“Thanks, but I can’t be reading that in here.”

Looking around the room inquisitively, I asked him, “Where?”

“This is a prison. If these guys see me reading a Bible, they’ll kill me! Or… at least they’ll harass me because they think I’m weak.”

His fear seemed genuine, if not a bit exaggerated. He was new. It was unusual that a new prisoner would attend our group. It usually took some time for them to become aware of it and do the paperwork required for permission. But this inmate was a church guy. He was on his worship team and actually visited this very same facility each Christmas as part of a musical celebration. At some point, I would have to ask him about his motives on that if he was so sure these men were so anti-Bible.

So, I made a deal with him. I would take the Bible home with me. Next month, I would offer it back to him, but he could only have it if he guessed how many Bibles were in circulation around that facility. Meanwhile, the other participants were filtering out, Bibles in hand. One made it a point to tell the new guy he could borrow his Bible if he needed it later.

Of course, I had no idea how many Bibles were in that prison, but I guessed about a third of the population had one. That was about how many men had declared themselves Christian when asked. There were just as many Korans. At least one man wore a yarmulke. No one seemed to bother anyone else about their faith or reading choices.

Bibles are permitted in every correctional facility in the United States. You might be limited to one as most facilities limit the number of outside elements in a cell. But you can definitely have at least one Bible.

For all of prison’s horrors and difficulties, it does offer some time to read and reflect on the Word of God. Prison-based Christian communities are very common, as are newcomers to the faith.

But the Bible can be difficult to follow, especially if you have no formal religious background. Even newer versions translated into modern English offer conflict and confusion in sections. As with learning anything, formal discussions and lessons can greatly enhance not just your comprehension, but also your appreciation of Jesus’ life and words.

Schools like International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) offer online and didactic courses for inmates. You can study the Bible, Christianity, or Theology as a whole to help you understand how the inmates with Korans or yarmulkes see things. Most importantly, formal classes and discussions will help you understand what you believe more clearly.

Few things are respected in prisons the way inmates’ religious practices are. Take advantage of that and find out how Jesus came to the world to save you, to forgive you, and to bring you to heaven after your earthly purpose is fulfilled. Click the link above and take advantage of a sample course to see if online Bible classes can work for you.

You know what is great? When I visit a prison and quickly realize that they really don’t need me or any other Bible-toting visitor at all. It is not unusual. The practical idea that faith-based activities and education help maintain an amount of calm and control on prison populations may be behind it, but it does not take away from the power of a strong in-house prison ministry. Nowadays, I expect to learn much more than I preach during my times there.

These institutions allow followers of Jesus to do what they are supposed to do- serve God. Educational programs, like the International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS), don’t just teach the Bible. They provide leadership and organizational training, as well as pastor training and more. It lends itself to strong Christian foundations and organization within the prison walls as well as experience that will greatly benefit prisoners upon release.

But what if you are a follower and your institution does not yet have a strong education or Bible program. How can you go about serving God in prison? What you can do every day is really quite simple.

Serving God does not necessarily mean running a church or Bible group. It does not mean you have to be so learned in the Bible that you can rattle off Bible verses for every occasion. You do not have to start a counseling program or even recruit others to help you start serving God in prison.  What you can do every day is simply to be a good Christian.

What does that mean? It means to love God, love everyone around you and treat them as you want to be treated. Love is the answer to everything. If you want to advertise your faith in God and show what He has done for you, it is as simple as showing Love. (John 13:35)

That starts with being a model inmate. Exhibit proper respect for authority and be where you are supposed to be. Then start adding the Christian element to things. Smile like you should when you know God loves you. Smile at others and acknowledge them. It makes them wonder what makes you so happy. Don’t be afraid of those who will try to take your happiness away with snide remarks or physical threats. God has your back.

Next comes the sharing part. People may ask you why you are so happy. Tell them! You know God! God is with you! God loves you… and God loves the person who asked, too. They may laugh, walk away unwilling to share the Good News or even say something hurtful to you. That is all okay. Keep it up. In time, someone may ask how knowing God makes you happy. It can be a glorious conversation.

Keep sharing the Love. Seek out fellow inmates who seem to be struggling. The quieter folks or those who seem sad or too angry. You don’t have to preach. Just say hello and let them know you see them. Ask if they are okay. Should anyone ask you why you care or why you are asking, tell them it’s because God loves them and cares about them and He directed you to love and care about them, too.

This is how you start conversations. If there are other followers among you, your actions could push them to join you. Conversations become an active brotherhood. And Good News comes from brotherhood. Next thing you know, you are serving God in prison. What you can do every day will keep adding up.

Even without a formal education program at your correctional facility, International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) can provide you with courses and study guides to help you along. Let them help you serve God by letting them serve God to you!

It was an unusual gesture on the part of the prison guards. For some reason, one pulled me aside and looked inside my Bible. Then he took a closer look at my shoes and lower pants. He gave me a suspicious look, but when our eyes met, the room burst out laughing. “We heard you were freeing all the inmates tonight,” He explained.

Indeed, that was the topic of discussion at the Incarcerated Christian support group. We had a great discussion which included testimonies and heartfelt prayer for inmates who were not yet freed.

Let me share one of the testimonies from prisoners on how they got free again:

Will is a 42-year-old father of a young boy he might never see again. Convicted of taking part in a robbery in which an accomplice killed two people. In New Jersey, participating in a crime that results in a death is the same as murder. He spent his first year in prison crying over the hardship he caused his family. He wrote letters explaining how he never thought stealing would hurt anyone and asked their forgiveness. But he didn’t give them a chance to respond.

He was found hanging from an upper bunk the same day he wrote the letters. Quick actions by the guards saved him. He spent time at a local hospital before returning to the prison. While in the hospital, he had a view of a tree. It was stormy, and the tree blew in all directions. But it always returned upright, minus a few leaves, but otherwise unbothered. “The tree is stronger than me,” he thought.

Back in prison, he could not participate in any activities for a while. Bored, he stopped a book delivery cart one day. On it was a tattered, fake-leather book with a tree embossed on the cover. He opened it and dropped it immediately. His eyes opened wide as he looked suspiciously at the inmate pushing the cart. He took the book. It was a Bible. Written on the front page were the words, “You are stronger than the tree.”

Will had a Methodist background and knew something about the Bible. He read the New Testament first. He eventually went back into the regular routine among the other inmates. One night, he woke to find his bunkmate crying. He saw an object in his hand and scratches on his wrist. “Don’t do it! Said Will. “God loves you!”

The two of them sat on the floor sobbing without words until the guards discovered them. They never said a word, but the next week, both of them got a visit from the prison chaplain. They shared the story. The chaplain asked Will why he said what he said. “Because I know it is true. The Bible says it over and over again”.

“Uh huh,” said the chaplain. “And… is there anybody else you know He loves?”

Will and the other inmate gave their lives to Christ that day. They were among the first members of a Bible study group and Will heads the Incarcerated Christian support group. He explains to new inmates that he wasted over a year whining about being a prisoner when how to get free again was sitting in a cart of books the whole time.

Since God became the guiding point of his life, he realizes no walls or prison guards can take away his freedom. He lives for God and to spread Jesus’ word around the prison. “God put me here not to imprison me, but to make me free.”

There are colleges and faith groups that offer Christian reading materials and classes in the Bible. International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) specializes in correctional facility inmates’ education and the growth of Christianity among prisoners. How to get free once again could be as simple as clicking the link above.

Whenever I have the fortune to participate in events with brothers and sisters in prisons, I am curious why the participants are where they are. I don’t mean what led to their incarceration. I wonder why they would take the time to have a conversation with a rather boring, middle-aged guy who is famous for nothing and offers only his perspective of God’s promise.

Some speak practically of time away from boredom. Others are candid about their desire to get out of their dorm or cell. Some want to challenge me with atheistic or Islamic points of view. Occasionally, I hear a believing inmate who craves a Christian conversation. Whatever the makeup of the group I have in front of me, I raise the prospect of opening your heart, so the prison gates may open, too.

