Post by sclcookie on Jun 2, 2006 0:46:17 GMT -5
Life Behind Bars----Colson: Some the most thrilling spiritual experiences
on death row come from talking to people who are scheduled to die
Early: Today at Prison Fellowship, our vision is that God is raising up
from behind prison bars a new generation of leadership for his church. And
we see it over and over again. Somebody came up to me not too long ago and
said, Yes, okay, well we get it with Moses and Paul, but can you give us
any examples modern day times. I said, well, how about Chuck?
I mean, this ministry wasnt born out of someones pinnacle of success, it
was born out of someones brokenness who cried out to God and said, God,
take me and use me. And indeed, thats the point that all of us have to get
to before we can come to God, to recognize we aren't self-sufficient, we
are broken. The difference between many of those in prison today and many
of us on the outside is they know theyre broken, and they are sick and
tired of being sick and tired and theyre ready to be restored. So many
times we hear people say, I got down on my knees and cried out, Oh God,
please help me.
We've had this program studied by the University of Pennsylvania in Texas
where we've been now for the longest, 8 years. And its shown that for
those who graduate from this program, the recidivism rate, the rate at
which they return to prison after 2 years, is only 8%. In Texas that
compared the closest control group was 22%. In the United States today,
with 2.3 million people in prison, 600,000 coming out each year, the
Department of Justice tells us, and you can ask any state correctional
official and he'll tell you it's tragically true that within 3 years, 67%
of them will be back in prison.
What a glorious opportunity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Audience Question: You mentioned these prisoners who after 3 years are
converted when they come out. But you never mentioned the ones who are
there for life.
Early: In our program, I'd say 85% of the people we take in are coming
out, because the states want us to do a program that reduces recidivism.
However, we take people from the general population who arent getting out
any time soon, and the idea is to equip them really to be laborers in the
harvest in the prison where theyre going to be for years.
There's some incredible stories of people who are in prison for life. They
have no chance of ever getting out, but they are some of the greatest
evangelists and disciple-makers in their new life of anywhere you'll find.
There is a thriving church behind the walls of American prisons today that
rival the best churches outside in the United States. So that is an area
of emphasis and it's an exciting one.
Colson: Mark and I together have been on just about every death row in the
United States, and Ive had the most thrilling spiritual experiences on
death row talking to people who are scheduled to die. Some of the most
unforgettable people Ive encountered in my life have been prisoners
knowing death is coming, who have really come to Christ and become
students and disciples spreading the Gospel and witnessing to others.
Samuel Johnson once said the hangmans noose marvelously concentrates the
mind. 9/11 got everybody's attention. Were all starting to ask questions.
Thats the good side of the clash of civilizations. People are seeking
today. But no more do you find a faith that is more authentic than the
people on death row.
Early: The thought I would leave you with today before is that the context
Chuck painted for us this morning is so true, living in a world if
diametrically opposed values across the globe, living in a world in which
the great values that are motivating most people, including many of us at
times, of success and prosperity, is that when the church, particularly in
America, speaks, were right about so many things, but very few people want
to listen because we do often sound like a noisy gong or clashing cymbals.
If we will add to what we have to say, which is refreshing truth, if we
will add to that a demonstrated authentic commitment to those whom the
rest of the world have thrown out, there is nothing that can stop the
power of God from creating a revival in this land and across the globe.
I don't know why it took me so long to get it. When Jesus said, If you
visit a prisoner you visit me, he meant it. If you give food to someone
whos hungry, youre doing it for me. If you clothe the naked, youre doing
it for me. If you visit the sick, you're doing it for me. All of those
that society would push to the margins, if you embrace them as my
followers, youre doing it for me and you will demonstrate to the world the
power of my love in a way that cant be stopped.
This is part 5 of a 5-part talk by Charles Wendall "Chuck" Colson and Mark
Early on Christianity, doing God's bidding, and the Prison Fellowship.
Excerpted from a session entitled "Prison Fellowship."
