"Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker who is
not ashamed, and who correctly teaches the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
Every so often I will receive letters from people who are curious about me...
not ashamed, and who correctly teaches the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
Every so often I will receive letters from people who are curious about me...
...and want to know what I am doing with my life now. In one recent letter, a woman, who appears to be a devout Christian, asked if there were Bible studies being held inside the prison I'm housed in. She wanted to know what they were like.
I was happy to tell her that we do have weekly Bible studies, and worship services as well. In fact, our fellowship group is probably not all that different from many congregations on the outside. We have a choir as well as church elders like myself, who help oversee and care for the flock, I replied.
As for our Bible studies, like any active congregation where its members are serious about serving the Lord, we place great emphasis on the need to not only have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but to know the Scriptures as best we can.
Therefore, here at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility, we have a Spanish-speaking Bible study on Monday evenings. While on Wednesday and Thursday evenings we have our studies in English, but there's always an interpreter to translate into Spanish as well.
Our Wednesday and Thursday classes are being taught by four of the church's elders, one of whom is me. Previously, our chaplain used to teach on Thursdays, but he retired this past April. So our senior teacher, Bob, who is one of us, took over the Thursday class.
While on Wednesdays we now alternate between me, Ronnie, and Ivan. Before this, I taught every Wednesday for a couple of years. This was when the Covid virus was active, and we were no longer allowed to have visiting ministers from the outside. But having to teach every week was becoming too much for me. So now, thankfully, these other able-bodied teachers have since stepped up and are doing a great job.
Thus, the Lord allowed me to step back so they could step forward and use their gifts. Now I have more time to devote to my journal writing and correspondence. All told, our chapel is an active place. Best of all, Jesus himself is with us. How do I know this? Because His words, as recorded in the Scriptures, declare, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).
D.B.
*Ronnie, Bob and Ivan are not their real names.
I was happy to tell her that we do have weekly Bible studies, and worship services as well. In fact, our fellowship group is probably not all that different from many congregations on the outside. We have a choir as well as church elders like myself, who help oversee and care for the flock, I replied.
As for our Bible studies, like any active congregation where its members are serious about serving the Lord, we place great emphasis on the need to not only have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but to know the Scriptures as best we can.
Therefore, here at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility, we have a Spanish-speaking Bible study on Monday evenings. While on Wednesday and Thursday evenings we have our studies in English, but there's always an interpreter to translate into Spanish as well.
Our Wednesday and Thursday classes are being taught by four of the church's elders, one of whom is me. Previously, our chaplain used to teach on Thursdays, but he retired this past April. So our senior teacher, Bob, who is one of us, took over the Thursday class.
While on Wednesdays we now alternate between me, Ronnie, and Ivan. Before this, I taught every Wednesday for a couple of years. This was when the Covid virus was active, and we were no longer allowed to have visiting ministers from the outside. But having to teach every week was becoming too much for me. So now, thankfully, these other able-bodied teachers have since stepped up and are doing a great job.
Thus, the Lord allowed me to step back so they could step forward and use their gifts. Now I have more time to devote to my journal writing and correspondence. All told, our chapel is an active place. Best of all, Jesus himself is with us. How do I know this? Because His words, as recorded in the Scriptures, declare, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).
D.B.
*Ronnie, Bob and Ivan are not their real names.