I Was In Prison

By Don G. Paulson, Sr.

Have you ever been imprisoned by a verse of Scripture? Our prison ministry in Norway began while we were working at the International Baptist Church in Sandvika, Norway. I read Matthew 25:36, "I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." That very week I was asked to speak at the Ullersmo maximum security prison. I agreed and shared in my testimony how the Lord had specifically led me to be with them in prison.

Returning from furlough in January of 1999, amazingly, the same verses showed up in my devotions. I said, "LORD, if you want me to go to the prison again, I am willing." That week the Norwegian believer who led the prison ministry asked if I could fill in for him while he was in Poland. Learning that his wife usually accompanied him, I asked if my wife, Gypsy, could go with me. He agreed and said he would make arrangements. Gypsy had mixed emotions when we received this e-mail: "Great news for you, Gypsy. You are accepted. The prison welcomes you."

I teach the English prison Bible study and Gypsy bakes prison bars (brownies, lemon squares, etc.) for those who attend. She asks that the plentiful leftovers be given to other prisoners as an invitation to the Bible study. We meet every other Monday evening from 6:30-8 p.m.

You might ask, what value is there in a prison Bible study? This is not our main ministry, but one of several with the single purpose of planting a church with Thomas and Kristi VandenBerg in Lorenskog on the east side of Oslo. While we were on furlough, one of our supporting churches explained their program. Besides working with inmates, they reach out to prisoners' families, seeking to bring them to the Lord and into the church. When the prisoner is released, the church helps him adapt back into society.

In a country difficult to evangelize--like Norway is--we seek for ways to make contact with people, even if it means going to prison for the sake of the gospel. Perhaps those verses will imprison your heart and your church's, and a prison ministry will become another of many ways your church can reach out to your world in need of CHRIST.