by Dale Russell
dig·ni·ty – n. the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect;
A sense of pride in oneself; self-respect
There is much to be said and heard about prison reform, but at least one aspect of the debate is unavoidable: Christians are called to care for prisoners.
Hebrews 13 states Christians should, “continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.” But how exactly?
Justice without compassion does not rehabilitate. It does not equip people with the tools and the motivation needed to thrive after prison. Prison ministry prepares prisoners to be leaders in their communities, both inside and out. Compassion does not undercut justice but rather fulfills it.
As Christians, we believe that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That he who is in Christ is a new creation. Prisoners have the same potential to live transformed lives.
Here’s what’s important;
- Determine there are no forgotten people
It seems so easy to be unaware of those in prison. Out of sight and out of mind. Not my concern. But if you were to trade places how would you frame hope? How would you define purpose as a prisoner? Who should know or remember you?
“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, How can I help?” Romans 15:1-2
- Your past does not have to define you
Contrary to what some people believe, you do not have to continuously punish yourself for past wrongdoings to be sorry or rehabilitated.
Have you ever felt bogged down by your past mistakes? Do you sometimes have regrets about things that you have done or neglected to do? These feelings of regret, guilt, resentment, and anger can affect your outlook on life. You might be living in the past even though you know you could not change what transpired. You wanted to progress and move forward, but what if you were constantly reminded by the uniform you had to wear and the number you are now known by.
And then something changed…
- There must be opportunity to provide (discover) purpose
Locked away, you accepted the fact that the past could not be changed, but also embraced the notion that there was hope in the choices right now. Hopefully, a relationship with God opened up a vast possibility. Maybe a new purpose in life became art and the opportunity to help someone in need, greater need than my own challenges.
The discovery of the children of Otino Waa becomes a deep, long-lasting, life changing event that now helps defines your life. But wait…..you discover those outside the walls who make that connection even deeper.
- Our instructions in scripture are powerful
“This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.” 1 John 3:17
- Provision for re-entry into society must be priority
As Christians we believe there are no disposable people. This must mean providing purposeful ventures for those in prison. The hope is that you have found space in your own life to consider how you can bring dignity to a prisoner in creative and memorable ways. If not, you came to the right place! Read on.
Any program related to arts (theatre, music, drawing, poetry, etc.) added to a prison setting will reduce recidivism (tendency to reoffend) by 75%. If you add faith based to any program that becomes a decrease of 86%! Add to that the fact that not one tax dollar was used in the process. That’s pretty much a win on many levels.
What if a prisoner defines his life as “unlimited” because of you? What if you both find purpose in life by the impact of God and the impact on the world around you? Visions of Hope cannot do this without YOU! It is all just nice desires until YOU are included.
CHOICES OF NEXT STEPS:
Write a personal note of encouragement as if you were receiving it.
Your kind words will be included in the next newsletter to our inmates.
If an inmate supports an Otino Waa orphan for $5/mo.,
what could you sacrifice each month to match that?
If an inmate artist works on an art piece for weeks with the hope
that the sale of that supports life at Otino Waa,
would you be the one who fulfills that?