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SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE
Prison Ministry
Chaplain Dr. Brenda S. Jackson, Ph.D.
BSJ Christian Seminars, Inc.
Revised March 4, 2012
RECOGNIZING THE CALL by Brenda
Simuel Jackson
525 Clinton Street, the place of the Old County jail, division II
The place where I recognized God’s call, and was told, it is true.
The basement where service was held that Sunday afternoon,
Was only bright because of the souls that filled the room.
Recognizing The Call
The Out of tune piano, no one could play, but we sang with gusto anyway.
My sermon, Jesus Is The Light, was short and sweet, one soul said yes, and I did weep.
A road called to travel, I continue on to this day,
Jesus is the light who can be seen night or day.
WHAT IS A PRISON/JAIL?
A PRISON-HOUSE
A Place of physical bondage A Physical location to confine one A building in which persons are
confined while waiting trial A place of confinement for punishment
The Prison Inside the Prison-House
A society within a society filled with social outcast and social rejects. (Elijah Ingram, “The Shape of Ministry in Prison, 1990)
The Prison inside the Prison-House
A condition of Feeling rejected, helpless, powerless, inferior.
The Prison Inside the Prison-House
A condition of being morally, emotionally, and spiritually dead.
Prison Houses in Michigan
Michigan Scene - 2000– 42 Correctional Facilities– Wayne County Jails– Federal Facilities in Michigan
Several Facilities have been closed.
Matthew 25:25:36d
I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Who are The Prisoners?
U.S. Bureau of Justice 2001-2002– Federal Inmates 2001
• 5.6 million– 64% racial or ethnic minority– 43% less than high school diploma– 57% under the age of 35– 6.6% women
Criminal Justice, 6th Ed. 2008
Population under Corrections 2005-2006– 747.529 – Jail Population– 1,446,265 – Prison population– Population under corrections
• 7.1 million– 4.9 mil. Parole, probation, community– 2.2 mil. incarcerated
– Local Facilities - 2002• 2.3 million
– 36% White– 40% Black– 19% Hispanic– 1% American Indian– 1% Asian– 3% more than 1 ethnic heritage– 12% female– 38% 35 years of age or older
Geriatric Prisoner (Aging Prisoners, Aday)
– U.S. Statistics• 1.3 million inmates age 50 or older
– State and Federal Prisons– 8.2% of total 2002 inmate population
Character of The Prisoner
Sociopathic Tendencies (Campbell, 1986,p.21)
– Manipulators– Self-Centered– Poor Self-Image– Difficulty with Value-
Centered Goals– Feelings of Hurt
– Mistrust– Anger– Fear– Guilt– Denial– Depression
Family Background Dept. of Justice, 2002
31% of jail inmates grew up with parent or guardian who abused alcohol or drugs.
12% of inmates lived in foster homes or institutions.
46% had a family member incarcerated
Diversity of Crimes & Characters
Department of Justice 2002– 50% of inmates incarcerated for violent or
drug related offenses• Drug Offenders are the largest source of jail
population
(Kelly, Jailhouse Religion, p. 3)
Child Molesters Psychiatrics Gays Prostitutes Murderers Rapists
Robbers Derelicts Gangsters Illiterates Juveniles
Why Do Evangelism in the Prison
Why Are Prisons a Mission field?
HEY CHAPLAIN by Brenda Simuel Jackson
Hey Chaplain didn’t get that visit requested. Hey Chaplain can’t read the print in the KJV
bequested. Hey chaplain, who appointed you for the Lord
and Master? Hey Chaplain, will you mail this letter faster? Hey Chaplain when will my cup run over? Hey Chaplain, guess what, my prayers are
getting louder and bolder!
Hey Chaplain
Hey Chaplain, I didn’t cry last night. I got a visit from Jesus, and not by my
might! Hey Chaplain, thanks again for helping
me to see, I have a friend in Jesus, He loves me! Hey Chaplain
Salvation
Group Claims Thousands of U.S. Prisoners Are converting to Islam ( The
Connection Newspapers)
Isaiah 42:7b.c. – “…to free captives from prison (1) and to
release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (2)
Salvation
Isaiah 61: 1b-2– “…proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners (3)
Philemon 11,16– “Formerly he was useless…now useful…
No longer a slave, but better than a slave, a dear brother.
