Imagine that it’s your first day in prison. You’re a first time offender, having committed a non-violent crime, and you’ve been sent to a minimum security prison. Having had no previous experience with being locked up, you’re not entirely sure what to expect, but from all the movies you’ve seen and books you’ve read, you’re pretty sure you’ll have to be tough, trust no one, and probably make powerful allies. At some point during your first day, some guy you’ve never met comes up to you and gives you a little package of food and stuff you might need while you’re locked up. How would you respond? Surely you’d be suspicious, wondering what the catch might be. Most likely, you figure, this guy wants you to be in debt to him, so that some day when he needs a favor he’ll come calling. “No,” he says. “There’s no catch. This is just something a few of the Christians in here do to make sure you’ve got some things you might need, and to know there are people in here who will be praying for you and there if you need anything.” And with that he leaves.
All of a sudden prison just got a lot less frightening, a lot less lonely.
Incredibly, the above story is basically true. You see, every week, a team of Christians from around Connecticut spends time ministering in state prisons with a ministry called Free Inside. Led by Peter Dewberry, the first pastor of our church and now one of the missionaries we support, the Free Inside teams use an effective video series called “Alpha” that goes through the basic theological doctrines of the Christian faith over a 15 week period. The Alpha program as done in the prisons consists of two main parts – the video and a small group discussion component where participants are encouraged to talk freely about their reactions to what has been presented in the video.
Recently in a Free Inside program at a minimum security prison in Enfield, one small group was discussing the concept of Christian service and giving to others, drawing on Philippians 2:1-11 and how Jesus, despite being equal to God, emptied himself and took the form of a servant here on earth. The group was challenged to find ways to serve right where they were in order to imitate Christ. A few men in the group took the challenge to heart, and instituted a “Welcome Wagon” ministry in their prison. Whenever a new person would enter the prison, the Christians in the group would take up a collection for the new guy of stuff he might need, including a spare Bible if anyone had one. Along with the care package, someone from the group would make sure that the new man was personally welcomed. Two of the men decided to go even further by regularly collecting things for guys who needed various things.
What an incredible example of Christ-like giving! What a real-life example of the widow’s mite – people giving generously and sacrificially out of the little they have. Apparently, the inmates in this minimum security prison are allowed to have a certain amount of money sent in from families every month, which can be used to purchase some extra necessities or edible goodies. They are also able to earn money through jobs that are available - $1.50 a day, to be exact – for doing things like cleaning trash off the side of the highway. Can you imagine putting in a hard day of work and earning only $1.50? And out of all that these men collect, they use what they can to welcome those who are new to prison. What an incredible example of Christ-like service and generosity and of serving wherever you find yourself.
We have been loved by a Savior who did not think it beneath Him to give up heaven to become a servant here on earth, giving of Himself all the way to the cross. And it is this Savior who calls us to do likewise, to be generous with whatever we have, giving with no strings attached to those who may never repay us. You have been planted where you are for a reason; find a way to serve and give freely to those around you, that those in your life might come to know the free gift of salvation offered in Jesus Christ.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)
If you are interested in learning more about Free Inside, you can visit www.free-inside.com or contact Peter Dewberry at 860-633-4085. There is always a need for volunteers, or for the finances to restock their supplies of Bibles and books.
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