INTRODUCTION
You hold in your hands the key to a great treasure box. Inside the box are gold, silver, and
precious jewels. The box in which these treasures are contained is rather unusual--not really very
appealing. It is surrounded by razor wire, electrified fences, and armed guard towers. But inside
there is great treasure . . . men and women, precious to God, who are waiting for YOU.
The manual you hold in your hands--“You Came Unto Me”--is a training guide for jail and prison
ministry. This manual provides instruction for every level of involvement:
•The minimal level of corresponding with an inmate.
•Visiting one-on-one with inmates.
•Ministering in group worship services, special programs, or Bible studies inside an
institution.
•Assisting inmate’s families.
•Providing post-prison ministry upon an inmate’s release from a penal institution.
It includes instruction on dress and safety codes, institution and inmate typology, and how to
relate to inmates in such a way that they will be attracted to the Gospel message and receive Jesus
Christ as their personal Savior.
This manual is designed to be used as a training course for:
•Individuals who have a desire to get involved in jail and prison ministry.
•Churches who want to start jail and prison outreaches.
•Denominations desiring to involve their churches in such ministries.
•Bible colleges desiring to offer jail and prison ministry training to students.
•Chaplains who need a training tool for training their volunteers.
Each chapter includes instructional objectives to guide the learning experience and a self-test to
measure individual progress. (Answers to self-tests are provided at the conclusion of the final
chapter in this manual and may be removed by the instructor if they do not want students to have
access to them.) The Appendices include a dictionary of prison-related terms, Scriptures related
to prisoners, and a list of ministry resources.
Treasures In Prison Cells
By Bill Yount
It was late at night and I was tired. . .but about midnight, God spoke to me in my spirit and asked a question. . .
"Bill, where on earth does man keep his most priceless treasures and valuables?" I said "Lord, usually these treasures
like gold, silver, diamonds and precious jewels are kept locked up somewhere out of sight, usually with guards and
security to keep them under lock and key."
God spoke. "Like man, My most valuable treasures on earth are also locked up." Then I saw Jesus standing in front
of seemingly thousands of prisons and jails. The Lord said, "They have almost been destroyed by the enemy, but
these souls have the greatest potential to be used, and to bring forth glory to My name. Tell My people, I am going
this hour to the prisons to activate the gifts and callings that lie dormant in these lives that were given before the
foundation of the earth. Out from these walls will come forth a spiritual army that will have power to literally kick
down the gates of Hell and overcome satanic powers that are holding many of My people bound in My own House.
"Tell My people that great treasure is behind these walls, in these forgotten vessels. My people must come forth and
touch these lives, for a mighty anointing will be unleashed upon them for future victory in My kingdom. They must
be restored."
Then I saw the Lord step up to the prison doors with a key. One key fit every lock and the gates began to open. I
then heard and saw great explosions which sounded like dynamite going off behind the walls. It sounded like all-out
spiritual warfare. Jesus turned and said, "Tell My people to go in now and pick up the spoil and rescue them.” Jesus
then began walking in and touching inmates who were thronging Him. Many, being touched, instantly began to have
a golden glow come over them. God spoke to me, "There's the gold!" Others had a silver glow around them. God
said, "There's the silver!"
Like slow motion they began to grow into what appeared to be giant knights, armed warriors. They had on the armor
of God and every piece was solid and pure gold! Even golden shields! When I saw the golden shields, I heard God
say to these warriors, "Now go and take what Satan has taught you and use it against him. Go and pull down the
strongholds coming against My Church." The spiritual giants then started stepping over the prison walls with no one
to resist them, and they went immediately to the very front line of the battle with the enemy. I saw them walk right
past the church, and big-name ministers--known for their power with God-- were surpassed by the giant warriors like
David going after Goliath! They crossed the enemy's line and started delivering many of God's people from the
clutches of Satan while demons trembled and fled out of sight at their presence. No one, not even the Church,
seemed to know who these spiritual giants were or where they came from. They were restored to God's House and
there was great victory and rejoicing. I also saw silver, precious treasures, and vessels being brought in. Beneath the
gold and silver were the people that nobody knew: Rejects of society, street people, the outcasts, the poor and the
despised. These were the treasures that were missing from His House.
Then the Lord said. "If My people want to know where they are needed, tell them they are needed in the streets, the
hospitals, the missions, and the prisons. When they come there they will find Me and the next move of' My Spirit.”
