We all struggle finding the courage to step out of our comfort zone. What's yours? How about spending the afternoon in prison praying with society's most fallen?

Doxology's Matthew 25 ministry brings hope and restoration to some of the most overlooked members of society by offering prayer, comfort, and transformation through baptism.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me (Matt. 25:35-36).‍

For those involved with Matthew 25, like Chris Hart, the call to serve in this capacity is clear: "we do it because lives change." And it’s not just the lives of those behind bars. Our lives change, too.

The first time Jim Gentry was invited to serve in prison ministry, he wrestled with the idea. “I didn’t want to go,” he admitted. “But once I was there, looking into the eyes of those men, everything changed. They were souls desperate for hope.”

Prison ministry is a reminder that Jesus calls us to love the least of us. When men and women behind bars experience the message of grace, transformation happens in powerful ways. Stories emerge of hardened individuals—ex-gang members, addicts, and broken souls—finding redemption and hope through the gospel.

Take TJ, for example - a prisoner at TDCJ's John Middleton Unit. Covered in tattoos and carrying a heavy past, TJ believed grace wasn’t for him. But through a heartfelt conversation, he prayed to receive Christ and was later baptized. The smile on his face holding his baptism certificate is a picture of God’s unrelenting love.

This ministry is not about perfection. It’s about showing up and letting God work through simple acts of kindness, prayer, and presence. It’s about seeing Jesus in the eyes of those we might otherwise overlook.

The beauty of this work is how it prepares us to serve outside prison walls. As Edgar Moreno explains, “If you’re unsure if this is for you, take a chance. Step in for one day. You won’t regret it.”

Jesus’ call to visit the imprisoned in Matthew 25 reminds us that when we step into the dark, we become His light. Whether inside a prison or within your own community, His love is transformative.

For more information about joining Matthew 25, contact Jim Gentry.

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