Jail staff were generous, giving us a full hour to visit with the first group.  After we’ve had prayer, some are writing their names in a little book for the meeting leader — he and his wife are devoted to praying each week for any who’ve renewed or begun a commitment to Christ.  And then the fellows are out the door, down the hall heading back to cells.

As we wait, hoping some more fellows will come out for the next hour we fellowship and enjoy a few words about the previous group and the study.  It’s always instructional, we learn each time.  And for me particularly in this context, the county jail — we’re focused on the Gospel.  The good news of hope.   Mercy has real meaning here.  In contrast, at the State institutions it’s less so.  Inmates have been sober for long periods of time.  Their callouses…