Participants: Aaron Chancy (Host), Michael & Tanja Richards
Series Code: TNJ
Program Code: TNJ000049
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00:01 The following program discusses sensitive issues.
00:03 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:05 may be too candid for younger children. 00:09 Today, we'll meet a couple actively engaged 00:12 with the burden for prison ministries. 00:14 Please be sure to tune in for today's New Journey. 00:47 Welcome back to The New Journey. 00:48 On today's program, we have with us Mr. and Mrs. Richards. 00:52 Mr. and Mrs. Richards, we thank you 00:53 for being on the broadcast today. 00:55 Delighted to be here. Alright, alright. 00:57 What I want to start with it 00:58 is a little bit of your background, 01:00 each of your backgrounds. 01:01 Where are you from? Where you grew up at? 01:03 And how each of you met? 01:05 Give us a little brief background 01:06 starting with you, Mr. Richards. 01:08 Well, I served in Air Force for 25 years. 01:12 Okay. From Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 01:14 Alright. 01:15 And after getting out of the services, 01:16 I had to get into law enforcement. 01:18 Therefore, working in the prison and jails 01:21 and seeing a lot of Western Negro 01:24 what's going on with the population there. 01:26 Okay, and we'll get deeper into you being a Corrections Officer 01:30 in the prisons in a little bit. 01:31 Mrs. Richards, a little bit of your background. 01:33 I'm Tanja Richards form Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 01:36 Okay. 01:37 I'm a school teacher bachelorette. 01:39 And now I'm doing ministry work for the Lord. 01:42 Okay. Praise the Lord. 01:44 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 01:45 Mr. Richards, we want to start with you. 01:47 As a Corrections Officer, what are some of the things 01:51 that you've seen working in the prison 01:54 as a corrections officer? 01:55 Some of the things that you see that are needed, 01:57 some of the things that go on in the prisons. 02:01 Talk a little bit about that. 02:04 Well, prisons of course, you know, we know, 02:06 they are all overpopulated. 02:07 The prison that I've worked in was designed for 800 people. 02:10 Okay. 02:11 And when I left it, we had 1,700 and... 02:14 Wow. 02:15 Most of the guys there wanted somebody to talk to there. 02:17 Okay. 02:19 And another thing I noticed that in having one-on-one 02:21 with a lot of individuals when I had the opportunity to, 02:24 no one wants to be responsible for their actions. 02:26 Yeah. 02:27 So I think that's something we should be looking at is, 02:29 kind of make people aware of, as, you and me also, 02:32 we got to be responsible for our actions. 02:34 Okay. 02:36 And, you know, they got a need in us, you know, 02:38 hunger for spirituality in them. 02:40 Yeah. 02:41 Spiritual growth when they are in prison, 02:43 we just got to tap into that when they are released. 02:46 Okay, okay. 02:47 You know, myself as a ex-inmate some years ago, I, you know, 02:53 very familiar with corrections officers and, 02:56 you know, some of the things that I noticed about. 02:57 Some is, you know, 02:59 there are people like you and I. 03:01 But sometimes, they would kind of look down on us 03:04 because we are incarcerated. 03:07 And, you know, they are not breaking the law or whatever, 03:09 they have a job. 03:11 Have you seen this type of thing happen? 03:13 Or how is it for you as a corrections officer? 03:16 And also how long did you work as a correction officer 03:19 in the prisons? 03:21 Four years or often only and I got activated 03:23 into the Air Force to go to the desert. 03:25 Prisoners there used to go into desert 03:27 to do a little time over there which was fun. 03:29 Okay. 03:30 You know, since that you said that 03:32 because I noticed that 03:33 some of the officers the way that they acted and behaved 03:37 towards the prisoners. 03:38 And I think a lot of it had to do with 03:40 where they were brought up and how they were treated... 03:41 Okay. 03:42 In school and they don't have any authority 03:45 and may be they're not having any type of 03:47 being bullied or whatever. 