The JW's were rude to the other religious inmates. Arguments would break out all the time. Crazy childish arguments.
It sounds like the way they are on the outside too.
Have you ever preached in a prison?
by Gerard 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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shamus
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Netty
My dad was an elder, and they had a whole program set up where elders with assistants would go the the prison and study with the inmates. Dont think they do that anymore, this was in the 80's.
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blondie
The prison preaching program is alive and well in 2004. The elders still coordinate it and take MS with them (unless it is a women's prison, then sisters go under the elders direction).
Which congregation? Whichever one holds the territory the prison is in. The WTS still prides themselves on their converts made in prison.
km 4/03 p. 7 Question BoxWhat cautions should we heed when witnessing to prison inmates?
Worldwide there are at least eight million prison inmates, some of whom show an interest in the good news. (1 Tim. 2:4) One branch office receives some 1,400 letters each month from inmates and their family members requesting literature or a personal visit. While the interest of many inmates is sincere, experience has shown that some feign interest, seeking to take selfish advantage of God?s people. In view of this, all should heed the following cautions regarding witnessing to prison inmates.
In many cases inmates are given a witness by means of correspondence. It is strongly recommended that sisters not write to male prisoners, even if it is with the goal of giving spiritual help. That responsibility should be handled only by qualified brothers. Qualified sisters may be assigned to correspond with female inmates who express sincere interest in Bible truth. Money or personal gifts should not be sent to inmates, despite the fact that such may be requested.
When an incarcerated person shows interest, his name and address should be turned over to the congregation in the area of the prison facility. Usually the qualified brothers there know how to handle the various situations that can arise. If the congregation is not known, the information should be sent to the branch office.
It is not objectionable for the assigned brothers to hold meetings with prisoners so that several may study at one time. However, special events in which publishers mingle freely with inmates should not be held in prisons. Furthermore, it is ill-advised for publishers to visit a prison indiscriminately and have close association with prisoners.
May we be "cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves" as we share the good news with prison inmates.?Matt. 10:16.
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FairMind
In the 70's I started a Bible study with a fellow employee who was later arrested by the FBI for making illegal LD phone calls with a "blue box". He wound up in a mental institution near where I lived and I continued the study with him there. This did not work out too well as we had to study in an open area and there was constant disruption from the other patients. The hospital staff eventually prohibited the study.
On the day this individual was released from the mental institution he called the FBI and said he was going to kill the president (he really was crazy). Again he was arrested. While he was awaiting trial I would visit him in jail and witness to him. I stopped this after he threatened to "get" me. Eventually he wound up in Federal Prison for about seven years and was studied with there by elders in his locality. I lost touch with him for several years and then out of the blue got a call from him. He had been released from prison, was taking medication as a diagnosed paranoid-schizophrenic, gotten married and was a baptized JW. His phone call was a request that that I contact the elders in his congregation and explain to them that they shouldn't treat so coldly. I made the call and found out that the congregation was fearful of him due to strange remarks he would make (imagine that). Anyway, that's the last I heard from him and for that I'm greatful.
FM
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BluesBrother
My last congo had a high security prison in the territory. I guess it a novelty at first to go in . (this was in the mid '90's) After going with the regular elder a couple times I was asked to take a study when he was on holiday, and the M/s who often accompanied him felt inadaquate to do it alone.
The doors clanged shut behind us as we went deeper and deeper into the prison . The guard taking us was not exactly sure which room we would use. I believe he was trying to wind us up when he asked a group of prisoners playing billiards "Is this where you study with Jehovah's Witnesses?" and of course an almighty chorus "NO!" and few expletives responded. ...We kept going through endless corridors and I had no idea how to get back. I could not help thinking of that prison riot in USA (Attica?) and just hope that nothing like that happened tonight.
Eventually we arrived at the venue and I recognised a couple of the cons from my earlier visits. They seemed friendly and already had tea and biscuits organised. To my surprise the guards left us entirely alone with the prisoners for the hour or so. This was a high security prison. Even more worrying was the fact that we were joined by a whole group of prisoners whom I had never seen before. I guess they wanted something to do because they were not normally in the group. It is a strange experience to take a book study with a 8 or 10 serious criminals, alone in their place. But we got through. I would support Hilary Step's masterful description of the atmosphere 'inside'
The study group was still going, the last I heard, although prisoners got transferred quite often
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BrendaCloutier
I did the AA thing of going to a womens low security lockup several times with others to conduct womens AA meetings. Really interesting because many of the things these women were in for were things I had done in my drinking days (drugs scared me too much, one good thing from the WTS). Truly, "there but for the grace of god, go I".
Hugs
Brenda