That’s about the time the side conversations falter off and more eyes are directed toward me. “It’s already begun,” I tell them. You made a choice to attend this session and they opened the gates to let me in.”

The Bible tells us of how Paul and Silas sang and praised God until an earthquake shook off their chains and opened the doors to the prison. Or how the angels came and led Peter from another prison. But I am not about to tell you that your bars and cement will dissolve in the real sense like that.

My belief is that accepting Christ and living a Christian life in prison could open doors for you. It won’t lead to your release, but good behavior is good behavior. Maybe your parole hearing will go better. Maybe there are furlough or work release opportunities coming for you. But of course, that’s not what I’m really talking about.

The prison gates I talk about are more figurative than physical. They are the gates that keep us trapped in a worldly prison of uncertainty, sin, and despair. Those of us living in a literal prison understand the feeling better than most. Imagine what it would feel like to open your heart and have the prison gates open, too. What would you do?

Paul and Silas stayed put and assured the guards they were not in danger. They were rewarded by being taken to a guard’s home for food and medical attention. The reward of the guard was that his entire family heard the Word and were saved. The gates opened and the roles were reversed. Paul and Silas saved the guards. Would you stay here to help others?

Or would you go out to show everyone how free you are? Let everyone know how you opened your heart and the prison gates opened, too. There is a lot to be said for that plan. Spread the faith!

But to whom will you open your heart? There is only One who can open the prison gates of your life. The one who sent the angels for Peter and shook the earth to free Paul and Silas. The one who tore the temple’s curtain and could not be held by the grave. The one who looked to Heaven and asked His Father to forgive us. The One who died a horrific death, so we could be free to open our hearts to the Lord and be saved.

For years I was imprisoned in my own apartment. No, I was not under house arrest. My walls and chains were anxiety and social phobias. Until the day I opened my heart to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My prison gates were open, too. All the walls crumbled down so I could share His Love and Hope with all of you. It is a freedom I cannot adequately describe. But you can feel it, too; even if you are surrounded by bars and concrete.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…(Isaiah 61:1)

People are funny. There are so many things they know nothing about, but it doesn’t stop them from making judgments or forming opinions about how things or people “must be”.

Prison is a good example.  It’s not hard to imagine that prison is an awful experience. It goes against our most basic human desires and emotions. From the first time our parents tell us to stay home because of rain, our “anything-but-prison” fear is triggered. There may be some unfortunate souls who are content to be in prison. We occasionally hear of the guy who robs a gas station after making parole because he wants to go back in. But for the most part, I think we can agree that being imprisoned is not our first choice of life paths.

That doesn’t mean prisoners are all sad, despondent people. It doesn’t mean they are all poor, ignorant, or uneducated. It doesn’t mean prisoners are not kind, good-hearted, and Godly men and women. Guards are not all abusive, conniving wanna-be cops, either. But whether it is the influence of old movies, television, peers, or prejudices, these are the things I hear when I tell people I visit prisons to talk to prisoners.

Why would I not want to talk to prisoners? I will refrain from the “captive audience” jokes, but it is not far from the truth. Prisoners are arguably in a better place than most of us when it comes to faith. While others are fighting to fit in life’s distractions and pressures, prisoners maintain a controlled environment and schedule. My fellow parishioners often come into adult worship classes or Bible studies and it is obvious they found no time to preview any of the material. In my prison classes, I rarely find that to be the case.

Prisoners of faith tend to be strong followers and practitioners of the Lord’s Way. That is not a knock on others. It is just an effect of incarceration. Paul once called himself “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.” (Eph 3:1) I use that statement to encourage a response among the prison flock.

It is not just that I have a soft spot for those incarcerated. Jesus does, too. The New Testament is filled with stories and mentions of prison and prisoners. Throughout the Bible, prisoners are spoken about with great compassion and love.

Joseph, Daniel, Francis of Assisi are among those who communicated with God while in prison. So many Bible personalities were freed through prayer and miraculous interventions.

Almost all the apostles were imprisoned at one point or another. It is almost a badge of courage to be imprisoned for their beliefs. While imprisoned and tortured, the apostles and other saints continued to preach the Word and pray to the Lord with fervor.

In my daily life, there are times when the feelings and experiences prisoners share with me seem to parallel my own. When my mother died, life stood still for several days. All of a sudden, my job, friends, life… no one needed me. I was alone among them, in the sadness of the moment. A prisoner in New Jersey used those same words to describe his incarceration. “Life goes on without me. I am alone among the masses in my sadness.”

It is a low moment. It is the type of moment when Jesus is easier to notice and to hear.  Maybe that is why prisons continue to produce Christian leaders. Men and women are constantly called to ministry during their times of incarceration. Prison time often helps them grow their faith by allowing time for Bible studies and even seminary studies like those provided by International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS).

The church I attend is pastored by a former prisoner. He led a prison ministry for many years and upon his release planted several churches in the USA and Central America. He is not unlike many prisoners across the country… if we can just get past our prejudices.

“For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil ” (Romans 7:19, NIV).

Human nature lends itself to seeking justification and victimization. We say we were either right to do something or we couldn’t help it because of… our past, your past, peer pressure, or my personal favorite, “I am the product of society.”

When speaking to inmates over the years, I find a good percentage with difficult backgrounds of abuse, parental loss, and poverty. But on the other hand, I have found many who had relatively charmed upbringings. Certainly, many factors affect our decision-making. We don’t have to have a troubled youth to make a bad decision. We’ve all heard stories of devoted church secretaries stealing money or successful business people exploiting their help.

But regardless of background, personal history, education, or even religion, whether or not we sin comes down to a decision. We make a choice that veers us off the right path. Once we are on that path, it becomes easier to repeat that choice. Soon, the wrong choice doesn’t even seem like a choice anymore. It’s what we do. We’re human. We’re sinners. Whether we are church leaders, teachers, firemen, or inmates.

How to stop the vicious cycle of sin is as simple as changing the choices. It starts with just one. If one time we can stop and think about it, maybe we can make a better choice. It sounds simple, but once you are in a cycle, things speed up and get significantly harder.

Poverty cycles seem so simple to break. Get a better job… but I can’t without a college degree. Get a college degree… but I’m a high school dropout. Get a GED… but I would have to leave my current job to go to school. So, leave your job… the kids are hungry. Let your wife work while you go to school… who watches the children? And so on. Simple choices… difficult to execute.

One prisoner I discussed this with insisted it is more difficult for inmates to stop the vicious cycle of sin. He claimed it is much simpler for a free person to change a decision pattern and get back on the right track. “Really?” I said. “Then how did you all first get in here?”

I wish there was a simpler way to tell inmates how to stop the vicious cycle of sin. But it takes a tough choice- the choice to follow Jesus’ teachings and do what is right. Whether that means saying no to illegal activity, drugs, improper sex, or taking a spoonful of potatoes from another plate, you have to slow the reflexes and think for a minute.

What would Jesus do? Would he cheat on a wife? Would he take what wasn’t his? Would he be mean and hurtful to others? No… and that is how you know doing so is wrong. All it takes is to walk away a few times and the right decision becomes the habit our bad decisions used to be.

If peer pressure is a factor, then those peers are not friends. Walk away. Be honest. You don’t want to repeat bad habits. Don’t show up where trouble is bound to brew. Stand up for victims. Do what Jesus would do until you find yourself in a vicious cycle of doing good.

Jesus is in your heart. You can do anything.

Prisons are different in Central and South America. Inmates are not always assigned cells or even sections. Populations move within a mostly open environment based on gang affiliations or sometimes, political clout.

Many of those prisons have churches, usually Pentecostal or Evangelical. In Brazil’s capital, prison churches take on the appearance of a gang. The church members dub themselves Christ’s Command, a play on Rio’s most notorious gang, Red Command. But its leadership is strict and conservative. The only permissible way to leave a prison gang is to join the church, and the gang must be convinced the person has a legitimate love for the Lord.

