Since 1962

From the Baltimore Sun, a story about the Chaplain in Carroll County Detention Center - right next door to me. Ray Newman is his name. He is part of Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, a Richmond, Va.-based organization that provides chaplains to domestic and international institutions. Ray has been doing this type of ministry since 1962.

here...

Prayers needed...

Fire Destroys Anderson Building, Prison Ministry

Feb 18, 2006, 10:13 AM

A massive fire last night destroyed an Anderson business building.

The fire is believed to have started inside a print shop, and spread to an adjacent part of the building that is home to Man for Man ministries. The program helps men recently released from prison and those dealing with addiction find work, and get back on their feet.

Now the men face a new challenge.

Bill Blume, Executive Director of Man for Man commented, “ a building is just mortar, it's just a building, its an old building, but the real impact is how are we going to minister to these guys that are on the street now and how are we going to keep them employed and how are we going to find a meeting place for them. You know the strange thing is calls are already coming in from around the country from guys wanting to donate to help us begin the rebuilding process. Where and how I don't know. We'll just have to wait until the sun comes up, and we'll start again.

The H & K Motel also suffered smoke and water damage. The Red Cross was dispatched to help motel guests find another place to stay. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for chest pain.

The cause is still under investigation.

Second Chance Act

A discussion of the Second Chance Act by Chuck Colson

The goal of the “Second Chance Act” is to help thousands of others get help when they are released. Obviously, this is important to those inmates getting out, but think also what it means to society. Six hundred thousand inmates are being released this year, three times the size of the United States Marine Corps. For the sake of our own peace and security, it is imperative that we help these men and women get their lives straightened out.

Whole article...

Prison Evangelist Gives Inmates 20,000 Free Copies of Memoir About Drug Addiction, Incarceration and Recovery

Christian prison evangelist Marty Angelo today announced the release of his memoir, "Once Life Matters: A New Beginning," the gritty, true story of his life in the music business, caught up in drugs, sex, alcohol, rock 'n' roll, and disco music, leading to a six-year sentence in prison for possession of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute. It is a powerful, life-changing account of his delivery from addiction and self-destruction into a strong witness for Jesus Christ.

more...

Poems to Comfort the Soul

From the One Bread (1 Corinthians 10:17) blog, some "poems to comfort the soul".

beautiful poems to comfort prisoners, whether in the confines of an actual jail, or inprisoned by feelings of doubt, guilt, sorrow, or suffering.

Books behind bars

From an article about the ChIRP program in Canada.

ChIRP is completely optional to inmates. Interested individuals — there are now women inmates involved in this program as well — choose a storybook then read the story for their child on a tape. This not only creates a tangible link between inmates and their families, but also sends the child a gift while living in a situation which would not normally allow for such a gesture.

All of it...

Has anybody done anything similar in their ministry? I would like to hear about it.

'You learn real fast here who your friends are and who aren't'

Article on a prison ministry in Hawaii...

He offers inmates a no-holds-barred kind of prison ministry that goes straight to the root of what's bothering those he counsels. His visits are heavy on the Bible; the word of God is prevalent. Sui conducts Bible studies with groups and offers one-on-one counseling as well.

whole thing...

Former Philadelphia mayor to give speech

From NewsOK.com...

The first black mayor of Philadelphia will be the keynote speaker when St. John Missionary Baptist Church holds its third annual prison ministry symposium Jan. 14.

The theme is "A Hope for Children of Promise."

W. Wilson Goode Sr., Philadelphia mayor from 1983 to 1992, will speak about his work with the Amachi Program, a faith- based, national model program for mentoring children of incarcerated parents.

"We found out if children have parents in prison they are more likely to think that they're going to have to go too," said the Rev. Norman Barber, St. John's director of evangelism and prison ministry.

The symposium will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the church at 5700 N Kelley in Oklahoma City.

To register, call 478-5656 or e-mail Barber at nbarber@stjohnokc.org.

Prison Fellowship brings Cash back to Folsom

The event was organised by Prison Fellowship, a group that runs Bible studies and other educational programs in prisons.

Fellowship spokesman Joe Avila said the movie's message would be good for inmates because Cash's "whole life was a message of redemption".

Rest...