By Faith ~ Imagine a New Prison Church

On Sunday, I preached at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.  Pastor Ryan Faber asked me to preach at the community-wide Reformation Day celebration.  This was an honor and I'm glad I said yes to his invitation.

Here is the sermon audio:  

Faith for the Long Haul Audio File

Below are the final few paragraphs from the final part of the sermon entitled 

Faith in our Day - Right Here, Right Now:

 

           Instead of peace, violence seizes the day.  Society responds by putting violent offenders in prison.  Answering the question of crime, we incarcerate many.  In the United States, there are nearly 2.5 million individuals in prison or jail.  In the great state of Iowa, there are nearly 9,000 prisoners.  That number is far too high: Iowa prisons are overcrowded; they are 23% over capacity according to the Iowa D.O.C. web page.

            Prison focuses its efforts on punishing the violent offender.  But total rehabilitation is necessary so that the man of violence becomes safe.  Unless the inmate meets Christ in prison nothing will change.  Change must come from within.  For true transformation occurs only through faith in Christ.  In Christ, lives can be changed by the power of God through the Gospel of Peace.

            That's where the prison church comes into view.  In Christ, the prison church has the power to transform inmates.  The key values of the prison church, community and discipleship, promote peace in Christ.  Through its steady presence, the prison church aims to fortify the faith of inmates so that they can grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord.

            Despite obstacles & despite opposition, the church marches forward in faith.  To counter violence in our society, the church of Christ proclaims the Gospel of Peace.  In faith, we march forward trusting in a completely trustworthy God.  The effort of planting a new prison church requires faith because it tests our imagination.  The Spirit compels us to imagine a future that is unlike the present.  A future in which the dream of New Life Prison Church becomes a reality.  A future in which lives of inmates are shaped into the image of Christ.  And the Spirit strengthens our faith by providing us with hope.  In the power of the Spirit, we recognize that our future is held firmly by the faithful hands of our good God.  People of God:  As we move into the future with hope, empowered by the Spirit, we will live by Faith.