For four years, Freedom City Church (FCC) in Springfield, Missouri, has held an annual Festival of Hope at its OCC School in Fordland. The festival contains hip-hop, live music, ministry, testimonies, and freshly charcoal-grilled cheeseburgers with sides. But unlike most organization efforts, the guest list to this event is highly limited as the OCC (Ozark Correctional Center) School is located behind prison walls.
Prison walls or not, the gospel knows no boundaries. John Alarid, lead pastor of Freedom City Church, a former drug addict and prisoners himself, well-known the OCC Campus in order to reach inmates with the gospel. As inmates are free, Alarid and his flock are organized to welcome those continuing in the area to the church and its nine-month Hope Homes residential discipleship and regaining program. Those convicts who have bowed to Christ and indicate a desire to be a part of the Hope Homes, are, upon their free, offered the chance to enroll as space is offered.
“The OCC is a treatment facility for prisoners who have problems with drug abuse,” Alarid explains. “They only stay a year and then are free. However, most have ‘backup’ time — meaning if they violate parole or commit another crime, they not only have to give the time for whatever new wrongdoings they committed, but also serve any time remaining on their original sentences.”
On Aug. 18, Alarid and 40 volunteers from FCC were welcomed into the OCC facility — plus six volunteers who once helped there — to put on the festival. It was a time of hope and enthusiasm for what they believed God was about to do.
But what transformation can a “cheeseburger outreach” make in success the hearts and minds of inmates?
Alarid, a recognized AG chaplain with the AG U.S. Missions Chaplaincy section, puts that question to rest. He says the program is one of the most effective outreaches the church has.
“Most people don’t understand the kind of effect a grilled hamburger can have on an inmate,” he says. “I often have inmates come up and thankful, with tears in their eyes, for the food.” Whether it’s the smell of grilled food taking inmates back to a better time in their lives or simply the taste that reminds them of even freedom or picnic, it’s hard to know, but whatsoever it is, the music, meal, and testimonies prepare inmates for the organization.
Today, was no different than past years’ results. Following a communication by Alarid, he gave an altar call. “We didn’t count how many came forward, but the pictures show at least 100 — there may have been as many as 150 who gave their lives to Christ,” he says. “Directly after the altar service, we held a baptismal service there in the chapel, and more than 70 inmates chose to be christened, publicly stating their faith in Christ.”
Ch. Daniel Odean, Correctional Ministries representative for the AG U.S. Missions Chaplaincy department, adds, “Pastor John understands reaching out with the simple method of a barbeque is impacting, but when experienced with compassion and concluded with a Spirit-empowered gospel message, it becomes powerful and life-changing!”
Over the past four years, through the ministry of the OCC Campus and the Festival of Hope, more than 1,200 inmates have made decisions for Christ.
Through their years of faithful service at the OCC, Alarid says that he and the church have earned the admiration of the warden and the head preacher at the OCC. The success at the capability has also led to Alarid being requested to talk at other inmates venues, including two in Nebraska as well as the infamous Rikers Island, home to New York City’s main jail complex.
“You know, it’s kind of funny — I used to spend a lot of money to stay out of prison,” Alarid says, then laughs, “now they pay me to go back in.”
Every Sunday, following the morning service at the FCC, a DVD is driven to the OCC church for an afternoon service that includes live music and worship, followed by the playing of the message Alarid gave earlier in the day.
Manuel Cordero, senior director of Chaplaincy Ministries, states, “God is using John’s dreadful life journey for reaching lost souls and bringing them to himself. Freedom City Church and Hope Homes are plundering hell by their presentation of the gospel.”
“Years ago, the Lord called me to raise up an army out of the jails that will go across this land and boldly speak the gospel of Jesus Christ with signs and miracles,” Alarid says. “We are beginning to see that happen.”
Cordero states it clearly: “May God raise up more John Alarids is our prayer.”
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Thank you AG News and Dan Van Veen for sharing this.