03:49 Okay. 03:51 Wherever they, you know, where they was in school day, 03:52 I thought somehow I'm kind of took their authority 03:55 and went over to hate because they hate the power to, 03:57 well, you don't get power. 03:58 Oh, yeah! Very much understandable. 04:01 Now working in the prisons as a corrections officer, 04:05 did you ever have a opportunity to pray with any in-mates, 04:08 talk to them about Jesus or anything along those lines? 04:11 I've sort of worked my way into. 04:14 We had groups coming in 04:15 to constitute to the Christian Neighborhood. 04:17 And they would really look forward to the time 04:20 when the people of whatever group was coming. 04:21 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. 04:23 So I was very fortunate, blessed by the Lord to assist, 04:24 be able to assist before I left the prison 04:26 to make sure everything went smooth. 04:28 I actually began going to the Chapel. 04:30 I escorted them to the Chapel and, you know, 04:33 saying my words and encourage them 04:34 and just, you know, 04:35 being a part of the service with them 04:37 and they were very attentive and appreciative 04:38 anytime someone will come in. 04:40 Okay, now after, after working has a corrections Officer, 04:43 you got in to another area of law enforcement. 04:46 What are you involved in now with law enforcement? 04:49 Actually, I'm a Police officer at facility for 04:53 frenzy type patients with the state of Alabama. 04:57 Okay. 04:58 Well, what's that life working with the frenzy group? 05:02 Astounding. 05:04 Most of the guys are some type of murder. 05:07 He didn't just murder maybe to kill someone 05:10 but maybe do something to the body afterwards. 05:12 And, you know. Okay. 05:14 So you have to be very professional about it 05:16 and to put that behind when you read up 05:18 and see why a person is in there? 05:19 It's just so challenging, interesting 05:22 as long as they stay on the medication. 05:24 Okay, okay. 05:25 Now what, what led you to want to become a corrections officer 05:29 or a police officer? 05:32 What kind of led you prompted you 05:34 or motivated you to get involved in that field? 05:36 Yes, I thought I was in the military 05:38 and air force for Deputy Sam. 05:40 When I got out of Air Force, 05:42 I was looking for some type of employment 05:45 that where I can make a difference in. 05:47 And going to law enforcement, and then I got into Air Force. 05:51 Okay. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 05:53 Mrs. Richards, I want to speak with you for a little bit. 05:57 You have both started a ministry. 05:59 I want you to tell me a little bit 06:01 about the ministry, the name of it? 06:03 And how it got started? 06:04 Okay. Absolutely. 06:07 The name of the ministry is called 06:08 "The Matthew 25 Connection." 06:10 And my goal is to feed people, 06:16 to shelter people, 06:18 to visit with them while they are in prison. 06:20 Okay. 06:21 And seek and to house them so, of course, 06:25 that's what Matthew 25:35 speaks about. 06:28 Okay. 06:30 And so I would, I'm just wanting to share 06:31 my give I think that the Lord has 06:34 unwanted and blessed me with 06:37 as it relates to help in those people in need 06:40 in the community. 06:41 And as it relates to prison ministry, 06:45 there has been something that has been 06:47 burning desire for a while with me. 06:50 I know probably since the early 2000s. 06:54 Of course, we all go into some things there, you know, 06:59 we aspire to get done. 07:01 But never finish them. 07:02 So over the past couple of years, 07:06 the Lord has really placed a burning desire on my heart 07:10 to get back into the need for a prison ministry, 07:14 the need to get into the prisons 07:17 and help those who are really struggling 07:20 and battling with different situations. 07:23 Now, the name "Matthew 25 Connection." 07:25 How did that name come about for the ministry? 07:28 The passion and a desire to help people 07:31 again who are may... 07:35 The need to help those 07:39 who are homeless to feed those who, 07:43 you know, are 07:45 don't get the proper nutrition that they need. 07:49 So it came about like I said basically from the scripture 07:54 as Matthew 25:35 says. 07:57 Okay, okay. 07:58 What are some of the various aspects 08:01 of Matthew 25 Connection? 