Transcript SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE

SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE
Prison Ministry
Chaplain Dr. Brenda S. Jackson, Ph.D.
BSJ Christian Seminars, Inc.
Revised March 4, 2012
RECOGNIZING THE CALL by Brenda
Simuel Jackson
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525 Clinton Street, the place of the Old
County jail, division II
The place where I recognized God’s call, and
was told, it is true.
The basement where service was held that
Sunday afternoon,
Was only bright because of the souls that
filled the room.
Recognizing The Call
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The Out of tune piano, no one could play, but
we sang with gusto anyway.
My sermon, Jesus Is The Light, was short
and sweet, one soul said yes, and I did weep.
A road called to travel, I continue on to this
day,
Jesus is the light who can be seen night or
day.
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WHAT IS A PRISON/JAIL?
A PRISON-HOUSE
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A Place of physical bondage
A Physical location to confine one
A building in which persons are
confined while waiting trial
A place of confinement for punishment
The Prison Inside the Prison-House
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A society within a society filled with
social outcast and social rejects. (Elijah
Ingram, “The Shape of Ministry in Prison, 1990)
The Prison inside the Prison-House
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A condition of Feeling rejected,
helpless, powerless, inferior.
The Prison Inside the Prison-House
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A condition of being morally,
emotionally, and spiritually dead.
Prison Houses in Michigan
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Michigan Scene - 2000
– 42 Correctional Facilities
– Wayne County Jails
– Federal Facilities in Michigan
Several Facilities have been closed.
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Matthew 25:25:36d
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I was in prison and you came to visit
me.
Who are The Prisoners?
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U.S. Bureau of Justice 2001-2002
– Federal Inmates 2001
• 5.6 million
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64% racial or ethnic minority
43% less than high school diploma
57% under the age of 35
6.6% women
Criminal Justice,
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th
6
Ed. 2008
Population under Corrections 20052006
– 747.529 – Jail Population
– 1,446,265 – Prison population
– Population under corrections
• 7.1 million
– 4.9 mil. Parole, probation, community
– 2.2 mil. incarcerated
– Local Facilities - 2002
• 2.3 million
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36% White
40% Black
19% Hispanic
1% American Indian
1% Asian
3% more than 1 ethnic heritage
12% female
38% 35 years of age or older
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Geriatric Prisoner
(Aging Prisoners, Aday)
– U.S. Statistics
• 1.3 million inmates age 50 or older
– State and Federal Prisons
– 8.2% of total 2002 inmate population
Character of The Prisoner
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Sociopathic
Tendencies (Campbell,
1986,p.21)
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Manipulators
Self-Centered
Poor Self-Image
Difficulty with ValueCentered Goals
– Feelings of Hurt
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Mistrust
Anger
Fear
Guilt
Denial
Depression
Family Background
Dept. of Justice, 2002
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31% of jail inmates grew up with parent
or guardian who abused alcohol or
drugs.
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12% of inmates lived in foster homes or
institutions.
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46% had a family member incarcerated
Diversity of Crimes & Characters
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Department of Justice 2002
– 50% of inmates incarcerated for violent or
drug related offenses
• Drug Offenders are the largest source of jail
population
(Kelly, Jailhouse Religion, p. 3)
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Child Molesters
Psychiatrics
Gays
Prostitutes
Murderers
Rapists
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Robbers
Derelicts
Gangsters
Illiterates
Juveniles
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Why Do Evangelism
in the Prison
Why Are Prisons a
Mission field?
HEY CHAPLAIN by Brenda Simuel Jackson
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Hey Chaplain didn’t get that visit requested.
Hey Chaplain can’t read the print in the KJV
bequested.
Hey chaplain, who appointed you for the Lord
and Master?
Hey Chaplain, will you mail this letter faster?
Hey Chaplain when will my cup run over?
Hey Chaplain, guess what, my prayers are
getting louder and bolder!
Hey Chaplain
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Hey Chaplain, I didn’t cry last night.
I got a visit from Jesus, and not by my
might!
Hey Chaplain, thanks again for helping
me to see, I have a friend in Jesus,
He loves me!
Hey Chaplain
Salvation
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Group Claims Thousands of U.S.
Prisoners Are converting to Islam
( The
Connection Newspapers)
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Isaiah 42:7b.c.
– “…to free captives from prison (1) and to
release from the dungeon those who
sit in darkness
(2)
Salvation
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Isaiah 61: 1b-2
– “…proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners (3)
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Philemon 11,16
– “Formerly he was useless…now useful…
No longer a slave, but better than a slave,
a dear brother.
