Fruit of the Spirit

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

Spring 2001                                                            Volume 2, Issue 2

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 Larry West

The officer on the other end of the phone seemed quite alarmed. She worked in visiting. The inmate's visitor had arrived but the inmate didn't show up for the visit. For some reason the visitor had concluded that the inmate was refusing to come to the visiting room to see him. He began to express his concerns that the inmate might be contemplating suicide. The officer called to ask if I would talk to the visitor, get information about "suicide", and calm him down.

The supervisor of academic education called to inquire if I had the time to counsel with one of the education students. He was distraught about a family situation and could not concentrate or do his school work. She escorted him to my office and asked me to call her when our session ended so that she could come and escort him back to school.

Often, various counselors will call to inquire about sending someone over to the chapel for counselling or family emergency assistance.

On one particular day, the Public Information Officer (PIO), Lt. Taylor, met me as I was coming inside the facility. She asked if I could go with her and two of the prison's doctors to talk to an inmate's family. They had arrived from the Los Angeles area for a visit. The problem was, the inmate had died the preceding evening?

On another occasion, the PIO had asked if I would travel to the home of an inmate's mother to tell her that her son had committed suicide the previous night.

I receive death and family emergency notices directly from inmates, friends and relatives, via the prison telephone


operator, from the Watch Commander, from the Custody Office, and the other sources already mentioned.

An inmate just came into my office and told me that he had received the news from one of the prison doctors that he has Hepatitis B and C! Now he is concerned over whether he may have passed it on to his wife and his daughter, who is now 6 years old. For quite some time before he learned this, he has been trying hard to turn his life around. He has been attending worship and Bible studies and has shown a much different attitude than before. Even now his attitude is, "not my will but God's will be done."

The events described above are not unusual. Most of these types of things occur on a pretty frequent basis. And, they are in addition to the many other responsibilities which must be taken care of daily. There are always several who ask to come in and see me. Many of these have Bible questions, which I really enjoy. Some want to argue or dispute something I said in a sermon or Bible class or try to press some denominational doctrine or teaching they have heard or believe. Some are seeking my intercession on their behalf with an officer, counselor, parole officer, etc., or desiring help finding a place to stay when they are released.

I must confess, there is seldom a dull moment in this work.

 

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 - The Fruits Of The Spirit | Page 2 - Covetousness |
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies | Page 5 - Jesus Is With You |
Page 6 - Mission News | Page 7 - Christian Evidences | Page 8 - Hearing Of Their Faith |
Page 9 - The Christian Home | Page 10 - Continuations | Page 11 - The Children's Page |
Page 12 - Announcements |

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