USA (MNN) — Did you know the majority of men and women in prison never get one visitor, letter, or phone call? In fact, in the state of Michigan where Crossroads Prison Ministries is based, 70% of prisoners get no contact from the outside world.
Doug Cupery, director of church mobilization at Crossroads, says, “They are forgotten people. They’re our forgotten community members. Yes, they have caused us harm. But for us as the Church, what does that mean? What does it mean when we are to speak about mercy and when we speak about grace?”
(Image courtesy of Crossroads Prison Ministries)
He refers to the Apostle Paul’s words in Hebrews 13:3a, “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them.”
Cupery says, “I really look at that word remember. It’s really more than just thinking about it. It’s when we have that proximate. When we are in proximity to those who are incarcerated, we have a much different viewpoint on it. We have more of a personal touch with that.”
With Crossroads’ mail-in Bible studies, connecting with prisoners is as easy as writing a letter!
“When we write the incarcerated — that forgotten person who is a father, who’s a son, who’s a grandparent, who’s a brother or sister — [we show] they are important to us and they are not forgotten.”
Cupery has also released a book titled I See You: Remembering the Incarcerated Through a Living Letter, compiled with guidance from Crossroads on ministering God’s love to prisoners.
Doug Cupery with his new book, I See You. (Photo courtesy of Crossroads Prison Ministries)
He says, “The book overall helps individuals understand where this person may have been before they went to prison, and then what they are navigating every day. So how do you intersect with that from a biblical perspective? There are stories [and] there are writing tips!”
Pray for men and women in prison to know that God has not forgotten them and Jesus Christ died for them. Then, consider ways the Lord may be calling you to reach neglected and abandoned prisoners who need Gospel hope.
Learn more about becoming a Crossroads mentor here.
Header photo courtesy of Ehsan Habashi/Unsplash.
