MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Capps, Woods, Thomas

House Concurrent Resolution 98

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING BILL GLASS MINISTRIES FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND SUCCESS IN CONDUCTING PRISON MINISTRIES. 

WHEREAS, Bill Glass Ministries has been reaching out to those people who are incarcerated by sharing the Gospel with inmates all over the nation; and

WHEREAS, over the 25 years that Bill Glass Ministries has conducted prison ministries, their volunteers have managed to visit a total of 1,755 prison units and over one million inmates, with almost 175,000 making life-changing decisions by accepting and maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, statistics reveal that the chance of an adult prisoner not returning to crime when released is twenty-five percent and the chance of a juvenile offender not returning to crime when released is only fifteen percent; and

WHEREAS, Bill Glass Ministries has found that the chance of Christian inmates not returning to crime when released is sixty-eight percent, and for those finding a church and being discipled and mentored when released, the chance is an incredible 90-95%; and

WHEREAS, Bill Glass Ministries will be returning to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, February 27 through March 1, 1998, for their third crusade there, which is called the "Weekend of Champions" and will feature twenty guests who have been professional athletes; and

WHEREAS, no other prison ministry in America has the impact of frontline evangelism that Bill Glass Ministries is having, being one of only seven prison ministries having a national impact; and

WHEREAS, the Bill Glass Ministries' counselors present the Gospel in person to more prisoners than any other ministry in America, which has led to more prisoners making decisions to accept Christ each year than through all the chaplains of state and federal prisons; and

WHEREAS, the average cost for Bill Glass Ministries to turn a prisoner from a life of repetitive crime is less than $100.00 as compared with an average cost of $75,000.00 to build a prison cell and a $23,500.00 annual incarceration cost for the prisoner for much of the rest of his life; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi finds it most appropriate to pay tribute to such a remarkable ministry as Bill Glass Ministries, for giving their time and resources to spreading the Gospel to those who have been incarcerated:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we commend Bill Glass Ministries on their success of eternal significance in sharing the Gospel with inmates all over the United States and extend to them our best of wishes in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Bill Glass Ministries and the Capitol Press Corps.