It is not that easy to join or start a prison church in the United States. Prisoners can’t always come and go as they like. The celled and compartmentalized layouts are not conducive to free movement. But it can be done and is done all over the country.

Cafeterias and yards often do double duty as a gathering place for believers. Some prisons have large enough chapels for those interested.

Sometimes, outside church ministries provide service leaders and maybe even a worship team. My first visit to a correctional facility was to play guitar with a church group at a Christmas service in Rahway State Prison in New Jersey. There are facilities where a chaplain leads services, but the readings and music are provided by residents of the prison. One of my favorite prison worship teams includes a guard named Rocco who carries in a stand-up bass every Sunday.

Services can vary from the standard protestant menu of song, welcome, reading, gospel, sermon, and “so long!” Often, the followers are allowed to remain in the congregation area for a time afterward to reflect or relax.

Other services are shorter and offer a simple sermon and discussion, followed by a prayer.

In Tennessee, there is a women’s correctional facility that buses 30-40 women to a Baptist church every Sunday. Their regular flock includes many ex-inmates. In Montana, inmates of one facility built a small chapel on a mountain overlooking the prison. The warden and his family are among the worshipers most Sundays.

Whatever the venue, the key to good incarcerated worship is to have strong leadership and good organization. Ideally, services or the whole faith group is led by an inmate. This helps bring other inmates into the fold. Trust and mutual respect for each other’s situation strengthen the relationship.

Bible study and Theology or Pastoral studies can help inmates learn the faith-related aspects of such a task, as well as the organizational skills needed to make it run smoothly. International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) is one college that offers such courses to inmates. They can deliver materials or run a course online at most prison facilities in the US.

Incarcerated worship is not much different from worship offered in any other location. An educated leader can make a big difference in understanding, accepting and growing in the Word. If you have a desire to worship the Lord in your facility, why don’t you contact International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) and let them help you grow in your Faith journey?

Paul was arguably the most zealous preacher of the Word in the time of the Apostles. His dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus started him on a faith-spreading journey from which nothing could deter him… not even prison.

Paul was one of God’s most effective instruments. His multiple incarcerations were no accident. They were part of God’s plan. God warned the apostles there would be tremendous trials ahead for them. People would hate them, persecute them, and they would ultimately meet the same fate as Jesus for their faith. Paul’s life would be no different.

Jesus had plans for St Paul in prison. How God uses miracles to free those who seek him- whether they are actually incarcerated or imprisoned by addictions, afflictions, or circumstance.

During his first recorded jail time, Paul and Silas sang and preached while chained in an inner room of the prison. The other inmates listened to them. When an earthquake broke all their chains and all the doors of the jail flew open, nobody left. They somehow understood that was not the reason God opened their cells.

Acts 16:16-40 details how the guard charged with watching Paul and Silas took them home to hear God’s word and wash their wounds. He and his whole family were converted that very night. The book does not say so, but many assume the other prisoners were, as well.

When we are bound by chains- real or imagined- we need to sing out and recite God’s Word. In time, our own earthquake will come. Our chains will fall off and doors will open for us. When I took up the bible and rekindled my relationship with the Lord, anxiety was washed away. Social phobias and insecurities faded. My confidence was that I could do anything with Jesus at my side. He was… and I could.

Later, we again find St. Paul in prison. How God uses miracles to free those who seek Him is evidenced in Paul himself. Paul’s life in those years was far from easy. He lived under constant supervision in chains. But God had a special mission for him that would not be slowed. The Lord put favor for Paul in the hearts of the Roman leadership.

We know from the epistles he wrote during those years that Paul received visitors and had various companions stay with him to care for his needs. This was not just to make him comfortable. It was to help him with his mission of expanding God’s word.

Despite his circumstance, Paul converted a huge number of Romans. The whole atmosphere of the city changed. Rome’s ultimate change of heart toward the Christians is credited with the roots Paul laid down. Even some within Caesar’s family or inner circle were affected by Paul’s words and dedication to Jesus. It didn’t matter that they put St Paul in prison.

How God uses miracles to free those who seek Him is evident in today’s life, too. Countless prison inmates, drug addicts, pornographers, chronic drinkers, and physically afflicted have turned their lives around once they looked to Jesus. Seemingly meaningless lives freed from their limitations to become unbelievably productive and effective followers of Christ.

It can happen for you, too. Seek Jesus. Read His Word. Accept what seems miraculous. Put your faith in Him to free you from anything restraining you. You will find freedom. You will find hope. You will find salvation.

When my co-workers learned that I visit prisons to introduce Jesus and teach His Way, they wondered why. “Is it possible to live according to the Bible in prison?” one asked. I wondered if the questioner had read his own Bible. Was he not familiar with faith practiced in the face of adversity? Had he even read of Paul’s continued ministry in captivity? (Acts 16:16-40)

There are certainly bible-carrying inmates who are harassed, ridiculed, and even targeted for their faith practice. Someone may think choosing to live according to the Bible makes one weak and unlikely to defend himself if attacked.  Is that much different than our own lives? I have been mocked for carrying a Bible in the open, slapped and called names by an antagonist trying to elicit a response other than “the other cheek.”

Granted, not all prisons are created equal. Lower-security facilities may offer more flexibility and safety for faith-practicing prisoners. But someone who has accepted Christ often doesn’t care about that. They trust Christ to protect them and guide them. If they suffer an insult, they accept it as part of their faith journey. They read about the apostles and other martyrs and realize they are not in such a bad position.

When I am asked if it is possible to live according to the Bible in prison, I tell the story about a prisoner in one of the harshest prison systems in the world, which is Guatemala. A church I visit there is headed by a former prison inmate. He was sentenced to life for a double murder. He quickly developed a “nothing to lose” attitude and ran with the worst of the prison’s enforcers and abusers.

There was a fellow inmate who spent his days preaching the Bible from a box in the courtyard. The pastor got tired of hearing the other man yelling out Bible verses. He set out one day to kill the man as he preached. As he approached, the pastor made eye contact with the preaching inmate. He says he was immediately overcome with grief and love at the same time. He fell to his knees, crying. Before he realized what happened, he had a Bible in his hand.

Long story short, he wound up pastoring a church in that prison. He preached every day, visited sick inmates, counseled family members, and is credited with bringing thousands into the fold. He even had former-prisoners return to attend his weekly services.

Years later, he was released by a converted warden who told the government he was reformed and should be free. Last year, the pastor helped open the sixth City of Refuge Church in Guatemala. Each one is headed by a pastor who used to be a Guatemalan prison inmate.

That is why free Bible study and ministry programs for inmates are so important. Schools like the International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) (http://www.iccscampus.org/) help inmates not only find God but solidify their relationship and service to the Lord.

Is it possible to live according to the Bible in prison? Yes, of course, it is. It might be difficult at times, but not much more difficult than it is for any of us. Should we encourage and support Christianity in prisons? Yes! Absolutely, positively… yes.

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If we asked most people, “is it possible to find freedom from sin in prison?” they would not like the odds. They think real life is tough enough. They find it almost impossible to face life’s temptations and traps in their own situation. Surrounded by criminals must make it almost impossible.

But what makes prison inmates any different than us? We are all sinners, damned to be so by the transgression of Adam and Eve. The Bible tells us there is not much difference between one sin and another. While murder may be a more serious offense, hate is still a demerit on the scorecard of life. Maybe prisoners did something a little more serious than your typical offense, but maybe not.

Besides the ranks of innocents living among the inmate population are those who differ from you and me only in the fact that they got caught. There are people in jail because they had a marijuana cigarette in their pocket. Others got drunk and crashed a car. In 2015, 111 million Americans admitted that they got behind the wheel of a car drunk. 150 million Americans said they tried marijuana.

“There but for the grace of God go I” is the saying. How many people walk free with crimes of theft, tax-evasion, or fraud on their mind? These are otherwise good people. What if a good person got sentenced to a year or even three months in jail? Are they instantly doomed to three months of constant sinning to survive? Or is it possible to find freedom from sin in prison?

