Questions and Answers About Our
Nationwide Christian Prison Ministry
Why do you have a prison ministry?
There are those who will wonder why we have a prison ministry. Do we have a special love for criminals? Of course not! Neither of us have ever been in trouble with the law. In fact, if someone had told us in the mid 1980's that we would have a prison ministry, we would have been shocked. So then, why are we doing this? It's because we love and serve Jesus Christ, and His love works through us! But why would even God love criminals, you may ask. Jesus answered that question long ago when He said, "...It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:31-32 NIV). What's more, "this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:22-24 NIV).
It seems that God has a special love and concern for the salvation of those who need Him the most. The religious leaders of His day had a hard time understanding this. They grew annoyed when a woman with a sordid background came into the home of a Pharisee where Jesus was dining. She stood behind Him, weeping, kissing His feet and washing them with perfume and tears. And she wiped them with her hair. "When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner'" (Luke 7:39 NIV). Nevertheless, Jesus responded by saying to the man, "...Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing My feet. You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little" (Luke 7:44-47 NIV).
Criminal behavior is not very lovable. Therefore it takes a special kind of love to have compassion on those who have caused so much suffering. Nevertheless, we are not running a prison inmate advocacy program. We are running a Jesus Christ advocacy program! Only He has enough love to forgive that which is humanly unforgivable. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:5-8 NIV).
Have you ever been incarcerated?
No. It was a complete surprise to us when God opened up this ministry to us. For we had nothing in common with prison inmates, and could not identify with them in any way. However, we have never tried to tailor our doctrine or literature to the specific needs of the incarcerated. We simply wrote articles that seemed appropriate to the social climate of the time, and which conformed to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And then the letters began to come in from prison inmates. They were so encouraging and spiritually uplifting that our ministry continued to grow, a little bigger each year. Some years God would seem to prune us back a bit, but eventually the ministry grew even bigger still. And that leads us right up to the present time.
Is there anything that BBFI specifically won't do?
Yes. We will not:
- Send money or personal gifts (such as candy, cookies, stationary, radios, clothing, etc.) to prisoners.
- Assist prisoners with their legal problems.
- Run an inmate pen-pal program (this can lead to problems, and distract prisoners from Christ).
- Become involved in the personal romances of prisoners, or find them girlfriends.
- Use psychology, the entertainment business, or secular counseling to reach inmates for Christ.
- Lobby for prison reform, or become embroiled in legislation or politics in any way.
- Use celebrity endorsements to raise money.
- Seek testimonies from celebrities or sports icons who claim to be "Born Again".
Are you ordained?
No. Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc. is not a church, but a nonprofit organization dedicated to the obedience and service of Jesus Christ. We see ourselves as mere links in God's Holy chain. For it has been our experience that the Lord uses many various people from different walks of life, to achieve His objectives. That's because it is not His desire for humans to get the credit for the work the Holy Spirit accomplishes. Perhaps that is the reason why God chose to begin His church on earth with a bunch of very ordinary men, such as a tax collector named Matthew, and fishermen such as Simon Peter and John.
As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV).
Are you soft on crime?
No. We believe that the entire debt an individual owes to God has already been paid for through the shed blood of Christ, and that those who come to God in repentance are forgiven their sins. However, Jesus drew a sharp distinction between the debt that a person owes to their government and the debt that they owe to God (Matthew 22:16-21). Therefore, even though a prison inmate may have repented of his sins, that does not cancel out the debt he owes to the government, society, or anyone else. Nor did Jesus come into this world to do away with the laws of God (Matthew 5:17-18).
After a person comes to the Lord there is a wonderful cleansing that takes place spiritually. The new believer feels bathed in God's love and joy, and wants to bring that love to others. However, those who do not know their Bible well, often allow their emotions to override their understanding of the Word of God. And this can create a problem in doctrine.
