Recently, someone wrote asking me if I was a chaplain at the prison...
I found it humorous for him to think this, although he was being serious.
But when I answered his letter, I informed him that this was not the case. I’m not a chaplain. No inmate can hold such a position, for which only a designated employee can have. Such a thing would be against the rules.
However, as I have mentioned many times in this journal, the facility’s former Protestant chaplain retired just before Christmas of last year; he has yet to be replaced. But as an elder within my congregation, the Lord has, by his grace, permitted me to be one of several men who help to oversee all our worship services and Bible studies.
Thankfully, prison officials have given approval to this arrangement, although not in any official capacity. But a degree of trust has been extended to me and to the other leaders of the church, and this is good enough. I don’t need a title.
In fact, several employees, including the prison’s Catholic chaplain, have complimented us on just how well things have been going. That our religious activities have been orderly and well managed. This, I believe, is a good witness for the Lord, as well. We have shown ourselves to be trustworthy and dependable, and this is good. I’m not a chaplain!
D.B.
But when I answered his letter, I informed him that this was not the case. I’m not a chaplain. No inmate can hold such a position, for which only a designated employee can have. Such a thing would be against the rules.
However, as I have mentioned many times in this journal, the facility’s former Protestant chaplain retired just before Christmas of last year; he has yet to be replaced. But as an elder within my congregation, the Lord has, by his grace, permitted me to be one of several men who help to oversee all our worship services and Bible studies.
Thankfully, prison officials have given approval to this arrangement, although not in any official capacity. But a degree of trust has been extended to me and to the other leaders of the church, and this is good enough. I don’t need a title.
In fact, several employees, including the prison’s Catholic chaplain, have complimented us on just how well things have been going. That our religious activities have been orderly and well managed. This, I believe, is a good witness for the Lord, as well. We have shown ourselves to be trustworthy and dependable, and this is good. I’m not a chaplain!
D.B.
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