Those on the Right

June 1, 2009, the Prison Ministry at the Arnold Church of Christ entered a new phase. I am so excited and thrilled to be a part of this great work. Next week I will have the privilege of attending a national workshop on Prison Ministry in Corpus Christi, Texas. I will give a report shortly afterwards. Although I am anxious to be certified to have access to go into the prison, it will be a couple of more weeks before that process is complete. In the meantime, I will be actively preparing lessons and attending the workshop.

Ever had privileges taken away? Maybe you have but not for very long. Have you ever had your privacy taken away? Maybe, but it is doubtful that it was for very long. As I start working in the Prison Ministry, I keep thinking how this would affect someone. It is, of course, hard to imagine all my privileges gone. Not being able to choose for myself where to go, what to wear, or even eat; let alone have no privacy at all or time just to be by myself. Being told where to be and when to be there every day, every hour does not sound like something anyone would want. It is very hard to imagine such a life, yet in correctional facilities today over two million offenders are in these circumstances every day.

Yes, they are there for a reason, but God still loves them. They have a soul that needs God’s love and mercy. We must not forget them or think that they are beyond help. Instead, we should be looking for more ways to give them the message of Christ and Him crucified. This will give them something to focus their energy on and more importantly, give them the hope that will see them through.


Matt. 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on His right,
"Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me {something} to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me {something} to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him,
"Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You {something} to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”

The King will answer and say to them,
"Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, {even} the least {of them} you did it to Me.”


Interesting to me is that in this passage those who did the things discussed were on the right. Right and wrong defines so much of who we are and what happens to us. Let’s all be in the mindset of doing the right things. As the congregation moves in the direction of doing more in the Prison Ministry, please pray for the effort. This above all else will ensure that it is a success.

I truly am grateful for the opportunity to serve and appreciate so much the words of encouragement that so many have given me.

---Dan Curry