Every year, hundreds of thousands of prisoners are released and return to society, and they need a second chance. The Church should be a place where they can easily find support and encouragement.
"I had people promise me the moon, and as soon as they found out I had a felony, it was over."
"I don't believe that God allowed me to leave prison so that I could kick up my feet and enjoy life. There's a lot of men who have done less than what I've done and are still in prison."
Going to prison was a harsh awakening for Audrey. She couldn't relate to the other prisoners, and felt as though she was trapped on an alien world.
Emily is leaving Shakopee for the world outside, and it's a lot to process.
We live in a broken society, but the Church is uniquely positioned to have a profound and lasting impact on the surrounding culture.
Your incarcerated loved one is getting out of prison. This is what you've been waiting for. This is why you've run for second chances, signed petitions, and shared your family's story.
So how do you prepare for your loved one's reentry?
The Book of Philemon is too often overlooked when reading through the New Testament. At a mere 25 verses long, the short letter by the Apostle Paul to a wealthy leader of the Church in Colossae is easy to flip past when searching for Hebrews, James, or Revelation. Those who do take the time to read the epistle, however, will be treated to a valuable lesson about Christian love, forgiveness, and the importance of restoration.
The following post was adapted from an article published in the Winter 2013 edition of Inside Journal. Inside Journal is a quarterly newspaper published by Prison Fellowship® just for prisoners.
Part II in Prison Fellowship's Mentoring Prisoners series: Check out these 3 important questions for mentors. Would you make a good mentor?
Do you want to help prisoners and former prisoners thrive? Read Part One of our Mentoring Prisoners series to learn how to be a good mentor to prisoners.
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28 (NIV)
Prison ministry, like all ministries, is not a single event but a process. The Church is called to make disciples, not simply converts.