There are a lot of good people residing in prison facilities around the country. The overwhelming majority are not hardened criminals. They are regular people in a bad situation. One way many of them seek to make the best of that situation is to join religious groups in the facilities, including Christian groups.

Many jails have Christian and Islamic study groups or counseling groups. The facilities allow and often encourage inmates to keep a Bible in their cells. Prison ministries abound, ranging from on-site churches to weekly services to intermittent visits.

For some prisoners, the outside ministries are not enough. Their thirst for Christ leads them to start prison-based study groups. Thousands of prisoners take advantage of theological and bible study courses like those provided by the International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) (http://www.iccscampus.org/). These courses add practical skills to the faith of the inmates, including how to share the faith among their peers.

Whatever their spiritual outlet is, these men and women are among the majority of inmates trying to get through their terms without further troubles. You could argue that their motivation to get out early or on time, along with less influence from television, gives them as good a chance as any of us to find freedom from sin. Is it possible to find freedom from sin behind prison walls? As possible as it is for anyone else in this tricky world God has placed us in.

America incarcerates more people than any country in the world. Overcrowding and understaffing plague the prison system. Not only is freedom removed from these prisoners’ lives, so is privacy. They are subjected to group showers, meals, exercise, and are afforded only minimal shielding from guarding eyes while using the bathroom. They are forgotten by most and reviled by many as criminals and thugs who deserve their fate.

We are sure there is a percentage of innocent men and women in prison, but we are not pleading their cases. We will point out that many inmates made a mistake somewhere in their lives that led them to be incarcerated. Drugs, poverty, abuse, and peer pressure are the prime drivers of the majority of those matriculating the US judicial system.

Their years behind bars may have been headed off by more treatment programs, role models, and opportunities. However, they cannot go back in time and change choices that they made. We can’t build treatment centers, homeless shelters, or build job-building enterprises to help those already lost to the prison system.

The best thing to do when we are lost is to sit in place for a while and hope to be found. This is the situation inmates find themselves in today. They are there biding time until they are released. The question is, will they re-enter the labyrinth that put them in prison once already? Or will they leave with directions to a better life, free of whatever burdens brought them to jail in the first place?

They need a map and of course, the map of life is the Bible. Most prisons do not offer much in the way of computer or job-training programs. Almost all, however, offer reading and studying opportunities. There is only one book that is guaranteed to help them survive their incarceration period and prepare them to face their pending freedom well-armed for all life’s challenges.

That’s why free Bible study courses for inmates are so important. Programs like those provided by the International Christian College and Seminary (http://www.iccscampus.org/) allow inmates to not only read the Bible, but better explore what Jesus can do in their life.

It is well-accepted that many of the most devout Christians did not find and accept Christ until they hit the proverbial rock bottom. It is hard to imagine how much lower inmates’ lives can go than having no control of their life, remanded to follow the rules of their prison.

Many Christian charities and churches visit prisons to talk about Jesus and offer support. Many provide free Bibles for the prisoners to read. They might hold services for inmates weekly or even daily. These programs are often well-received as both a respite from the daily grind of prison and the opportunity to discover (or re-discover) their faith in God.

Free bible study course for inmates brings that a step further. ICCS’s free Bible study course for inmates (http://www.iccscampus.org/) brings the inmates to a fuller understanding of the Good News than visiting pastors or groups can achieve. They offer an opportunity to not just direct inmates to the church, but to capture them forever by igniting a yearning for knowledge and service even after they are released.

This is why free bible studies for inmates are so valuable and should be supported everywhere. As followers, we should relish the idea of providing a light to brothers and sisters struggling in life. Please take a minute to go on line to explore and support ICCS (http://www.iccscampus.org/).

My life is filled with services, prayer, retreats, church programs, and other events. By far, what I most enjoy is good Christian conversation and debate about Faith topics and Bible translation.

When I was invited to sit in on a group discussion about living a Biblical life while dealing with some of life’s current trends, I enthusiastically accepted. The venue was a large cafeteria. Six of us sat in an elevated section with the moderator, while dozens of others enjoyed coffee and bread in the main eating area.

Two of us in the “group of six” were visitors to what was apparently a regular meeting group. We were given the scenario and some background into the local church’s preaching on the topic at hand. Several concerns about that position were submitted by the main group. The other outsider and myself were asked to kick things off with a couple of minutes of what we thought.

It was not long after I spoke that I realized I was in way over my head. Not only was the conversation steered into Biblical depth by the other members of the panel, but the general audience was incredibly well-versed in the writings of Paul and quoted Jesus with authority in a way I did not so readily relate to the issue.

It was the most interesting and enjoyable conversation I had in a long time. I wanted to say how impressed I was with the depth and breadth of ideas raised, but I wanted to choose my words carefully. After all, there was a large banner in front of the room telling me, “Don’t be CON-descending!”

This was the cafeteria of a medium-security prison facility. Other than the moderator (their non-denominational chaplain) and the other guest (a rabbi), everyone else involved was following Jesus behind the prison walls. What they taught me that day is forever ingrained in my mind.

The inmates’ knowledge did not come solely from the direction of their chaplain. He was instrumental in providing Bibles, but a large percentage of the prisoner group also took advantage of the facility’s college program, which included correspondence courses on Biblical Studies, Pastoral Studies, Theology and more, like the programs offered by the International Christian College and Seminary (ICCS) (http://www.iccscampus.org/).

Programs like this are thriving across the country. Those who are following Jesus behind the prison walls can find support and resources in the knowledge that comes from those courses. Reading the Bible is informative, but putting it together with practical studies helps inmates deal with the hardships of isolation, crime, and despair encountered in many of these facilities.

It is not unusual for prison to be that “rock bottom” moment when humans finally recognize that Jesus has been with them the whole time. Many prisons accommodate religious studies, books, visitors, and services. Inmates who are following Jesus behind prison walls tend to be model prisoners, making it worthwhile for facility managers to encourage their growth in faith.

Others rekindle their faith while incarcerated. An interesting note is that inmates finding or changing their religion in state prisons are most likely heading toward Islam, with Christianity a distant second choice. For this reason alone, we should encourage those following Jesus behind prison walls, as well as those who are seeking answers, by supporting prison ministries and prison educational opportunities like ICCS (http://www.iccscampus.org/).

After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul spent considerable time in prison for preaching the Word. But his determination to spread the faith was never deterred by his incarcerations. He continued being active in prison. How Paul used every possibility to worship God and spread God’s word is an inspiration to everyone, especially Christians who find themselves imprisoned around the world.

On his second missionary journey, Paul cast a demon out of a woman. Unfortunately, that demon helped the woman make predictions that some men in town were exploiting to make money. The men became angry and accused Paul and Silas, who accompanied him, of teaching anti-Roman practices. They were arrested.

In jail, they were chained in an inner room by a guard who was warned to guard them closely. Paul and Silas sang to the Lord and proclaimed his word until midnight when an earthquake happened that broke their chains and swung open all the doors to the prison. The guard was ready to fall on his sword, thinking he had failed his charge, but Paul called out to stop as no one had left.

The guard took the pair to his home where he dressed their wounds and asked them about Jesus. His whole family accepted their savior that night. In the morning, they were freed. (Acts 16:16-40)

Paul was unjustly jailed again after Jews claimed he brought a Gentile into the synagogue. The Romans brought him to Caesarea to plead his case. There was no reason for it, but the magistrate held him two years hoping he might receive a bribe for his release.

He was then sent to Rome as a prisoner. He was shown some favor by Roman authorities, including being allowed to serve his sentence in a rented apartment. Still, he wore chains and was a prisoner. He continued showing us his zeal for spreading the Word by being active in prison. How Paul used every possibility to worship the Lord and spread God’s Word is evident in the scripture.