“You Came Unto Me. . .”
The Biblical Mandate For Ministry
KEY VERSE:
. . . I was in prison, and you came to me. (Matthew 25:36)
OBJECTIVES:
Upon conclusion of this lesson you will be able to:
•Provide references for the scriptural mandate for prison ministry.
•Explain why believers should be involved in prison ministry.
•Articulate the spiritual goals of jail and prison ministry.
•List the social goals of jail and prison ministry.
•Summarize what the Gospel has to offer prison inmates.
•Determine your role in prison ministry.
INTRODUCTION
Barbed wire. Steel bars and heavy metal doors. Guard towers with armed officers. Criminals.
This is prison!
•Society says, “Lock them up and throw away the key.”
•Politicians say, “We need to build more prisons.”
•Statistics say, “80% of inmates return to prison after release--we are wasting our
time to try to rehabilitate them.”
. . . But Jesus says, “I was in prison, and you came to me.”
The prison system is the only "business" that succeeds by its failure. Prison populations grow
larger and larger. Often, people come out of prison worse than when they went in. Many commit
more crimes, return to prison, and get stuck in the cycle of recidivism, the "revolving door" of
crime, prison, and release.
The answer to this is not more prisons. It is not locking people up and “throwing away the key.”
It is not even the death penalty, as studies have shown that even this does not effectively deter
crime. The answer is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the demonstration of power!
Prisoners need regeneration not rehabilitation--and Jesus has commissioned His followers to reach
beyond the barbed wire fences and steel bars to touch the lives of men and women bound by the
shackles of sin.
THE MANDATE FOR PRISON MINISTRY
The mandate for prison ministry is clear in God’s Word, both by scripture and example.
SCRIPTURE:
The greatest scriptural mandate for prison ministry is given in Matthew 25:31-40. Jesus said:
. . .“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with
Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be
gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His
right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His
right hand, `Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world: `for I was hungry and you gave Me
food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me
in; `I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in
prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying,
`Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You
drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe
You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the
King will answer and say to them, `Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you
did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew
25:31-40)
EXAMPLE:
Jesus Christ Himself is our example for prison ministry. One of the main targets of Christ’s
ministry was prisoners:
. . . To open blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them
that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7)
Jesus declared:
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good
tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound”. . . (Isaiah 61:1)
Even while dying on Calvary's cross, Jesus took time to reach out in love and concern to a
prisoner. As a result, that convicted criminal experienced God's love, grace, and forgiveness.
During the time between His death and resurrection, we are told that Jesus “ . . . went and
preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19).
Unfortunately, despite the clear Biblical injunction and Christ’s example to minister to prisoners,
many believers prefer to pass by on the other side of the street, as did the religious leaders in the
parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:29-37).
WHY PRISON MINISTRY?
Why must believers be concerned about prison ministry? Because. . .
1. Prison ministry has a direct Scriptural mandate (Matthew 25:31-40). Throughout the
Bible are examples, descriptions, and commandments about prisons, prisoners, bondage,
captivity, and slavery. The Bible mentions prison, prisoners, or imprisonment more than
130 times. (See Appendix Two of this manual)
2. We should follow the example Christ set by ministering to prisoners.
3. Prisons meet the criteria of any mission field: Lost people and a need for laborers.
4. God is not willing that any should perish--not even serial killers, rapists, and molesters (2
Peter 3:9). God loves even the “worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
5. Chaplains cannot minister to more than a small percentage of inmates in their care. They
cannot do all of the necessary work themselves, as there is just not enough time to do so.
6. Many jails and prisons have no professional chaplains and many have no religious services
at all.
7. For every person incarcerated, there are three to five other people affected: Mates,
children, parents, etc. Inmates and their families represent a large segment of society in
any culture.
8. False religions and cults are reaching out to prisoners. We must get there first with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ!
GOALS OF PRISON MINISTRY
The spiritual goals of jail and prison ministry may include one, some, or all of the following:
•To share the unconditional love of God.
•To present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that inmates will embrace it
and receive Christ as Savior.
•To disciple new believers in the Word and teach them how to study the Bible.
•To demonstrate the power of prayer and teach them to pray.
•To lead inmates to experience the life-changing power of God that will free them
from guilt, shame, negative emotions, and addictions.
•To minister to inmates’ families.