The Apostle Paul discussed this in his letter to the Corinthian church, chastising them for allowing immoral individuals to continue to live in sin and remain within the congregation. The church had thought that they were showing kindness and compassion for fellow parishioners. And they believed that such love was the "Christian" thing to do. But Paul told them that it was not. He made it clear that the primary loyalty that Christians have should be to Christ, not to each other. He told them, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" (1 Corinthians 5:6 KJV).
Paul made it clear that the Church of Christ must set such a good example of holiness and righteousness before the world that it brings glory to God and makes Christ look good. What the Corinthians had been doing may have seemed loving and compassionate to them, but to the world, it looked hypocritical. Paul attempted to convey to them that, unlike the devil, our Creator is just, righteous, and law abiding. Therefore, the church cannot tolerate even the perception that it is a safe harbor for evil, and a protector to those who seek to escape punishment for wrongdoing.
Paul explained to the church that living under the new covenant of grace does not mean that we may sin with impunity! He compared sin to yeast, which spreads in bread until the whole loaf is filled with hot air. He was telling them that they were wrong to put their love for fellow believers ahead of their responsibility to keep the church pure and undefiled from the sin of this world. And his analogy of the yeast in bread was a metaphor for sin in the church. He told them to expel the sinful individuals from their congregation before their sin spread and influenced others to do evil as well. For if this continued, it would eventually corrupt the entire body of Christ.
Some prison inmates think that by becoming Christians they can get an early parole. Roy Lee Jenkins speaks about this in our testimony section. The thief on the cross expected Jesus to be the means through which he could escape punishment. But he was rebuked by the thief on the other cross. "...Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:40-41 NIV). The Apostle Peter also stated, "...let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1 Peter 4:15-16 KJV). Therefore, we maintain that anyone who is truly repentant will want to pay their debt back to society, as did Zacchaeus, who said, "...Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount" (Luke 19:8 NIV).
It is natural for a convict to become impatient and anxious about getting out of prison. Nevertheless, we encourage such a person to trust God with their life and to patiently allow Him to direct it. We often use the examples of Joseph (Genesis 37:2-36 & 39:1 thru 50:26) and Daniel (Daniel 1:1-6, 2:12-49, & 6:1-28) in our articles and counseling. They were both righteous young men who loved and served God, but ended up in prison for circumstances beyond their control. Yet when God was ready for them to get out of prison, they were not only delivered from it, but also blessed with power, riches, and influence as a result of their faith.
Even so, a distinction must be drawn between those who are suffering for Christ as compared to those who have committed horrible crimes, and are paying their debt to society. We remind inmates that the Apostle Peter wrote to the church saying, "...It is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God" (1 Peter 2:19-20 NIV). Therefore, those who try to use Christ as a means of escaping punishment only bring shame on Him and disgrace.
Anyone can serve Jesus when they get everything they want, but the true test of a believer comes during the times of discouragement and bitter trials of faith (James 1:2-4 & 1 Peter 1:3-9). Because true Christianity means putting the will of God first, before our own will (see Luke 22:42). That's why we teach prisoners that God does not exist to serve the church. We exist to serve Him! Consequently, if and when the Lord is ready for an inmate to get out of prison, he or she won't have to spend a fortune on lawyers or waste all their time writing briefs. The doors of the prison will open for them very easily. But if it is not His will for them to ever get out of prison, or if they are to face the death penalty for a vicious murder, the best testimony of their faith in Christ is to keep their eyes on Him, and live what remains of their life beyond reproach! That way everyone will see the difference that Jesus can make, and that even in what were once the coldest and darkest of hearts, His light can shine through with joy and peace that the world cannot even understand (Philippians 4:7 & John 14:27). As Paul, the Apostle stated, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21 NIV).
Paul made it clear in his letters to the church that law enforcement officials are acting as God's emissaries when they punish those who have acted wickedly (Romans 13:4). This authority is based on the same principle as that of the parent, who becomes God's emissary over their child. And it is true even when the parent or government official is not living for God. (See Matthew 24:45-51 and John 19:10-11.) Peter echoed the same sentiment regardless of whether a prisoner believes he or she is suffering fairly or not (1 Peter 2:11-23). From Genesis to Revelation the Bible makes it clear that God expects mankind to promote justice and fairness in all governmental decisions. But there is no justice when evil is easily excused.
