• Alabama Judge: Church Or Jail

  Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 26, 2011 (message contributor)

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  Tags:  Church General

  Denomination: Independent/Bible

ALABAMA JUDGE: CHURCH OR JAIL

Is going to church a privilege or a sentence? It depends upon you and the particular church. For some in Alabama, it is a sentence:

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (AP) — Authorities say non-violent offenders in southern Alabama will have a new choice: Go to jail, or go to church every Sunday for a year...The city judge in Bay Minette will let misdemeanor offenders choose to work off their sentences in jail and pay a fine; or go to church every Sunday for a year.

If offenders select church, they'll be allowed to pick the place of worship but must check in weekly with the pastor and police. If the one-year church attendance program is completed, the offender's case will be dismissed.

Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland says the program could change the lives of people heading down the wrong path. So far, 56 churches are participating.

Some of these criminal will probably come to know the Lord and be transformed. We are transformed as the Spirit of God works in us, often through His Word.