Many lives have changed since Jody Perry expanded the gospel outreach program at the LaRue County Detention Center.
In his third year as the jailer in LaRue County, Perry, who gives all credit to God, baptized 18 inmates and two staff members Sunday in a cattle trough at the jail.
He called it one of the top 10 days of his life on social media.
“I’ve been in this business 15 years and I’ve never seen it,” Perry said of the influx of baptisms.
Perry built an impressive resume throughout his career before becoming the jailer for LaRue County. He’s been in the business since 1996 and retired from Hardin County Detention Center in 2016. Since then, he worked for the Hardin County attorney’s office and pre-trial services.
Since being elected as jailer, revival has commenced and taken over the jailhouse in LaRue County. It’s not just among inmates but staff workers too, he said.
“God’s moving in this jail and he’s moving all the way through it … this has been a prayer on my heart for months that we’d have a revival in here” Perry said.
Shortly after being elected jailer, Perry realized a need for increased worship and went to work. He first increased the regularity of church services, which originally gathered three days a week.
“Me being a Christian man, I said that was unacceptable. I said I want to expand this … now we have a Bible study or church service in this jail seven days a week,” he said.
Volunteer chaplain Wade Sams began work around Perry’s election and was named the official chaplain recently. Sams, a 20-year heroin addict who gave his life to Christ in 2006, filled a hole the jail desperately needed filled.
“This is a true Saul to Paul story,” Perry said.
Along with weekly Wednesday night group meetings, Sams routinely holds individual meetings with inmates and remains on-call during the week.
“Being a 20-year heroin addict, I know what it’s like to be addicted to something… where the drug is your god and your lord and your everything. Whenever I speak to them, I speak to them from their perspective,” Sams said.
Sams, who was convicted of drug possession and drug trafficking charges in the early 2000s, also leads a ministry for substance abuse recovery at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. His history of drug abuse, jail time and finding the Lord created a calling to share the gospel he couldn’t refuse.
“There was no inspiration, there was a calling, as loud as loud can be. There’s no doubt. I ran from it for a little while but that didn’t turn out real good for me neither,” Sams said.
Perry, being influenced by the surrounding jails’ baptism stories, purchased the cattle trough last summer for baptisms. After a long year of change and God working in lives, the jailer saw some of his goals come to fruition on a top 10 day.
(Photo: One of 18 inmates baptized at the LaRue Co. Detention Center, courtesy of Kentucky Today)
By Jeffrey Robinson, Kentucky Today