Salvation
John 8:36– So if The Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed• Free from penalty of sin• Free from negative personhood• Free from hopelessness• Free from lack of skills (Johnson, p. 103)
• Family Aid can be provided freely (Ingram p. 84)
Reduce Recidivism
Kelly - 74% of prisoners once released, arrested within 4 years.
2002– 53% of jail inmates were on probation,
parole or pretrial release at time of arrest.– 40% of prison inmates had a current or
past sentence for a violent offense
Reduce Recidivism
1994 272,111 released in 15 US States– 67.5% Rearrested– 46.9% Reconvicted– 25.4% resentenced to prison for a new
crime
The Innerchange Freedom Program– Christian Based Rehabilitation Program– Working with Inmates pre-release– Working with inmates after release
Use biblical-based teachings to instill life skills
Innerchange Program– Belief that crime is a moral issue– There must be a genuine change of heart
to change character
Restoration
2 Corinthians 2:5-11– If anyone has caused grief,…The punishment
inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient…you aught to forgive and comfort him…If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven - If there was anything to forgive - I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Restoration
Jail/Prisons, Great mission fields
A place for regeneration not just rehabilitation. (Kelly, p. 4)
A place for Spiritual Development
Sycamore Tree Project– Victim and Offender healing process– Offenders become accountable– Victims expose their hurts– In-prison process
Doing Evangelism in the Prison
BSJ Christian SeminarsMission Statement Vision
– Earning Interest for God on His Investment in Stewards who are Imprisoned
– How - Doing Evangelism Vision Theme
– Transforming Uselessness Into Usefulness to Glorify God
– How - Doing Evangelism (Teaching)
Mission Provide Outreach Ministry with the goal
of salvation (Acts 2:24; Hebrew 13:3; Matthew 25:36)
Provide a method of Faith-Based (Christian) involvement in rehabilitation of the confined. (Philemon 11-16)
Provide spiritual, personal and academic development (2 Timothy 3:16)
X-offender and Family Services
Community Services
Family Life Services
Prayer Services
Hebrews 13:1-3
– Keep on loving each other as brothers…Remember those in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoners.
Helping the Inmate to Wait in Freedom
Religious - looking beyond situations to possibilities (Kelly, p. 66)
Religious Programs help to overcome cellblock conditions.
Religious programs ward off giving up hope
Religious programs that stop suicidal thinking
SAMPLE RENEWAL SEMINARS
Be Angry but Sin not The Leader in You Fruit spiritually Sweet and Emotionally
Mature Prayer Power Selecting The Easy Yoke Forgiving The Unforgivable Faith
Organizational Structure of Ministries
Structures– Collaboration of two or more churces– Collaboration between church and no-profit– Collaboration between church and
educational entity
In-prison Services– Bible Study– Worship Services– Development Program– Educational Services– Counseling Services
Qualifications and Training– Faith– Concern for Inmates– Biblical Study– Use of special gift and/or talent
Steps for Being a Religious Volunteer– Application– Criminal History Check– Recommendations– Learning the Do’s and Don’ts
Other Ministries– Care for the Aging– Care for dying prisoners– Mentors– Employment Assistance– Housing Assistance– Family Outreach– Transportation for visitation
References
Michigan Department of Corrections Books
– Aday, Ronald H. Aging Prisoners, London: Praeger, 2003
– Campbell, Joan, S.P. The Ministry To The Imprisoned, Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1989.
– Kelly, Anthony, Jailhouse Religion, Townsend Press, 1996
References
Nolan, Pat. When Prisoners Return. Prison Fellowship, 2004.
Williams, Joseph. Sheep In Wolves’ Clothing, When The Actions of a Christian turn Criminal,Chicago: Moody Press, 2000.
Travis, Lawrence F. Introduction to Criminal Justice. 6th ed. Ohio: Mathew Bender & Co., 2008
Wilmore, Gayroud, ed. Black Men In Prison, Atlanta, Ga: ITC Press, 1990.
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