Today the prison was visited by twenty saints. But they did not come from heaven. They came from Moorestown, New Jersey with gloves, bats and Bibles in tow...
As they do each year, the Saints Prison Ministry came to Sullivan Correctional Facility to play softball, and to testify to all who would listen that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and was resurrected on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
I made it my business to go to the prison's large ball field this afternoon where we were allowed to freely mingle with these Christian civilians. I was able to meet and speak with many of them both before and after the game. The Saints softball team consisted of ordinary working class guys who have a desire to share the gospel with prisoners. For years they've been visiting different facilities in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where after having some fun with the inmates, also share their own personal stories of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
I listened intently as some of the Saints told of their own victories over alcohol and other drugs. How they were leading meaningless lives before becoming Christians themselves. It was inspiring to hear such simple testimonies of deliverance from sin. And as they do every year, the Saints won the game. They beat the inmates by the score of 18 to 6. But our ball players did the best they could, and we were rooting for them. It was fun to watch and to cheer on my fellow prisoners from the sidelines.
When the game was over the men from the Saints Prison Ministry set up their sound system in the middle of the yard, and everyone who wanted to could gather around as each visitor took his turn to talk to us about Christ. Many inmates heard the gospel.
Next they were headed to Eastern Correctional Facility in the town of Napanoch to play Eastern's softball team, and share the gospel with them, too. These guys devote much of their summers to come to places like Sullivan and Eastern. Only the love of Jesus could motivate ordinary citizens to do something like this. It was a great day. Lives were touched.
D.B.
I made it my business to go to the prison's large ball field this afternoon where we were allowed to freely mingle with these Christian civilians. I was able to meet and speak with many of them both before and after the game. The Saints softball team consisted of ordinary working class guys who have a desire to share the gospel with prisoners. For years they've been visiting different facilities in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where after having some fun with the inmates, also share their own personal stories of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
I listened intently as some of the Saints told of their own victories over alcohol and other drugs. How they were leading meaningless lives before becoming Christians themselves. It was inspiring to hear such simple testimonies of deliverance from sin. And as they do every year, the Saints won the game. They beat the inmates by the score of 18 to 6. But our ball players did the best they could, and we were rooting for them. It was fun to watch and to cheer on my fellow prisoners from the sidelines.
When the game was over the men from the Saints Prison Ministry set up their sound system in the middle of the yard, and everyone who wanted to could gather around as each visitor took his turn to talk to us about Christ. Many inmates heard the gospel.
Next they were headed to Eastern Correctional Facility in the town of Napanoch to play Eastern's softball team, and share the gospel with them, too. These guys devote much of their summers to come to places like Sullivan and Eastern. Only the love of Jesus could motivate ordinary citizens to do something like this. It was a great day. Lives were touched.
D.B.
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