Power of prayer: Ministry offers prayer to those in courthouse

Published 8:09 pm Tuesday, March 29, 2016

JONATHAN JONES PROVIDING SUPPORT: In its second year, the Beaufort County chapter of the national Courtside Ministries offers prayer to some of the 30 million people in the United States impacted by the legal system each year. Pictured is a team of local volunteers with two volunteers from the national headquarters: Tom Strening (third from left), president of the board of directors, and his wife.

JONATHAN JONES
PROVIDING SUPPORT: In its second year, the Beaufort County chapter of the national Courtside Ministries offers prayer to some of the 30 million people in the United States impacted by the legal system each year. Pictured is a team of local volunteers with two volunteers from the national headquarters: Tom Strening (third from left), president of the board of directors, and his wife.

In early 2014, 2nd Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Jones was about to delete an email in his inbox about prayer initiatives. The email got his attention, however, and led him to start a ministry at the Beaufort County Courthouse offering prayer and support to those coming in and out of the courthouse.

“I sort of glanced through it, and it caught my eye,” Jones said. “I saw something about praying at the courthouse.”

What caught Jones’ eye was Courtside Ministries, a national program that offers prayer to some of the 30 million people who are impacted by the legal system each year, according to its website.

The seed planted through the email provided an opportunity for him to reach out to the national headquarters’ executive director and get more information about how to start a chapter. Working in the court system, Jones realized there were a lot of people, whether they’re involved in criminal situations or not, going through difficult times and needing support for themselves and their families, Jones said.

“They need to know there are people who care for them,” Jones said. “There is a God who cares for them. God sent his only son to die for their sins.”

Representatives from the national headquarters in Chicago visited Washington to provide some basic training and help Jones and his team of volunteers get the ministry going, he said.

By the first weekend in May 2014, Beaufort County had its own Courtside Ministries chapter, which at that time was the only chapter east of the Mississippi River, Jones said. A chapter was recently added in Mecklenburg County, he said.

The ministry asks volunteers to offer prayer to those coming in and out of the courthouse, regardless of who they are or why they’re there, Jones said.

On most court days, volunteers set up a table outside the courthouse with free Bibles and devotional materials, as well as referral information for organizations such as Salvation Army, Eagle’s Wings and Celebrate Recovery, an addiction ministry headed by Harvest Church.

With a non-aggressive approach, only offering prayer once a person expresses comfort with being prayed with, the volunteers often ask people what they need prayer for, Jones said.

“We don’t try to push anybody into receiving prayer or coming to the table,” Jones said. “We just offer it to those who are interested. It’s important because people coming in and out of the courthouse, from defendants to witnesses to law enforcement, who are oftentimes going through stressful situations or dealing with a lot of stuff in their life, we just want to be there to offer them prayer and show them people care and there is a God that cares for them and wants to hear from them. There is a God who wants to have a relationship with them and direct them.”

In its second year, the chapter has received a lot of positive feedback from people who have thanked the volunteers for offering prayer to them, according to Jones. Those who pray with people through the ministry, volunteers who come from area churches such as Old Ford Church of Christ, First Baptist Church, Temple of Jesus Christ and Washington Assembly of God, usually set up between 8:30 a.m. and noon and are available to those coming in and out of the courthouse, Jones said.

For more information, visit courtsideministries.org. To become a volunteer for Courtside Ministries, contact Jonathan Jones at 252-947-0932.