Admittedly, it is a large undertaking. But it is a challenge Greg Barr, senior pastor at St. Andrews Baptist Church, Columbia, is ready to take.
Last spring, the church participated in the spiritual growth campaign centered on the book “The Purpose Driven Life.” After seeing the transformation in church member’s lives, Barr began to pray about how the campaign could minister to other people.
The church is hoping to provide a copy of “The Purpose Driven Life” to every inmate in the South Carolina prison system. There are approximately 23,000 inmates currently serving time with the Department of Corrections.
“The seeds were planted a few years ago when a member of the church where I was serving at the time was arrested and is now in federal prison,” recalled Barr.
Barr said that the church member decided to invest his life in leading prisoners to the Lord and has held true to that commitment. The church is hoping the book can be a tool chaplains and others can use to disciple new believers in prison.
The Purpose Driven Life ministry publishes a paperback version of the book especially for use in prison systems, which can be purchased for just $1 each. Barr says many ministries and businesses have rallied around the idea and are lending their effort to raise funds necessary to purchase and ship the books.
Changing the Way, a ministry especially to inmates, has backed the project.
“When I was incarcerated, I was given a copy of ‘The Purpose Driven Life,’ and it changed my life by reminding me that God had not given up on me and that he still had a plan for my life,” said Chris Batson from Changing the Way.
After the books are distributed, chaplains with ministries such as Changing the Way and Prison Fellowship, will lead Bible studies on the book. James Murray, South Carolina director of Prison Fellowship, sees this book in particular as having tremendous impact on the inmates.
“Picking up ‘The Purpose Driven Life,’ and reading that there is a purpose for their life in spite of what has happened, is the beginning of the journey to not becoming a repeat offender,” Murray said.