Acts 28 details meetings with Jewish leaders. The author of Acts apparently knows Paul’s fate but offers no specific details. This is consistent with the selective process of the Bible, written, of course, to share God’s Word, not Paul’s story.

Still, his letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon offer glimpses into how active a preaching life he led while in Rome. He had the city abuzz in Christianity. Even Caesar’s family are mentioned among the converts, which may mean his inner political circle.

His writings detail how difficult his life was, but Paul always extolled us to rejoice, as he did, in the Lord’s name and grace. Paul changed Rome by being active in prison. How he used every possibility to worship God and spread God’s word changed all of history as well.

Paul had the Word instilled upon him by the Lord. We may have to work a little harder at it. Get yourself a Bible and read God’s history and promise. Take a course in Bible study or even pastoring and church management through places like the International Christian College and Seminary (http://www.iccscampus.org/). Read especially how Paul used his time as an inmate to spread the faith. Be inspired and rejoice in God’s Name.

Gone are the days when prisoners were tied up together day time to perform hard labor. Nowadays prisons are very different! A variety of programs has come to implementation as jail terms move away from punishment to rehabilitation.

When an individual is put behind bars for a specific prison term, most people often view it as if it is the end of the world. Being in prison can be incredibly isolating and can leave inmates feeling completely cut off from the world. There are however several programs that have been put in place by the International Christian College & Seminary to help inmates to be productive during their period in jail. Many prisoners desire to utilize their time well in prison and become useful members of society upon their release.

We offer programs for the incarcerated that are academic but geared towards the Christian doctrine. The main aim of these activities is to prepare the incarcerated fit in the society upon their release when they conclude their jail terms. The inmates are not only equipped with literacy knowledge but also their spiritual nourishment. We also initiated these programs because we understood that most prisoners get their educational dreams cut off the moment they are put behind bars. They can still pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and get certificates after they complete their respective courses. We offer these courses at an affordable rate to enable more prisoners to benefit from them. Most of our courses offered to the incarcerated are offered using correspondence that is the curriculum is offered in tandem with the prison program. We meet the prisoners through our visits or occasionally through letters.

At www.icccampus.org we offer you a good way to acquire an education that will make an inmate an all-round person in the society. Academic education usually is provided in the form of General Education Development or literacy classes. These are important in that they help the incarcerated to read and write, and also do basic mathematical arithmetic. It is important since that most prisoner are illiterate. They maintain less than 5th-grade proficiency in reading and writing because they come from low-income homes having little skills in handling everyday tasks. This situation has denied them the chance to pursue education.

After the student earns a General Education Development, they are allowed to further their studies using prison programs. We have several of courses from which they can choose from. We have a competent staff that endeavors in enabling our students to achieve their highest educational ambitions.

If you want to know about the programs for the incarcerated and where to find out more on how to apply, visit our website www.iccscampus.org. Enrolling in our programs is also not so costly as we only require a small amount of fee as down-payment to start. This helps to make it easier for anyone to enroll in our courses and finish it as well. Upon being admitted to prison, each inmate undergoes literacy tests to determine their level of education.

We at the International Christian College & Seminary that helps in the rehabilitation of the incarcerated. It should be noted that the main aim of prison is to rehabilitate prisoners. This is not always achieved since we have some prisoners who embark on their criminal activities after they have been set free. Putting them in prison is not sufficient to them! This has prompted our college to develop the programs for the incarcerated that adhere to the Christian doctrine. This is more efficient in the rehabilitation process since the imprisoned are taught on Christian ethics that are accepted in the society.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

Being jailed is not the end of life. People hold a misconception that a prisoner can’t do anything significant. Leave alone reading the Bible! We dispute this. They possess the ability to read the Bible as we do as well. Inmates can read the Bible too; this is a stand that we hold dearest in our hearts at the International Christian College and Seminary. We are Christian institution which aims at offering Bible study programs tailored at teaching Christian morals and values. We do this by not discriminating against anyone. In James 2:1-15 we are advised by God not to discriminate against others basing on their status. Prisoners are human beings as we do! They should also receive guidance on how to read the word of God.

Prisoners usually have plenty of time which they use in contemplating about actions that landed them in prison. They look for solutions that can make them get over their past. Many of them adopt Christian religion at this time, and they develop the urge of knowing God. We at www.iccscampus.org offer Bible study lessons that enable our incarcerated brothers to study the Word of God effectively. By doing this, they shall also utilize their time in prison effectively in that, by the time they are set free, they become productive citizens in the society.

Our study program is a comprehensive one; we also have skilled personnel that teaches in detail to enable the incarcerated have wider knowledge about the word of God and its applicability. We also help them to adopt Christian morals that are accepted in society. By doing this, many of them are transformed into respectable men and women in society.

We offer a correspondence program that gives our inmates the freedom to engage in Bible study and continue with other activities pertaining prison life. We understand the challenges faced by inmates in prison, that’s why we developed this program. If you have your loved one in prison, who want to study the Bible study course at an affordable price, you can help then enroll in our college. The incarcerated student stands to benefit by being taught how to overcome emotions such as hatred, anger and other evils that are common in our prisons.

We have been helping the inmates get knowledge about the Bible for a considerable time now. Our major job has been guiding them through their courses by providing them relevant curriculum material and also help them solve problems they encounter while in prison.

The Bible is a representation of true freedom. It has helped to free the hearts and minds throughout history. The secret to this freedom is reading the Bible. People who don’t know God are in their prison, and they need Divine intervention for their freedom. Many inmates at times have to fight against guilt which makes them hate themselves. The Bible acts to their remedy by giving them a second chance in life.

A good number of prisoners we have interacted with, came from the underprivileged backgrounds, being raised up by poor parents or sometimes broken, violent homes. They are deprived of accessing public education together with the occupation prospects. We are to the rescue of our imprisoned brothers by offering them Bible study lessons because we believe that inmates can read the Bible too. By giving them this important opportunity, they will have changed mindset and live a meaningful life.

Gone are the days when prisoners could be ignored and denied access to knowledge, especially Biblical knowledge. If you know of a prisoner who is passionate of undergoing Bible study lessons, you can recommend them our college. We at www.iccscampus.org have a developed and an effective Bible study program for the incarcerated because we believe that inmates can study the Bible too. We are ready to give them guidance that will help them read the Bible well.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

At www.iccscampus.org we are involved in the prison ministry because we love studying and also sharing the word of God. We do team facilitation that caters for the needs of those who used one on one attention; the team also guide the inmates on how to pray for themselves and other additional skills. Are you incarcerated? Join us in Bible study now and notice the difference.

Our Bible study is aimed at helping the prisoners to know God on a personal basis and also read its word effectively. We do so to help them know how to pray for themselves and others, know how to forgive, deal with their emotions (fear, shame, anger, etc.), respect for those in authority, obey others and also develop a Christian worldview.

If you are convicted, sitting lonely in your cell, guilty of your actions that landed you in prison and maybe you have lost hope in life don’t despair! We are to your rescue. We at the International Christian College and seminary understand your predicaments. We are offering a Bible study course for incarcerated that helps them utilize their time in prison. Bible study course also helps them to overcome thoughts making them feel guilty by giving them hope of a second chance in life. One only gets this virtue through reading the Bible.

We offer correspondence courses for inmates. These are ideal for them in that they learn at their comfort. Our curriculum goes to them together with their daily duties in prison. We have skilled personnel facilitating Bible study. They have helped many inmates learn the Bible to detail and also guided them on how to apply it in their daily lives. We believe that prisoners have the ability to demonstrate their talents when given a chance. Who knows our prison Bible study program can nurture the next evangelists who will go out and spread the good news! We believe that prison is an ore of untapped talent, this has motivated us to go after them are you incarcerated? Join us in Bible study now. You have every reason to join us now at www.iccscampus.org.

