Richmond City Jail turns into revival setting

'God Has a Better Plan' At Richmond City Jail, the focus turns to God Ashland congregation spreads a message of salvation to the inmates

Music poured out of speakers as inmates filed into the dining room of the Richmond City Jail last night.

The large room where they take their daily meals transformed into the scene of a revival as members of The Master's House in Ashland spread the word of God to about 400 male inmates.

A second revival was held afterward for female inmates.

"The Bible says to visit those that are in prison. If we do that, we visit Him, which is pretty profound," said Jim Langlois, pastor of the nondenominational congregation. "It's just sharing the love of God and the love of the Gospel to the people."

The five-member Powerful Praise and Worship Band from The Master's House played five songs while many of the inmates sang along as the words were projected onto a screen in one corner of the room. Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody stood near one of the doorways clapping along to the music, as did many of the inmates.

The music preceded Langlois' message of "God Has a Better Plan." He said it was the first time he shared that sermon but added that it is one he plans to spread around the city.

He spoke of problems such as teen pregnancy, violence and hatred that he said are tearing society and the Richmond area apart. The answer, Langlois said, is God.

The pastor talked to the inmates about the Ten Commandments given to Moses, and preached about how he broke each one during his life. One of the commandments, do not kill, includes hatred toward others, he explained.

"I've hated people," Langlois told the inmates.

But, he stressed, God doesn't care about the past or the present, just the future, he said.

"Salvation does not come from obeying the Ten Commandments," Langlois said. "Salvation only comes through receiving Christ as your savior."

After the revival, Langlois asked the gathered inmates how many of them were willing to accept Jesus as their savior. About 40 raised their hands.

The Master's House is no stranger to ministering to inmates at the city jail. The church has been sharing the word for about two years, and members meet with inmates regularly on Tuesday nights in the jail's Redemption Chapel.

The Rev. Alonzo C. Pruitt, undersheriff and chief of chaplains at the city jail, told the inmates that the members of The Master's House weren't paid to come to the jail.

"They come here and do this because they love the Lord and in their own way; they love you," Pruitt said.

That's the sort of message Woody hopes gets across to the inmates -- one that gives them hope and increases their faith.

"Sooner or later everybody in here will get out," Woody said. "And we want them to be better citizens rather than better criminals."

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .