The Lord's
Supper Issue

from Dennis

“I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:36.)

I admit that I have done little prison visitation. Several years ago, I spent two days and a night at Mississippi’s famous Parchment prison. I was asked to help the prison accommodate a deaf prisoner which they had never had before. Once, after visiting a prisoner in the local jail, I arranged for my barber to give him a haircut. He ended up giving many incarcerated men haircuts that day. Other than a visit here and there, I have had little contact with prisoners. Until now.

Since becoming editor of this publication, I have learned that the Magnolia Messenger goes into many prisons. I have become aware of this because I get handwritten letters from prisoners regularly. Add “prison ministry” to the good work done by the Messenger.

A recent letter from Roland Thompson, an inmate at the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Cottonport, Louisiana, states that they have not been able to resume church services for two years. The new warden will not let them conduct it by themselves. “We are now required to have a volunteer,” he writes. “The volunteer does not have to be a preacher but would be good if he were one. Anyone who would be interested will need to contact the chaplain here.”

Cottonport is a small town a few miles south of Pineville, and a few miles north of Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49. If you can help, or know of churches in this area, help us find a person(s) who can go on Sundays and help this group of Christians worship.

We are taught that “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). Here is a great opportunity for someone to serve the Lord.

“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40) MM