Prison Ministry Do’s and Don’ts

There was a time back in 1999 through 2004 when I was on staff at a large church in Portland, Oregon.  My two sons were born in 2000 and 2001, so towards the last year of my time in this church, they were still very young. 

 

I had already learned the do’s and don'ts regarding how to teach the volunteers who helped me with this church’s prison ministry. 

Understanding that not all men or women are called into this challenging ministry, I went through many people who tried to find their place. 

Once they found out that they were not doing what God really called them to, they left with no bad feelings or regrets. 

 

I learned later that it takes a person to know from the Holy Ghost that they belong in this ministry.  It also taught me to discern their hearts better as to the good intentions of each heart that signed up to go with me. 

 

I said all of that to make a valid point. 

There are rules in prison.  I ought to know.  I lived in a maximum-security prison in Texas in 1976. 

I knew then, and know now, all the ins and outs of convict mentality. 

 

I put each potential volunteer through rigorous training to teach them more about what NOT to do in a prison setting during the Gospel presentation, than what TO do. 

 

The State of Oregon, back then, had their own rules and regulations for volunteers, and I maintained my clearance badge for over 33 years, without any major issues. 

I knew what not to do, but anyone who has not lived in prison needs to learn from me, and the State about the rules. 

I won’t go in to them, because my real point to this is a spiritual one. 

 

I had 25 volunteers going into 5 prisons on a weekly and semi-monthly basis all over the Salem and Portland area during my tenure.  Men in men's prisons and women in women's prisons. 

For obvious reasons.  Gender does make a difference. 

I was responsible for all the volunteers and many souls were saved. The teaching of God’s Word was going forth regularly to feed the sheep, and to win the lost. 

 

I took a trip with my mother-in-law, my wife, and my two sons in 2003 to Baker City, Oregon.  The Powder River Minimum Security Prison was a drug and alcohol treatment center.  Men there are finishing their sentences, and for some who had done long periods of time prior to entering here, were glad to finally be getting closer to leaving. 

 

My wife’s mother stayed with my two sons in a hotel, while my wife and I did the ministry in the prison one evening. 

 

There are so many do’s and don'ts in prison.

One mistake could cost you the ability to return as a volunteer. 

The scripture says, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.  Keep yourself pure.”  1st Timothy 5:22. 

This scripture has more to do with the volunteers I was responsible for than for myself and my wife. 

This Word of God emphasizes the importance of careful consideration when appointing individuals to leadership roles within the church. 

It cautions against hasty appointments. 

My wife and I entered the prison and are in the chapel now. She is in the front row in front of me as I am behind the pulpit.  Two officers are nearby watching everyone, primarily the men in custody. 

 

There are three DO and DO NOT topics I have never preached on in prisons all over America and overseas. 

One: Money. 

The men in prison do not need teaching on how to handle finances in prison.  They may trade a bar of soap, or a commissary item to a fellow inmate, but they are not trading stocks in the stock market.  It may even be their dessert item they have to give up in paying a debt they owe to an enemy. 

It is not a mutual fund.  You get my drift? 

Two:  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit according to The Book of Acts Chapter Two. 

This is real for me and others. 

Yes, it is relevant to every believer, but this topic is controversial in churches on the outside of prison.  No need to bring any confusion to anyone behind bars.  I do not touch that during my mandate to win the lost. 

Let’s get them saved first and allow God to work out His will for them.

 

Three:  Racism. 

This is where this story begins, back before I left Portland to eventually enter this prison. 

The Lord Jesus told me to preach on racism AND find the audio tape of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. 

Wow. 

I found the speech and had it put on a cassette tape. 

(Still had these in 2003).

I began my message with 15 seconds of this Historic Speech.  I had it programed to only play the following part.   

 

 

“It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.  Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given its colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked insufficient funds.” 

(This next portion was prior to the first part, in the actual speech because I switched it for a point in my sermon. It is in reference to the metaphor of our Nation’s Capital to cash a check regarding civil rights).  

 

“This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

 

I turned off the tape player I had brought in.   

I watched as the black inmates, white inmates, Hispanic inmates, and all the other races in this chapel began to manifest in anger.  They did not lash out at anyone, but their body language and the squirming in their seats was apparent. 

No one walked out.  They were all frozen in their seats as my wife stared at me like: “What is next?” 

