Independence Baptist Association, Jail/Prison Ministries, formerly known as Eastside Baptist Jail MINISTRY, came into being in January, 1994. A young man was arrested for murder. He was the son of Larry and Bobbye Weaver, both members of Eastside Southern Baptist Church, at that time. After a couple of days in jail the young man asked to see a chaplain, but there were no chaplain's in the area. After three days had came and gone Larry and Bobbye located a chaplain in North Arkansas. The boy was in jail in Missouri, but the chaplain drove the distance and the young man accepted Christ into his heart.
It was at this time that Larry and Bobbye felt the call to start a Jail Ministry. The first year there were 17 professions of faith. The next year they had started going to six county jails each week, and there were 74 professions of faith.
We don't have two Chaplain's going to as many jails as before, but we are involved in a much bigger way.
It was when the the Church sent another chaplain to work with Larry, following Christ's example, sending them out two by two and started furnishing all supplies needed for the ministry, that God started pouring out His blessings on this ministry. THAT SAME YEAR THE MINISTRY EXPANDED TO TEN COUNTY JAILS AND ONE STATE PRISON, and (351) men and women were saved. What a blessing.
In September, 1997 Larry felt the call to PASTOR a small church in Marcella, Arkansas. So we are down to One Chaplain, In a Four County Area and the One Prison.
The TEN COUNTY AREA is still being cared for. We now have one full-time paid chaplain that is Head Chaplain in Four County Jails, all located in the Independence Baptist Association Area. He also makes sure there are Trained Jail Ministers in four other jails. Two other Associations picked up the other two jails.
WHEN CHURCHES START DOING WHAT THEY ARE COMMANDED BY GOD TO DO,((Then He pours out HIS BLESSINGS)). There were (374) souls saved. this last year.
September 1,1997 we started our new church year, and we are being blessed by God. We are also blessed by having the oppertunity to train other Chaplains.
WE CAN NOT IMAGINE HOW GOD WOULD BLESS IF ALL THE CHURCHES WERE TO GET INVOLVED in this GREAT WORK. I am sure you noticed how God Blessed Eastside Baptist once they started obeying God's command to ((GO YE)). Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. God never told His people to go ye TO CHURCH AND THE LOST WILL COME TO YOU.
CHURCH I am not against you. I am trying to wake you up so God can bless you. I firmly believe that we are to assemble ourselves together Heb.10:25, But once we are assembled together lets don't just sit there. Lets give God a chance to bless us. CHURCHES, THOSE BEHIND BARS ARE JUST WAITING FOR US to tell them how to be saved. There is a REVIVAL going on in AMERICA, and it is not in the churches. It is in the jails and prisons. Be a part of it. RECEIVE THE BLESSING THAT GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU.