08:03 I want you to mention the feeding, the housing, 08:06 things like that. 08:08 What are you all trying to do with each of these? 08:11 Each of them being in the impoverished area 08:15 they were in, 08:17 we're hoping to gain a population of individuals 08:22 who want to first of all 08:24 develop a relationship required. 08:26 So we are trying inspire in spirituality 08:32 into the program, 08:34 we're trying to engage in there 08:38 within the program first and foremost. 08:41 And then also we would like 08:43 some type of educational program, 08:45 some type of work force initiative program 08:47 to also be involved in our ministry as well. 08:50 Okay, Mr. Richards, 08:52 as a former corrections officer, 08:54 police officer, 08:56 what have you seen has is some of the major causes 08:59 of why people are 09:01 who are called repeat offenders? 09:04 I think it is break down in the family life, 09:06 early childhood, 09:07 development which we need to really focus on. 09:10 And being, want to be in a group, 09:13 want to be with someone, want to be a part of something. 09:16 Unfortunately most of all people getting involved 09:19 in wrong things to be with some good people, 09:23 you know, we can change that. 09:24 Okay. 09:25 You can be with good positive people, 09:27 I think we could solve the problem. 09:28 Okay, okay. 09:30 Mrs. Richards, you told me before 09:32 that you all encourage families 09:35 to get involved with the ex-convict 09:39 that you may be working with. 09:41 What are you seeking to do by this? 09:43 Bridge the gap, 09:45 have a supportive mechanism with the image 09:50 who are getting now, you want that support system 09:55 within the community, within the family. 09:58 In order for those individuals to continue to have hope, 10:04 you want them to have hope, 10:05 you want them to know that someone cares for them 10:08 and someone is trying to help them 10:10 regain a positive outlook on life. 10:13 Okay, so do you think that if the family, 10:16 the entire family got involved with particular inmate 10:20 about to get out or even while they are incarcerated? 10:23 You think that have helped maybe prevent them 10:26 from going back in or something like that? 10:28 It has to be a will and desire 10:30 and burning desire within that individual. 10:33 And I think that the family life being involved 10:38 will greatly help the individual 10:41 try and stay on the right track and on the right path 10:45 like you have to inject a positiveness 10:47 within the person so, 10:50 instilling positiveness within them, 10:52 I think will greatly help and it will take a village 10:56 and a family, a community involvement 11:01 to keep those persons on the right track. 11:04 Okay. 11:05 Mr. Richards, getting involved in prison ministries, 11:08 has this been something that you wanted to do 11:11 since you were younger 11:12 or is this kind of recent new desire? 11:15 How did all this come about for you, Mr. Richards? 11:17 Well, this all started when I was working in 11:20 at the county jail 11:21 when starting off in law enforcement. 11:22 Okay. 11:24 Thought I will look my way toward helping 11:26 and getting the Bible workers 11:27 and people that will come to the jail 11:29 scrutinizing. 11:30 And there's a need for, you know, 11:32 just doing anything to try to reach out 11:35 and touch and that's sort of 11:37 where I got started at the jail 11:39 and we've been talking about it 11:41 and you know with the Matthew 25 Connection. 11:44 And we want to really get to whole community, the mayor, 11:46 we need to get everybody involved. 11:48 Okay, okay, now do either of you have 11:51 any background in terms of 11:53 being incarcerated in jail, in prison, 11:56 or anything along those lines? 11:57 I do not. 11:59 I just have the desire to help people, 12:02 that passion to help, you know, 12:04 those less fortunate like I say those who maybe hopeless, 12:08 those who are in bad situation 12:11 who feel like that there is no hope or no way out 12:14 that are in prison or incarcerated. 12:16 To let them know that there is hope 12:18 and there are other chances 12:22 and their life can bring about change 12:25 if they are willing to change. 