Prison ministry gives Bibles to inmates
Bringing the word to the lost — Hope Aglow Ministries delivers study Bibles and other resources to prison ministries all over the country. Garry Sims (far right) delivered Bibles to a ministry in Philadelphia.
The middle aged man sat across the table. With his hands folded, he looked intently, recalling what had brought him to this point. “Today, because of this ministry that Garry brings, I’ve learned how to be obedient,” he said.
Johnny Davis has served time in correctional institutions twice for drug-related charges. Now his life is changed because of Hope Aglow Ministries, an evangelical prison ministry designed to minister to and disciple inmates across the country.
The organization’s executive director, Garry Sims, has been working with Davis since they met in 1997 during Davis’ first stint in the correctional facility.
“He would come in and we would talk about the Lord,” Davis said. “When I got out, I met with him and he was doing the same thing he was always doing — being obedient (to God’s calling).”
To Davis, Sims and the Hope Aglow ministry offered him guidance, and taught him what it meant to have a relationship with God.
“He’s helped me to strengthen my relationship with God,” Davis said. “I know now to stay the course — that things may look a certain way but they might not actually be that way. No matter what, God is still in charge.”
Hope Aglow Ministries is a local organization that works throughout the U.S., visiting inmates in prisons and jails as well as distributing bibles and doctrinal studies to those who request them.
“We (go out the prisons) on a daily basis,” Sims said. “Almost every day of the week we are doing something.”
This year, with the help of Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC), Hope Aglow Ministries’ annual Bible donation program will now be taken to a larger scale.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done a national Bible drive,” Sims said.
For years, Bible donation has been a contributing factor to the changed lives of people in prison, like Davis.
“I had read the Bible while in the system,” Davis said. “(At that point) I didn’t have a relationship with God, but I desired to.”
Davis said that Sims developed relationships with the inmates, encouraging them to keep in touch with him once they finished their time.
“We (as Christians) have a direct command to do jail or prison ministry,” Sims said. “We have a direct command from Jesus to go into the whole world.”
Sims and his staff do not take this biblical call lightly. He sees prison ministry as a perfect opportunity to tell others about Christ.
“The devil’s done us a great favor,” Sims said. “He’s rounded up all the lost people and put them all in the same place. We know where they are at. We just need to go to them.”
Sims has met many men in the prisons who desire to know God and do so through Hope Aglow’s doctrinal booklets and bibles. It is for that reason that Hope Aglow has started this national Bible collection.
The Bibles given within the jails are poor in quality, explained Sims. They will only last a year if they are being well used.
“About 10 to 15 percent of them really get into the Bible study,” Sims said. “We want to be able to provide them with Bibles that will last.”
Everyone is encouraged to donate their extra, unused bibles to Hope Aglow so that they can distribute them to inmates.
“Providing a better Bible is getting more difficult because of the economy right now,” Sims said. “Every Christian has two or three Bibles sitting around their house that they aren’t using.”
Sims said that these Bibles, even those that have marking and notes in them, would be appreciated by those in prison.
“Inmates love a good, marked-up Bible, because it tells them someone thought that the (highlighted area) was important,” Sims said.
Bibles are being accepted at the front foyer of TRBC until after Thanksgiving.
“I’ve learned through this journey that obedience is the key. (Hope Aglow) has helped to teach me how important it is to be obedient,” Davis said. “Words cannot describe how my life has changed.”
For more information about Hope Aglow Ministries and how you can donate, contact hopeaglow.com or call 434-258-2248.
Do you have a Bible Study course leading to a degree for prisoners?
I am a Gideon in Florida who is supporting an inmate who want to be a minister.
Bob Gleaves
Clearwater Beach
Dear Caring Ministry Friend,
My Names is Lisa Lagarde, I am a deputy at a 1200 bed correctional center and I was wondering if your organization makes your material available to the chaplains office. I feel your resources would benefit the ministry to the incarcerated Men and Women of our facility.
