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Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: Jail Ministry team members Donna Nelson (left) and Sher Johnson (right) help baptize an inmate at the Campbell County Jail on Saturday.
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – “Revival broke out at the Campbell County Jail, and no one saw it coming and we’re going to continue to do that,” said Paul Sweat with the jail ministry program.
Sixty-three men and women incarcerated at the county jail were baptized on Saturday. It took about an hour and a half to get through all the baptisms.
Campbell County Sheriff Wayne Barton said he was “honored to announce that 63 souls were baptized at the Campbell County Jail.”
“The union between these individuals and Christ was made possible by the Lord’s saving grace and the devoted members of the Campbell County Jail Ministry Program,” Barton said.
Preacher Paul Sweat who is part of the jail ministry team said “congratulations to all the 63 inmates, who were baptized, saying the experience had been “mind blowing.”
“It was a blessing to get to be a part of the of the jail ministry team that goes into the jail to minister. We had the honor to baptize the inmates. Thank you so much to Sheriff Barton and staff,” Sweat said.
He said the sheriff and his staff had been “wonderful to work with.”
During the baptisms, family members of the inmates watched from windows of the second floor of the courthouse.
“The part that always gets me is seeing the family watching; seeing those kids watch their moms and dads getting baptized, seeing the families watch their loved ones get baptized… It’s more than just getting out of the pod and getting dunked under water; It’s emotional for everyone,” Sweat said.
Sweat has been part of Campbell County’s Jail Ministry since early April. Before that, he was part of Scott County’s jail ministry program and has been in ministry for over 28 years.
He said jail ministry was “very rewarding.”
“You think you’re changing people’s lives, but really, it affects yours,” Sweat said.
He said it was wonderful to be a part of the local ministry team at the Campbell County Jail. The ministry team consists of Chris Thomas, Rick Meyers, Paul Sweat, Mark Pigg and his wife Tiffany Pigg, Donna Nelson, and Sher Johnson.
They go in on different days of the week to minister, preach, speak and have Bible lessons with the inmates.
“I teach them to read the Bible to prepare them when they get out to be successful,” Sweat said.
The inmates also receive information about local church services and recovery programs.
“We have an amazing jail ministry team, and I’m just glad to be a part of it,” Sweat said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/26/2023-6AM)