We have a vast experience working with incarcerated and what we have done to them over the years has been rehabilitating them through teaching them the word of God. The purpose of every prison is to rehabilitate the inmates. This sometimes doesn’t yield fruits because of some of the return to their criminal activities as soon as they are released. The prison is not sufficient enough to rehabilitate some prisoners, this is the reason which is why we decided to offer the Bible study curriculum that will teach them Christian ethics and practices, and by doing so, they will abandon their weird behavior and practices.

Any inmate should think of life after serving their jail terms. Many prisoners find themselves back to prison because they have nothing to occupy them or they still don’t know how to spend their time without trouble. We at www.iccscampus.org aims at equipping Bible knowledge to the inmates so that they live independently after they leave prison. Our teachings will enable them to use legal means of earning a living rather than engaging in crime. This helps them avoid living a fugitive life.

Rehabilitated prisoners who didn’t go through Bible study show a low rate of recidivism compared to their fellow rehabilitated prisoners who have undergone our Bible study program. This is a clear indication that Bible study is a requirement to the prisoners and we offer the course for this important reason.

You may be fighting addictions ranging from alcohol, drugs and substance abuse. Some prisoners ever have profound anger they have tried to end to no avail. Others can’t let go their urge to steal, rape or even kill. These vices have taken control of them and what they need is freedom! The Bible ideal for their liberation. Are you incarcerated? Join us in Bible study now. We at International Christian College and seminary provide Bible study to help inmates to overcome their addiction.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

Prison life can sometimes be stressful, inmates face stigma from the rest of the society, and this can lead to recidivism. Within the prison, inmates have a lot of restrictions that purposely help change their behavior. They also have a lot of time to meditate upon the mistakes they committed and to re-evaluate the course of their lives from that moment.

Many times the inmates develop a sense of guilt and remorse for what they have done. In this case, religion plays a vital role in helping the incarcerated regain their personality, self- esteem and to view their current life from a different perspective. Some prisoners may already have knowledge of God while a bigger lot find Christianity for the first time in prison. This article is about how to help an inmate to enroll for a correspondence Bible course.

Correspondence Bible studies play a vital role because they help the prisoner to overcome guilt with time and develop spiritually. Inmates go through a comprehensive Bible study course that has proved to play a bigger part in rehabilitation.www.iccscampus.org offers Bible study courses to the incarcerated and provide follow-up services to them. Our aim is to acquaint prisoners with the knowledge of God and to change their mindset on how they view issues in their lives.

Enrollment to Bible study course is simple, and inmates should just get enrollment forms online. After filling the enrollment forms, the inmate is assigned a teacher who will conduct the lessons to the inmate voluntarily. A few delays can occur hence patience is highly appreciated.

Apart from online enrollment, most prisons have local Bible study courses offered by various personnel like pastors, priests, and deacons. Inmates who are willing to enroll for Bible study courses are encouraged to seek consent from their instructor, and everything will be arranged for them.

For those family members or friends of the incarcerated who wish to know how to help an inmate to enroll for a correspondence course must gather facts about the curriculum offered at our college. We offer in-depth Bible classes that are conducted at prisons level, and those ready for salvation get a chance to receive Christ, and Baptismal classes are also given. Prisoners who get saved get accountability partners or mentors who follow them up even after prison life and in their home churches to make sure they remain steadfast in their faith.

The Bible offers the message of truth to believers and accepting Jesus as personal savior is a step towards the revival of the soul and the setting apart for Gods work. It offers the truth on many issues people face. What the message of forgiveness, repentance and God’s grace towards sinners is evident in many chapters of the Bible and having a chance to study it as an inmate gives them an upper hand for quicker recovery and easier ways to cope with temptations.

Correspondence Bible study courses help prisoners to realize Gods love in their lives and to know how precious their lives are before God’s eyes. They get to know God at a personal level and know how to devote to Him. These create important values of love and self-control in the lives of prisoners that will keep them from reverting to their previous mistakes.

Giving a closer look at the rehabilitated prisoners, their rate of recidivism is lower compared to those who have not undergone Bible study programs. This means that the courses are vital for any inmate. Adequate advice and follow-up can help transform prisoners’ lives and make them productive in the society. Since most Bible Study courses are voluntary, every inmate should purpose to enroll as part of their rehabilitation process.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

You may be stuck, lamenting about the educational dreams of your incarcerated loved one going to the drain. Are you wondering how prisoners can get a degree in Bible studies? Is it not the end of everything for them? At www.iccscampus.org, we know how education is significant for everyone. For this reason, we have established programs for the incarcerated. We developed this program because we know that the imprisoned face numerous challenges behind bars. Some of the challenges range from boredom, violence, drug abuse, separation from their families among other horrific experiences. This can make them develop a low profile in their lives especially when we put into consideration that some of them are locked up there for crimes they didn’t commit. Our motivation is derived from Jesus’s teachings in Mark 16:15 “Go into the world and preach the gospel.” That’s why we offer our services to the incarcerated individuals who tend to have been forgotten. Is your loved one locked up in prison and you think it’s the end of the road for him/her? Don’t despair; we are to their rescue. We at www.iccscamous.org offer degree programs for the incarcerated. You can make an impact in their lives by enabling them to attain a Bible-based degree at our college.

The incarcerated are normal people just as we are! We share the same experiences and feelings only that they are locked in prison. Education is also a fundamental right to the imprisoned as it is to us. Many of the prisoners had big educational goals they wanted to achieve but were cut short the moment they stepped into prison. We offer degree courses to these wonderful individuals which enable them to achieve their educational demands.

Correspondence is the main channel through which the Bible study curriculum is taught to the inmates. This mainly entails teaching through mails or regular visits to the prisons without interfering with the daily program of the prison. The mailing method, for example, entails exchanging questions and answers. This has been a success as we have reformed many programs through this program. This is the most effective method on how prisoners can get a degree in Bible studies.

Many prisoners come from poor backgrounds where they cannot fend for their education. Many of them are illiterate. We offer degree courses at our college with a purpose of alleviating literacy levels amongst our imprisoned brethren. After they can read, they shall be in a position to read the Bible effectively.

You should also put into consideration that the inmates will need a job to support themselves together with their families after they are released from prison. Lack of college education will limit their chances of being employed, and it turns up to be a nightmare to their families since they cannot cater for their needs, and the community will suffer since they may resort to their previous criminal deeds. Studies by the Florida Department of Corrections shows that the inmates who attained education behind prison walls are less likely to turn back to their former criminal behaviors. Family members of the incarcerated should visit our website to find out how prisoners can get a degree in Bible studies. Our Bible study course will not only enable them to read the Bible well but to also secure a job upon their release in prison.

It is also important to consider that by being incarcerated, it doesn’t mean that the prisoners have limited abilities. It’s only that they lack the opportunities that will enable them to exploit their talents to the fullest. We offer an educational curriculum deeply rooted in Christian norms. By giving them that chance to study, we are giving them a platform to exploit their abilities to the maximum.

For many years, the imprisoned have been ignored. They are seen to be naturally evil. Some of the inmates have even been labeled by the basing on the mistake that made them jailed. It is dehumanizing to call an inmate “murderer,” “rapist,” “thief” instead of his/her name. They are not even assured of their basic needs, education being one of them. At our college, we are privileged to offer degree programs to the prisoners. Our programs are meant to help prisoners to overcome the stigma they are facing. If you are a friend or family member of the incarcerated, check our website www.iccscampus.org to find out how prisoners can get a degree in Bible studies.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

This is a testimony of a prisoner who got saved while in prison.

“I’m Rab Allan from Kirriemmir, Scotland. I was born 28 years ago. I’m a father of one daughter and two sons. My wife and I have been Christians since 1994. I have a fascinating testimony on how I met Christ in Prison. I lived a life characterized by drug addiction and violence. I was raised up in a family of ten, four girls and six boys. My family was immersed in the bondage of alcoholism and violence. My father and my brothers were all alcoholics. My father abused my mother mentally and even physically. He could beat up my mother occasionally after being drunk. This made me hate him, and I begged my mother to divorce my father, but up to now, she has not done that.
I was not privileged to play games with my dad as other kids of my age did. My life in crime began when I was 12, stealing cars and shoplifting. I belonged to a gang of teens called “Elm Street Grave Diggers” We always fought with other gangs on flimsy issues. This made my mom was extremely worried about me.

