jail time

so one of my churches has a few people who visit the local jail every week. i started going my first week here, and i've only missed one or two tuesdays. i think it's vital work for a church to be doing, but i'm often confronted by so many different emotions. it saddens me that there just doesn't seem to be much energy at all in keeping people out of jail or keeping them from returning. the issue of race always slaps me in the face also. it's always a challenge to go and then a challenge to leave and expect things to be any better next week.

but last week, something quite amazing happened. there are other ladies from a larger church who rotate coming each week. there's usually some form of devotion time as well. one of the ladies last week opened her heart and confessed her own family's struggles. she mentioned a grandson in prison and another one in drug rehab. tears came to her eyes as she shared about the pain it caused her family and about the pain it caused her to see so many people hurt themselves and others through abusing drugs and committing crimes. it truly was powerful and, i believe, the work of God. because if you just saw this woman and these inmates in person or on paper you would think they shared nothing and could never even speak to one another in anything other than a superficial way. but they are deeply connected through a shared pain - though admittedly from different vantage points. i'm thankful she did that; she shared her deepest emotions and feelings rather than shaking a finger. rather than saying "be more like me," she said, "i'm more like you than you might realize."

this week a guy i met in jail mailed me a letter. he wants some help with stuff, wants me to contact some people for him. i had kinda decided to institute a policy (i'm really good with policies) that i wouldn't get involved like this. i decided i'd tell him i can't help with any "favors" while people are in jail, because i already serve three churches and if word got out that i helped him i'd have to help all 399 of his fellow inmates. but i also would tell him that i'm happy to help in any way i can once he gets out. he's free to visit one of my churches or write me and set up a meeting. i've written the reply letter, but haven't printed or mailed it yet. it smacks of something i don't want to be. part of me feels that i should do everything i can to help people in and out of jail, and he probably needs my help now more than ever. i've never liked the "i'm too busy" excuse. so i'm unsure what to do or say. what do you think? have you faced issues like this? how much is enough and where is the line between helping and enabling or developing a savior complex?