|
Dear
Chuck,
My
husband turned himself in for an old parole violation last year and
is doing time. We serve as missionaries in a foreign country and he
asked me to write to encourage some of the men he has met in prison.
My problem is that it's been difficult writing to these men and I
shared that with my husband. He has given me the freedom to stop
writing and now I don't know how to discontinue writing without
being very hurtful. Of course, I can refer them to the Christian pen
pal ministries, but am not sure how to go about that. It has become
quite obvious to me that some of these men are very encouraged in
the Lord, but I’m uncomfortable with the fact that they want to
"introduce" them to other missionary women. I have made it
very clear I won't do that, as I wouldn't want my friends to go
through what I am going through. I would appreciate your input.
Chuck's
Response
I’m so
sorry about your husband being in prison, but I guess I can’t
think of a better “mission field” than being confined with
precious, heathen, immoral, dishonest, angry men who need Christ in
their life. I would never choose this situation for you of course,
but I can surely see a benefit for the Lord with your husband being
there. I think I may be missing something in your story, however.
Why would you want to stop writing letters to the men that your
husband is touching in prison, (other than you not wanting to
introduce them to missionary women)? You can still teach them
Christian principles and encouragement without introducing them to
anyone. You don’t have to say why. Just say you don’t have
“peace” about doing that and there is nothing they can say. From
my outside viewpoint, YOU are a vital cog in the relationships your
husband is nurturing within the prison. They not only need to be
taught scriptural principles of living, but they also need to see
things through a woman's eyes. God has given you women great wisdom
that we men don’t have. These are my thoughts for your
consideration. Let me know if you want to talk further.
- Chuck
Snyder
|
