By Craig Akridge
My wife and I have been supporting Divine Hope for many years. I recently went to the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City for a day and attended the Bible classes taught by Professor Ken Anema. (Last year I attended classes taught by Professor Nathan Brummel at the Danville Correctional Prison). Ken did an excellent job and the students are learning so much of the Bible, sound theology, and how to live the Christian life. The students listen intently and come to class prepared.
Some of the students came up to me during the break or after class to say thank you for supporting Divine Hope and how it is changing their lives. Many said they weren’t Christians when they started the classes, and now they know their lives would be hopeless without Christ. One of the students told me you are usually approached by other inmates to join their group when you enter prison. He said you feel pressure to join; but now that he is a Christian, he doesn’t feel that pressure because he knows the Lord Jesus Christ and wants to please his Savior. It is amazing how the courses and discipleship by the professors are making such a difference in lives at the prison. These students have a good influence on the other inmates and can witness how the Lord is working in their lives. I highly recommend other supporters visit the prisons to see first-hand how you are making an impact. You will feel so blessed by meeting these students.