Therefore, we maintain that those who believe that a convict should escape just punishment for the crimes he has committed, as a reward for becoming a Christian, are not standing on firm Biblical ground. And many times those who attempt to thwart justice under the guise of scripture, are themselves, not living for God as they should (Romans 1:32). For while eternal justice lies under the jurisdiction of God (Revelation 20:11-15), a righteous and God fearing government will not condone, excuse, or soft-pedal evil.
Why should I support BBFI?
The prison population has grown significantly over the last decade, and new correctional facilities are being built continually. Unfortunately, state, local, and federal budgets have not kept up with the increasing expense of incarceration. Prisons are often overcrowded and understaffed. Many are located in outdated buildings with faulty plumbing, poor heating, inadequate ventilation, and no air conditioning. Understandably, the comfort and welfare of criminals is not high on the priority list of most tax payers. Nevertheless, the mixture of hot or frigid weather combined with volatile temperaments, understaffing, and lack of space can create a recipe for disaster. This has often resulted in riots, hostage taking, mutilation, and murder. It can also lead to a situation where inmates escape into the community.
As unappetizing as this may sound, these are the conditions in which many chaplains labor for Christ. They are missionaries in their own country, and they often risk their lives in the hope of reaching into the deep spiritual darkness of sin with the light of the Gospel. It takes a very special love to do this type of work, and there are many discouragements along the way. But in prison, even in the midst of misery and despair, there are pockets of light, and God is moving greatly in the correctional facilities of this nation! Incarcerated convicts read their Bibles far more often than the general public, and we can't get Bibles into the prisons fast enough to meet the increasing demand. Our recent role model book, entitled "Samuel Morris" is also a big success, as are our Christian videos, newsletters, tracts, and little Bible booklets. The chaplains have found them to be a very effective tool in spreading the Word of God, especially when there are so few chaplains and inmate populations are growing larger every year.
Prison chaplains go into the front lines of spiritual combat in order to bring the peace and joy of Christ to those whom society has often written off as incorrigible. And they are making progress. For "...The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37 ASV). Statistics have proven that religious services and Christian material definitely makes a large dent in the crime rate and recidivism. But, for the most part, correctional facility chaplains receive no funding from the government for the purchase of Bibles or similar Christian literature. And that is why they depend so much on the gifts of private charities, such as Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc.
A few years ago, one Ohio chaplain, after receiving a letter from us offering him free Christian material for the inmates at his prison, wrote back to us explaining how timely our offer had been. For there had been a recent riot there and all the inmates were in 24 hour lock down. He had desperately wanted Christian literature to give them, as the tension had been very bad. We were happy to comply!
In 1996 funding has been way down and we were forced to temporarily discontinue Bible distribution in prisons. However, one federal prison chaplain speaking to Eric Kaestner on the phone, said reassuringly, "That's okay. I have been able to get Bibles from other prison ministries. But you are the only ones who provide me with role model books and Christian videos." We could give you many other examples of the benefits derived from the work we are doing, but we don't want you to just take our word for it. So we asked some of the chaplains to tell you in their own words how this ministry has assisted in their labor for the Lord. We also requested some inmates to tell you how we have helped them with their walk with Jesus.
What is the difference between BBFI and other ministries?
There are many prison ministries in the United States, but only a few of them are nationwide. Most are organized by local churches that have a burden for the inmates at a nearby prison or jail. Other ministries may be interstate, but not nationwide. Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc. reaches 461 correctional institutions in 48 states, with the only exceptions being Utah and Rhode Island.
