Offer friendship and guidance to prisoners and former prisoners who are rebuilding their lives. The resources on this page will help you develop effective mentoring skills. (Please click on the + to view more resources.)
Ministry Basics
Biblical Basis for Mentoring
Let these Bible verses provide a solid foundation for your mentoring outreach.
Deciding to Become a Mentor
Learn the key qualifications needed to coach current and former prisoners through their life decisions.
Types of Mentoring Relationships
How do you want your mentor-mentee relationship to work?
Why Mentors Are Important
Discover some factors that make mentoring ministry vitally important today.
Ministry Tools
Deconstructing Criminal Networks
Help current and former prisoners avoid associating with the old crowd that helped lead them to prison in the first place.
Three Red Flags
Be alert for these three warning signs your mentee may be straying off course.
I Surrender: A Collection of Devotionals Written by Prisoners
Share these encouraging devotionals with prisoners you mentor.
Overcoming Sexual Abuse
Be prepared to help mentees find healing from the shame of past victimization.
Effective Mentoring
Building Trust
Consider ways to help mentees feel it’s safe to reveal their deepest issues.
Teaching Accountability
Help mentees face the truth about the issues holding them captive.
Resolving Conflicts
Use this biblical model for handling problems with your mentee.
Asking Good Questions
Want to help your mentee? Ask more questions!
Long-Term Ministry
Become an In-Prison Mentor
Find out how to get involved in mentoring prisoners preparing for release.
Become a Reentry Mentor
Consider offering reentry mentoring to help guide newly released prisoners.
Lead a Mentoring Support Group
Work with other volunteers to provide a supportive atmosphere for recovery.
Offer Job/Career Coaching
Specialize in helping former prisoners re-enter the workforce.
Recommended Reading
Twisted Thinking Transformed
A former prison chaplain looks at 10 destructive thinking patterns that prevent a person from becoming a “straight thinker” who accepts responsibility.
The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict
A simple yet comprehensive approach to resolving conflict God’s way.
Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook
Popular radio host and counselor June Hunt examines 50 of the most common, urgent problems people face.
Christianity Behind Bars and Beyond
This discipleship manual addresses every aspect of living a Christian life in prison or in reentry.
RECENT BLOG POSTS ABOUT MENTORING
NFL Player Tyrus McCloud Learned Respect the Hard Way
"Prison was the last place I wanted to go. ... Taking a job with Prison Fellowship was probably the biggest step of faith I’ve ever taken in my life."more »Celebrating Recovery Day by Day
I realize I've learned to have a victorious life out here. ... Sometimes it can get rough, but I go back to what they taught me.more »From Manslaughter to Mentor: How Brandy Found Purpose After Prison
Convicted of manslaughter, Brandy served over 6 years before she got a second chance at life. Now she helps others do the same as a mentor.more »