THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - What started as one inmate wanting to be baptized soon turned into 45 inmates being baptized at the Thomas County Jail.

According to Chaplain Dr. Kevin Lamb and Thomas County Sheriff Tim Watkins, 109 inmates said a prayer of dedication to Jesus, with 45 of those inmates asking to be baptized.

“We’re doing them in sections and we’re allowing them to invite a couple of people per inmate to come and see that happen,” says Dr. Lamb.

Dr. Lamb says with the permission of the sheriff’s office, he and other pastors went door to door sharing the love of the Lord with inmates. That’s when the inmates decided to give their lives to Jesus.

“Every day we’re doing God’s work and we’re doing God’s work by baptizing people in the Name of the Lord, so I was all for it,” says Sheriff Watkins.

Officials say they wanted to create a safe space for the baptism with hopes of the inmates turning a new page in their lives and not coming back to the Thomas County Jail again.

“To have family support to see and witness this, this is great accountability. They’ve not only made this commitment to God, to themselves, and made a commitment to walk a different path. So, we really hope that accountability will add undergirding as they transition to getting out of the jail and becoming active members of society,” says Dr. Lamb.

Fifteen inmates were baptized on Thursday. Seven women inmates will be baptized next Thursday at 10 a.m., and this will continue every Thursday until all inmates are baptized.

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