Prison Ministry
When I read Pastor Orhan’s newsletters I am reminded of the verses from Matthew 25: 31 – 46.
Unknown fruit
Pastor Orhan has been faithfully reaching out to the poor and marginalised for decades, including prisoners. Despite sometimes receiving negative reactions from the authorities, he has visited people in prison for more than 25 years. Pastor Orhan has continued to reach out, using every opportunity to share the Good News, whether he has seen fruit or not. He shares of a time 18 years ago when he explained the good news with one of the staff at a prison he was visiting and gave them a New Testament. The prison officer never visited the church and after a while was transferred to another prison. Recently, Pastor Orhan received a phone call from another pastor who had been visiting a nearby prison. The officer in charge told him that 18 years previously a pastor had shared the gospel with him and had given him a New Testament. The prison officer had read the NT and given his life to Christ. He wanted to attend the pastor’s church to be able to mature in his faith. The prison officer invited the pastor to keep coming to the prison and share more with prisoners.
Sudden fruit
Earlier this year Pastor Orhan received a phone call from an unknown number. It was from a man who had come to faith through the church’s ministry. He had been released from prison so suddenly that he hadn’t had time to inform Pastor Orhan. The man was calling to inform Pastor Orhan that he was out of prison and that he wanted to be baptised and go to church. He has been put in touch with a church near his home.
Abundant fruit
This ministry is growing fast, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. What a wonderful problem to have, but also how sad, that there are so many prisoners asking for a visit that the team struggle to see them. These prisoners are not just from their city, but from other cities many miles away. A few months ago, the team received an email from 3 inmates asking for a visit in a city about 300 miles away.
Pray
Give thanks for this ministry.
Please pray for protection for the prisoners and those who are visiting them.
That the teams would have favour at the prisons that they visit.
Pray that more people would catch the vision for this ministry and become part of the prison visiting teams.