HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – With the support of local volunteers, 34 men and women were baptized at the Christian County Jail, hoping to establish a strong spiritual foundation to build off of after they are released.
“Government can only do so much at solving the world’s problems, so I believe churches and people that care in the community are the ones that can solve a lot of our problems,” said Christian County Jailer Adam Smith. 10 churches and non-profits from Christian County came together including First Baptist Church, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Bridge of Hope Fellowship, Pentecostals of Hopkinsville, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Grace Life Church in Crofton, Life Point Church, Life Tabernacle Church, Malachi Dads/HR Ministries, and Grace & Mercy.
“I encourage our chaplains to create these partnerships and bring people in that care and provide an uplifting message,” Smith said. No one is forced to participate in religious programs at the jail, so baptisms were done at the request of inmates. This willingness to participate proves the efficacy of the programs and leads to higher moral according to Smith.
Aside from the baptisms, the chaplains are on the ground floor of the jail throughout the week, providing support and counseling, and using their resources to help inmates find housing or employment after their release. Smith insists they are a vital part of the jail and have the inmate’s best interest at heart. “I kind of wanted to revamp the program and have our chaplains be a little more of a focal point,” explained Smith.
While they often receive a high amount of volunteer requests, Smith encourages people interested in volunteering to continue to reach out. Their contact information can be found on the Christian County Jail website.
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