Ministry Reaches Out to Prisoners

Published: SeMissourian	PRINTER FRIENDLY BOOKMARK STORY
KOMU Story Toolbox Discuss this story on the KOMU Discussion Boards Share on Facebook Share on Newsvine COLUMBIA - Religion can be a motivator to get some prisoners the help they need to get their lives back on track. Bishop Lorenzo Lawson is now using his life story to help others who were once in their shoes. "We were once down here being predators to the community," Lawson said.  "Now we're down here bringing life to the community." They are in jail to repay their debt to society while being rehabilitated and Chosen Generation Ministries is helping do just that. Members come to the Boone County Jail every Saturday to give inmates that spiritual connection in a weekly Bible study. Bishop Lorenzo Lawson is hoping God will turn their lives around and he says he knows it's possible, because he used to be in those same shoes. "I been to jail, and I know that if it weren't for the word of God and the power of God that I probably would be back in the jail," Lawson said. "I know that for a lot of people who come to this church it's the same." It was the same for minister Larry McBride. Lawson reached out to him about 5 years ago and invited him to church; the rest of the story he left in God's hands. "I had to go through what I went through to be at where I am today," Minister McBride said. "About 5 years ago I decided: 'I had been going to church for few years and never read my bible, and I was wondering why I was struggling. Lawson and McBride spent a combined total of 35 years locked up behind bars. "I thought I was a thug, I thought that I was born to go to jail and to do the things I was doing," Lawson said. "Then one day by reading the word of God, and someone delivering the word of God to me, I was able to see that I was actually chosen by God." It was that realization that inspired Lawson and his wife to start the ministry eight years ago. He has been helping prisoners like McBride to turn their life around ever since. McBride is following Lawson's example as a minister and using his story to inspire others. "My brothers and sisters are out here struggling," said McBride. "Go back in and show them that this isn't the way he wants you to be, this isn't the way you supposed to be." Chosen Generation Ministries is making a difference to many prisoners. "I come to this jail ministry, because I needed help," said Boone County prisoner, Kenneth Stapleton. "I put god first in my life, usually I didn't do that; I kept backsliding for 52 years, today is the day, I need the Lord in my life." Lawson is trying to find his church a permanent location where he can run his ministry seven days a week. There is a vacant church on Garth that he has his eye on. The location is very convenient to his congregation, however this dream is still about 500,000 dollars away. But until Chosen Generation raises the money, they will have to continue meeting in the Blind Boone Center on Sunday mornings. This location is problematic to many potential parishioners. "If you have violated a crime in the property of Columbia Housing, you can't come here, so a lot of people that want to come can't come because they're on the 'no trespassing list'," said Lawson. Other goals for the ministry include, providing transitional housing, a daycare center and employment opportunities once a permanent location is found. The ministry is still pulling people from very diverse backgrounds wherever the church meets. We have people from all social status that come, they are drawn to this ministry because the spirit of god bypasses any social barriers," said Lawson. Story Credits Reported by: Wale Aliyu Edited by:Cate Kelly Published: Friday, February 22, 2008 at 6:21 PM Last Updated: Friday, February 22, 2008 at 9:35 PM

--
http://www.bransonedge.com
http://www.bransonmissouri.blogspot.com