Called to a Task
It’s December again, and every year since this ministry began, I find myself reflecting on what has happened over the course of the last year, and what I sense the Lord is leading us to do going forward. If someone would have said this time last year that for most of 2020, this ministry would not be allowed to go into any jail or prison, I would have dismissed that prediction as absurd. I also would have been wrong.
What is interesting to me is that on one hand the shutdowns took me (as they took everyone) by complete surprise. On the other, God had already been leading me to diversify how this ministry operates, showing me how to employ additional methods of reaching out to inmates that didn’t require in-person visitation. So even though I was surprised by the pandemic restrictions, the Lord had already made a path for us to keep going. And really, when you get right down to it, we’ve done the same this year as we’ve endeavored to do every other year: just follow Him.
Here is a quick overview of what has happened and what we have done:
After the state notified us that because of COVID, all jails and prisons were shut down and all volunteer programs were on hold, we shifted to pushing forward with the Lessons for Life Correspondence Course as best we could without in-person meetings. This meant making sure inmates had all books and materials and keeping our focus on what could be done via mail. I also began the process of putting the classes on video, all of which should be available by the beginning of 2021. Additionally, just this past week, I received a call from a chaplain with the idea of setting up teaching opportunities in the prisons through Zoom. Our first meeting will be before the end of the year and could potentially be the stopgap for in-person outreach we’ve been looking for.
Because of the Lord preparing us, the ministry has continued to thrive despite the restrictions. We now have student representation in 42 states, and some of the chaplains have started teaching the Lessons for Life classes live. With the availability of the videos in 2021, we anticipate more inmates will sign up, as they more easily relate to and absorb information through visual media. They will still have access to the written materials and will still answer lesson questions through the mail, but we believe they will have a stronger connection with our ministry because of the videos.
Everything we’ve done over the years started small. We didn’t know how effective it would be until we did it. I’m a huge believer in just starting something and seeing how it goes. I personally believe that too often people think they should wait until everything is in place before they start something, and many times they block what the Lord wants to get done now. I believe we should start when the Lord tells us to start, whether everything is in place or not, and see how He works it all out. He always does.
Fifteen years ago, it all started with Him telling me to give out copies of my book, Plain Vanilla Wrapper. We have now given away over 27,000, and hundreds of inmates have sent me letters thanking me for sharing my story, and that they have either given or rededicated their lives to Jesus. These responses still amaze me, as I didn’t even want to write the book in the beginning because it’s about so many of the mistakes I’d made. Now I’m thankful I did write it, and I’m looking forward to giving more away.
Looking to 2021:
I love making plans even if I have to change them dramatically along the way. I have found that God likes that I plan, and He also likes changing those plans. That is why I always try to hold things lightly.
As of now, here are some of the plans we are working on for next year:
Give away more of my books. One of the things I recently was reminded of is just how special it is to receive something personal in the mail while being incarcerated. Receiving a book mailed directly to you is much more effective than someone saying, “You ought to see if you can get one from the Chaplain,” or “There is a book on the cart you should read.” I have a system for doing this on a larger scale as the funding becomes available.
Lessons for Life on video. We have several opportunities to get these lessons into jails and prisons, especially the minimum-security prisons. Many now allow videos to be watched on a personal screen. Internet is still not available for security reasons, but videos are becoming more accessible via DVD. We will be producing and distributing these as the funding becomes available.
Zoom teachings. These will include some classes on life coaching and a new project of mine: Ministry Training Academy. I have about 40 teachings on what I believe are essentials in ministering to others effectively without having a degree in ministry. The premise of this is that even though some of these men and women are not going to get out for a while, they should learn how to minister to others right where they are. They will be missionaries on the inside.
Expanding how we help those who have been released and helping them succeed and grow in their walk with God on the outside.
If you would like to contribute financially to any of these projects or our general expenses for the year, you can send a check to our mailing address or donate online by going to www.prisontalk.org