My mom never drunk or abused any drug, she was of strong character. After committing to stop my criminal activities, I was involved in youth work organizations such as The Princes Trust and Duke of Edinburg. My career became successful. When I was 23, I worked with my friend Freda for a youth group we found together. I was sacked after being accused of stealing. My sacking was not justified because I was innocent. This made me imprisoned for eight months. I was released then after two months; I was brought back to prison accused of assault and mishandling firearms.

I was transferred to Shorts after spending six months in Barlinnie prison, but while I was still at Barlinnie, I was visited by a minister who told me that he had been told by my friend that I was interested in the Bible. He requested me to join him in a Bible discussion, but I refused. I gave him a chance when gave me an offer of tea, biscuits, and chocolate. It was a rear occurrence at Barlinnie. In many occasions, I used to put off the minister with my silly comments pertaining God, but it came a day when requested for a Bible and its booklet called “Ultimate questions,” authored by John Blanchard, which he gave me. I tried to read, but I could not understand them.

So I continued taking drugs and sometimes selling them to sustain my luxurious life. After being transferred to the Shorts, I thought it was time to show my true colors to the authorities. I remember threatening an officer that I was going to remove one of his eyes. That was how insane and mad I was. Everyone was an enemy and stranger to me.

My turning point came one of the summer nights while in my cell. I had put out the lights listening to music. I heard the voice of Christ! The voice told me, “Turn off the lights,” I refused to do it, preferring staying in the dark. I heard this though severally and I was forced to switch on the lights, I did not know the light that strange voice told me was the light of Christ!

After that incidence, I lay on the dirty floor with my booklet and Bible. I tried to read five times, but still, I didn’t understand what it meant. When I was on the verge of giving up, my eye landed on a passage at the bottom of my booklet. The passage had the message “If I didn’t comprehend the message, I asked God to reveal it to me.” I went down on my knees to ask God to reveal it to me. I could read the booklet loud and occasionally get the answers. The Bible became real to me, and that’s how I met Christ in prison”.

This is just one incident where an inmate God saved while in prison. At www.iccscampus.org, our greatest desire is to bring more lives to Christ. We do this by offering them Bible study lessons. This is important since we know that after being born again, they need to read the Bible, and reading the Bible requires that they have the skills to read it well. Our Bible study lessons are inclined to help the prisoners have wider knowledge about the Bible.

We at www.iccscampus.org have made our Bible study curriculum effective by adopting the correspondent technique. We provide Bible study lessons to the prisoners as they continue with their daily duties in prison. This technique has yielded amazing results since we have helped many prisoners get saved!

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

The international Christian college and seminary are tasked with spreading the gospel and educating the prisoners. We enable people to have a wider understanding of Christianity that enables them to provide answers to many life questions. A prison is a place characterized with many evils such as violence, hatred drug abuse, etc. We strive to make the lives of prisoners to be meaningful by helping them acquire education while in prison.

The reason why we offer education behind prison walls is to avail the word of God to the prisoners, they are cut off from society, and they may not get to know the goodness of God if we don’t minister to them. We also offer studies to those who are incarcerated especially those who could not continue with education due to imprisonment. Since many prisons don’t have computers and internet connectivity, we are offering them our programs using correspondence. This entails sending course materials to the prisoners, and they send back answers using mailing.

We at www.iccscampus.org offer degree programs at a very affordable rate. The degree courses we offer range from undergraduate, masters, and doctorate. This program is meant to help prisoners to spend their time in prison meaningfully. We teach Christian values as they are addressed in the Bible, and our candidates stand to benefit upon their release as they could have been nurtured to be all round people.
We know that many prisoners undergo periods of unending solitude together with guilt. Their criminal activities that landed them in prison makes them to despair and regret their past actions. They need guidance on how to forget their past and reconstruct their lives. This is the reason as to why we offer education behind prison walls. They will be able to reform after reading the Bible, and we teach them on how to read the Bible and understand it in the best way possible.

We offer educational opportunities to the incarcerated because we know the ripple effect it can make in their lives. To begin with, the education we offer helps in addressing the literacy levels among the prisoners. Many of them come from disadvantaged families so they can’t afford education. Education is also key in that it helps them to improve on their character and also develop their reasoning capacity.

At our college, we adhere to the principle of equality. We believe that we are equal to each other. In James 2:1-5, the Bible warns us against discriminating others in any way. We should extend our olive hand to those who are underprivileged in society. For a long time, prisoners have been discriminated against and viewed as criminals! The thinking of society is that they cannot do something substantial but harm. This cannot be the truth! Prisoners can be great again when given a chance; our programs are meant to help prisoners achieve their academic goals and become useful individuals upon their release.

Education is a sure way to liberation. As the saying goes, “you can be imprisoned, but your mind cannot be imprisoned.” The desire of any convict is to get freedom. Being set free by the prison authorities is not enough without liberating your mind. At www.iccscampus.org, we believe that the education we offer will help the inmates let go their previous misconducts. Some are facing serious addictions such as drugs and alcoholism, but they don’t know to liberate themselves. Many of them commit crimes because they don’t respect the freedom of others.

At the International Christian College & Seminary, we know that education is important but Biblical knowledge is vital for every soul, this explains our efforts of developing programs that offer education behind the prison walls. We took this important step to reach the prisoners who are a forgotten lot. Our Bible study lessons are meant to help our incarcerated brothers to know more about the word of God and also have a wider view of Christianity.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

Many inmates find Christ while in prison since they are new believers, they need Bibles. Some sections believe that their ideal Bible is the King James Version, others advocate for the new American Standard Bible, the irony of it all is that many of them have little knowledge about those Bibles! Many donors issue Bibles to prisoners, but unfortunately, they don’t know how to study them. It becomes hard for them to read. You can help a prisoner study the Bible by recommending them at our Bible school college. We offer Bible study lessons at an affordable price.

New believers often have many questions pertaining Christianity; prisoners have more! Prisoners have a dilemma of what will happen tomorrow; this makes them feel helpless and forgotten. The Bible is the only solution to their predicaments, friends and family members should help them by finding their Bible studies. This will make them to not only grow spiritually but overcome the challenges they face while incarcerated.

Nobody is jailed for missing church. Most of them are there after committing crimes emanating from anger, hatred, trust, etc. a new believer in Christ living in prison can embark on his/her evil behavior and ignore spiritual growth due to the destructions in prison. How can new believers in Christ learn about his kindness, understanding, love peace and let go their evil deeds? It’s only by reading of the word of God and putting it into practice.

Many volunteers ask questions about the best Bible that is suited for prisoners. It’s important for them to know that Bible studies done in prison differ from that done in churches. This is because while other inmates are literate and can read comfortably, a section of them are can hardly read or write anything. Literacy skills are taught to make Bible study a success. Since we are Christians ready to take His cross, we should also be confident about those who are underprivileged. We demonstrate our love to God by extending our empathy to those who have been ignored.

We at www.iccscampus.org have interacted with the incarcerated for many years, and they long for a just spiritual home where nobody judges them or looks down upon them. “If anyone says “I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love God whom he hasn’t seen (1 john4:20). We at iccampus.org have many donors that fund Bible study program for incarcerated. It has been a success since many prisoners come from low-income homes. Funding their studies can be a daunting experience. Your input is highly welcome; you can donate funds to our college to be part of our prison ministry.

Inmates can usually cut off from the outside world. Hence they live isolating life. The best you can do to them so that they develop the urge of seeking God is by being caring and loving to them. You provide them with the assurance that their past is a long gone affair and the best they can do is to turn to the Lord.