However, even among those that are nationwide, there are wide differences in doctrine, method, and style. The majority prefer to focus predominantly on counseling, but, unlike BBFI, they generally do not provide a wide array of free Christian literature and videos on a regular basis. As a result, prison chaplains and inmates never seem to have enough of the spiritually edifying material they need. At BBFI we make quality Christian literature and video tapes a priority because it has the potential to reach so many people for the Lord.
Prison Staff
Prison chaplains tell us that along with the inmates, they also minister to the prison staff. These men and women work daily with all kinds of criminals, some of which have committed horrible crimes. This has the potential to take a nasty toll on the emotions of the staff, especially these days, when divorce rates are so high and the traditional structure of the American family is rapidly disappearing. For that reason, in many facilities, it is the chaplain's job to counsel prison workers as well, so that they will set a positive example for the inmates. This helps to reduce the type of stress that precipitates riots or leads to situations where inmates can escape into the community. Therefore the material that we provide has often been a blessing not just to the inmates and their families, but also to the staff.
Compassion Alone Does Not Bring About A Changed Life
There are many prison inmates that come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and they hunger after a closer walk with Him. But there are others in prison who seek to take advantage of the kindness and good intentions of those who love and serve God. Convicted convicts are in prison for a reason, and they are very good at deceiving gullible believers who try to help them through carnal methods, such as money or expensive gifts, instead of relying on the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) and the Word of God (John 1:1-5). As a result, Christians can become easy targets for the deceitful schemes of some criminals who falsely proclaim their desire to live for God.
A few years ago, we received a concerned letter from a senior chaplain at a large Southern prison. It had been sent out to different Christian groups that had been in contact with their inmates. He described the numerous ways that convicts at his facility had taken advantage of big hearted Christians who had taken pity on them. The chaplain explained how the inmates often write to churches claiming to be Born Again. He wrote about several inmates who had been receiving a great deal of money from Christians on the outside through deception and various schemes that were making the inmates rich. He described how a prisoner may complain that he has no family and needs money for simple things such as soap and toothpaste, items that are supplied each inmate free of charge by the prison. Consequently, naive believers have felt sympathy for the prisoners and have fallen victim to their trickery and lies.
At this ministry we have frequently received letters from inmates who want us to send them all kinds of expensive items, such as fancy leather covered NIV Thompson Chain Reference Bibles, which sell for up to $87.95 a piece in Christian book stores in New York. Others have asked for costly hard cover Concordances. But many times, the items they request are not of a spiritual nature. We have received requests from inmates for us to send them money, postage stamps (which they can use to contact other potential gift givers), and much more extravagant items. One inmate sent us a shopping list of all kinds of things that he would like us to provide for him, including every type of clothing imaginable, from underwear to a winter coat, and he also asked for many other items, including an automobile for when he gets out of prison. Another inmate asked us for a plane ticket so that he can bring his girlfriend to America from another country. None of these requests were granted.
Unfortunately, some prison ministries have allowed their organizations to revolve around the desires of the inmate, rather than revolving around the Lord Jesus Christ! And so inmates have come to believe that Christians are a soft touch for money and presents. In some cases, prisoners have made no effort to even mention the name of Jesus, the Bible, or the Christian faith. They have just written to us complaining about their incarceration, the court system, the police, and everything else involved with their trial, and they expect us to provide them with some type of legal or political assistance. However, we have always made it clear that at Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc., we are not running a prison inmate advocacy program. We are running a Jesus Christ advocacy program! Moreover, the money donated to this ministry is used for the expressed purpose of reaching incarcerated convicts with the Gospel.