The social goals of jail and prison ministry are:
•To help the inmate function more positively within the prison environment.
•To provide a link between the community and persons confined in correctional
institutions
•To prepare residents for re-entry into society (physically, mentally, morally and
spiritually).
•To assist inmates families in practical ways.
•To provide post-prison assistance in practical ways.
WHAT THE GOSPEL HAS TO OFFER
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has many things to offer inmates.
•Forgiveness from sin.
•A chance to say "I'm sorry."
•Release from guilt and shame.
•Acceptance--when all many of them have ever known is rejection.
•New values and perspectives.
•Strategies for coping with difficult situations and negative emotions
•Basics for true honest relationships.
•Life abundant through Jesus Christ.
•A new purpose for living.
•Eternal life.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?
Of the millions of active believers worldwide, only a small number are involved in ministry to
prisoners, despite the fact that jails and prisons are found in almost every community. Yet the
scriptural mandate by both teaching and example is clear.
Every believer should be involved in prison ministry. This does not necessarily mean you are
called to actually go into a prison. As in missions--not everyone is called to go to a foreign field
to share the Gospel. But--as in missions--every believer should be involved in prison ministry in
some capacity.
There are many ways to be involved:
•Provide prayer support for prison ministries.
•Visit an inmate.
•Write to a prisoner.
•Assist families of inmates.
•Help inmates transition back to society after their release.
•Conduct worship services, Bible studies, or group meetings inside prisons.
•Write, publish, and distribute Biblically based training material specifically
designed for prison inmates.
•Provide Bibles and Christian literature for inmates.
•Provide financial support to a prison ministry.
•Serve as a prison chaplain.
Begin now to pray for God to reveal the specific way that you are to be involved!
A New Beginning
“I am a condemned prisoner, sentenced to life without parole--sentenced to die in prison. I
have learned that when you feel you have lost everything, God will show that you have gained
much more than this world can ever offer.
“Prison is a place where the Lord can shape us into useful tools that can last through a life time
of worshiping and praise, whether we are serving six months or a life sentence. The more I
study the Bible, the more I long to know more about Christ. . .The longer I stay in prison, the
greater my desire to associate with people who live a Godly life and fellowship with them.
Prison is where the Lord can do some of His best work.
“Prison does not need to be the end of life. It can be a new beginning--even for one with a life
sentence.” (R.S.)
Qualifications And Preparation
KEY VERSE:
. . . be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in
faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
OBJECTIVES:
Upon conclusion of this chapter you will be able to:
•Summarize the spiritual qualifications for a prison ministry worker.
•Identify four areas of preparation vital to effective prison ministry.
INTRODUCTION
Those who minister with inmates must be sure of their relationship with Christ, set a proper
example, and always be ready to give an answer for the hope within them. While a person called
to this ministry should demonstrate all the spiritual virtues taught in the Word, this chapter
emphasizes the essential qualifications prison workers should possess:
SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS
COURAGE:
Entering a jail or prison to minister--whether on a one-to-one or group basis--is outside the
“comfort zone” for most believers. It is not unusual to feel a bit uneasy the first few times you are
in a penal facility---but remember, God will take care of you whenever you are in His service. In
most cases, the prison chapel is a safe place and inmates are open and friendly. If you feel
apprehensive, remember that God does not give a spirit of fear--so recognize where fear comes
from and conquer it in the name of Jesus!
COOPERATION:
There are many different persons in a prison society. As a volunteer--in addition to the inmates--
you will primarily be involved with correctional officers (also called guards) and a chaplain or
supervisor. Most people you meet will probably treat you with courtesy and respect. Be sure to
treat them courteously, speaking to them and shaking hands with them where appropriate, using
their names when reasonably possible. A good prison worker knows how to cooperate with
others--administration, other volunteers, and especially the chaplain, if the jail or prison has one.
It is important for you, as a volunteer, to have some understanding of the work of jail and prison
chaplains. Chaplains work long hours under difficult conditions. Each day chaplains must deal
with many responsibilities such as the personal crises of inmates, providing programs to meet the
spiritual needs of inmates, and fighting the frustrations and disappointments that are an integral
part of prison chaplaincy.
Most full-time prison and jail chaplains have more training and preparation for their work than do
many ministers. Before they can be accepted into many prisons they must have seminary training
and be endorsed by their denominations. Often they are required to have served in a pastorate
before coming into chaplaincy. Chaplains must also be acceptable to the warden of the prison in
which he/she is to work.
