Remember Those in Prison
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.
Last week we began a series on helping prospective mentors determine if they are equipped to walk alongside current and former prisoners.
How do you know if you would make a good mentor for someone in prison? In many ways, serving as a mentor—whether for a prisoner or for someone on the outside—is quite simple. In other ways, it’s not. The questions below should help you consider whether you are being called to a mentoring role or not.
“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.
There is a transformative power in good literature. A book can transport us to faraway places and introduce us to characters from different times and eras. It can rouse the emotions, challenge perceptions, and engage the mind in ways that few things can.
Ever wonder what life is like for someone with a criminal record?
A new quiz on the Marshall Project website gives readers an opportunity to see how much they know about the hurdles that face men and women who have committed crimes.