The first step to take is a prayerful examination of your motives. God wants a wholehearted dedication and a singleness of purpose from His followers. The volunteer minister to prison inmates is entering into an arena of spiritual battle. It is important to count the cost. Examine this in light of the impact on your family and friends. Recognize that the commitment in time alone will involve sacrifice. Be sure your family is behind you in your decision. You must be motivated by a love for hurting, misunderstood, often dysfunctional, and rebellious individuals.
Each of you is reading this book for a different reason. Some of you may have loved ones who are or have been incarcerated. God has put a burden on your heart to help others as you received help or to reach out to other inmates to repay what someone did for your loved one.
Others of you may have been introduced to prison ministry through the visiting room of a prison or jail. Maybe you were incarcerated yourself and now have a call to reach out to the hurting men and women behind the walls. You may have the gift of evangelism and feel called to use this gift to reach prisoners with the gospel message. Whatever your motive, it is important to recognize the cost in time commitment and in personal dollar investment.
It is important for you to understand your strengths, gifts, skills, interests and desires to decide which volunteer ministry you are best suited for. This will help you best use your talents, time, and energy as you assume responsibilities that will be a blessing to others and bring a sense of reward and satisfaction to you personally.
Next you will want to identify the correctional facilities in your area. For example, in Alameda County, in California, we have Santa Rita County Jail, Juvenile Hall, Duel Vocational Institute, and city jails in each of the major cities in the county.
In large population areas you may find several classifications. There may be city jails, county jails, juvenile facilities, state and federal prisons. Each of these facilities serves a different and unique roll in the field of corrections.
Each of these facilities serves a different function. Opportunities for ministry will vary in line with the needs and offerings of the Office of Volunteer Services or the Chaplains in charge.
In larger institutions it will be necessary to contact the Director of Volunteer Services to find out what opportunities are available. You may in turn be referred to the Chaplain's office for service in Christian ministry. You will then be provided with the necessary application forms and told of any additional requirements for volunteering. In most cases it will be necessary to attend some prerequisite orientation training.
The next step is to align yourself with an organization that will provide you with an open door of service. There are many national and local organizations using volunteers in the work of prison ministry. Visit the inter-net for a listing. Prison Fellowship, Match II, and Friends Further Out are just a few of the ministries you will find. Your church may have its own jail and prison ministry.
I have personally been involved with Follow Up Ministries, Inc. of Castro Valley, California. This group was founded by Glenn L. Morrison in 1956 and has branches in several cities throughout the United States. FUMI provides regular opportunities for training and orientation in working with the inmates in correctional facilities.
After the initial orientation, a plan of mentoring takes the volunteer a step further. Opportunity is given to work alongside a trained volunteer in reaching those behind the prison walls.
It is the aim of this ministry to produce disciples. The goal is to train the inmate to go back into the cellblock to win their peers to Christ. This is the beginning of the multiplication process of New Testament discipleship.
Rehabilitation programs within the correctional facilities are aimed at job training and self-management skills. The correctional facilities in your county may provide opportunities for volunteer service in this area.
While rehabilitation and religion play an important role in the life of many prisoners, there is no substitute for God's work of regeneration. It is
the challenge and calling of the chaplain and the Christian volunteer to bring the redemptive message of the cross of Christ, new life, and hope to those behind the prison's walls. We are called to introduce the inmate to the claims of the Gospel and to Jesus Christ personally.
Prison ministry is unique. It is a ministry of careful listening and compassionate healing. We must be careful to withhold judgment. By ministering to the incarcerated we can help individuals discover forgiveness and reconciliation through God's love. The church can provide channels of communication within both the local and the prison communities.
The testimonies of those who visit the incarcerated are consistently warm reports of inmates eager to have contact with the world beyond the walls and eager to learn principles that will help them take a stronger stand in their walk with the Lord. As you minister to an inmate you multiply your ministry as he/she return to the cellblock to evangelize and disciple others.
As a Christian, it is important to remember that the key to the success of any of the programs already mentioned is the experience of regeneration. We are called to introduce the inmate to the claims of the Gospel and to Jesus Christ personally.
Because you are entering an arena of spiritual battle, it will be important for you to recruit some prayer warriors to assure success in your new field of endeavor. If you are planning on making this a full time ministry it may also be necessary to enlist some financial supporters as well.
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