69 Florida Jail Inmates Baptized Through Church Outreach

Nearly 70 inmates at a Florida jail were baptized after two local churches brought their ministries behind bars, part of a wider effort to help men and women rebuild their lives before returning home.

The service at the Walton County Jail included 48 men and 21 women. More than 70 inmates had asked to participate, but the jail had only 70 approved baptism uniforms, the Rev. Jonathan King stated on CBN News recently. One scheduled participant did not attend.

King, senior pastor of First Apostolic Church in DeFuniak Springs, serves as a volunteer jail chaplain. His congregation worked with New Life Church of Santa Rosa Beach and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to hold the service.

“The beauty of jail ministry to me is that we’re able to minister to these people that are just truly at their bottom, and the Lord is doing incredible things in their lives,” King said.

Ministry does not end after baptisms

The ministry does not end when an inmate leaves custody. King said some former inmates now attend his church, where they have found support as they repair relationships and adjust to life outside jail.

Corey Dobridnia, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said the agency’s goal has long been “recovery, not recidivism.” The jail also offers addiction treatment, mental health services, parenting classes and vocational training.

The baptisms have drawn an objection from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. In a July 20 letter, the secular organization accused the sheriff’s office of promoting Christianity and argued that inmates could feel pressured when law enforcement employees participate in religious activities.

The sheriff’s office says the jail offers services from a variety of religious organizations. No public response to the foundation’s letter had been posted as of Thursday.

For King, the measure of the ministry is what happens after release.

“It’s not just keeping them from going back to jail,” he said. “It’s actually changing their life and their families and impacting a whole generation by what God is doing with them in the jail.”

The organization Freedom From Religion objected to the baptisms, though it did not provide any evidence the prisoners were forced.

–Dwight Widaman

#Florida #PrisonMinistry #ChristianRevival #InmateBaptisms #FaithInAction #WaltonCounty