Welcoming the prison leaver – David Spademan
Paul’s letter to Philemon gives us an insight into some of the challenges that prison leavers face when leaving custody and seeking to join a church. It is written primarily to Philemon, a wealthy merchant, who became a Christian after hearing Paul preach and started a church in his home in Colosse.
The focus of the letter is around Onesimus, Philemon’s slave, who stole from him and ran away. Onesimus meets Paul in Rome where he then also becomes a Christian. He was a close helper of Paul, who referred to him as his son.
Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon. Under Roman law, he could have faced serious consequences for his offending actions. But, Paul makes a plea for Onesimus, encouraging Philemon to do the right thing in receiving his former slave as a fellow believer and dear brother.
Paul is so determined to help Philemon do the right thing that he writes him this letter, copied to two other people, and sends Onesimus back to him with a companion. He also lets Philemon know that he is planning to visit, with an implied intention that he will make sure he has welcomed Onesimus appropriately.
I wonder what kind of letter a modern-day Paul would write to my church or to your church? Would he be confident of us providing an appropriate welcome to prison leavers? If you are not yet familiar with The Welcome Directory, I encourage you to look and consider registering your church. It is important that we make an intentional warm welcome to all people, including those leaving prison.
Please have a read of Philemon. It will not take you long! As you read, imagine what Paul and, more importantly, Jesus would be asking you to do. May I paraphrase Matthew 25:35: ‘Jesus said,
“When you invited the prison leaver into your church, you invited me in.”’
David Spademan is managing chaplain for HMP Onley.
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