Brothers in Blue Program

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Brothers in Blue (BIB) is a special weekend. Men who attend InnerChange Freedom Initiative in Kansas will say that it was the highlight of their time in IFI. BIB has been a part of the IFI program in Kansas since its inception and has been held in all three IFI facilities (Winfield, Ellsworth, and Lansing). Even after the IFI program left Winfield and Ellsworth facilities, the chaplains in those facilities sought to continue the program in their facilities for general population inmates.

What is BIB? It is a non-compulsory weekend program conducted by volunteers focusing on love, grace and forgiveness. Over the course of the weekend there are speeches and testimonies, a special candlelight service, prayer, communion, and small group interaction. The men attending are divided up by tables. The "table time" allows imates to discuss what has been said and done during the sessions. At the end of the weekend, each man receives a sack filled with personal letters of encouragement written by those who have previously attended a BIB session.

The Brothers in Blue team is made up of 30 volunteers business and spiritual leaders. Friendships and relationships are developed that last long after many of the men leave prison. Several BIB volunteers are former IFI inmates who took part in the program while in prison. It is great to have these men return as team members