Observations from the Niagra County Jail

Observations from the Niagara County Jail
By Jerry Crawford who is serving a 30 day sentence in federal prison

I’ve been here 12 days now. There have been two different pastors lead a short service each Sunday, a visiting Pentecostal Evangelist and short presentation by the chaplain on Good Friday. There are formal Bible studies and devotionals twice a day.

I was quite surprised by the number of men attending. There is no lack of evangelism here, but sadly, most of these men will return to their old ways-often immediately upon their release. My primary mission became clear when I reached "Pod 1". Fred has a pastor’s heart and is responsible for the good things that are happening here. He has a passion for Jesus and to see his friends prosper spiritually. I have been helping him understand the context of Scripture and shared the truth regarding activism and laying down one’s life.

Pro-life tracts and Voice of the Martyrs literature that was mailed to me made a deep impression on him. Fred is excited about new understanding and would like some help getting started when he gets out. The deck is stacked against him. Remember when you became a new Christian and the many transitions that you faced. Now imagine that you have no job and little prospect of getting one. Your family has always been dysfunctional and actually helped you start down the wrong path. Your only friends are gang members, drug addicts and criminals. It doesn’t take long for even the most determined new Christian to become discouraged and return to the only life he ever knew. The only solution to this problem is discipleship.

Galatians 6 admonishes us to bear one another’s burden and to never be self righteous about it. We are to help our weaker brother in a way that they don’t even realize that they are weaker or less spiritual!

This is a short term mission trip for me. My battleground has been staked out and the enemy engaged-but-how about you? There is nothing more satisfying than being in the center of God’s will. There is nothing more valuable than another life and soul saved.

In Service to the King, Jerry Crawford Prisoner for Christ "Pod 1" Niagara County Jail