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

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

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.

WHAT IS A PRISON/JAIL?

A PRISON-HOUSE

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

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

A condition of Feeling rejected, helpless, powerless, inferior.

The Prison Inside the Prison-House

A condition of being morally, emotionally, and spiritually dead.

Prison Houses in Michigan

Michigan Scene - 2000– 42 Correctional Facilities– Wayne County Jails– Federal Facilities in Michigan

Several Facilities have been closed.

Matthew 25:25:36d

I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Who are The Prisoners?

U.S. Bureau of Justice 2001-2002– Federal Inmates 2001

• 5.6 million– 64% racial or ethnic minority– 43% less than high school diploma– 57% under the age of 35– 6.6% women

Criminal Justice, 6th Ed. 2008

Population under Corrections 2005-2006– 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

– 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

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

Sociopathic Tendencies (Campbell, 1986,p.21)

– Manipulators– Self-Centered– Poor Self-Image– Difficulty with Value-

Centered Goals– Feelings of Hurt

– Mistrust– Anger– Fear– Guilt– Denial– Depression

Family Background Dept. of Justice, 2002

31% of jail inmates grew up with parent or guardian who abused alcohol or drugs.

12% of inmates lived in foster homes or institutions.

46% had a family member incarcerated

Diversity of Crimes & Characters

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)

Child Molesters Psychiatrics Gays Prostitutes Murderers Rapists

Robbers Derelicts Gangsters Illiterates Juveniles

Why Do Evangelism in the Prison

Why Are Prisons a Mission field?

HEY CHAPLAIN by Brenda Simuel Jackson

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

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

Group Claims Thousands of U.S. Prisoners Are converting to Islam ( The

Connection Newspapers)

Isaiah 42:7b.c. – “…to free captives from prison (1) and to

release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness (2)

Salvation

Isaiah 61: 1b-2– “…proclaim freedom for the captives and

release from darkness for the prisoners (3)

Philemon 11,16– “Formerly he was useless…now useful…

No longer a slave, but better than a slave, a dear brother.

Salvation

John 8:36– So if The Son sets you free, you will be

free indeed• 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

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

1994 272,111 released in 15 US States– 67.5% Rearrested– 46.9% Reconvicted– 25.4% resentenced to prison for a new

crime

The Innerchange Freedom Program– Christian Based Rehabilitation Program– Working with Inmates pre-release– Working with inmates after release

Use biblical-based teachings to instill life skills

Innerchange Program– Belief that crime is a moral issue– There must be a genuine change of heart

to change character

Restoration

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

A place for regeneration not just rehabilitation. (Kelly, p. 4)

A place for Spiritual Development

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 SeminarsMission Statement Vision

– Earning Interest for God on His Investment in Stewards who are Imprisoned

– How - Doing Evangelism Vision Theme

– Transforming Uselessness Into Usefulness to Glorify God

– How - Doing Evangelism (Teaching)

Mission 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

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

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

Structures– Collaboration of two or more churces– Collaboration between church and no-profit– Collaboration between church and

educational entity

In-prison Services– Bible Study– Worship Services– Development Program– Educational Services– Counseling Services

Qualifications and Training– Faith– Concern for Inmates– Biblical Study– Use of special gift and/or talent

Steps for Being a Religious Volunteer– Application– Criminal History Check– Recommendations– Learning the Do’s and Don’ts

Other Ministries– Care for the Aging– Care for dying prisoners– Mentors– Employment Assistance– Housing Assistance– Family Outreach– Transportation for visitation

References

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

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.