Chapter 8

One of the services of the church is prison ministry outreach, each church is encouraged to have a prison ministry outreach program. Any person who has a real concern for lost humanity can be a successful layman prison worker. However, love for the work and for souls must abound. Dedication and conversion must surmount any other level of interest. A layman prison worker dedicated to prison ministry outreach can vary anywhere from five to twenty-five persons or more. The layman prison ministries church organizational structure is very simple. The following is recommended:

The Coordinator - This individual must be a leader who can arrange for compatible people to work together. It is most essential that there be a coordinator, especially in large cities where there are several churches. He/She coordinates the various groups from other churches into the designated institution. The coordinator meets with the superintendent and Chaplain during the planning stage and in some cases with the program director of the prison. The coordinator is the liaison between the local church, prison administration and the FCPM coordinator.

The Prison Counselor Leader - The leader implements the over-all program agreed upon. For instance, the leader is at the door or front gate of the correctional facility to supervise all of the counselors signing in. Along with the coordinator, the leader evaluates the progress of the counselors and submits over-all progress reports of the work to the FPM Coordinator. The leader plans the weekly programs. He supervises and adheres to all penal restrictions and group regulations.

The Song Leader - This individual should be strong and dynamic. Songs chosen should reflect high standards. The song leader encourages inmates to form quartets and singing groups.

The Literature Secretary - This individual must be responsible for the literature, Bible lessons and Bibles to be used in the correctional facility. He must keep accurate records of all literature used and report to the church contributing the literature.

The Recording Secretary - This very responsible person must record the spiritual aid extended to inmates, ex-offenders and their families. Copies of the records should be available to the program director of the correctional institution.

The Health and Welfare Secretary - This person must work directly with the community services leader of the church as he must direct the supplying of the needs of the inmate himself and/or his family.

The Lay Bible Teacher or Instructor - This individual holds a very important position -- probably the most important. Usually two or more individuals are involved in this aspect. These should be individuals who are good Bible students and who can make regular visits, even during the week or whenever the prison regulations permit Bible studies and midweek services.

The Vice-Prison Counselor Leader - Where necessary it is recommended that there be a vice-counselor who will assist the leader.

One cannot begin a prison work without respecting rules to govern behavior. You must remember at all times, no matter how often you enter a correctional institution, that it is a facility of custodial care. It is not a mundane office building, but rather an institution operated on a para-military system. The men and women employed there are referred to as Security Officers (not guards). This is the first lesson in "on site" training. These rules learned will give you the confidence necessary to work in close association with custodians. These persons may view you in the beginning as everything from bleeding hearts to most do-gooders until you win them over with the respect you have for them, yourself and the unwavering principles Adventist Christians live and work by.

In every city, town and village there are usually two extremes of care, custodial and spiritual -- the jail and the church. The doors to all churches have always been open to all concerned parties interested in its benefits and functions. This is not true of jails.

There are a limited number of methods used in gaining acceptance by the institution as a valid religious program, particularly if you do not represent a major religion. Most religions have a high representation of their adherents in jail. The law states that the resident, or inmate, must have the service of whatever persuasion he happens to be. Since most Seventh-day Adventists do not go to jail, we have to address ourselves to another method of entry. (Depending on the jail)

1. One recommended method in beginning, or starting, prison work is the distribution of tracts or leaflets which offer Bible courses. The church receiving the return applications, dispatches Lay-Chaplains to that institution. Most institutions will not reject a request of this nature coming from the inmate because it would be in violation of his civil liberties to deny him a bona fide religious request.
2. Another method in beginning prison work is to open our doors to the state, or city work release program (inmates are paroled to programs that allow them to live out of the prison setting). We must make ourselves available to the proper agencies (correctional, city, state and private) and offer to share our special skills with the prison in such areas as art, teaching, remedial reading, etc. We can likewise offer to newly released inmates help in finding housing and, most important of all, employment. Our community services also could offer food and clothing.
3. Yet another method to begin prison work, or open doors is through offering some such social services as the stop smoking plan, understanding personalities, health seminars, complete with literature and exhibits. There are several other social aspects that your prison ministry can incorporate which will help the church to gain entrance. Halfway homes that can house the released inmates for a short duration until they can make the adjustments in the free world and find employment, can likewise contribute largely to that end. Your prison ministry program may provide employment through a job developer or be in contact with several job referral agencies that you can suggest to the ex-offender. A follow-up extension to your program that will fit into the needs of the family will be considered in a separate chapter.

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