The government provides clothing, food, exercise equipment, entertainment, and medical attention, free of charge to prisoners. Free legal assistance is also available when it is deemed necessary. But generally speaking, due to the constitutional separation of church and state, the government will not pay one penny toward the purchase of a Bible or Christian literature. For this, chaplains and inmates depend on private ministries such as ours. And since "...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4 KJV), the need for Christian material is very great. For, despite the good intentions of many concerned people, only Christ can change the human heart! And He does it through repentance (Matthew 4:17), faith (Hebrews 11:6), and trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17 KJV). Therefore, we will not waste one penny of our very limited resources on extravagant, trivial pursuits, nor will we be distracted from the work that God has called us to do in spreading the good news of salvation. We labor for what is of eternal value, not that which is carnal. Aside from this, when money or expensive gifts are sent to prisoners, there is no way of knowing whether or not the item will be used for the purpose for which it was requested. Such gifts can easily be sold in order to obtain cigarettes, drugs, sex, pornography, bribery money, or something else that is just as harmful.
What's more, we do not feel that it is our job to make Christ more acceptable to the prison inmate. It is our responsibility to show the convict how to make him or herself acceptable to God! Therefore, we concentrate on the simple, basic teaching of Christ and His apostles, and show inmates how to live the Christian faith. We believe that the best friend the inmate can ever have is the Lord Jesus Christ, but that He does not exist to serve them, they exist to serve Him! It is our firm view that once a person makes Christ the center of their life, putting aside personal wants and desires, and seeking only the will of God, everything else falls into place.
Prison inmates spend a great deal of their time trying to get out of prison, legislatively, or however they can. Even most Christian inmates seem to focus more on their desire to be released back into society than they do on seeking the will of God. Therefore, we remind them that Jesus taught His followers not to "...worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:31-34 NIV). "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 KJV).
Recruiting Counselors
Most prison ministries use unpaid volunteers for the counseling of inmates. Usually they are provided with little, if any, training. It is often assumed that anyone who claims to be Born Again and has a desire to reach prisoners for the Lord is qualified. Occasionally, the men or women who become volunteer counselors are mature Christians who have been living for Jesus many years. They have passed the trials and tests of faith and have been led by the Holy Spirit into this kind of work. Such Christians have gained a profound understanding of Scripture and they possess a deep love for the Lord and a burden for His lost sheep (Isaiah 53:6). But these rare individuals are hard to find. More often volunteer counselors are still relatively new believers themselves, and many times they are lacking in the spiritual maturity needed for the job. They may have gained a smattering of diverse doctrine from various sources that might not necessarily be reliable (Ephesians 4:14). Nevertheless, they are all too often accepted at face value and made volunteer counselors.
A Difference Of Ideology
These well meaning Christians are usually encouraged to visit a prison often and to become a friend to one or more of the inmates. They are expected to show the convicts Christian love and compassion. The philosophy behind this is that Christians are to be kind and loving people who hate to see anyone uncomfortable or in an unpleasant environment, even criminals. This ideology stems from the belief that kindness and a good example begets a changed attitude that can bring about reform. Yet the same belief is present in secular society, so it is not just limited to the Christian church. All liberal theology follows this view that human nature can be changed by social programs and empathy. The road leads in the same direction whether the signpost reads "Christianity," "Judaism" or secular politics. But regardless of the label, it is not the "straight and narrow" (Matthew 7:13-14). It is the wide and broad path that leads to eternal destruction.
The recipe for liberal theology comes in many versions, but the primary ingredient is always based on human endeavors and good works rather than on the Word of God (John 1:1-14 & Revelation 19:13). The only difference is the "Christian" seasoning. A counselor supporting this view may carry a Bible along with him, and even quote selected verses from it. He may pray with the inmate and show him all manner of kindness. But his hope and trust is based on human wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:26 thru 2:14 & 3:19) and legislative action rather than faith in God (Proverbs 3:5-6). Despite this, the Bible tells us that social reforms and kindness are not enough to change the human heart (Proverbs 14:12 & Isaiah 64:6), especially when dealing with criminals (Proverbs 4:16)! That's because poverty, illegitimacy, physical abuse, and lack of education are not the cause of crime. They are the symptoms of rebellion against God that has been passed on from generation to generation! Immorality breeds immorality. Parents that abuse their children were usually abused themselves. Anyone can become unemployed, sick, or depressed. And there are homeless people that are simply victims of circumstances that are beyond their control. The same thing applies to certain welfare mothers. Jails and prisons also contain a small minority of people who were unfairly convicted of a crime they did not commit. But all of these people are greatly outnumbered by those who are suffering because of their own sin!
