Letter to Elders re Prison Ministry
[Nov., 2016]
Notice: Termination of Prison Ministry
I have determined to abandon the prison ministry here in Wilmington in order to pursue necessary
support for my family. I am hoping to find a replacement minister(s) to continue the mission and will made efforts to that end in the next three months. (My last prison visit at CCJ will be 24 February, 2017.) To that end, assistance from any interested persons to take up the mission or assist in finding replacement(s) is welcome. Publishing the opportunity for a missionary with the free time and talent would facilitate this effort.
In the interest of sustaining this mission, I will seek out other avenues of recruitment outside WCC in a month from now (January 9) if there seems to be no prospect of finding someone from our membership or staff.
An outline of the history and current state of the mission in Wilmington follows:
I. Background
A. I have carried on a local ministry which has resulted in occasional travels to distant prisons for several years. It was begun as a ministry of WCC under its oversight cir. 2004.
B. At one point soon after the time of Dale’s arrival, the ministry was suspended following “discovery” of my “criminal background.” (A malicious gossip was going about the town making trouble for me.) Dale intervened and pleaded with jail authorities to retain my services. As a result I was re-admitted and have continued to this day.
II. Nature of the ministry
A. Weekly visits to the Clinton County Jail to conduct a meeting for one hour (Bible preaching and with some time for questions and interaction; an introductory hymn and ometimes a closing hymn) The current inmates can be found here at any time: http://clintonsheriff.com/active-inmates/
B. Frequently a second hour is spent with men who are in “segregation” from the other inmates
C. Occasional attendance in court in support of men whom I have met at the jail
D. Occasional trips to prisons after men are sentenced (e.g. one day to Lucasville and back with a 2-3 hour visit monthly). I have generally not followed up with trips to prisons because of and money constraints.
E. Letter writing and phone time (3-10 hours per week)
F. Prayer – 2 hours per week (cumulative)
III. Three months notice
Family obligations require me devote more time to pay bills. I will find 1) personal employment to that end, and to the matter of maintaining the prison ministry 2) some other church to which to turn over this ministry if we are unable to find someone in WCC to take my place. I would like to allow a month for WCC to give consideration to this – perhaps announcing an opening for a volunteer(s) or recruiting a particular person to take it over before going to other churches and presenting them the opportunity. I will make myself available to speak with anyone about this ministry in hopes of providing information useful to affect survival.
IV. Involvement of WCC
A. This ministry has been assisted by another WCC member recently (Matt Noggle) who has joined me and substituted on several occasions in recent months. (Were it not for the time constraints of his job, he could take over the work quite ably.)
B. WCC has paid for books (most often study Bibles for inmates) and some travel expenses (viz., Lucasville for me to visit inmates who have been transferred to distant prisons; and other prisons on rare occasions).
C. A ministry to women prisoners has also been in operation for several years. Beth Puckett, of our church, assists another woman from another church at weekly meetings and occasional court hearings. Her husband, Matt, has joined me and filled in for me on a few occasions. He has also participated in retreats with Prison Fellowship (Colson).
V. Possibilities for Development (“Vision”)
In consideration of this ministry potential, there is much more that might be done. (I offer here following some brainstorming as well as commentary.) Time and accountability would make for a more fruitful ministry. Development might include the following:
A. One-on-one scheduled visits with inmates. (Counseling might be expanded o include contact with family/friends during the week with inmates at the CCJ.)
B. Personal service
1. Phone contact (receive calls)
2. Letter writing to inmates in CC Jail and to those who are conducted to prisons around the state.
3. Investigate prisoner family situation and seek to make contact with the prospective
mentor or closest family member; make disciples of family contacts.
4. Attend court hearings
C. Building two or more inmates together in small groups (a “church growth plan” for Christian inmates: a mission)
Call upon the one disciple/inmate to make a disciple of another; i.e. to focus upon another inmate(s) and spend time in the Word with him; give the Christian inmate a mission, a vision for a ministry in prison to which he can devote himself.
D. Follow up inmates who are sent to prison
1. Make contact with local prison ministers and develop pastoral services. Strengthen those in place or develop them where help is needed in those prisons where CCJ inmates go.
2. Connect with the pastors of the churches which have ministries in the prisons.
3. Contact kinfolk of prisoners and take on ministry opportunities.
E. Develop advocacy in the Clinton County Jail for prisoners’ wellbeing
1. Prisoner access to bond and counsel.
2. Consultation with judges, prosecutors, jailers
Comments are currently closed.