Excellence is Better Than Success

During my two decades at Alpha Prison Ministries, I interviewed roughly seven to ten men annually who were interested in becoming volunteers—unpaid staff,—to work with, minister to, and help prisoners and former inmates. The core functions of the ministry are, 1) in-prison Bible studies, all led by volunteers, 2) transitional housing, 3) mentoring relationships. Each area helps a man get established after prison and grow in his Christian walk.

The most difficult task was recruiting volunteers. They are the long pole in the tent, the central support; without them there is no ministry.

When a man called our office to express interest in being a volunteer, my first question was, “Have you read our statement of faith?” If he answered, “no,” he was directed to read it and then return a call to set up an interview. The principles and truths listed on the home page are ones, regardless of denomination, every Christian believes; starting from the same foundation was essential to our ministry. If the answer was “yes,” we met to discuss his request.

At the interview, he was asked, “Has God called you to prison ministry?” There are two callings in the Christian life: one to redemption, the second to serving, a place where God has gifted us to labor in His harvest (Phil. 2:13). This truth Paul gave us states God has given to us already that heartfelt desire, an area He has prepared us for in advance to serve Him, in His power and strength.

When I asked the vast majority of the men that second question, the overwhelming response was, “I don’t know!” Many of these men were long-time church attendees. Yet as the sun was setting in their lives, God’s calling to them was unknown, a fog! The men who knew God wanted them to work with prisoners and former inmates were accepted, trained, and deployed to lead men in the study of God’s Word. The uncertain 90% were told to pray about becoming an Alpha volunteer and talk to their wives, because of the effort to go once a week (or at times twice a month) to minister in prison. There is/was that personal commitment demanding time, travel, and other requirements.

Not once in my 23 years did anyone in the 90% call back to be a volunteer. Many of these men were successful in their professions, careers, and education, yet they were deficient in using the talents and gifts God had given them. They buried them. The rare men who excelled in their labor for Christ, even though many were ordinary guys, they are men of excellence, the “few.” The laborers in God’s harvest field are few! Excellence is better than success!

Read Philippians 2:13 and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading for how He wants to use you for His glory. Then join the harvest, for His glory and your future reward.

A fellow struggler,

Leon

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

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Leon Alderman, CDR, USN (Ret.)

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