12:27 So I think that this will be a positive program 12:29 for those incarcerated again 12:31 like I say with their support system of the family, 12:34 and the community, and the Matthew 25 Connection 12:38 going out into the community reaching and changing lives. 12:41 Okay, Mr. Richards, asides from working in the prisons, 12:46 have you had any background of being incarcerated 12:48 or anything along those lines? 12:50 Well, once when you asked, 12:51 I would just like to say it did. 12:52 I grew up in the projects, 12:54 earlier projects in some of the years 12:55 and I've did a lot of other things 12:57 that I just didn't get called. 12:58 You just didn't get called for. 13:00 And, you know, when I was young 13:01 Everywhere I worked up, friends, 13:02 old friends, you know, I went for my mother 13:05 always instilling in me what was right, 13:08 you know, I was working without a way. 13:10 There was four boys and one girl 13:12 and I think that carried on into me 13:15 'cause I could have been on in there 13:16 with some of the stuff that I did, 13:18 I could have been on the same side of the fence. 13:20 I mean it just a matter of me not getting a bad break 13:25 on something where I could have been 13:27 easily on the other side of the fence. 13:28 Instead of working in the prison, 13:30 I could have been sitting up in the prison myself. 13:31 Okay, okay. 13:32 So you had a strong mother. 13:35 Now why do you think some of your other friends 13:38 that may have gotten incarcerated, 13:40 why do you think maybe they had a mother, father 13:43 at home whatever it was, 13:45 why do you think they got incarcerated and you didn't? 13:49 Well, getting back to my mother again, 13:51 I think that her strong religious background 13:56 and she was really faithful and you know coming up, 13:59 you know, maybe I always thought maybe 14:00 it will be too faithful 'cause, you know, 14:02 I didn't want to go along with the program. 14:03 And she insisted, you know, 14:04 where you're camp meeting with me. 14:06 It wasn't an option, you know, 14:08 and I just think that some of the guys 14:11 that I used to hang out with 14:12 that might have been in the reason that. 14:14 And grace of the Lord for, giving me mercy 14:17 and saving me from going down those road 14:20 that I was trying my best to get down 14:22 was the difference I think. 14:23 Okay, okay, praise the Lord. 14:25 Mrs. Richards, you said something a second ago about, 14:28 you know, families getting involved with the in-mates, 14:31 the ex-inmate. 14:33 What if that person 14:34 doesn't have that support system? 14:36 I remember for myself when I was incarcerated. 14:38 I remember one time, you know, anything can happen, any day, 14:42 any minute, any hour as you know, Mr. Richards. 14:45 And I remember, at one of the prisons I was at, 14:48 it was a 24 men dorm area. 14:50 And so you got 24 different personalities, 14:52 24 different backgrounds. 14:54 And I had a mother and a father that, you know, 14:57 and a brother and cousins that would write me, you know, 15:00 put money on my commissary, things like that. 15:03 And there were some that did not have 15:06 that support system at all. 15:08 They didn't have a mother, they didn't have a father, 15:10 they didn't really anybody that care. 15:11 And when a home boy, they got some home boys, 15:14 but know you get locked up. 15:15 You know no clue at how it was until you get back out. 15:19 So for a person that doesn't have 15:21 that support system, 15:22 what can they do, because like I said, 15:24 I have seen many times where I could get mail 15:27 or birthday card or something like that. 15:29 They don't get it, they are mad at me 15:30 now they want to fight. 15:32 I didn't do anything to you, I can't help it 15:34 that I have some people that love me and you may not. 15:38 What should that person do or could that person do 15:42 being that they may not have their support system? 15:45 Again that's gonna take a rally of the community 15:49 to get involved with those individuals with the system, 15:54 so that something like that could happen for them. 15:59 You know they are human, they need the support 16:02 just like everyone else 16:04 and it probably would help steer them 16:07 in a different direction if they failed 16:09 and knew that someone care for them 16:13 and support them in their efforts, 16:15 and you know probably that their hearts will change, 16:20 and their minds will be made up, you know, 16:23 when they get out to do the right thing. 