The officers nearby were at heightened alert.  This, too, I knew by their body language. 

I preached my message that I knew the Lord wanted me to, though it was a taboo thing to do, knowing it was one of the three NEVER to preach on. 

 

The altar invitation brought all 52 men forward by the Power of the Holy Ghost! The altar was packed with every, single man on their knees in front of me. 

I got on my knees too, and as I prayed the prayer of Salvation for all the men, I was literally crawling on my knees around the men, laying hands on them and praying for each individual man.  My wife was in tears along with every man in there as the Glory of God fell like a fog in this chapel that evening. 

 

God was not done yet. 

The officers allowed the men to walk into another room next to the chapel for more shoulder room.  This room is twice as big as the altar area. 

The officers can see the men through the windows which are part of this larger room.  The guards looked on in amazement at what God did next. 

 

All 52 men had their hands in the air, stretched towards Heaven as I began to walk by them from one end of the wall to the other end.  All the men were standing shoulder to shoulder as I passed by. 

 

I never was able to touch them to pray for them by the “laying on of hands.” 

 

God did the laying on of HIS hands to each man. 

 

Every man began, one by one, speaking in another language as God gave them the utterance. 

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost fell on every, single man there. 

 

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like a blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven and filled the whole house where they were gathered.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  ALL of them were filled (all 52 in this prison) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2: 1-4

POWERFUL MOMENT. 

 

Every man, after receiving this miracle, fell to their knees worshipping the Lord Jesus in their new Heavenly language.   

 

The officers were perplexed but allowed this to go on, until it was time for me to leave.  I left the men in that extra room, worshipping and praising in tongues, as my wife and I departed the prison. 

 

I have never seen this before this evening. 

 It certainly had nothing to do with me, or the message God gave me. 

 

It had to do with the Lord and His timing for this prison, and the men in that chapel. 

 

I left with renewed hope that even when I would normally never preach on any of those before-mentioned topics, if the Holy Ghost says to, I will. 

 

Obedience is better than sacrifice. 

 

I know, after almost 40 years of prison ministry, the things to do, and not to do regarding policy and procedure in prison.   

 

“The safety and security of the prison and the men who live here is number one priority.” 

 

This is taken from the handbook for volunteers in training in Oregon. 

 

When the Lord Jesus has a plan, and we are His vessels to deliver the message or the sermon in a particular place. The quicker we decrease, the quicker He can increase His power and anointing; this is paramount to His Will being accomplished. 

I didn’t know what the Lord was up to with the Martin Luther King speech that day. 

I just obeyed, and He did the rest. 

 

To Him be all the Honor and Glory for His Marvelous Works. 

 

I did not know exactly what to do that evening except deliver what He said to deliver. 

I try not to ignore His leading, yet at times over all these years, I am sure I have missed His leading.  We all have. 

It is more about what NOT to do, than TO DO that matters. 

 

Mistakes happen in this walk with the Lord Jesus.  We all fall short at times.  We get up, and move forward, not backward, the best we know how, in accordance to His Word. 

By faith. 

Faith in His leading. 

 

Isaiah1: 19-20…

 “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Harsh?   

In context, these passages present a conditional promise of either blessing or judgment, based on the people’s response to God’s call to repentance. 

It follows a series of accusations detailing their wickedness and rejection of God. 

These verses offer a choice: if the people are willing and obedient they will “eat the good of the land,” but if they refuse and rebel, they will be “devoured by the sword.”

 

At Powder River Prison, those 52 men were rebellious and were being devoured by doing time for their crimes. 

That evening, they repented, and were ALL baptized in the Holy Ghost, and are now eating the fruit; the GOOD fruit of the land. 

 

Do’s and Don’ts? 

I would rather know what NOT to do, and NOT do that as much as possible. 

And as far as what TO DO? 

Well, on that evening I tried to be obedient. 

My flesh said, “If you play that twenty seconds of THAT speech, there will be a riot.  Don’t do that, Joe.” 

No riots happened.  

Hopefully none in your life too. 

Let us all be led by His Spirit.  

Let us do the do’s, and don’t do the don’ts.  

Better yet, just DO the best you can every day.  

 

The Do’s and Don’ts will work themselves out, in time. 

Copyright © 2025 by Joe Wilkins