On Purpose
“I feel like I have no purpose.”
This is something I’ve heard time and again from many of the inmates I’ve met with over the past fifteen years. A big part of why they’ve gotten themselves into the situations they are in is purpose. Either they had the wrong purposes in mind or no purpose at all.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
The above verse is the foundation of our ministry. If someone signs up to be one of our students, they will become very familiar with this concept. Our method is summed up in the following:
Inform them that God has a plan and a purpose for their lives.
Help them identify what it looks like for them.
Confirm this in their journey with God.
Encourage them when it seems to fade.
Remind them as many times as it takes.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
I’m not going to go through all of the verses that support the value of purpose, but here are some of the main points from Scripture that we use to remind and encourage those we minister to:
Remember your identity; it is in Christ.
You are born-again of God’s Spirit.
You have been called and chosen by God.
You are a son or daughter of the most High.
You are a friend of God.
He created you for a purpose: His purpose.
You are an ambassador for Jesus Christ.
Keep your eyes on Him.
Keep your heart toward Him.
Spend time in the Scriptures.
Spend time with Him.
You may be wondering how I came up with these. They are nothing more than what God has had to remind me of in my own life. Once someone comes to Jesus Christ and truly desires Him to be their Lord, it really doesn’t matter if they are in prison, the military, in business, ministry, or retired. In the end, we all have the same purpose, and we can communicate on the same level.
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Updates:
I will be participating in a Brothers in Blue weekend event at the beginning of October. It will take place at Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Ellsworth, Kansas.
A couple of months ago we talked about sending copies of my book Plain Vanilla Wrapper to inmates who don’t even know us, just to see if we could plant some seeds and make a connection. Last month, we talked about sending these same inmates a follow-up letter inviting them to participate in one of our programs. Although it is still early to know how this is going to turn out in the long term, we are pleased to report that we are already getting some favorable responses. The following is an excerpt from a recent letter:
Dear Lessons for Life Ministry Team,
My name is Quentin, and I am currently incarcerated. I was sent a letter containing a list of correspondence courses and other services that your ministry offers to inmates. I am writing this letter because I am beyond interested in these courses and would like to get started as soon as possible.
I have been incarcerated for over nine-and-a-half years and will be released in a few months. I would like to complete as many as possible within my remaining time and would also like to continue after my release.
I deeply appreciate what you are doing for all of us. May God bless you and continue to bear fruit through you!
Sincerely, Quentin.