Another Bible?

Another Prison Officer!

Recently I had another wonderful conversation with a prison officer. I had come onto her wing to carry out some welfare checks on vulnerable prisoners. Having completed them, I went into the wing office to fill in the required paperwork.

As I was doing so several prisoners came in quick succession and stood at the door impatiently expressing their various needs. She took it all in her stride but she still seemed a little harassed. I told her that chaplaincy was here for the officers as well as the prisoners if ever she felt the need to call upon us. She said this was good to know, and then out of the blue she said “Oh, I go to church myself, Saint Marks' in ------” and then named her hometown. She didn't actually know what denomination it was, but she said she really enjoyed going!

I asked her if she had a Bible and she said “No” but when I offered to get one for her she seemed pleasantly surprised and said “Oh, that would be lovely.” I returned a few minutes later with a nicely bound Bible and a daily reading booklet and she was thrilled. I gave her a few pointers on how and where to begin reading, suggesting she started with the gospels and the Psalms.

I felt not to push things too much at this stage but I am prayerfully considering how and when to follow her up.

Please pray for officer M, she seems to be very much open to the things of God.