October 11, 2019 – Click here to listen
Last night I attended a fundraiser for the ministry of a dear friend, former waterski world champion Kristi Overton Johnson. Her missive is to deliver magazines to prisons in order to give those incarcerated Gospel driven hope primarily through the inspiring stories of former inmates who have turned from their sins and now follow Jesus, as well as practical advice on how to cope with life as an inmate and how to lead a life filled with peace, joy, and love. She also has forty volunteers who write letters to those who write the ministry which provide personalized hope to thousands weekly.
I brought my wife and two of my friends up from Jupiter to the event which was held in Orlando and on the way back we spoke of her ministry. One of my buddies, Skip Olmstead, made a very poignant statement when he remarked that Kristi’s idea was revolutionary. All of us have been involved with prison ministry and have seen it transition from conducting huge events right out on the prison yards to relatively tiny events which can now be conducted in chapels only. The reason for the change: Anti-Christ political correctness driven by atheists, homosexuals, and those progressives that hate everything about God, tightened prison budgets, and prison officials unsympathetic to doing anything to assist the inmates find a better life. It has taken its toll on the tremendous evangelism programs once conducted in correctional facilities all over the country.
So, though highly effective in reaching hardened souls for Christ, it has becoming increasingly difficult for prison ministries to go inside prisons and reach the most hardened inmates for evangelistic efforts. Kristi’s magazine, Victorious Living, is currently delivered to prisoners in 30 states. There is a shortage of reading material in correctional facilities and these magazines are read, passed around and read again over and over delivering the hope to those who have none.
As I thought about it this morning I am more convinced than ever that we can reach more inmates in more states, for less money with this revolutionary magazine program. One of my heroes Bill Glass wrote to encourage me not long ago. He has written 11 books of hope for inmates and has probably started writing another before the ink was dry on the last one. Like my friend Skip remarked last night, he has recognized the importance of reaching these lost souls through the written word.
Some think these inmates don’t deserve any help and this is just another hug a thug program. We should do it for no other reason than Jesus said in Matt. 25:26, I was in prison and you visited Me. If that isn’t important to you look at the more secular approach. It costs $30,000 per year to house inmates and there are currently 2.4 million souls incarcerated. Those are your tax dollars. The inmates that return to prison after receiving Christ while incarcerated drops below 10% compared to 70% that end up right back in there beginning just thirty days after their release.
Kristi’s ministry is working, and she has the testimonials to prove it. She could easily deliver more if she had the funding and I pray that she is successful with that effort. If you wish to be a part of it in some way, visit her website at www.kojministries.org
In order to change inmates or anyone else it must begin in the heart. Jesus will do His part, but even though the fields are ripe for the harvest the workers are few and I might add so is the funding for this crucial form of evangelistic ministry.
Hebrews 13:3
Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!