16:27 You know, to not go back down the road 16:29 that they have previously gone down 16:32 in order to that landed them in that situation. 16:35 So I think again the community, environment, 16:38 church environment plays a big role in their effort. 16:42 Now I know some churches 16:45 get involved in prison ministry, some don't. 16:48 Why do you thing that some churches, you know, 16:51 and they may have prisons in their area 16:53 don't get involved in prison ministries? 16:56 I think that a lot of churches don't have time. 17:01 That is not an issue, or be the focus of every church 17:05 to be involved in prison ministry 17:08 because the people are desperately searching 17:13 and seeking, and hungering, 17:15 and thrusting for some type of spiritual growth. 17:18 Yes. 17:19 And just that word along spiritual growth, 17:22 they should orchestrate and originate from a church. 17:25 Okay. Okay. 17:26 Yes, indeed, yes, indeed. 17:28 Mr. Richards, being a former corrections officer, 17:32 how easy or difficult have you seen it is for, 17:36 if a church wanted to come in to the prison 17:39 and do some programs? 17:41 How easy or difficult is it to get into the prison system 17:44 to do those things? 17:47 It is a challenge, there has to persistency 17:49 and getting with the warrant, you know, 17:51 to start a warrant to see what's available. 17:54 And to, it's really nice, I mean wants to be figure out 17:58 what the schedule, wants to warrant 17:59 and let you what to schedule they have an opening. 18:01 Just to be persistent and start with the warrant, 18:04 and let them know what you have available for them 18:07 and I think you'd be successful. 18:09 Okay, okay. 18:10 How does, Mr. Richards, how does, 18:13 and you can answer this as well, Mrs. Richards, 18:15 for a person that is incarcerated now, 18:18 what do they need to do to get a ministry like yours? 18:22 And they may not be in your state, your city, 18:24 Tuscaloosa Alabama. 18:25 They may be somewhere else. 18:27 But what steps do they need to take 18:29 in order to try to get to a Christian ministry 18:33 where they can be, you know, 18:35 a half way house something like that. 18:36 What do they need to do while they are incarcerated? 18:39 Go on, you can answer. 18:41 While incarcerating, you know, 18:42 most people would be doing about studied 18:43 so for they get out and adjust there, 18:46 I will suggest that 18:48 they would look for a good church, 18:50 and don't be discouraged 18:51 because all the churches in there 18:52 are going to be receptive to... 18:54 Yeah, and that is very true. 18:56 And we got a negative, 18:57 we have a negative attitude about ex-inmates. 19:00 But there are some good churches out there. 19:01 There are some good Bible workers out there who, 19:04 you know, looking for a challenge, 19:05 not gonna frown you 19:06 because you made a mistake in life 19:08 'cause you have been incarcerated. 19:09 And I'd just tell them just be persistent, 19:11 don't get discouraged and use, you know, 19:13 what you've been to and you don't want to go back 19:15 just used as motivation 19:17 to find out where the right church is there, 19:18 the right person out there, just keep looking for them 19:20 and the Lord will get you. 19:22 Okay, okay, praise the Lord. 19:23 Mrs. Richards, with the Matthew 25 Connection, 19:27 and you know in Matthew 25, it talks about, you know, 19:30 you visited me in prison, you fed the hungry, 19:32 you clothed the naked, things like that. 19:35 Okay, some people may use it as a check list, 19:37 "Okay, I feed the hungry, I clothed the naked, 19:42 but the prison isn't for me." 19:43 Wow. 19:45 But then it says, you've done it unto least of these, 19:47 you've done it unto me, you know it still Jesus' child. 19:50 Jesus still died for this individual. 19:52 So how do you encourage a person? 19:55 Look, even though you haven't been to prison 19:56 as in your instance, 19:58 Mr. Richards you worked as corrections officer, 20:00 but neither of you were actually inmates. 