The inmates of the Poinsett County jail in Arkansas, USA are hearing the gospel and asking Jesus into their hearts.

Since September, nearly 100 inmates in the Arkansas facility have made professions of faith. Of those, 50 have been baptized by Drover Cowboy Church in Harrisburg.

Pastor Chance Watson said leaders at the church knew they wanted to expand their ministry when they were planning 2022 goals.

“We were to a point as a church where we were doing well in the ministry we were doing, and it was time to expand out into different ministries,” he said.

At the beginning of 2022, they began the process of getting inside the county jail to share the gospel.

It took several months and perseverance, but they finally started their ministry at the jail in the fall.

“We got started in September, and it has exploded,” Watson said.

Currently, five elders from Drover Cowboy Church rotate visits Sunday afternoons at the prison. The five involved are Watson, Dale Davis, Dave McCulley, Zach Chester and Jeremy Williams.

Watson said Davis had a heart for the prison ministry at the same time God had laid it on his heart for their plans.

“He truly took the lead along with Dave McCulley,” said  Watson, adding they have been blown away by how much time is spent praying with the inmates afterwards.

“God has just blessed it to the point that they’ve got guys in there now that they take in sheet music to who are learning worship songs.”

Since September, Watson said, three other churches have also joined the ministry. The other churches include Cornerstone Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Maple Grove Baptist Church in Trumann and First General Baptist Church in Trumann.

In addition to the weekly ministry visits, Watson said they are also starting a Bible study during the week for inmates involved in the Arkansas Department of Corrections 309 program.

Watson said some of the long-term prisoners have even started their own Bible studies.

“It’s been a blessing to see it and be a part of it, for sure,” Watson said. “The jailers are coming in on their days off to be a part of Bible study. … It’s having an impact in a lot of different ways.”

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