A chaplain functions as the administrator of a religious program for the entire institution. He/she
provides for the traditional preaching and worship functions, oversees religious education
programs; spends much time in personal counseling; recruits, trains and supervises volunteers;
and performs many administrative activities (letters, meeting, reports.)
It is important for volunteers to maintain good relationships with the chaplain. It is a grave breach
of trust to use your access to the prison to undermine the chaplain's reputation or to discredit his
programs. If there is a problem, always talk with the chaplain first.
GENUINENESS:
Be real! Inmates are adept at identifying phonies. A person should not visit the prison with an
improper motive like seeking a spouse or showing off his/her abilities. Prisoners are extremely
perceptive. They can quickly spot the person who joined the team out of curiosity. Selfish motives
and "holier-than-thou" attitudes have no place in this ministry.
HUMILITY:
Maintain a humble spirit. Remember--you are there to serve. Always be in subjection to those in
authority (the chaplain, guards, warden).
FORGIVING:
Foster a forgiving spirit, recognizing that but for the grace of God, you could be in a similar
situation. Realize that God’s forgiveness extends to what society calls “psychopaths” and the
“vilest of individuals.”
PERSEVERANCE:
Society, friends, and family have given up on many inmates. They don’t need someone else to
reject them. Be patient. God has promised you will reap spiritual fruit in due season. Volunteers
who start and then quit demoralize the inmate, disappoint the chaplain and the prison staff, and
give a bad image to the efforts of the church.
FAITHFULNESS:
Be faithful, constant, and trustworthy in the performance of your duties, especially in keeping
promises and being on time for appointments or services. The prison chaplain depends on you, as
do the inmates. A visit that may just be another in a long list of things you have to do can be the
highlight of an inmate’s week. Don’t disappoint them. Be faithful to this great privilege with
which God has entrusted you. Commitment to be consistent and dependable is a top ranking
quality valued by chaplains who work with volunteers.
EMPATHY:
Empathy is the ability to feel with people as though you were in their place. In the Old Testament,
the Prophet Ezekiel sat with the captives by the River Chebar before he shared God’s message to
them. They were ready to listen, because they knew he understood. He had “sat where they sat”
(Ezekiel 1:1).
SENSE OF MISSION:
A sense of mission is a desire and determination to give this work priority (at the times designated
for it), a belief that this is what you would rather be doing (at that time) than anything else in the
world!
SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
You must not only lead inmates to new spiritual growth, but likewise you must be willing and
anxious to grow. Spiritual growth is a lifelong process. If you ever feel that you have "arrived" in
either knowledge or virtue, you are simply showing how immature you really are.
EMOTIONAL MATURITY:
It is important that you can handle your own emotions: Anger, depression, up one day and down
the next. Prison is a depressing place and inmates don’t need more gloom and doom.
Study 1 Corinthians 13. The greatest motivating force behind any ministry--and especially prison
ministry--is love. Love for God. Unconditional love for the inmate. Love for the mission to
which God has called you.
PREPARATION
There are four vital areas of preparation for those who desire to be effective prison workers.
1. PREPARE IN PRAYER:
As in every ministry, prayer fuels effective prison ministry. Here are some specific prayer targets:
•The chaplain of the institution.
•Individual inmates.
•Families of inmates.
•The warden and administrative staff.
•Correction officers.
•Safety for prison volunteers entering the institution.
•Parolees: For their spiritual and practical needs--jobs, housing.
•Revelation knowledge to meet the needs of inmates.
•Spiritual revival.
•For God to raise up strong spiritual leaders within the prison church body.
•Inmate prayer requests: Many prison chapels have a prayer request box. Inmates
write out their requests and put them in the box for the chaplain and volunteers to
pray specifically for their concerns.
2. PREPARE IN THE WORD:
The prison volunteer should have a good working knowledge of the Bible and basic Christianity.
Most inmates are not interested in the finer points of theology, but they do need a clear,
understandable presentation of the gospel. If you do not study and understand the Word, how can
you help someone else learn to study and understand it? To be an effective prison worker, you
must continually be studying God’s Word.
3. PREPARE FOR YOUR SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITY:
Prepare for your specific responsibility in ministry. If you are to sing, have your sound track cued
and ready. If you are to teach, spend adequate time preparing your lesson. If you are using video
or audio equipment or an overhead projector, have these items ready.
