Behind the bars of Walker County Jail, inmates read the Bible, praise the Lord and pray.
Pastor James Sprayberry, 73, of Chickamauga, stands behind the pulpit with his Bible in hand and begins reading.
“They [the inmates] request prayer. Some have upcoming trials to stand before a judge,” said Sprayberry, who is celebrating 50 years of ministry at nine Northwest Georgia area churches and five years at the jail. He operates Golden Harvest Ministries.
“We’ve seen several men and women saved at Walker County Jail,” Sprayberry said. “They are very receptive to the message.”
The jail ministry, directed by Bethel Memorial Church pastor Bud Marteen, began 25 years ago. The ministry takes place the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. Women come to the service one month and men the next.
“The greatest joy I’ve received from the jail ministry is seeing several men and women saved after giving their heart and life to Christ,” said Sprayberry. “People realize the error of their ways. They come to their senses and rededicate their life.”
Working hand in hand with the Walker County Jail staff, he said the inmates are courteous, helpful and thank everyone for coming.
“Our primary goal is to go in there and share the word of God with the inmates to give them hope,” he said. “We share with them that God is not just a God of wrath, but also of mercy and love.
“I find it amazing that so many of them have been saved before but failed to walk with the Lord. They allowed Satan to ruin their lives.”
Once the service is complete, he said it’s a joy to see those same men and women respond to God’s love and grace. The service ends with prayer requests, and each inmate has individual needs to deal with, he said.
“They stand up and say, ‘Let’s pray for one another,'” said Sprayberry, referring to the inmates. “One of the most heartrending things for me is praying with them. Many women ask me to pray for their children. It’s a blessing from God that they want to pray for their children.”
He said seeing lives changed is what jail is all about in general.
“That’s what it’s all about, not just punishment, but jail is about reconciliation and rehabilitation,” said Sprayberry, who also ministers at Parkside Nursing Home and Rosewood Assisted Living in Fort Oglethorpe, NHC of Fort Oglethorpe and Martha’s Personal Care in Rossville
Pastor James Sprayberry, of Chickamauga, reads his Bible.
Photo by Katie Ward Hamilton