‘I know how much of a difference Daylight people have made in my life and the lives of many with whom I served time. Thank you for caring.’
This was a message from Ed, a former prisoner, to those attending the Daylight Christian Prison Trust’s conferences held in Chelmsford and Bristol in March. For many attending it was the first time to hear from Ed, for whom they have prayed over many months.
Led by chief executive Steven St John, the conferences drew Daylight supporters from across the UK. The Word of God was opened up and applied to Daylight’s work by Simon Hook from Forest Fold Baptist Church and Sim Jemmett from Emmanuel Church, Bristol.
Why chaplaincies?
Paul Philpott, Daylight’s chair of trustees and a prison chaplain for over 20 years, spoke on ‘The Origin and Current Purpose
Dr Nigel Robinson, Stephen James
of Prison Chaplaincies’, which also drew on the experience of delegates, including one prison chaplain present.
There were four seminar sessions: ‘Issues Prisoners Face’, ‘Preaching in Prison’, ‘Prison Etiquette’ and ‘How to Facilitate Prison Bible Studies’. The last was led by Stephen James, who is Christianity Explored ’s director of prison ministry.
Testimonies
Keith, who became a Christian one year into a 27-year sentence, spoke movingly of his experience in prison and Simon, who started to follow Christ while serving a sentence in HMP Shrewsbury in 1997, gave a rich account of God’s dealings with him.
The conferences are a new venture for Daylight and one they hope to continue.
