Prison ministry provides the church an opportunity for carrying out the great commission. Certainly the gospel commission to go and teach all nations includes the millions in prison. American prisons are a tremendous spiritual harvest field. There are many prisoners who are genuinely seeking love, change, and stability in their lives. Volunteers often hear prisoners proclaim that incarceration is “the best thing that ever happened to me” because they experience the beginning of a true relationship with Christ.

Prison ministry enhances worship. Many prison volunteers receive a renewed vision for worship while attending church services behind the walls. When repentant Christians of all colors meet together to express their love for Christ and joy in being spiritual brothers and sisters, things happen. Prison worship is never characterized by stale routine or manufactured emotion, inmates definitely see themselves as God’s chosen people.

Prison work can revitalize a church’s Bible studies groups. Class members can pray for inmates on a personal level, participate in “pen-pal” correspondence with recently converted inmates, and pray for and encourage those who actually represent the class “behind the walls”. Inmates are invariably deeply moved to know that a whole class is regularly praying for them. (This is the first time many inmates have ever experienced genuine love from anyone.) Bible study classes can “adopt” an inmate’s family in their local area, opening up a vital new arena of compassion ministry.