Northview member Bob Mueller knew the Lord was speaking to him, but he wasn’t sure what it was about. Then, he heard Northview Church’s Executive Pastor Mark Crull say that Northview was going to start a prison ministry. “That’s it,” Mueller said.

Mueller wasn’t going to volunteer at the prison campus unless his wife, Sarah, was on board. Sarah was unsure. While doing a Bible study, the answer to one of the questions was Matthew 25:36 (NIV), “… I was in prison and you came to visit me.” After answering that question, she was “all in.”

Prior to serving, the Muellers went to Miami Correctional Facility (MCF) for a three- to four-hour training. They learned volunteer guidelines, such as not giving or taking anything from the prisoners.

Mueller was uncomfortable at first, but has moved beyond that. He and Sarah look forward to going to MCF and consider it their church home.

When the Muellers arrive for church at MCF, they go through a metal detector, get patted down and then go to the gym for worship. Some of the prisoners with privileges help set up 200 chairs for the service. The Muellers visit with those guys and gather to pray with them before the service.

The offenders check in as they arrive for the service. “Sarah and I and a couple of other volunteers shake hands, welcome and share the love of Christ with them,” Mueller says.

Mueller encourages others to volunteer at a prison campus. However, he realizes that it’s not for everyone. Volunteers need to feel that the Lord wants them to be involved at the prison campus.

Prison campuses show the same messages and series of messages that other Northview campuses view, so they’re never “missing out.” They particularly enjoyed the recent At The Movies series.

“At The Movies series has been awesome,” Mueller says. After the message about the movie, “42,” which dealt with the life of baseball player, Jackie Robinson, 18 hands went up for salvation. “Hands went up so fast they couldn’t count them,” Mueller says. After “Hacksaw Ridge,” six guys raised their hands to accept Christ.

“This is a good place to be because we’re all broken,” Mueller says. “We just love it.”

Mueller shared that the offenders thank them for coming. “Really, they’re the ones that are blessing us.”

Experience the blessing of serving at a prison campus. For more information and to sign up for the God Behind Bars Prison Ministry Team, click here.

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