Ministry is going great in the county jail. Rich Rennier, Donavan McCormick and myself have been going in about every Monday night to make disciples and evangelize.
The Elkhart County Jail really is a harvest field. We have been given an awesome opportunity from God.
Some of you may not know that us ministers can go directly into the cells to speak with the inmates. (We get locked in with them) – This really is an incredible opportunity to minister to guys who need Jesus! Most all other jails I have ever been in just have services that inmates can go to for Bible study or worship, but many don’t go for a number of reasons, but here in the Elkhart County Jail God has opened the door for ministers to go directly into the cell blocks. The obvious advantage to this is we can talk to everyone. We are literally taking Jesus into these guys homes…Wow! What an opportunity!
When we walk into the cells this is what we normally see: Many of the inmates are playing cards or watching TV. Some are just aimlessly pacing around in circles. There are usually several of them just sitting and staring at the ceiling worried about court cases and pondering the outcome. Many are in despair due to bad choices and mistakes they’ve made – These guys, most of them, live in regret missing their families and loved ones. Many-many are bound by satan with drugs-alcohol, violence and other vices. All of these guys are prime for the Gospel as God has them sober, broken and thinking. They sit and think about life, wondering what their future holds and ponder mistakes and memories of: “What went wrong?” or “What could have been?” and they rehearse the bitter times and they are literally at wits end. And you know what? – Jesus is the answer!! So many don’t know it but that’s what they are missing!!
Just yesterday evening I was minister to a man named Gabe. He is a guy who recently turned thirty years old. A rough looking fellow- but the Lord led me to him. He was with a group of guys and I gave them all a “Chick-tract” (a good way to start a conversation). I asked them if they would like a Bible and I started talking to them. Within a few minutes the group dispersed and it was only me and Gabe left. I shared my testimony with him while he intently listened then he shared with me how he has been “thinking of God lately” – One thing he said that really sparked the Holy Ghost in me was he said - “I just feel empty inside” – Of course that opened the door for me to share why he felt empty and how without Jesus actively in our lives we are in an ever state of emptiness and because of that emptiness we try to fill with it with drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, etc.
We talked for about an hour. It was an awesome time of God pulling at this man’s heart. He asked many questions and seemed really open to God’s drawing. Please keep Gabe in your prayers, as the devil will try to discourage him and pull him back along with everyone else who is seeking after God. But I am encouraged at what God is doing in the Elkhart County Jail. Our God is able! The Holy Spirit is moving! The Word of God is true!
I would also like to invite anyone who lives near the Elkhart, IN to come join us ministering to these men and women. As I said earlier this is an awesome opportunity that God has granted us here in the Elkahrt area to be what were called to be: “minister’s of reconciliation” – Please call me for info: 574-612-0555
God bless
Steve (Igy) Ignowski
The Elkhart County Jail really is a harvest field. We have been given an awesome opportunity from God.
Some of you may not know that us ministers can go directly into the cells to speak with the inmates. (We get locked in with them) – This really is an incredible opportunity to minister to guys who need Jesus! Most all other jails I have ever been in just have services that inmates can go to for Bible study or worship, but many don’t go for a number of reasons, but here in the Elkhart County Jail God has opened the door for ministers to go directly into the cell blocks. The obvious advantage to this is we can talk to everyone. We are literally taking Jesus into these guys homes…Wow! What an opportunity!
When we walk into the cells this is what we normally see: Many of the inmates are playing cards or watching TV. Some are just aimlessly pacing around in circles. There are usually several of them just sitting and staring at the ceiling worried about court cases and pondering the outcome. Many are in despair due to bad choices and mistakes they’ve made – These guys, most of them, live in regret missing their families and loved ones. Many-many are bound by satan with drugs-alcohol, violence and other vices. All of these guys are prime for the Gospel as God has them sober, broken and thinking. They sit and think about life, wondering what their future holds and ponder mistakes and memories of: “What went wrong?” or “What could have been?” and they rehearse the bitter times and they are literally at wits end. And you know what? – Jesus is the answer!! So many don’t know it but that’s what they are missing!!
Just yesterday evening I was minister to a man named Gabe. He is a guy who recently turned thirty years old. A rough looking fellow- but the Lord led me to him. He was with a group of guys and I gave them all a “Chick-tract” (a good way to start a conversation). I asked them if they would like a Bible and I started talking to them. Within a few minutes the group dispersed and it was only me and Gabe left. I shared my testimony with him while he intently listened then he shared with me how he has been “thinking of God lately” – One thing he said that really sparked the Holy Ghost in me was he said - “I just feel empty inside” – Of course that opened the door for me to share why he felt empty and how without Jesus actively in our lives we are in an ever state of emptiness and because of that emptiness we try to fill with it with drugs, alcohol, sex, violence, etc.
We talked for about an hour. It was an awesome time of God pulling at this man’s heart. He asked many questions and seemed really open to God’s drawing. Please keep Gabe in your prayers, as the devil will try to discourage him and pull him back along with everyone else who is seeking after God. But I am encouraged at what God is doing in the Elkhart County Jail. Our God is able! The Holy Spirit is moving! The Word of God is true!
I would also like to invite anyone who lives near the Elkhart, IN to come join us ministering to these men and women. As I said earlier this is an awesome opportunity that God has granted us here in the Elkahrt area to be what were called to be: “minister’s of reconciliation” – Please call me for info: 574-612-0555
God bless
Steve (Igy) Ignowski