Chaplain’s Information is as follows:
Rev. Kathy Radke
Jefferson Parish Correctional Center
P.O. Box 388, Gretna, La 70053
Or
100 Dolhonde St., Gretna, LA 70053
Phone (504) 374-7790
I am her deputy once a week and get to hand out resources to the inmates please consider helping.
In His Service,
Deputy Lisa-Ruth Lagarde
I am looking for Bibles for Jail Inmates. I am looking for NIV’s and Catholic Bibles. Seems these are two that I am having a hard time getting anyone to donate. I don’t have funds and depend on donations to supply my Inmates with religious materials. If you could help, it would be most appreciated. If not could you please let me know so that I can continue to search?
Thank you
Chaplain Cynthia Lovingood
York County Detention Center
1675-3A York Highway
York, SC 29745
803-628-2928
I can send NIV Bibles to Chaplain Lovingood if she still wants them. Please let me know.
please send bibles I will take them to our local jail. terri black 760 grant st.. mount gilead, ohio 43338. god bless
One of the correctional facilities in South Florida is in desperate need of Bibles and Bible Commentaries. Is there any way you can help them? Thanks and God bless!
my brother is incarcerated and would like your group to contact him there…I will forward your info and give you his info:
Victor E angus 1072697
Sussex I state prison 24414 Musselwhite dr Waverly, Va 23891
Vic was a longtime resident of Madison Heights…he is 66 yrs old and serving long sentence for bank robbery….thank you for your ministry and consideration…
hello brothers greets the evangelist pastor, heredia jaime frias, we receive literature and bibles in Spanish, to give hospitals jails, many of them are sick and do not have as buy a bible send a, san martin 112 ignacio squire sullana peru, we hope you write us
My husband is in jail at River County his name is Kevin moorer the address is 4055 41st Ave Vero Beach Florida 32960 he would like a king games version and I would love to have his name put on it if that’s possible not sure any donation would be greatly appreciated thank you in advance and God bless
King James
My husband is in Indian River County Jail and would love to have a King James Bible sending him the address is 4055 41st Ave 32960 his name is Kevin moorer he would love to have a Bible with his name on it if that is possible but any King James Version would be greatly appreciated they do not have them and that Indian River County Jail. thank you and God bless
I am the Chaplain at the Grayson County Jail in Sherman, TX. I am in need of 3-5 cases of a GIANT Print Bible and am having a hard time finding them as a donation.
Do you donate to the GIANT print? Not real particular on the version, would prefer today’s language.
We have a daily average population of 400+ inmates and many have sight problems.
Thank you.
Mike Ball, Chaplain
Grayson County Jail
200 S. Crockett
Sherman, TX 75090
Yes Ministries is a husband and wife team ministering to jail and prisons.We are the parents of a son who has been on death row for 23 years.We need bibles in our work and would ask if your have any help in this area.We use King James Translation and are very careful about being sure our bibles get into the hands of Inmates who will use them.Please advise any source that might assist with this work.Thanks so much,Ray Crawford,Director of Yes Ministries,P.O.Box 201,Blue Mountain,MS 38610
Our grandson is incarcerated in a Michigan prison and would like a KJV study Bible. Could you please one? His address is:
Nicholas Gunter 820667
Gus Harrison Correctional Facility
2727 Beecher St.
Adrian, Mi. 49122
Thanks in Jesus Name,
Shirley Holmquist
My child’s father is currently incarcerated in prisons and I don’t really have the money to buy him a Bible and he was really wanting one there’s any way that you can help out please contact me back and let me know I would greatly appreciate it God bless
erich muller dc # h38026 fl state prison. 501 south calhoun st Tallahassee fl 32399 he really needs a Bible sent to him and at the time I’m raising 5 kids on my own and cannot afford to be able to send that and was wanting to know if you could send him a Bible if any way possible thank you so much for your time and God bless
Hi Candice,
We have sent your request along to someone who can help. Thank you!
-Liberty Champion Staff
Bibles needed delivered to Cleveland county jail Shelby N.C. Please, Thanks, and God Bless you