Over the course of two days, July 12th and 19th, a total of 37 inmates (approximately 1/3 of the total population) from the Washington County Detention Center (WCDC) were baptized through the Residents Encounter Christ (R.E.C.) ministry, along with local pastor, George Parsley. Each Tuesday and Thursday, R.E.C. and local ministers visit the detention center in order to share scripture from the Bible. The men are ministered to on Tuesdays, and the women on Thursdays.
George Parsley has been ministering as the Jail Chaplain since the beginning of 2017.
“We’ve had several [baptisms], usually about once a year we’ll have some. But that’s been the biggest number so far,” said Parsley.
Parsley attributes this surge in WCDC baptisms to “simple Bible teachings.”
He went on to say, “we’ll go in and we’ll just open up a Bible, and they open up their Bibles. Myself and the other ministers already have a text in mind, so they already know where we’re going to be at. We just try to break it down and make some accurate life applications based on what is being said and what will have a positive impact on these men and women. Paul said, ‘the gospel is the power of God’s salvation.’ That’s the short answer.”
The inmates of WCDC have welcomed this ministry with open arms. Parsley said these men are broken, and many of them actually say, “I need this. This is my wake up call.”
“They’ve been broken down just by the wisdom of this world: the partying, the drugs, the drinking… all the norms that are out here in this life,” he added.
Parsley went on to give an example of the material they have been covering, and how he has been applying it to the men he has been ministering to.
“Especially with the guys, we’ve been in the gospel of Matthew. We’ve talked about Joseph and Mary obviously, but we have really been spending time on Joseph specifically. The Bible doesn’t say a lot about Joseph, but what it does say is very applicable to these guys. What we’ve been trying to do is make those applications about him: being a husband, being a father, and being dependable. They know all this stuff,” said Parsley, “but sometimes when it isn’t coming from the family, it tends to resonate.”
Parsley’s plans for the future of this ministry are simple: “we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. There’s no better medicine or help for these guys and gals in jail than just the pure gospel. The hope that comes from all these miracles that Jesus did, and how He changed their lives. And the unconditional love that came right along with it.”
He remarked that sometimes the biggest hurdle is simply confessing or speaking it out loud because now it’s going to be known.
“But He already knows what you’ve done,” said Parsley, “where you did it, and who you did it with. It’s irrelevant. He already knows all of that, but sometimes for us to verbally speak that is a big hurdle. That has resonated with a lot of the guys. Some of these guys break down and get teary-eyed. That’s the power of the gospel.”
Parsley said that many of the inmates have no hope at all. However, he said there is always hope.
“There is somebody that loves you and somebody that cares about you. Your family may not, you may have burnt all those other bridges. People might be saying ‘you’ve made your bed, now lie in it.’ It’s easy to say that and throw up our hands when it gets to a certain point, but the thing is, God never does that. He’s always there.” Parsley said.
Parsley concluded by saying, “One of the most satisfying moments is when you can look in their eyes and you can see it’s resonating with them. Not getting mad or upset, but they’re getting it. That makes it all worth it. I don’t know where it’s going to go, but I know the seed is planted.”
Parsley greatly appreciates the help and support he and the other ministers have received from Sheriff Brent Miller and Captain Joseph Keltner. They have been incredibly instrumental in making this ministry happen each week.
Chaplain George Parsley is a preacher of Westside Church of Christ, and he is incredibly passionate about ministering and spreading the Word of God. Not only to the residents of WCDC, but to all who will listen.
