Spiritual freedom is hallmark

For decades, Lloyd Colbaugh has designed publications for the Assemblies of God. Millions of readers have seen his layouts over the years, but few have seen Lloyd and his wife, Nita, in their preferred element — ministering to hospital residents in an informal, very personal setting.

Lloyd and Nita Colbaugh have ministered to prisoners from across the United States at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners.

This is not just any hospital. This is the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners on Kansas Expressway in Springfield, Mo. The roster here has included the likes of John Gotti (the "Teflon Don") and Omar Abdel Rahman (World Trade Center bombing mastermind). "I was walking the halls one day," Lloyd says, "and there was Larry Flynt, making his outside calls from prison by phone." The hospital’s population of about 1,200 inmates is somewhat equally divided among medical cases, psychiatric cases and an inmate maintenance workforce. For the past 31 years, Lloyd and Nita have ministered every week in the center’s chapel.

"I had been looking for some kind of activity that would be ministry oriented," Lloyd says. "I felt what I was doing as a free-lance designer working almost entirely on religious publications was ministry, but I wanted to get in touch with people who were in need. I asked my pastor at Central Assembly for guidance in getting involved in hospital ministry."

Lloyd’s visits to local hospitals took an unexpected turn when a friend invited him to become involved at the prison hospital. Thirty-one years later, the Colbaughs continue to lead a weekly gathering open to any interested inmate, but usually attended by 10-20 inmates and half a dozen outside volunteers. With the Medical Center’s rotating population, however, Lloyd and Nita have encountered hurting prisoners from across the United States.

"We combine a hymn sing and a discussion group," Lloyd says. "Nita plays the piano, and I lead the discussion."

Several weekly Bible studies are offered at the hospital, so the Colbaughs do not promote a structured study. Their emphasis is on fellowship. Circular seating in the chapel encourages openness. Meetings begin with group singing and then inmates are invited to offer special music.

"We also invite them to bring their art or poetry and share it," Nita says. "We always read Scripture together, and some will quote their favorite Scripture."

Even without a hard and fast structure, the Colbaughs find that a theme almost always develops.

"Like the man a few months ago who came to the meeting obviously under a great burden," Lloyd says. "He’s a strong believer. His wife had died earlier and his grandson sent in a picture of the gravestone. They had buried his wife with only her maiden name engraved on the stone. ‘That just eliminated me,’ he said. His pain set up a working theme of forgiveness for the rest of the evening. Others shared of times they had to forgive. Another inmate told how he had wanted to kill someone but now prayed for that person. I was reading a Scripture on forgiveness that night and I directed it toward that man, and he accepted that."

Others have volunteered to assist the Colbaughs. For several years before her death, Nita’s mother accompanied them.

"She had ministered all over the world before retiring as a widow," Nita says. "But she said the hospital gatherings were the greatest ministry she was involved in."

Prisoners, encouraged by the love of Christ they have seen in the Colbaughs, have started their own ministries.

"One of our regular attendees got a burden for hospice outreach," Lloyd says. "The program he developed here has become a model for other prison hospitals. We have heard powerful testimonies of prisoners who have lovingly cared for other inmates during their last days and even held them in their arms as they have died. A number of dying prisoners have accepted Christ as a result."

The Colbaughs are, by definition only, at retirement age. It is highly unlikely they have 30 more years of ministry ahead of them. But their gentle offerings of Christ’s love have reached hearts that appeared hopelessly callused by tragic experience and terrible choice. For however many years ahead that they find the strength, they plan to continue giving of themselves.

— Scott Harrup