Mike Quinn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Iola, believes everyone deserves love during the holiday season — even those who are behind bars.
For the past two years, Quinn has been visiting the Allen County jail every other Tuesday to spread the gospel to the inmates there. He said the Bible study has been a good way to reach out to some who have made some poor life-decisions.
“It is important to reach out to those who society may have forgotten about,” Quinn said. “They are searching for something, maybe they don’t know what it is.”
The program started as a simple church service in the jail. Quinn said it went so well that they asked the sheriff’s office if they could make the services a more regular event.
Quinn said youth Pastor Jonathan Palmer accompanies him from time to time to lead worship services. The inmates come in “pods” of either men or women. Quinn said he sees anywhere from 20 to 30 people each week. Last week’s attendance was around 30. There is always an armed guard present during the Bible study.
“I go with a message prepared, try to get a discussion going and try to figure out where they are in their spiritual walk,” Quinn said.
The program has seen success since it started. He said his church has seen many inmates become Christians during their time in the jail — one man even asked to be baptized while he was behind bars.
“I’m not sure if that is going to happen yet,” Quinn said.
After inmates are released from jail, the congregation sometimes sees the people return to the church and they begin attending regularly.
Quinn said he has personal motivations for helping those who have made poor decisions. While he does not have a criminal record, he said he has made bad choices in his past and struggled with alcoholism before he became a Christian.
“I didn’t become a Christian until I was 26,” Quinn said. “I was your classic ‘down-and-outer.’”
He said he could have just as easily been put in jail, just like the people he preaches to on Tuesdays — and he believes it can be an opportune time to spread God’s word.
“It changes hearts, changes attitudes, and they get along better with each other,” he said.
If anything, he believes the inmates are at a low point in their lives and he hopes the Bible studies can brighten their spirits, especially during the Christmas season.
There was a particular instance last year during the holidays, and he said the situation reminded him why it is important to keep the ministry going. He said a man who was in jail contacted him, saying that he was not able to do his Christmas shopping for his children.
“His wife would come visit, and we were able to coordinate through the Adopt-a-Child program,” Quinn said. “That was a highlight for me.”
The man was able to convey what he wanted bought for his children, and they got their Christmas presents that year — with “from dad” written on the packages.
Minister leads the word at local jail
