Mentoring Ministry

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.