Many among us consider those in prison to be – in some cases – beyond redemption. We call some of the incarcerated “hardened criminals” for a reason. It is society’s approved method of giving up on people, of casting them away and never having to think of them again. We are safe from them because they are behind bars.

But what of the Apostle Paul? During his two-year unjust imprisonment, Paul did amazing work – through God’s guidance – in witnessing to the prisoners and Roman jailers. I dare say that if you or I were falsely imprisoned the last thing on our minds would be spending our days witnessing… we’d likely be trying to figure out how to get out. But remember Paul? He had a perfect opportunity to escape his prison and did not. His mission was not done yet.

And what of Jesus?

Before His death on the cross, Jesus pardoned a thief. A criminal. Someone who would never have been saved from eternal death if not for Jesus using the cross as a mission field.

So what do you think God is telling you and me about our American prison system and our role with it?

For our ministry, it is a call and a validation of who we can witness, serve, and prosper through God’s grace. The American corrections system is focused on punishment, often to the neglect of incarceration’s impact on prisoners’ lives after release. Our efforts are focused on two things: sharing the Gospel and helping prepare those in prison to successfully re-enter society.

95% of all incarcerated individuals eventually will re-enter society, and we want to not only bring these men to Christ but help them to avoid common pitfalls that land these men back in prison. According to the National Institute of Justice, 67.8% of released prisoners are back in prison within three years and 76.6% are back in within five years.

We believe – with God’s help – that we can make a real impact on reducing the recidivism rate by coming alongside the incarcerated.

For those who are skeptical about prison ministry and their real impact consider that the cost to house one inmate costs U.S. taxpayers an average of $31,286 per year/per inmate, while the cost per inmate in Kentucky is $16,681? Also, if a released prisoner does not re-offend, crime goes down. Released prisoners get a new lease on life, are better positioned to be productive members of society, and more of our public resources can be spent on things that benefit us all in more ways than keeping a population locked away from us.

Go back and read the Scripture regarding Paul’s time in prison and take note of all the ways God is working in that situation for the good of all and then ask yourself if you have a role to play in our efforts to help bring the glory of God to those in prison.

And don’t get us started on how God used Joseph’s ministry in prison to save a nation – and his family – from the seven-year famine. More on that in our next article.