Part One: Trying Times
Part Two: Trolling Darkness, Finding Light
Part Three: Overcoming Evil
With Good Part Four: Early Awakening
Part Five: Life Behind Bars
(source: AlwaysOn)
on death row come from talking to people who are scheduled to die
Early: Today at Prison Fellowship, our vision is that God is raising up
from behind prison bars a new generation of leadership for his church. And
we see it over and over again. Somebody came up to me not too long ago and
said, Yes, okay, well we get it with Moses and Paul, but can you give us
any examples modern day times. I said, well, how about Chuck?
I mean, this ministry wasnt born out of someones pinnacle of success, it
was born out of someones brokenness who cried out to God and said, God,
take me and use me. And indeed, thats the point that all of us have to get
to before we can come to God, to recognize we aren't self-sufficient, we
are broken. The difference between many of those in prison today and many
of us on the outside is they know theyre broken, and they are sick and
tired of being sick and tired and theyre ready to be restored. So many
times we hear people say, I got down on my knees and cried out, Oh God,
please help me.
We've had this program studied by the University of Pennsylvania in Texas
where we've been now for the longest, 8 years. And its shown that for
those who graduate from this program, the recidivism rate, the rate at
which they return to prison after 2 years, is only 8%. In Texas that
compared the closest control group was 22%. In the United States today,
with 2.3 million people in prison, 600,000 coming out each year, the
Department of Justice tells us, and you can ask any state correctional
official and he'll tell you it's tragically true that within 3 years, 67%
of them will be back in prison.
What a glorious opportunity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Audience Question: You mentioned these prisoners who after 3 years are
converted when they come out. But you never mentioned the ones who are
there for life.
Early: In our program, I'd say 85% of the people we take in are coming
out, because the states want us to do a program that reduces recidivism.
However, we take people from the general population who arent getting out
any time soon, and the idea is to equip them really to be laborers in the
harvest in the prison where theyre going to be for years.
There's some incredible stories of people who are in prison for life. They
have no chance of ever getting out, but they are some of the greatest
evangelists and disciple-makers in their new life of anywhere you'll find.
There is a thriving church behind the walls of American prisons today that
rival the best churches outside in the United States. So that is an area
of emphasis and it's an exciting one.
Colson: Mark and I together have been on just about every death row in the
United States, and Ive had the most thrilling spiritual experiences on
death row talking to people who are scheduled to die. Some of the most
unforgettable people Ive encountered in my life have been prisoners
knowing death is coming, who have really come to Christ and become
students and disciples spreading the Gospel and witnessing to others.
Samuel Johnson once said the hangmans noose marvelously concentrates the
mind. 9/11 got everybody's attention. Were all starting to ask questions.
Thats the good side of the clash of civilizations. People are seeking
today. But no more do you find a faith that is more authentic than the
people on death row.
Early: The thought I would leave you with today before is that the context
Chuck painted for us this morning is so true, living in a world if
diametrically opposed values across the globe, living in a world in which
the great values that are motivating most people, including many of us at
times, of success and prosperity, is that when the church, particularly in
America, speaks, were right about so many things, but very few people want
to listen because we do often sound like a noisy gong or clashing cymbals.
If we will add to what we have to say, which is refreshing truth, if we
will add to that a demonstrated authentic commitment to those whom the
rest of the world have thrown out, there is nothing that can stop the
power of God from creating a revival in this land and across the globe.
I don't know why it took me so long to get it. When Jesus said, If you
visit a prisoner you visit me, he meant it. If you give food to someone
whos hungry, youre doing it for me. If you clothe the naked, youre doing
it for me. If you visit the sick, you're doing it for me. All of those
that society would push to the margins, if you embrace them as my
followers, youre doing it for me and you will demonstrate to the world the
power of my love in a way that cant be stopped.
This is part 5 of a 5-part talk by Charles Wendall "Chuck" Colson and Mark
Early on Christianity, doing God's bidding, and the Prison Fellowship.
Excerpted from a session entitled "Prison Fellowship."
Part One: Trying Times
Part Two: Trolling Darkness, Finding Light
Part Three: Overcoming Evil
With Good Part Four: Early Awakening
Part Five: Life Behind Bars
(source: AlwaysOn)