Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Proclaiming liberty to the captives

PCPC women find joy at the God Pod

By Ready Bateman

Published November 1, 2009 in Witness

I first went to jail in September, 2008. A few months earlier I had heard about PCPC’s new women’s prison ministry at the Dawson State Jail in downtown Dallas. At first I had declined to participate because of other commitments, but God continued to tap on my heart. I agreed to attend two free trial visits to see what was happening, and I was unprepared for what would I would see and hear that first morning.

I was admittedly fearful about entering the jail building itself, and the security procedures and series of locked doors and corridors did nothing to relieve my fears. However, as our group of approximately a dozen volunteers entered the eighth floor (affectionately called the “God Pod” because of the spiritual influence in that unit), I found 54 women who greeted us with excitement and hugs. They were especially thrilled to see our leader Selby Harrison, who had begun to teach and disciple them the previous spring. We began the morning with singing, complete with Amy Grant on the iPod and live tambourines. The ladies were singing and dancing enthusiastically, and suddenly the female guard behind the glass partition took off her coat and began to clap along with us. For several minutes I alternately laughed aloud and cried tears of emotion, fueled by the awe of worshiping the Lord with 54 inmates. I realized that only God Himself could put together such a worship service, and I felt so privileged to be a part of it! As we proceeded on to the lesson and small group Bible study that morning, I was touched by the receptivity of these women, all of whom are hungry for spiritual encouragement and personal discipling.

During my first few visits, I made friends with “Sylvia” (name changed for privacy reasons) who was extremely concerned that her teenage daughter was being raised by a single dad during her incarceration. Sylvia grieved that she could not be there for her daughter’s teenage questions or first boyfriend. Last fall their trailer home in south Texas was in the path of Hurricane Ike, and Sylvia and I cried together and prayed that her husband would get their daughter out of danger in time. My mother’s heart was pierced with the love these ladies have for their children and the helplessness they feel when they cannot be with them.

The Dawson jail has allowed Prison Fellowship (the ministry started by Chuck Colson) to operate the daily programming for this eighth floor unit. This idea is being piloted in several American jails and prisons, and the results are amazing—both now and for eternity! Seventeen different options are offered during each week, including Bible studies, AA, Celebrate Recovery, GED classes, and computer skills classes. The women must apply to live on the floor and must commit to complete homework in certain classes, including the one taught by the PCPC group. Many of the women are Christians or have come from a church background, and most are trying to make positive changes in their lifestyle, parenting, and spiritual growth. However, we have found that very few have ever had a discipling or mentoring relationship in their lives, and they cherish their relationships with our volunteers.

Because of this important need in the inmates’ lives, our ministry needs more volunteers to come alongside these precious ladies. You may visit twice with no commitment, training, or screening. After that, our volunteers complete a one-evening training class through the Texas Department of Corrections, which is required for multiple visits. Our Bible study meets twice a month on Friday mornings, and once you have been trained, you may attend whenever you choose. No advance preparation is required; in fact, Selby Harrison provides the lesson’s questions and answers to the volunteers as we enter the room! The only requirements are a willing heart, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, and an overflow of God’s redeeming love to pour out upon the inmates. God uses our presence, united with His powerful Word, to show forth Christ to those who desperately need Him. In return, we leave through the locked and guarded doors of a jail each week with the unspeakable joys of “proclaiming liberty to the captives” and making a difference in their future lives.

For more information, please contact Selby Harrison, 214-526-5635.