I am so thankful for our team of chaplaincy volunteers– the faithful men and women who come into the prison each week to minister, encourage, support, and share the love and grace of God with the men and women incarcerated there. We could not have a fully functioning, thriving chaplaincy program without them. They come in as the hands and feet and heart of Christ, to serve in a place where many others would hesitate to go. They are a wonderful support to Chaplain Heinrich and myself.
They come in to lend support during the chapel services or to meet one-on-one with the residents, offering spiritual guidance and counsel. They come in to lead classes or Bible studies for the men and women. They are dedicated, faithful, and committed.
During several times when I’ve had to be away from the prison– for vacation or other reasons, it was reassuring to know that the chapel services would be covered by dependable and capable volunteers who take what they do seriously. Several of them have involved their church groups in prayer for the residents of the prison. They have also been known to generously step in and step up whenever there is a need for donations for chaplaincy– whether it’s for Bibles, Rosaries, prayer journals, Christian reading books, or to provide gifts to residents and their families during our Christmas outreaches.
These men and women come in without pay and with little outside recognition, not expecting to receive anything, but always testifying that they are blessed more by serving than the people whom they serve. Again, Heinrich and I are so grateful for our wonderful and faithful volunteers. They are to us what Aaron and Hur were to Moses as they kept his hands lifted so that he could accomplish the work God had called him to. We could not do it without them.