Every prisoner who has contacted us with joy in his heart and the peace of knowing Christ, is a convict who has stopped blaming other people for his incarceration and has accepted the responsibility for his own sin! And he has humbled himself before God and repented of his sins. But in every case where this has happened, it was directly due to an anointed Christian influence. It has never come as a result of social programs or government intervention! It was due to the intervention of God, through His Holy Spirit, which has led the inmate to repentance and a knowledge of Christ, His personal Redeemer. (See our section on inmate testimonies.)
The United States was once founded on a bedrock of Christian values and a fundamental faith in God. Our streets were safer, our homes were happier, and our economy was doing well. But that has changed because America has slipped away from its Cornerstone, Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:6 & Ephesians 2:20), and has replaced Him with human theories and social programs. But it hasn't worked! Worse still, this man-centered philosophy has worked its way into the church. And many of those churches are active in prison ministry. They may mean well in their efforts (Proverbs 16:25), and in some cases, they may have some limited success. But in the final analysis, politics and social programs don't work at destroying crime! All they do is fight the symptoms of it. But the root cause of crime is still there, and like a cancer, it will always come back. And that is why this country has such a deplorable problem with violence and immorality, which in turn, has spread to our economic system, education, and every aspect of American life! It is because sin is like a cancer. It spreads throughout the body. It starts out small, like a little package of yeast but, when mixed up in the dough, it quickly spreads throughout the entire lump. Mankind cannot save itself! Moreover, true Christianity is not based on what we can do for God. It is about what He has already done for us! For it is "...not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6 NIV).
The Pharisees in the days of Jesus believed that religion had a responsibility to bring about social and political change through humanistic methods alone. They thought that what they were doing was for God, and, like Cain (Genesis 4:1-7), they expected Him to be proud of them. But unlike Abel, they would not do it God's way. They wanted to bring forth their own fruit to God, and they expected it to be acceptable to Him. However it was not the fruit of the Holy Spirit (John 3:6 & 1 Corinthians 2:12-14). For it did not come from God. It originated from the human heart, and "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV). Consequently, God was not happy with their efforts (Isaiah 29:13), because their entire ideology was based on a bad foundation, the wisdom of man instead of the Power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). At the time of Christ, the Lord saw this going on and He quoted from the prophesy of Isaiah, saying, "These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men" (Matthew 15:8-9 NIV).
For this reason, BBFI will not become involved in politics or secular social programs. By contrast with some of our peers, we firmly believe that "...Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (Psalms 127:1 NIV). We quickly admit that on our own we cannot build anything spiritually worthwhile. "...With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26 NIV). We have no human solution to the plague of crime in our society, no formula or method for defeating the power of sin. But we know the one who does! So all we can do is to point to Christ in every aspect of our ministry, and He takes care of the rest!
False Doctrine Can Do Great Harm
By the time that a person ends up in prison they have realized that they are in big trouble. And it is the best possible time to reach them with the Gospel. Prison inmates read their Bibles far more often than the average person on the outside. Many of them have an insatiable appetite for good Christian literature. They know that they need some type of spiritual help. By then, they're also aware that they can't change themselves. There is a great deal of recidivism in correctional facilities. So they are searching for answers, and many of them turn to Christianity. However, Jesus warned us in scripture that there are many false prophets out there posing as Christians (Matthew 7:15 & 21-23). He said, "...many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:5 NIV). And since prisons are such a ripe harvest field (Matthew 9:37), there are many religious groups making the rounds, and a variety of assorted doctrines, many of which claim to be Christian. At this ministry, we have received all kinds of pamphlets and tracts that inmates have sent to us. They received them at their correctional facilities. And while there are some that are sound on doctrine, there are many others that are not. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons" (1 Timothy 4:1 NIV). He also spoke about counterfeit versions of Christianity in Galatians 1:6-8 and 2 Corinthians 11:2-4. Even Jesus told us that in the last days "...false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible" (Matthew 24:24 NIV). Therefore, if you feel led to support a prison ministry, it is wise to make sure that the doctrine is pure and scripturally correct.
