Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Don Strieber considers himself a newcomer to Coryell County, having lived in the area since about 2006, but he's a man on a mission when it comes to reaching people with the gospel.
Strieber, who has a background with previous prison and jail ministries, is looking to start a ministry to reach Coryell County Jail inmates and offer them partial advice for improving their lives, as well as the life-changing hope he says comes through the love of Christ.
"I had an epiphany from Christ on many levels to do things in my old age," Strieber said. "David Green, the CEO of Hobby Lobby (and an outspoken Christian) and the Bible have set me on fire. I want to work with men, and I want to work in unity and community. I'm not a one-man show."
He said the county jail previously had an active jail ministry that stopped when COVID-19 concerns arose in early 2020, and he is hoping to revive it.
"I met with Sheriff (Scott) Williams and learned the jail has some space issues, but there is an expansion planned and they'll be getting 48 new beds," Strieber said. "Right now he doesn't have a common area, so we'd have to go in and meet with guys one-on-one in a small area. That can change once there's a common area, but it's what we're going to have to do to see inmates."
Strieber said he previously volunteered at the Texas Department of Corrections Hughes Unit for about 15 years, "so I have a background of working with inmates. Many have had a really tough life. One was put on the streets at the age of 5 or 6, when a stepdad pushed him out and said he didn't want him around anymore. So, at that age, he was on his own."
Strieber said he plans to have men ministering to male inmates and women volunteers working with female inmates.
"The message is 'We Care About You,'" he said. "One thing for them to know is this is valuable to them right now. They will have an opportunity to choose to participate.
"There are three things. We deal in truth, and we will advise them how to get the best from the time they spend on this unit. We will give advice about their time in the world. When you send people from jail or prison to the streets, sometimes they go back to their old ways. We need to love them like Jesus loves them and point them to programs that can help them.
"We will offer them advice about their eternity. This is where we can step up and be courageous and talk to them about their eternity. Let's face it guys, there's one of two places we go when we die."
Strieber said there is not a local homeless shelter, and he hopes that will change. But beyond being just a homeless shelter, he hopes the community will offer a one stop shop to help meet "people's needs in life and in Christianity."
Volunteer times are flexible but will likely be during the day Monday through Friday. He said the meetings with inmates will likely be 20-30 minutes and will allow volunteers to get to know inmates before reading them chapters of the Bible.
"I want to let the inmates know that we are people who believe in Jesus and if they choose to meet with us, they will receive grand benefits both now and in their eternity," Strieber said.
If you are interested in working with Strieber as a volunteer, call 254-865-8565.