4. PREPARE FOR THE SPECIFIC INSTITUTION:
Prepare yourself for the specific institutional setting you will enter:
•Know the rules for dress and conduct of the specific institution. These vary from
institution to institution.
•Know the chain of command--who you are responsible to as a volunteer.
•Know what you are allowed to take into the institution with you.
•Get a general understanding of the ways in which acceptable Christian ministries
can be carried out within that system.
•Attend training and orientation classes offered by the institution or chaplain.
The Lady Behind The Walls
By Kassie Logan
At times it is a lonely place,
No loved ones to be found,
A search for inner happiness,
Yet depression keeps you bound
As I sit and look outside the fence,
At the traffic passing by,
The amazement of it all,
Makes me stop and question "Why?"
Why has the Lord bestowed on me,
Such an awesome cross to bear?
Why would the loving God I serve,
Allow something so unfair?
Time to me is nothing new,
Must accept as best I can,
For I know that in the scheme of things,
My Jesus has a plan.
And someday, out those gates I’ll walk,
When the Lord's voice gently calls,
And I will tell my story,
About "the lady behind the walls.”
Starting A Prison Ministry
KEY VERSE:
But this is a people robbed and plundered; all of them are snared in holes,
and they are hidden in prison houses; they are for prey, and no one delivers;
for plunder, and no one says, “Restore!” (Isaiah 42:22)
OBJECTIVES:
Upon conclusion of this chapter you will be able to:
•Summarize the steps for starting a prison ministry.
•Identify various types of ministries which you might provide in an institution.
•Prepare and submit a proposal for prison ministry.
•Recruit and train volunteers.
INTRODUCTION
You are convinced. The Biblical mandate and example are clear. As a believer, you want to be
involved in prison ministry. But how do you start? How do you gain access to the prison? This
chapter details steps for starting a jail or prison ministry. You will learn various types of
ministries which you might provide in an institution, how to prepare and submit a proposal for
your program, and ways to recruit and train volunteers.
STARTING A JAIL OR PRISON MINISTRY
Here are seven steps to guide you through the process of starting a jail or prison ministry.
STEP ONE: Pray
Prayer fuels all things. Pray about what God wants for the specific institution and your individual
role in it. Lay a foundation of prayer before you begin your ministry.
STEP TWO: Consult your spiritual leader
If you are a pastor, consult with your board. If you are a church member, talk with your pastor.
This is important for several reasons:
•It is common courtesy.
•Spiritual leaders can guide and provide valuable input to you.
•Your spiritual leader may already have plans underway for such a ministry.
If so, be part of it, don’t undermine it.
Try to gain the interest and support of your pastor or spiritual leader. This support is vital to
obtaining volunteers to staff the program. The key will be in showing your pastor how this
ministry works cooperatively with other programs, ministries, and services of the church. Share
how this scripturally mandated outreach advances the Gospel by putting church members to work
both inside and outside institutions.
STEP THREE: Do an analysis
Here are some questions to answer in your analysis:
•What jails and prisons are in your immediate area?
•Is there a local ministerial association? What are they doing, if anything? Are they
interested in jail and prison ministry? (If they already have a program and have
gained access to local institutions, perhaps you can be part of it.)
•Who is in charge of volunteers at the institution? Contact them and find out:
•How do you get cleared for ministry inside the institution?
•Are there forms you need to fill out?
•Is there special training you must take?
•What identification do you need for clearance?
•What needs exist in their institution?
•What needs can you and/or your church fill? Try not to duplicate efforts of
other Christian organizations. We should complement, not compete with
one another.
•Familiarize yourself with all the rehabilitation programs offered in local
institutions where you wish to serve, as well as the population breakdown
(races, religions, ages, sex, etc.) and, if possible, the philosophy of the
respective administrations. Gain as much knowledge as you can about the
institution before requesting permission to provide services and/or
programs. If you know administrators, officers, or former inmates, talk to
them about the needs and conditions.
•Conducting regular church services.
•Substituting for the chaplain when he is ill or on vacation.
•Providing special musical or dramatic programs.
•Conducting Bible studies.
•Teaching classes in a specific skill, trade, or in personal
adjustment.
•Conducting a Christian group for those with addictions.
•Distributing literature and Bibles.
•Hosting a Christian film night.
