It was November 2001 when Fran Klein and Ana Maria Branham first visited Towers jail in Phoenix. An inmate, Paul, a long way from his home in Jamaica and discouraged with his life, had asked for a visit from the Adventist Church.

Branham and Klein arranged to visit once a week to study the Bible. When Paul would head back to his cell with a big, happy smile on his face, the other inmates would ask, "Hey, where have you been? What’s the big smile about?" Paul told them about the "two sisters from the church" and shared stories from the Bible with the other men.

Soon, Paul's study expanded to a few more inmates —just two at a time were allowed to meet. Then the chaplain provided a room where they could hold studies and worship services for a larger group. Today there are four services each Sabbath —two in Spanish and two in English. And the team has grown. Elders from the church have had communion services at the jail and others share in the worship service, music and studies —and baptisms.

A second area of jail ministry involves letter writing. Mary King began writing to a woman in a federal prison more than 11 years ago. The woman enjoyed corresponding with King and shared her experience with other women prisoners. The writing list grew to 10 and gradually increased over the years. She not only sent Bible lessons, but added encouraging notes or letters. "Mary writes the best letters," inmates comment on the encouraging and informative notes she sends.

Jail inmates are incarcerated at the county jail for a short time and then transferred to prison or released. King can keep in touch with them through letters when other contact would be lost. Currently corresponding with 60 prisoners a month, she uses her own money for postage (about $1.06 for mailing, which includes lessons and a letter), Bibles and other books.

"Keep praying for us," says Klein. "We have story after story we can tell and one miracle after another. But Satan is right there trying to shut things down."

According to Klein, the new chaplain was recently standing nearby when the ministry team had prayer before they left the jail. They invited the chaplain to join the group, which she did, and later thanked Klein for including her in the prayer —praying for her success and safety as chaplain.

Plans include visiting Arizona churches once each month with information on the purpose and needs of jail/prison ministry. For information, contact Klein at 602-971-6010 (leave a message) or pvjailministryl@aol.com.