Behind the walls of Pearl River County’s correctional facility, a number of inmates are working to turn their lives around through the word of God.
About every two months the prison ministry brings an average of five inmates into the fold of salvation through water baptism, said Wilford Ladner, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department’s chaplain.
But it’s not just about baptizing inmates. The prison ministry aims to provide inmates with an outlet to discuss their faith, and problems in life.
Ladner has been conducting prayer meetings and baptisms at the jail for the past 14 years.
Arcelon Callais IV is one of the inmates who regularly participates in the ministry. Currently serving a 15 year sentence, he’s seen a lot of people turn their life around after participating in the program. For Callais, it’s a lesson he’s had to learn the hard way. He was baptized in the jail by the ministry in March of 2010. But when he got out, he said he failed to bring the teachings with him, and ended up back in jail. He’s currently serving a 15 year mandatory sentence for a drug related conviction, according to jail records.
“It takes me a long time to apply what I learn,” Callais said. “I wish I could have known what I know now so I wouldn’t be so far off.”
Controlled substances have been a part of his life since he was in his teens, he said. But, participating in the program has done more than help Callais set his life on the right path, he’s also improved his reading skills through a number of Christian books.
Clarence Perrett, one of the program’s ministers, said members of the ministry sit with inmates in the zones and share the gospel of Jesus, in addition to holding informal conversations. The ministry is a non-denominational effort. While the general focus is on the teachings of Jesus, they will attempt to fill requests from inmates of any faith.
Participation numbers vary from 10 to 15 inmates, but Perrett said he knows those within earshot still benefit, even if they appear to be sleeping.
On average, the 78 members of the ministry spend about 400 hours per month at the jail as they visit and speak with the inmates. For some of the inmates, it’s the only visitor they get.
Kim Trainor has been working with the women in the jail for the past two years. For the most part, female ministers work with the female inmates, while males work with males.
Program participants can also work toward earning their own Bible. It involves passing a test comprised of 12,000 questions about the Bible. The course typically takes about six months to complete, Callias said. Trainor said the course can be completed even if the inmate is released.
Pearl River County’s prison ministry is well known throughout the state due to word of mouth. As inmates are transferred to other facilities, they share their experience with others.
While in the zone with the inmates, Perrett said the members of the ministry aren’t worried about being attacked because program participants have the minister’s back.
The program also helps keep the inmates calm.
“It helps the officers because when we’re here generally things are quiet,” Perrett said.
Trainor said she considers it to be an honor to minister to the inmates.
“I don’t know who gets more out of it, them or me,” Trainor said.