Books Behind Bars

I was a student at Moody Bible Institute class of 1975. . The Senior who started this ministry was graduating and could not find anyone to replace him for it was a challenging ministry. There were often prison riots in the news at that place. It was the place where the most hardened prisoners were held. He came to me and asked if I would not let this ministry die and take it over. There were about 200 prisoners that showed up for protestant service each Sunday and the task was to speak to them. This was done with a prison guard on either side of the small pulpit. It was intimidating. But one piece of advice the Senior student gave me when he was leaving was that there is going to be a group of prisoners usually in the front row. Perhaps 10 or 20 who are going to look at you because out of the 200 or so they are the ones who want to hear what you have to say. The others are there to make the best of being together with other inmates to do all kinds of transactions. You will see it happening if you look. Do not. Focus on the one or two who are looking right at you and give the world of God to that one. I did that for two years during school.  I can still hear the 6 or 8 metal doors I had to go through clanging behind me. And I was always concerned as a black preacher among the vastly black prison population that the infrared stamp on the back of my hand placed each time I entered would show up under the light each time I exit.  Without that light you are not likely to get out.

That is how my prison ministry began. I later started a juvenile prison ministry on the SouthSide of Chicago until I graduated, and did the same in finding someone to carry on that juvenile ministry as I did for the Student who ministered before me at Joliet.  

When I transferred to university in Florida through BibleTown Community Church I also began a juvenile prison ministry helping Christian youth to minister to youths in Jail until I began my own church ministry in 1980 and retired in 2008. 

I have been away from this ministry for some time. When I got these books published, the possibility was there that I would do the typical promotions as authors would do in libraries, and churches, and book parties which are all good venues for promotion. I thought so many years ago I started preaching ministry of the gospel behind bars. That now, as a ministry in writing, I wanted to start a book ministry behind bars as well: Books Behind Bars.