- November 7, 2024
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Most of First Baptist Church of Palm Coast’s Jail/Prison Ministry consists of retirement-aged men who have given up sitting at the beach to reach prisoners in Bunnell and Tomoka for Jesus Christ.
Jerry Forsythe, a former thermodynamics scientist, was recruited by the, then, leader Stan Dubots and joined the jail ministry in 2002. They would disciple and evangelize the inmates once per week. The ministry was open to most of the inmates, including those who would be wearing leg-irons – the more serious charges.
After several months, Dubots retired from the ministry, so Forsythe began to recruit some of his Sunday school class members. His most faithful co-worker to this day has been Jimmy O’Connor – a former New York State police officer.
Around this same time, Prison Fellowship was conducting revivals at all the Florida State prisons in the northeast section of Florida. During their participation at the Tomoka Correctional Institution, they discovered the faith-based Horizon Communities in Prison dormitory. The FBCPC team began visiting the prison every Monday and have continued to this day.
“In the 12 years I have been going down to Tomoka C.I., First Baptist is the only church van I have seen at the prison,” Forsythe said. “More Christian volunteers are needed.”
Since that time, Forsythe has added Tom Miller, Dan Lujan, Jim Stanton, Roger Wendell, to name a few.
“If it weren’t for the grace of Jesus Christ, I’d be where they are, because I’ve done as bad, if not worse than those guys,” Miller said. “I just never got caught. I was a big-time drug user and dealer.”
With the addition of the women inmates, female Christian volunteers are presently being recruited.
When asked what his goal in life was, Forsythe said “To get to heaven and take as many inmates with me as possible.”
Remember Joe Milano?
An inmate has experienced both of the First Baptist ministries is Joseph Milano
Milano, the former Goomba’s Pizzeria owner, was sentenced to prison for aggravated assault. While incarcerated, Milano encountered FBCPC’s jail ministry, which he says helped change his life.
Joe Milano’s testimony: “In the Flagler County Jail, I gravitated to a Bible study in 2010. It was in that study where I first encountered two volunteers from Palm Coast, Jerry and Jim. I returned to Jesus, where I truly belonged (as well as in jail), and I fully understood how and why I did what I did and wound up where I was. Jesus does not belong on a shelf to be taken down as needed, which was basically what I'd done. In reality, what I did was set myself up for failure. Jerry and Jim helped me see that. I am now Joseph Milano #C05208, having served five years into a 13-year sentence, and now I’m here at the Tomoka Correctional Facility, housed in the Faith Based Horizon Program.
Three times a week, we are blessed with the presence of volunteers from various churches; men of faith aid us in finding Christ and staying with Him. During my first Monday night in the program, imagine my surprise and pleasure to see both Jerry and Jim stroll onto the dorm. Talk about blessings! These programs and these wonderful volunteers have helped me find my way back, back to the person I should be, back to my family and friends. I truly am not certain of what I would have done, had it not been for Mr. Kyle McQuillen, Jerry, Jim and others.
Prisons need all the volunteers possible, and one of my major goals in life is that once I am free, I will return as a volunteer and share all that I have gained.”
Say that again: “If it weren’t for the grace of Jesus Christ, I’d be where they are, because I’ve done as bad, if not worse than those guys. I just never got caught.”
TOM MILLER