20:02 So how do you encourage a person 20:04 that has no background in any type of... 20:08 Haven't been a corrections officer, 20:10 haven't been a police officer, 20:12 haven't been an inmate or anything like that, 20:14 how do you encourage them to go into prison? 20:17 And before you answer that question, let me say this, 20:19 I understand that it is scary going inside of the prisons. 20:23 As a former inmate, you know, I have seen some things 20:26 and I have seen some people that look very scary, 20:30 but how do you overcome that based on Matthew 25 20:34 to encourage people to get in to the prisons 20:37 or for a church to actively engage in prison ministries, 20:41 because at the end of the day, 20:42 these are still children of God? 20:44 How do you do that? Amen. 20:45 And it's not for everybody. 20:47 Everybody has their different gifts. 20:49 That's true. So it may not be for... 20:52 Going in there may not be for you, the individual. 20:57 You have to let the Lord lead you 20:59 and the Holy Spirit lead you 21:01 into what it is that He have for you to do. 21:04 Again, with me, as far as my burning desire, 21:07 I am hungry and thirsty to get in there 21:09 and to help see lives change. 21:12 So it's the willingness of the person, 21:15 the determination, 21:17 the persistency of the individual 21:19 and your work requires 21:22 whatever it is that you desire to do. 21:24 I feel like that your work requires 21:27 will lead you into the plan that He has for you. 21:30 And my plan, and my goal is prison ministry, 21:33 to get in there, and to help individuals come out 21:37 and be a success story in the society. 21:41 Praise the Lord. 21:42 Mr. Richards, in working in the prisons 21:44 and going to the chapel services in prisons 21:47 and all, how do you, not necessarily get in, 21:51 but how do you if a chaplain or a pastor, 21:55 or a church family wants to come into that prison, 21:57 how do you deal with 21:59 having so many different religious backgrounds? 22:02 I remember in looking into... 22:04 Before I felt called to the ministry to become a pastor, 22:08 I was looking into the chaplaincy program. 22:11 And, you know, I had some issues with, of course, 22:13 you know, you're working with different types of backgrounds, 22:16 ministering to ones that are involved in, 22:18 we call, witchcraft, involved in as Muslims, Jews, 22:24 various different religious backgrounds. 22:27 How do you or what have you seen 22:31 ministries do to minister to the various, 22:34 various different backgrounds? 22:36 That's a good questions, it's a difficult situation 22:39 because today, the spiritual war is on. 22:43 Oh, yeah. These different religions. 22:45 Christianity is been sort out, you know, 22:49 so I just think the safest thing to do is 22:52 to be Bible based. 22:53 Okay. 22:54 And you know, some people may not accept the Bible, 22:57 but just sort of keep it in the area, just Bible based, 23:00 and you know, God, Jesus is our example, 23:03 just stay in Bible. 23:04 That's the safest route to go. 23:06 You're gonna have some people that, you know, 23:08 they don't want anything to do with Christianity, 23:10 but you just got to stay neutral, 23:12 stay in the Bible, 23:14 base everything that you're saying 23:15 and doing from the Bible. 23:17 Okay, okay. 23:18 As a corrections officer, 23:20 have you had to deal with any threats 23:23 from inmates or anything like that? 23:25 I know, inmates fight all the time occasionally. 23:29 But as a corrections officer, 23:31 I've never been on that side of the fence, 23:33 have you had to deal with any threats and things 23:36 along those lines? 23:38 I was fortunately, seriously blessed because at times, 23:41 it would be like two of us with 300 of them. 23:44 Yeah, and that's how it often is. 23:45 I mean, it's vastly outnumbered. 23:47 Wow. And people will be saying, "Are you scared?" 23:51 If you're scared, you ain't going in 23:52 'cause they can take over any time they want to. 23:54 The thing about inmates is, 23:55 they can read fear on your face, 23:57 they can read fear in your persona, 24:00 how you carry yourself, so how was it for you? 24:02 Absolutely. 24:04 Like I said, the difference in what I had was, I was bad boy. 24:09 Okay. 24:11 You know, I've lived a life I shouldn't have lived. 