Changing lives behind bars
NEW YORK, United States — Prisons in the United States have received more than 20,000 Bibles in English and Spanish from the American Bible Society (ABS) under the terms of its Caring Program Operation Starting Line (OSL), and the Society plans to distribute tens of thousands of Scripture booklets in both English and Spanish by the end of this summer. Operating in partnership with Prison Fellowship and other like-minded ministries, OSL organises nine or 10 events each year in correctional facilities around the country. A team of speakers and musicians minister and the Bible Society provides Scriptures to inmates who enrol in Bible studies sponsored by the partners. Scot Dressler, a chaplain who serves at the 1,000-inmate State Correctional Institute at Frackville, Pennsylvania, says he deals with a dual challenge when reaching out to the men there. On one hand, he says, “there are a lot of guys who really don’t want to hear anything about God.” Concepts that ‘don’t come easy’For those who do listen, however, getting them to accept God’s grace and forgiveness, in light of the terrible crimes they have committed, is equally challenging. “These are concepts that don’t come easy to our guys,” he says. A great help, however, is having the human contact from volunteers. Among these is Paul Savage, a senior administrator at the ABS in New York, who took part in a visit to the Frackville prison last summer. “You never know who you’re affecting,” he says. “And you never know how far that care will extend.” At one time he himself was involved in drugs and other criminal activities in the streets of New York City, though he was never convicted of a crime. He accepted Christ more than 15 years ago – though the change didn’t happen overnight – and now leads a dedicated Christian life. In addition to his work with the caring program, he speaks at halfway houses, in drug treatment centres and at missions for the homeless. In August he visited Frackville with a message of hope and 68 Bibles. He gave his testimony to the men, emphasising that the Christian life is always a “work in progress”. Other correctional facilities in the OSL program report an increase in Bible study and a changed outlook among inmates. An inmate called John wrote from Adams County Jail in Brighton, Colorado, about his response to the Scriptures: “It has been my comfort and it will continue to be part of my life,” he said. From Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh, Susan wrote: “It brings me comfort in time of suffering.” Drew Segawa, senior program administrator
in National Programs at the ABS, says: “The American Bible Society
continues to foster positive change in the lives of prisoners and ex-offenders
across the United States.” The Caring Program is now developing
Christian mentoring and discipleship programs to equip local churches
in their own ministries. |
