So what about this?
The Digital âGreat Gulf Fixedâ
In most jurisdictions, the âopen internetâ-which includes forums, social media, and chat rooms, is strictly prohibited.
This is primarily for security reasons: to prevent inmates from contacting victims, orchestrating crimes, or accessing unmonitored communication.
However, there are three primary ways inmates currently âparticipateâ in the digital body of Christ:
Closed Secure Systems: Many prisons now use tablets (like those from JPay, Securus, or GTL). These devices do not have an open browser. Instead, they have âwalled gardens.â An inmate might be able to access a specific, pre-approved âReligious Libraryâ or a closed app for Christian content, but they cannot post on a public forum like Reddit or a private theological board.
The âSnail Mailâ Bridge: This is the most common method for biblical exegesis and fellowship. Many inmates correspond with âoutsideâ mentors. The mentor will print out forum discussions, theological papers, or word studies (like our study of Hagiasmos or 2 Corinthians 5:21) and mail them in. The inmate writes their response by hand, and the mentor posts it on the forum on their behalf.
Educational and Reentry Programs: In minimum-security or âtransitionalâ facilities, inmates may have supervised computer lab time for education. In rare cases, they might be allowed to access specific âwhitelistedâ ministry sites, but active participation in a two-way forum is still a major security âred flagâ for most wardens.
The Theological Necessity of Prison Ministry
Even if an inmate cannot âlog on,â the need for them to be biblically literate is paramount. In prison, the Zeitgeist is often one of violence, despair, and âworks-basedâ survival.
When an inmate learns that they are âmade the righteousness of God in Himâ (2 Cor 5:21) and that their status is Makarios because of Christâs suffering, not their own merit, it completely transforms the âprison of the mind.â As Hebrews 13:3 commands: âRemember them that are in bonds, as bound with them.â
Challenges for Inmates in Online Spaces
If an inmate were to find a way onto an unmonitored forum (usually via a smuggled âcontrabandâ phone), they would be in violation of prison rules and could face:
Loss of âGood Timeâ credits.
Confiscation of all legal and religious materials.
Transfer to a higher-security facility.
A Way Forward
If you know an inmate who wants to join a discussion:
Be the âProxyâ: You can be the âfeetâ for their âmind.â Print out the exegesis weâve done here and mail it to them.
Prison Fellowship / Correspondence Courses: Encourage them to join structured studies that allow for written feedback. These are the âforumsâ of the incarcerated world.
Correct? What we donât want is âpredatorsâ on a Christian Forum.
Would you say this is a fair assessment?
J.