Custody Sergeant Julie Parsons, based at Weston Favell Police Station, Northampton, UK, is going to become a prisoner herself to raise funds for Crime to Christ! She will be locked in a cell on Good Friday, staying in through till Easter Sunday, marking the time that Jesus was put on the cross through till His resurrection.
This is also symbolic, reaching prisoners where they are.
This won’t be a pleasant experience, in a cell, with no privacy from her colleagues! Trying to sleep in custody on a Friday or Saturday night is never easy!
As much sponsorship as possible would be appreciated, so please consider circulating the news at your church and amongst your friends.
Please send details of any sponsorship to us by the end of April. It would be helpful to have an indication just before Easter of how much money the event will raise as we hope to have some publicity, and they will be interested in the amount raised.
We are delighted to announce that Crime to Christ now operates in all of the custody suites in Northamptonshire! The Chief Constable, Peter Maddison has approved this move.
Magazines are available for all prisoners in the county … please pray that the staff actually put them out in the cells, as we have found a resistance to this.
It obviously makes a difference where there are Christians working, who are committed to this ministry. We have heard of a Christian cleaner working in one of the Custody Suites who is helping to put the magazines out. This is wonderful! Any more Christian cleaners out there please?!
We were thrilled to hear recently from a Christian officer in one of the stations where the magazines have only recently become available. He told us about his prisoner, a heroin addict and thief whom he felt prompted to talk to. The officer fetched him a magazine as the staff had put none out. He spoke to him after he had read it, and the prisoner said he wanted to change his life. The officer prayed with him and led him through the prayer of commitment to Jesus. He followed him up later giving him details of Christian hostels where he would be able to come off the drugs and get support and encouragement. He is currently on remand in prison.
What fantastic news that this guy has prayed the most important prayer of his life and begun the most important relationship of his life!
Please pray for this guy, that he will be able to come off the heroin and really turn away from crime forever, and that he will grow in faith and get to know Jesus in a deep and personal way.
Please also pray for the officer, for him to be protected, and for the loving hand of God to be in His life.
As you can imagine and as you have read in the articles so far, it makes a huge difference to God’s work to have God’s people around! There are quite a few Christian officers, not all of whom network with each other through the Christian Police Association. Some Christians don’t like to get involved at work as they are busy enough in their own church lives.
Please pray for the Christians in the Police service, whether officers or support staff. Each of us has a calling on our lives, and can be used for particular people in particular ways. Pray for Christians to be available to be used in their workplace, to reach out to the lost, whether colleagues, victims of crime or offenders. Pray for more to be willing to be used to reach offenders, to offer them a new chance in life, a clean slate through the grace and forgiveness of Jesus. The power of the Holy Spirit is able to transform hardened men and women, to soften their hearts, and clean up their lives, and release them from addictions. What a privilege and powerful act of service to be involved in reaching offenders!
However, the enemy knows this! Satan is out to interfere with God’s work, to prevent salvation and healing, and will therefore attack Christians. Your prayers can raise a shield of protection around us. We welcome your support.
We are still recruiting volunteers to work for Crime to Christ. Can you help?
Would you be willing to mentor someone, to help them in practical ways and to guide them spiritually? Please get in touch with us if you would.
If not, praise God for those who can, and pray for their protection.
As an update, we are waiting for a price from a training provider to negotiate and then start training our volunteers in areas such as drug awareness, mental health issues, Police procedures, self defence, Health & Safety etc.
We will then be able to send our volunteers into the cells to speak to prisoners, offering a pastoral and practical service. What a great opportunity to reach people!
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Your prayers touch real peoples’ lives.
Thank you.