24:14 My mom did everything she could have, right? 24:16 But I chose to do something 24:18 that I shouldn't have been doing. 24:19 So it was I saw friends in prison, friends in the jail. 24:23 So I could relate to that in saying, 24:25 what we talked earlier about some people who took advantage 24:28 of having a chance to be over people and mistreat them. 24:33 That's one of the reasons that I didn't get attacked. 24:35 I saw people that got attacked, officers getting attacked 24:39 'cause I dealt with you as a person. 24:42 We had to understand, you know, I'm not gonna come in 24:44 and try to mistreat you, 24:46 I'm gonna respect you and you're gonna respect me. 24:49 When you use that then possibly, you'll be okay. 24:51 Okay, okay. Praise the Lord. 24:53 Also, Mr. Richards, what do you think, 24:56 for a young viewer that's watching the program, 25:00 what could they do, even though they may be growing up 25:04 in a bad environment like where you're from 25:07 in the projects in Tuscaloosa, 25:09 what can they do to try their best 25:13 to stay out of the drama, the trouble? 25:16 As you know for most young African Americans, 25:19 as for myself, there is really three ways out. 25:24 And that three ways out of the bad environment 25:27 is basketball, football, or either hip-hop music. 25:30 One of those avenues basically. 25:32 But what if they don't have basketball talent, 25:34 what if they don't have the football talent, 25:37 what if they can't rap, they can't rhyme, 25:40 anything like that. 25:42 What can they do to, you know, steer, 25:44 steer clear off all of the drama 25:46 that goes on every day in the projects. 25:49 I think the first thing to do, most probably, 25:51 young brothers in a community are very smart. 25:56 Oh, yeah. I agree. 25:58 These young kids are terribly smart. 26:00 Just you know we know who is right and wrong 26:02 and try to hang out, try to be with somebody 26:04 who is not trying to go get in trouble. 26:06 Yeah, that's possible. 26:07 If that's not something you want to do, you know, 26:09 don't do it. 26:10 Get with somebody who is trying to do, 26:12 do right and you know that way, you have a better chance. 26:14 When you just go along with crowd, don't make a stand, 26:17 then that's where you'll fall. 26:19 Okay, okay, for the last few seconds, 26:21 I want each of you to look into the camera, one at a time. 26:24 I will start with you Mrs. Richards. 26:26 And I want you to speak to the viewers 26:28 of what they can do 26:30 to get involved in prison ministries 26:31 or encourage them to get involved 26:33 in prison ministries. 26:34 Okay. 26:36 To get involved in prison ministry, 26:38 you have to have a burning desire, 26:41 you need to have burning desire, 26:43 you need to have a willingness 26:45 and a heart to be involved in it. 26:47 There is a need, a great need for those who are incarcerated, 26:53 to have someone to support them. 26:56 Community, church please gets involved. 27:00 Help those who are in need 27:02 so that they can alleviate the struggle. 27:05 We have people who have a burning desire 27:08 that want the gospel, that want the Word of God, 27:11 that are hungering and thirsting after the Word. 27:15 We asking and we're begging those 27:17 in the community and churches to please get involve 27:20 and help in prison ministry and any effort that you can do. 27:25 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. 27:26 Mr. Richards, and in 10 to 15 seconds, 27:29 encourage somebody right now. 27:30 I can't do that. 27:31 We have been teasing each other 27:33 about the plank in each other eyes, 27:34 I'll just encourage everyone 27:36 who all have the big planks in our eyes. 27:37 So don't look at inmates as what they did. 27:40 And we all know just like I could have been on 27:42 or assassinated. 27:43 Just watch the plank in your eyes 27:45 and then you'll help people. 27:46 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. 27:47 We want to thank you Mr. and Mrs. Richards 27:49 for being on the program. 27:51 Viewers, thank you for tuning in so much 27:53 to this episode of The New Journey. 27:56 We encourage you tune in next time 27:58 for another exciting episode. 27:59 God bless. |
Revised 2016-05-26