Salvation
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John 8:36
– So if The Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed
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Free from penalty of sin
Free from negative personhood
Free from hopelessness
Free from lack of skills (Johnson, p. 103)
Family Aid can be provided freely (Ingram p. 84)
Reduce Recidivism
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Kelly - 74% of prisoners once released,
arrested within 4 years.
2002
– 53% of jail inmates were on probation,
parole or pretrial release at time of arrest.
– 40% of prison inmates had a current or
past sentence for a violent offense
Reduce Recidivism
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1994 272,111 released in 15 US States
– 67.5% Rearrested
– 46.9% Reconvicted
– 25.4% resentenced to prison for a new
crime
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The Innerchange Freedom Program
– Christian Based Rehabilitation Program
– Working with Inmates pre-release
– Working with inmates after release
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Use biblical-based teachings to instill
life skills
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Innerchange Program
– Belief that crime is a moral issue
– There must be a genuine change of heart
to change character
Restoration
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2 Corinthians 2:5-11
– If anyone has caused grief,…The punishment
inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient…you
aught to forgive and comfort him…If you forgive
anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have
forgiven - If there was anything to forgive - I have
forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in
order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are
not unaware of his schemes.
Restoration
Jail/Prisons, Great mission fields
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A place for regeneration not just
rehabilitation. (Kelly, p. 4)
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A place for Spiritual Development
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Sycamore Tree Project
– Victim and Offender healing process
– Offenders become accountable
– Victims expose their hurts
– In-prison process
Doing Evangelism in the Prison
BSJ Christian Seminars
Mission Statement
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Vision
– Earning Interest for God on His Investment
in Stewards who are Imprisoned
– How - Doing Evangelism
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Vision Theme
– Transforming Uselessness Into Usefulness
to Glorify God
– How - Doing Evangelism (Teaching)
Mission
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Provide Outreach Ministry with the goal
of salvation (Acts 2:24; Hebrew 13:3;
Matthew 25:36)
Provide a method of Faith-Based
(Christian) involvement in rehabilitation
of the confined. (Philemon 11-16)
Provide spiritual, personal and
academic development (2 Timothy 3:16)
X-offender and Family Services
Community Services
Family Life Services
Prayer Services
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Hebrews 13:1-3
– Keep on loving each other as
brothers…Remember those in prison, as if
you were their fellow prisoners.
Helping the Inmate to Wait in
Freedom
Religious - looking beyond situations to
possibilities (Kelly, p. 66)
 Religious Programs help to overcome
cellblock conditions.
 Religious programs ward off giving up
hope
 Religious programs that stop suicidal
thinking
SAMPLE RENEWAL SEMINARS
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Be Angry but Sin not
The Leader in You
Fruit spiritually Sweet and Emotionally
Mature
Prayer Power
Selecting The Easy Yoke
Forgiving The Unforgivable
Faith
Organizational Structure of
Ministries
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Structures
– Collaboration of two or more churces
– Collaboration between church and no-profit
– Collaboration between church and
educational entity
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In-prison Services
– Bible Study
– Worship Services
– Development Program
– Educational Services
– Counseling Services
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Qualifications and Training
– Faith
– Concern for Inmates
– Biblical Study
– Use of special gift and/or talent
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Steps for Being a Religious Volunteer
– Application
– Criminal History Check
– Recommendations
– Learning the Do’s and Don’ts
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Other Ministries
– Care for the Aging
– Care for dying prisoners
– Mentors
– Employment Assistance
– Housing Assistance
– Family Outreach
– Transportation for visitation
References
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Michigan Department of Corrections
Books
– Aday, Ronald H. Aging Prisoners, London:
Praeger, 2003
– Campbell, Joan, S.P. The Ministry To The
Imprisoned, Collegeville, Minnesota: The
Liturgical Press, 1989.
– Kelly, Anthony, Jailhouse Religion,
Townsend Press, 1996
References
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Nolan, Pat. When Prisoners Return. Prison
Fellowship, 2004.
Williams, Joseph. Sheep In Wolves’ Clothing,
When The Actions of a Christian turn Criminal,Chicago:
Moody Press, 2000.
Travis, Lawrence F. Introduction to Criminal
Justice. 6th ed. Ohio: Mathew Bender & Co.,
2008
Wilmore, Gayroud, ed. Black Men In Prison,
Atlanta, Ga: ITC Press, 1990.