Bible study lessons are significant to our incarcerated friends. They live their lives in solitude and if we can want to make them use their time appropriately is by engaging them. That’s why we at ww.iccscampus.org offer Bible study lessons to the incarcerated. You can support their Bible study course to enable them to become productive and responsible citizens after they are set free from prison.
Like other Christians, prisoners also need to have a feel of the Kingdom. This comes from knowing the word of God. A person can only know this word by reading the Bible. Many people especially prisoners don’t know how to read the Bible! If you are passionate about prison ministry, you can help a prisoner study the Bible at our college.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

Many prisoners are left to meditate upon their criminal activities that made them imprisoned, at times this makes them guilty. They look for solutions of overcoming their guilt. Many of them give their lives to Christ, and therefore it becomes a requirement of them to read the Bible. The problem is that many of them read it, but they can’t understand it, that’s why at www.iccscampus.org, we offer Bible study to enable them to keep in touch with Christ.

Many prisoners usually have that desire to utilize their time in prison and come out while they have achieved something. We at International Christian College and seminary we offer Bible study course and issue certificates upon the completion of courses. This makes the prisoners to become useful in the society after they are released. We offer Bible to prisoners because it avails the love of God to them and we also use this chance to spread the word of God.

We offer Bible study to prisoners using correspondence. This technique is effective since it enables us to teach them as they continue with their duties in prison. We minister to them via letters or our visits. We have taken this step to cater for those inmates who had their educational dreams cut off as they were put in prison. They can take Bible study course and then issued with merit certificates. We offer the undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Bible studies at an affordable price. The correspondence Bible study technique has helped us to impact Christian values and also the Word of God to the prisoners effectively.

We also offer Bible study courses because we understand that some of the prisoners come from low-income homes. They cannot afford the cost of education hence the reason as to why most of them are illiterate. We offer them Bible study lessons to improve their literacy capabilities for the purpose of reading the Bible.

We at www.iccscampus.org also offer Bible study for the prisoners for the purpose of rehabilitation. This is the most significant goal of any prison. A prisoner is expected to reform after completing his/her jail term. This is not always guaranteed as some prisoners after they are released, they embark on their criminal activities. Our intention is to rehabilitate them by instilling religious values in their lives. This is achieved by teaching them how to read and live the Word of God.
As a Christian institution, our major goal is to spread the word of God through the programs we offer. Our experience of teaching the prisoners over the years has shown that our Bible study courses have been a great success to the prisoners who feel alienated by the society. They have always embraced our programs because they know we care for them. We strive in spreading the Gospel even to those who are disadvantaged.

It is also important to note that by being imprisoned, it doesn’t mean that the prisoners have limited abilities. For many years, prisoners have been looked down upon and thought that they cannot amount to anything! That’s a fallacy! Prisoners are human beings as we do! They need equal opportunities as we do. That’s why at our college, we offer Bible study for prisoners to enable them to study to the maximum of their abilities.

Many prisoners lose hope after they have been imprisoned, they think it’s the end of the world for them. At our college, we strive to preach forgiveness of Christ by the cross and giving them a new hope. We guide them on how to read the Bible, and by doing so, they come to learn about the unconditional love God has for them. They get the second chance in life.
Prisoners should be treated with humane. They are our brothers and sisters only that they are incarcerated. We need to show them love and support which will make them valued and feel the need to change bad habits. You can refer them to our college, international Christian college and seminary.

Please complete the information in the box that says, “Start Here” or call us at (877)391-3741 to begin your educational journey with ICCS.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

If Jesus was on Earth today, perhaps He could be found in prison, dining and talking with the incarcerated whom we view as outcasts or criminals. His biggest mission on earth was seeking and saving those who are lost! In Mathew 25:36, 40, we see Jesus’s love for prison ministry. It is for this reason that we endeavor following the footsteps of Jesus by offering the incarcerated Bible study lessons.
It is our great desire to help the incarcerated receive spiritual nourishment and the good news of our Lord Jesus by studying the Bible. From research and our experience over the years, we have come to understand that the imprisoned gain a lot from by Bible study using correspondence. It is because prisoners have plenty of time to devote to studying the Bible. This could have been different if they were free as we do. We’ve developed this program to benefit thousands of prisoners in the country. We issue them certificates after completing the course.

We at www.iccscampus.org have the passion of studying and sharing the word of God and also bring a new hope for life in prison. We have a qualified staff that guides our learners to study the Bible in a more effective way. Our Bible study program is geared at helping the incarnated to know God on a personal level, and by doing this, they will receive Christ who guides them to read and meditate on the word. They shall also be able to pray for themselves and others, deal with their emotions and also become role models in society. Our Bible study curriculum is best suited for our incarcerated brothers and sisters.

Any Christian who loves the Lord must gather insights and the wonderful actions of God through reading the Bible. Jesus is the way to eternity, and we can only get to know Him by studying the word. In John 14:16, Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. Every Christian wishes to get a promotion to eternity. This only comes after reading the word. We offer Bible study lessons to enable the incarnated read the word of God and also live a life that will make them inherit the Kingdom of God.

At our college, we believe in equality. Our guiding principle is that all of us are equal before God and we all need His forgiveness. The prisoners also need to read the word of God without discrimination. We are advised by Jesus Himself in James 2:1-5 to not discriminate against others basing on their status in society. Prisoners are also human beings! The incarcerated, therefore, have a chance of amassing knowledge about the word of God through Bible study. We are trying to denounce those discriminative attitudes held by the society against the imprisoned by giving them the opportunity to study the Bible and Know God. This is a new hope for life in prison.

Since prison is a rehabilitation center, the main aim activity there, therefore, is to transform the incarcerated. Prisoners are taken through a deliberate program that enables them to alter their weird behaviors. We believe that salvation is the only sure way to change. Our Bible study curriculum is aimed at creation transformation in the lives of the inmates. They’ll change after reading the word of God, and they will abandon bad morals and start living pure life. An individual’s past cannot dictate his/her life. If one can denounce his wrong doings, God can use him. For instance, Moses became a murderer and a fugitive in the Egyptian judicial system but what became of him after that is amazing! He was used by God to free His people from slavery in Egypt and take them to the Promised Land. Everyone has value!

Given that we are a Christian institution, our programs are geared to spreading the Gospel to the world. We have gone further to develop a Bible study for the prisoners. These are individuals who are looked down upon by the society. We did this to enable them to overcome their unending guilt they get after thinking of their actions that landed them in prison. This has brought a new hope in prison. For more information, please contact us now: 877-391-3741.

To read more about our programs for the incarcerated please click here.

Many prisoners have much time to reflect on their lives and question everything around them, and wonder what more there is to life than the path that they have taken. They often question spirituality, religion and the meaning of life, and where is there for them to turn once they have started looking into this further? So many prisoners turn to God while they are in prison, but there is a constant thirst for knowledge to find out more about Christianity while they are incarcerated. But what options are there for prisoners to learn about the Bible?

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When a person is in prison, they often find themselves wishing that they had made different decisions in their lives and that they had the chance to do something else with their lives. Many inmates look to obtain college degrees to give them a way to productively use their time, and also to give themselves a better chance of obtaining work when they leave prison. But how do correspondence courses for inmates work?

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When a person is sent to prison, regardless of the crime they have committed they almost always reflect on the actions that landed them in jail. Prisoners have a lot of time to think about the things they have done, the crimes they were convicted for and the direction in which they want their lives to go from that moment on. A lot of weight is placed on prisoners to re-evaluate their lives, to come to terms with what they have done and to try to plan for a wholesome life outside prison when they are released. Many prisoners are full of remorse for the actions they have committed, and carry huge burdens of guilt with them. So many prisoners find Christianity and come to God while they are in prison, and there is a whole wealth of research that shows just how Bible studies can help prisoners heal from their past sins.

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If you are corresponding with an inmate or you have a friend who is an inmate, it can be very hard to know what to do and how to talk to them in a way that is beneficial to them. Every situation is so different as each inmate is different and the strength of our friendships with them can be anything from the occasional letter written to weekly visits, but if you have an inmate friend, here are three things you can do for them, no matter what the situation is.

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