We Take Personal Control Over Doctrine
Although Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc. is a nationwide ministry, we have nowhere near the funding of some of the larger ministries. Therefore, we are limited in what we are able to do. Consequently, we seek always to get the best value possible from the donations that we receive. Aside from this, we are committed to the purity of our doctrine. When Christian counseling is approached in a haphazard or lackadaisical manner it can do tremendous damage to the spiritual growth of a new believer or someone who desires to come to the Lord. Therefore, we take personal control over all counseling and doctrine that results from this ministry. For "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9 KJV). Or, to put it another way, just a little bit of poison can destroy an otherwise wholesome glass of milk.
We believe strongly that it takes many years of serious scriptural study, directly from the Bible, along with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, before any individual can really be used by God for counseling and evangelism. Our files are full of letters that we have received since 1989, asking for spiritual guidance. They are with the responses we have provided, often going on for many pages. Every week a new batch of inmate letters comes in. It may be that the prisoners feel more comfortable putting their emotions down on paper and mailing them rather than discussing them face to face. Anne Kaestner responds personally to most of the letters requiring Biblical guidance, and we often pray for those requesting it. We also get letters from our contributors as well. They usually write about family problems or ask questions regarding scripture. We are happy to pray over them and to respond to their letters or phone calls from a Biblical perspective, as the Lord leads us.
In the future, as soon as our funding and time schedule allows for it, we hope to visit many more correctional facilities, and, since so many inmates are illiterate, we would like to make our own video and audio tapes to send to prisons. This will enable even more people to hear the Word of God. Eventually we would also like to increase our staff and hire counselors who will be expected to live up to our high standards and to set a good example of ethics, trust, and faith in God. We expect to see the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25) in anyone representing Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc.
I have noticed that you use the Jewish star on your newsletters with a cross inside of it. Are you Jewish? Please tell me what the star with the cross means?
No, we are not Jewish, but, as Christians, we owe a tremendous debt to the Jewish people, because it was through them that our Savior, Jesus Christ, came into this world. The Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, were written by Hebrews (Jews). Moreover, it was a Jew named Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:4), who brought Christianity to the Gentiles when the Jews, his own people, rejected Christ (see Isaiah 53:3, John 1:11, Acts 13:46).
The greatest examples of godliness we see in scripture are Jewish prophets of Old, like Daniel, Joseph, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hezekiah, Matthew, Bartholomew, and many others. Also women of faith like Sarah (Genesis 17:15), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Ruth (book of Ruth), Esther (book of Esther), Anna (Luke 2:36), and others. Without the faith and dedication of people like them, we may never have been given the opportunity for salvation.
For the name "Christ" means Messiah. In Old Testament times God's people didn't know God the Son by His earthly name Jesus, but they worshipped Him as the great "I Am" who spoke to Moses by the burning bush (Genesis 15:1, Exodus 3:13-14, John 8:58).
The Cross within the "Star of David" on our newsletters is meant to signify the union of the Old Testament prophesy of the Messiah and promised Redeemer (Job 19:25 and Isaiah 54:5) with the New Testament reality of His coming, His ministry, death, and resurrection. The Old Testament prophesies the events of the New Testament, and the New Testament fulfills the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17).
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was a direct descendent from the royal line of King David. The "Star of David" was the emblem of David's kingdom. Therefore, the Cross of Jesus is placed inside the "Star of David" in order to convey the message that He who died for us on Calvary came from royal blood (see Matthew 1:1-17). Moreover, since Christ was and is the Son of the Living God, His royalty was not just earthly, but Heavenly as well.
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