Some of my readers know that I’m involved in a prison ministry through my church.

Recently, I met Marty McKenzie who is also involved in prison ministry. His story was so fascinating that I felt compelled to write about it.

Marty started “His Love Ministries” with his wife, Shelly, in Savannah, Ga. While Marty was working at Gulfstream in 1992, he felt called to preach.

He worked with a man who was already doing a men’s ministry. That inspired Marty to look at prison ministry. That led to a connection with the chaplain at Effingham County Jail.

On December 17, 1997 Marty preached for the first time.

In April 1999, Marty also started doing services at a retirement home and in their Alzheimer’s unit.

In 2000, he was laid off from his job. By that time, though, they had incorporated “His Love Ministries,” and the decision was made to become a full-time “self-employed minister” as Marty calls himself.

In addition to the prison and retirement home ministry, he was able to get into rehab facilities and other places in the Savannah area where people were unable to attend worship services.

The next stop on their journey for God landed them in Lexington. Several family members had moved to Lexington, and Marty and Shelly visited them often.

A new calling from God gave them a heart for Lexington and Columbia, so they moved here, too.

With divine help, they have expanded the ministry into some local SC Department of Corrections facilities, while still serving the Savannah area.

Marty said he is blessed by getting to see former inmates who thank him for his ministry to them while they were incarcerated.

One man from Georgia who attended HLM services before his release from prison now supports the ministry financially.

For more details and schedule of services, go to www.Hisloveministries.net .

Do you have a ministry that you want to talk about? Contact me by phone at 803-348-0243 or email at Chuck. lexchron@gmail.com .