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The Path to Ministry - By John Boren, Part 1
John Boren, chaplain of the Kosciusko County Jail Ministry, is partnering with CE National to encourage churches and individuals to begin local jail ministries. This is the path that brought John to his ministry, and these steps may apply to anyone seeking to find God's ministry for his or her life.
- Pray about it in a very personal way and be genuinely open to whatever God reveals.
I prayed a very general prayer in November of 1993 asking God to use me if He could. That was it. I did not even have any particular ministry in mind. I just wanted to do something for God's kingdom that counted. I was proud and hypocritical and I knew He would have to clean me up first. - Allow God to break you so that you will not be in the way of the plans He has for you.
I was arrested on December 19, 1993 for shoplifting. God had responded to my prayer and began the process of breaking my pride. - Cry out to Jesus Christ from your heart asking Him for His healing touch on your life.
I did this on December 22, 1993. It was a definite turning point in my life, my spiritual birthday. I was amazed at the huge difference between a head acknowledgement of Christ and a heart acceptance of Christ. - Become submissive and obedient to Jesus Christ, allowing Him to take you through the steps of genuine repentance so that He can give you a clean heart.
I did this between the dates of December 22, 1993 and December 25, 1993. I was obedient to a dream God gave me, paying back everyone I stole from and asking forgiveness from everyone that I had wronged. I was amazed and humbled at the effects of this process. - Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your clean heart and to empower you for ministry.
I experienced this on December 25, 1993. It was the best Christmas I have ever had. I never realized there was such freedom, power, and joy available from an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. - Be sensitive to God implanting compassion in your heart for a specific people.
I was incarcerated in the jail for the first ten days in February of 1994. I went in with an attitude of superiority and no desire at all to even associate with the convicts. I came out with the realization that they were just like me and I had a burning desire to show them the love of Christ. God gave me compassion where there was none! - Come along side of someone else or some other group who is already doing the ministry that you feel God is calling you to.
I joined the Gideons in March of 1994. They were the only group that was ministering in the jail at that time. They mentored me, showing me how to witness and use the Bible. They gave me experience ministering on the streets, in nursing homes, and at rescue missions. I started going into the jail with them every week. - Ask God to give you confirmation of the specific ministry He is calling you to by opening a door for you to step through by faith.
I asked God in November of 1994 to open more opportunities for ministry at the jail, possibly even allowing me to become the jail chaplain. God responded by having a local pastor appointed as Chaplain in December of 1994. I assisted him and learned from him. In January of 1995, I replaced him as Chaplain when he was transferred by his denomination to a church in another state. - Pursue assistance and accountability in this wonderful calling that God has entrusted you with.
By March of 1995, I had others that were going into the jail with me on a regular basis. Their help and encouragement was used by God to teach and mature me. In January of 1996, we formed an advisory board that met monthly, providing vision, direction, and accountability for our ministry. We incorporated that same month under the name "Kosciusko County Jail Ministry" (KCJM).
