"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners...." - Luke 4:18

FAQ | Rules

FAQ

1)     Why prison ministry?

CMA's main ministry is, of course, bikers. I'm not here to recruit people from this ministry, but the two can, and do go hand in hand occasionally. There are several bikers in prison, kids that come from biker families and people that just like bikes. It can be a real ice breaker. To say the residents inside the walls of a prison are hungry for the truth would be like saying that the Grand Canyon is a big ditch. Most have not felt the love Jesus can give and they don't really know of his forgiveness and mercy. There has been more that one occasion when I have come home and dropped to my knees, crying and thanked God to let me see lives changed. To have someone ask you why you're there and to see their face when you tell them "because I love you in the name of Jesus".  

2)      Aren't these bad people?

In a word, yes, most are. Prisons are here for a reason, but there are people inside the walls that want to know the love of Jesus. To see a resident let Christ break down the walls of hate, unforgiveness and lack of self worth is indescribable. Some will never let Him into their hearts and minds, but there are people outside that feel the same way. Keep in mind that Moses and Paul were both murderers. Prostitutes washed Jesus' feet and were there when he went to the cross.  

3)      Why would Christians go inside to talk to prisoners?

Matthew 25:36 "I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me."  Did Jesus go to the righteous of the time? No, He went to the worst sinners and showed them the way. 

4)      Am I safe?

Absolutely. The staff is trained to keep things under control, but even more, the residents are usually grateful to have volunteers coming in, they don't want to do anything that will jeopardize future visits. 

5)     How do I know if I'm called?

Like any other calling, pray about it! This is one ministry that you don't want to go into unless it's were the Lord wants you. Start by going in with another group and see if it's something that you are called to do. Please don't try and fake your way through or do it for the wrong reason. These people can smell a fake in a heart beat! 

6)      How much time does it take?

That's up to you. The main thing is to be consistent. Inmates have had many other visitors make promises and dump them before. If you can only come in once a month, tell them. If you only want to do bike shows once a year, that's fine too. One reason I like it is I volunteer during the week and that leaves the weekends for the other biker ministries. 

7)      What do I say?

Let the Holy Spirit do the talking. It will take time for them to come to trust you; don't push yourself or Jesus on them. Don't ask "Why are you in here?" or "How much longer will you be here?" If they ask you a question, answer it to the best of your ability. Don't try to just come up with an answer. They have a lot of time on their hands and some spend it reading the Bible and they know it very well. Some will ask questions just to see if your will try and con them. If you don't know, tell them. One of the most important "don'ts" is don't preach to them about their sins. They know what they've done wrong. Tell them about the love of Christ and let Him do the convicting on their wrongs. Remember the part about the plank in your eye from the Bible? 

8)     How can I help these people?

It seems so simple, but just love them! Show them you care for them and you're not there to put another salvation notch in your saddle bag. Listen to them. One of the most moving conversations I've had is when I asked a kid one night "What can I do for you?" He looked up and I could see the walls start to crack in his eyes. "No one has ever asked me that before." Now I'm sure someplace in his life someone has asked him that, but I'll bet it's been a long time and, he knew there were no strings attached with me. 

9)      What are some of the rules going inside a prison?

Most are common sense.

A)    Don't take in any drugs, firearms, tobacco products or anything that could be seen as contraband. Please don't bring a firearm onto the property and leave it in your car. This is a felony.

B)     Don't take anything or give anything to the residents. Not even a message to "Call mom and let her know I'm ok." This is trafficking and if caught, prison ministry might take on a whole new meaning for you!

C)     When you're inside, listen to the staff. They will know about things going on that you might not see. If they tell you to get on the floor, do it. If they tell you to go, all you ask is where and how fast! 

10)     How do I get involved?

Ask others in you chapter or at your church. If you need some direction, please feel free to e-mail me. Most facilities would love to have more Christian volunteers to come in and help.  

11)     Once I make a commitment, what if I change my mind?

Only the Lord can lead you, but please don't get very involved until you know this is your calling. Some of the ministries require a 6 month to 1 year commitment. Again, you need to set a pattern to do the most good. If you don't want this kind of commitment, ask the prison what else you can do. There are other things that you can do to help. Then after time, you will know if it's for you.     

Please feel free to email Tony & Paula with other questions. If I don't know, I'll do my best to find it out.