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On his first morning as prison chaplain at "the Walls" (i.e., the Huntsville Unit, the Texas prison famous for housing the state's death chamber), Jim Brazzil received a call from the warden, who casually said, "By the way, there's an execution tonight." Since then, Brazzil has witnessed the executions of 146 people. More than 400 others wait on death row.

Brazzil served several Baptist churches in Texas for 25 years before becoming a prison chaplain in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice seven years ago. Reading Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God while on tour of Ukrainian prisons in 1992, he came upon the author's teaching that God invites you to join him where he is already at work. He went home determined to go into prison work, though the move meant a 50 percent cut in salary. Though recently assigned to serve prisons in the state's northern region, Brazzil still accompanies every condemned prisoner at his death. Standing beside the gurney where the prisoner lies, Brazzil places a hand on his leg—the last human touch the person feels.

Do you feel that how you deal with an execution has changed over the years?

When I first started doing this, I wanted to know everything I could about every offender. His crime, his background, his past record, details about the victim. But the further I got into it, the more I learned most of that really didn't make any difference. Most of the time it got in the way. Now I try not to listen to their history. I just want to be with the person one-on-one, not with any kind of agenda—the way I would with anyone close to death, someone dying in a hospital or at home. I just want to bring them the peace of God.

Death row has recently been moved to a different facility, though executions are still carried out at the Walls. At what point do you get involved?

A day or two before the execution date, I go out to the unit and visit with them. I try not to get too close too quick, but I already know some of them. I've had some in Bible studies. They all know who I am. They're always very serious then, and I'm real honest with them. I tell them straight up where we are with this, and I try to love them where they are. If they approve, I call their family ahead of time and talk to them.

What about the families?

On the actual day of the execution, I stay with the prisoner from the time he or she is brought in to the Walls that morning till the time they are either executed that evening or receive a stay. We just do whatever he feels like. If he wants to pray, we pray. If he wants to talk, we talk—about what is up to him.

I meet with them too, that day. We have a chaplain who stays with the family, and another chaplain for the victim's family who come to witness the execution.

How are you received by the inmates?

Generally I have been received wonderfully. There've been a few who were antagonistic. But I've been in the death chamber with every one of them. I've never had one of them turn me down.

Have you ever witnessed the execution of a believer?

Oh, yes. [Brazzil reaches for a worn, brown Ryrie Study Bible and opens it to the back flyleaves, which are covered with handwritten notes.] These are all written by executed offenders. Nearly every one of them talks about the peace of God. Karla Faye Tucker's was the first message, and it was such an amazing testimony—she was so bold with her faith.

I didn't even know she'd written it till later. She asked to borrow my Bible, and I handed it to her while I went to see the warden. She gave it back when I returned, not saying any more about it. Then the next day, while I was working on her funeral, I picked my Bible up and flipped it open. There was her message.

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May 21 2001, Vol. 45, No. 7