Private Program Graduates Texas' First 'Inmate Pastors'

NBC DFW ^ | May 7, 2015

[nickcarraway]

Thirty-three Texas prisoners are graduating from a behind-bars seminary program this weekend -- part of an initiative producing what organizers say are the first "pastor inmates" in state history.

Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat who heads the chamber's Criminal Justice Committee, said 185 prisoners are working to earn college degrees in biblical studies, including Saturday's graduates.

The program only offers Christian and biblical studies, is privately funded, and taught by professors from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary visiting prisons. Whitmire said Texas is "still the toughest state in the union" on violent offenders, but that the program has improved prisoner morale and reduced cellblock cursing and violence against guards.

His voice cracking, deeply religious Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the program wouldn't have been possible "without the hand of God."

[Rembrandt]

Hmmm, how to convince liberals to let me out...

Convert, show God now in my life ....check.

Get degree, I be rehaliberated....check.

Become jailhouse lawyer.....next

[JRandomFreeper]

It's not that easy to get a parole in Texas.

In fact, the governor CAN'T pardon or release a prisoner without the permission of a board.

I have no problem with jailhouse conversions, especially when there is no chance of parole for the bad guy.

/johnny

[L,TOWM]

One of the people that preaches in my church once a year is a gentleman named Johnny Moffit. He has seen miracles worked in prisons with changed lives and new direction in hundreds of lives.

While I am sure there are some that will use this to game the system, I found your comment borderline offensive. Some of my closest friends do prison ministry on a regular basis. Some of the people on this very website have been on the wrong side of metal bars in their lives and are grateful for their second (sometimes more than second) chances.

[JRandomFreeper]

My dad did prison ministry when he was alive.

His preference was those prisoners that didn't have a chance of ever getting out.

Some of those changes in people that can't get out are heart touching.

/johnny

[Catsrus]

There’s a wonderful pastor in Missouri, (Independence) by the name of David Hairabedian, who spent nearly 20 years behind bars. His life has changed (to God be the glory). There are many who never go back to prison, and in the ministry today because of a prison ministry. I really hate people using the phrase, “jailhouse religion.” Sure, some use it as a crutch, but for others, it is a life-changing event. Jesus told his disciples to preach to the prisoners. I agree with what you said to that poster. I, too, found the comments extremely offensive. Some on here try to be so cute and flippant.

[bjorn14]

As Paul wrote, He felt the freest in prison.

[Mark17]

I don't know, but California must be different. I was at San Quentin for 2 years and Solano Prison (Vacaville) for 23 years. I was friendly with a very good Christian prison chaplain, and he did great work behind the walls, trying to win souls to the Lord. I can assure you, however, the VAST, VAST majority of inmates involved in the chapel program, are gaming the system. Most inmates want to be left alone, and when they get involved in the chapel program, usually the other inmates would leave them alone. Northern and Southern Mexican inmate policy, was, if an inmate says he "got religion," they would give him the benefit of the doubt, but would watch him, to see if it was for real or just fake. If it was fake, he would get attacked. In the 25 years that I was in those two California prisons, I only knew of 4 or 5 inmates that I thought were sincere. Were there others? Yes, there are 33 prisons in California, but the majority of them just left their Bibles at the gate when they paroled. By the way, the same thing applied to the Black Muslim converts. Most of them left their Korans at the gate too.

The Chaplains did the best they could do, but criminals have a different mindset than us normal people.

[Wiz-Nerd]

For the last few years I have been following what is happening at the prison in Angola, LA. The changes have been dramatic. Once Angola had the highest murder rate in the U.S. There has not been a murder since the mid 1990’s I believe.

Some notable changes made by the Warden:

Everyone has a job.

Anyone that wants to get a degree in Theology can.

Cursing, among guards and prisoners, is prohibited.

Pornography is prohibited.

Everyone must treat each other with dignity. Guards and prisoners.

http://americanrenewalproject.org/angola/

You can’t argue with G-d’s base principles. They work.

[goodnesswins]

Gee...too bad we can‘t implement those policies in our culture