•Providing individualized services in addition to your group
program:
•Providing Bible correspondence courses.
•Matching inmates with Christian visitors.
•Matching inmates with Christians to write to them.
•Providing referral information for families of prisoners.
•Referring inmates to post-prison release programs.
Note: Before writing this portion of the ministry proposal, you may want to study Chapters Four-Nine
of this manual which address various individual and group ministries in which you may
desire to become involved.
STEP FOUR: Prepare a program proposal
A proposal will . . .
•Define purpose, objectives, and practical aspects of your program.
•Be submitted for approval to the institution where you plan to minister.
•Be used as a tool for volunteer recruitment. (You must know what type of ministry
you will be conducting in order to recruit qualified volunteers.)
Your proposal should consider things like. . .
Goals: What is the purpose of your program? What do you want to accomplish? See
Chapter One of this manual for a list of possible goals. Be sure to include your own
specific goals also.
Benefits: How will your program benefit inmates? How will it benefit the institution?
Specifics: Define the specific ministry? Will it be a group ministry? To individual
inmates? Their Families? A post-prison ministry?
experience?
Volunteers: Who will participate in your program? What training will they receive?
(We suggest using this manual in your training program. That is the purpose for which it
was created.)
Facilities: What type of facility will you need at the institution? Do you need to use the
prison chapel? A day room? A classroom? A visiting area?
Days, time: Days and times you would like to meet.
Equipment: Will you need items like an overhead projector, video projector, musical
instruments, songbooks, and musical sound tracks? Does the institution provide these
items or will you need to provide them? Will the institution allow you to bring them into
the facility? If you plan to prepare handouts for inmates, do you have access to a copy
machine?
Funding: Although volunteers operate most group prison ministries, there maybe
financial costs incurred--for instance, if you plan on distributing Bibles, books, tracks, or
other handouts approved by the institution.
The institution in which you plan to minister may have a special form or format to follow in
preparing your proposal. Inquire concerning this. Following is a sample proposal form used by
one prison in the United States:
Sample Proposal Form
1. Who will your program be directed towards?
2. Who will have responsibility for your program?
3. What are the objectives of your program?
4. What services does your program offer to inmates?
5. What services does your program offer to the Institution?
6. What specific format will be used to present your program ?
7. What type of theological training/ credentialing/ prison program experience does the
primary facilitator have?
8. What is the detailed itinerary for your program?
9. What days/hours will your program meet?
10. How many people are involved in your program?
11. How will they be trained?
12. How large an area would you require?
The following information is required to do a background investigation on each person you
plan to bring into the institution:
1) Name
2) Date of Birth
3) Driver's License number
4) Social Security number
Please provide us with references regarding your past prison involvement and/or any other
information that characterizes the uniqueness of your ministry.
Submit a copy of your proposal to your pastor or spiritual leader for review, then submit a copy to
the chaplain or proper authorities at the prison and wait for their response. They may call you in
to meet with them to discuss the proposal. If so, be on time, appropriately dressed, and properly
prepared for your appointment. If you do not receive a response to the proposal after a reasonable
length of time, take the initiative and call and schedule an appointment yourself with the person to
whom it was submitted.
If your request to provide services is denied, try again in a couple of months. This could very well
be a test of your commitment, dedication, and patience. Administrators and chaplains also quit,
retire, or transfer and someone else may be more favorable to your program.
Note: At present, in the United States it is the responsibility of the institution's
administrator to ensure that all residents are able to exercise their constitutional
right to practice their religious beliefs. The only way this right can be denied is
that substantial justification can be shown to limit or regulate it, (for example, a
security breach).
STEP SIX: Secure and train volunteers
After approval of the prison ministry by your pastor and the institution in which you plan to
minister, you need to secure volunteers to conduct the program. A volunteer is important. . .
•To the inmate, as a link to the outside world, a friend, and a model of mature
Christian life.
•To families of inmates, in providing information and practical and spiritual help
as they cope with their dilemma.
•To the chaplain, by as assisting and supporting his programs.
•To the prison administration, as an additional resource for helping with
rehabilitation and transition back into society. The volunteer can provide services
the institution cannot provide because of limited staffing and budget.
•To other volunteers, as a source of encouragement, training, and example to
follow.
•To the local church, as a channel of communication, increasing awareness of the
need for jail and prison ministries.
