Pray

Love Locked Down

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to preach at Greensville Correctional Center in Virginia. The room was packed, the service was wonderful, the men were very engaged, and the Spirit of the Lord was definitely present.

After the service, I had the opportunity to greet and chat for a few brief moments with some of the men. What struck me most was how many of the men asked me to pray – not for them, but for their families back at home.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, more than 2 million Americans are currently incarcerated in state or federal facilities. Seems to me that our tendency is to focus on the offender, the crime that they’ve committed, and their victims. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Choices come with consequences. And we don’t get to ignore the consequences of our actions.

But two million people in jail, also means millions of family members dealing with various issues associated with being separated from their loved ones, as well as the stigma of having a family member behind bars. Seems like these family members are the other victims.

Let’s keep these families – these moms and dads, sons and daughters — in our prayers ... that they will be released from guilt and shame and loneliness, and that they will know peace, joy, and love.