Are you looking for an enriching experience, but haven’t quite found it yet? Look no further. Prison Ministry is waiting for you. Ask some members of the Alvarado Seventh-day Adventist Church who have had the experience – such as Bernard Adams, Danny Hance, Donald Hines, Dwight Taylor and Tom Bradsahw (just to name a few). They may have had a bit of anticipation, but every one of them have left blessed, strengthened and energized (not to mention enthusiastic!).
Each Sabbath the men at the Boyd Unit receive a blessing from Sabbath School and church, which includes a Mission Story and song services. Averaging 20-25 men each Sabbath in attendance, it is apparent these men love to sing hymns because they could almost raid the rafters with their singing! It also is inspiring to listen to the Sabbath School Lesson discussion.
It is obvious they have a yearning to learn the Truth. Many of these men are baptized members of the Alvarado Seventh-day Adventist Church, who look forward to the day when they will be greeted by the warm people of the church they have embraced. Some men have already been released and are actively serving in the church they have grown to love. 
It’s a two-and-a-half hour drive to Teague, where the Boyd Unit is located, so it takes dedication to be part of the volunteers to go the distance so these men can have Sabbath School and Church from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. each Sabbath. More and more members of the Alvarado Seventh-day Adventist Church are discovering that by giving of oneself, one receives ten-fold in return. We never know how acts of kindness or a showing of interest can impact someone else’s life, or even our own, until we do it.
Jay Yeates and Cindy Lieske |