•To himself, as this ministry provides an opportunity for using his spiritual gifts and
putting his faith into action.
There are many ways to obtain volunteers:
•Put a notice in church bulletins.
•Make announcement in church services.
•Prepare posters and place them in strategic locations in the church.
•Plan a “Prison Ministry Day" in the church or churches you plan to involve in the
ministry. Have a speaker who is actively involved in prison ministry and include
testimonies from former prisoners. Outline the program you plan and announce a
meeting (date, time, place) for those who are interested in participating. (In
addition to recruiting volunteers, the “Prison Ministry Day” will prepare churches
to receive former prisoners into their fellowship.)
In screening volunteers, consider the following:
•Has the person had prior prison ministry experience?
•Does the person have any musical talent?
•What languages do they speak?
•Do they have the ability to lead a small group?
•Have they had any personal witnessing experience?
•What is their spiritual gift? Teaching and counseling are two important gifts for
jail and prison ministry.
•Are they an ex-offender? If so, check to be sure they will be allowed access to the
prison.
•Determine where their interest lies and where they will be most effective:
•Writing an inmate?
•Visiting an inmate?
•Ministry to inmate’s families?
•Group ministry inside the prison?
•Post-prison ministry?
You may want to have each potential volunteer complete a form at the first meeting. Use the
following form or make your own adaptation of it:
Questionnaire For Volunteers (All information to be kept in strict confidence)
Name_______________________________________________ Age________
Sex_______Address:____________________________________________________________
________
City__________________ State or Province__________ Postal Code______________________
Home Phone (_____)________________ Marital Status: ___Single ___Married
Occupation & Title_________________________ Work Phone (___)___________________
Member of what church? ___________________Located at:__________________________
Please check the area(s) of prison work that you are most interested in. If you check more than
one, please number your selections according to preference.
___Correspondence/letter writing ___Group Bible studies
___Providing transportation ___Worship service
___Follow-up with ex-prisoner ___Follow-up with family
___Writing to an inmate ___Visiting an inmate one-on-one
Have you ever been arrested? If "yes," list date(s), place(s), charge(s) and disposition(s).
__________________________________________________________________________
Have you ever been in a mental institution?________ If "yes," when and how long?
___________________________________________________________________________
Do you have to take medication for any reason?________ If "yes," please explain:
___________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any experience working with a prisoner(s)?________ If "yes," please explain:
___________________________________________________________________________
What languages do you speak?
___________________________________________________________________________
Do you play a musical instrument or sing? If "yes," what?____________________________
Circle group you are interested in: Males Females Juveniles
Signature_____________________________________________ Date_________________
Note: If women are allowed on the volunteer team for a men’s institution, it is
important to remember that the highest standards of conduct and dress should be
insisted upon. The same is true for men ministering in women’s prisons. When
possible, have husband and wife teams. These teams not only prevent difficult
situations arising, they add the extra dimension of modeling good husband-wife
relationships.
After you secure your volunteers, train them:
•Review your prison ministry proposal with them.
•Discuss where they would fit best in the program.
•Use this manual to train them for jail and prison ministry.
•Arrange for some orientation to the institution as a first step in developing interest
and eliminating those who feel uncomfortable with this type of ministry.
•Be sure to obtain proper clearances to enter the institution for volunteers.
•Have your volunteers complete any training required by the chaplain or the
administration of the institution in which you will be ministering.
STEP SEVEN: Plan your first meeting or outreach
•Be sure volunteers are well trained.
•Be sure everyone is dressed properly for visitation or group outreach at the prison.
•Check that everyone has the proper identification for entering the facility.
•There are many different ways a service or group meeting inside the prison can be
run. If you discover an effective format, don't hesitate to make it the backbone of
your ministry--but don't be afraid to try new ideas and fresh approaches from time
to time. See Chapter Six of this manual for guidelines for conducting prison
services.
•Be certain everyone clearly understands their individual role in the ministry: What
to do, when, and any time constraints involved.
“Keep reaching out to people inside prisons. There are many people in here like me who love the Lord--or who could
be like me--people in whose lives they could make a difference if they will reach out to them. If the Church would see
them and embrace them as part of the Body of Christ
--disciple and nurture them in the Lord and teach them to disciple others around them--a revival will break out inside
these walls.”
•
Texas Death Row Inmate
•
Karla Faye Tucker
•
February 3, 1998
•