If you google “the most popular Bible verse of all time,” it wouldn’t surprise you that John 3:16, with verse 17 right behind it, is what comes up.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
This verse encapsulates the Missions-DNA of God Almighty, i.e., His missions character (so loved), His missions scope (the world), His missions being (sending – missionary), His missions desire (that none should perish). This includes the incarcerated and the Returning Citizen (once incarcerated).
The God of missions is building His Church inside the prison walls. He is calling and giving saints inside the prison walls and Returning Citizens to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ leading to the establishment of new churches among the poor.
Matt Thomas, a Returning Citizen, started the Freedom Initiative, which exists to disciple leaders impacted by incarceration to plant churches that transform the world. They provide a discipleship path that takes men and women from imprisoned to empowered church planters. So far, seven churches have been
planted inside and outside of prisons.
I am thrilled at the prospect of countless leaders inside the prison walls and Returning Citizens discovering our rich heritage through the Spiritual Classics, and forging friendships, leading to the Missions-DNA of God being infused into their spiritual bloodstream, that the Gospel would advance leading to the planting of countless new churches among the poor for the glory of God here and around the world.
“. . . not of those who shrink back . . .” Hebrews 10:39
Bob Engel