those authorized to be there.

Perhaps most of Larry’s busy day consisted of counseling inmates. Some of the counseling issues that Larry deals with are unique to the prison population; some problems are the same that many people in society deal with every day. Men suffering every thing from family relationships to isolation depression and substance abuse to anti-social behaviors come to the chapel. They come seeking help and Larry points them to the Cross. He guides them through the Scriptures reproving their sin, showing them a better way, and leaving them with hope that comes only through knowing and obeying Jesus Christ.

At the end of the day, we gathered our things and locked everything up in the chapel. We exited out of the chapel building and locked its doors and then Larry turned to the first security gate through which we would have to pass in order to leave. He paused and replaced his keys into his pocket and said, “How about we go through the yard?” Like a good sport, I agreed without hesitation; but in my mind I didn’t like the idea at all. “NO!,” I thought to myself, “What’s he doing! Go through the gate!

(continued on page 10)

I was in prison, and ye came unto me... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt. 25:36,40

Inside...
Page 1 - Telling The Future | Page 2 - Where In The Bible Will I Find...
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies | Page 5 - Controversy And Debate
Page 6 - Create In Me A Clean Heart, O God! | Page 7 - Christian Evidences | Page 8 - Self Esteem, Part 2
Page 9 - The Christian Home | Page 10 - Continuations | Page 11 - The Children's Page
Page 12 - Announcements

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