Prison Ministry

[TrustAndObey]

http://news.adventist.org/data/2002/07/1030475395/index.html.en

Church Leader Tells North American Adventists to "Go to Jail"


August 27, 2002 St. Louis, Missouri, USA .... [Ansel Oliver/ANN]

Alfred Johnson, left, adult ministries director for the Adventist Church in North America with Justice James Graves of the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Some 160 people attended North America's largest-ever Seventh-day Adventist prison ministries convention last month in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

"We go to prison because Jesus is in prison," says Alfred Johnson, adult ministries director for the Adventist Church in North America. "Jesus said, 'I was in prison and you visited me,' so that's what we do."

"We've got active prison ministry groups in every state," says Johnson. "There are about 2,000 folk doing prison ministries in the United States and Canada right now." He estimates that there are hundreds more he doesn't even know about.

Keynote speaker James Graves, Mississippi state Supreme Court justice, said, "If we're bona fide and sanctified, then we're qualified, and God's calling us to serve."

Johnson says he wants to get more church members involved with prison ministries. He suggests that interested people ask their pastor or an elder at their church whether there is a local program.

"If the answer is 'No,' call us and we'll send someone out to organize a prison ministry in your area," he says. "We're that anxious to see prison ministries done that we'll come to you."

"We want as many Seventh-day Adventists in jail as we can get," he adds with a smile.

For more information go to: www.nadadultministries.org.

 

[TrustAndObey]

Matthew 25:36 - Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

I'm trying to work up the courage to step way outside of my comfort zone to start helping with the prison ministry in our area. I need some prayers and support please.

Is anyone here involved in prison ministries and if so, how has your experience been?

 

[SassySDA]

http://news.adventist.org/data/2002/07/1030475395/index.html.en

Church Leader Tells North American Adventists to "Go to Jail"


August 27, 2002 St. Louis, Missouri, USA .... [Ansel Oliver/ANN]

Alfred Johnson, left, adult ministries director for the Adventist Church in North America with Justice James Graves of the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Some 160 people attended North America's largest-ever Seventh-day Adventist prison ministries convention last month in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

"We go to prison because Jesus is in prison," says Alfred Johnson, adult ministries director for the Adventist Church in North America. "Jesus said, 'I was in prison and you visited me,' so that's what we do."

"We've got active prison ministry groups in every state," says Johnson. "There are about 2,000 folk doing prison ministries in the United States and Canada right now." He estimates that there are hundreds more he doesn't even know about.

Keynote speaker James Graves, Mississippi state Supreme Court justice, said, "If we're bona fide and sanctified, then we're qualified, and God's calling us to serve."

Johnson says he wants to get more church members involved with prison ministries. He suggests that interested people ask their pastor or an elder at their church whether there is a local program.

"If the answer is 'No,' call us and we'll send someone out to organize a prison ministry in your area," he says. "We're that anxious to see prison ministries done that we'll come to you."

"We want as many Seventh-day Adventists in jail as we can get," he adds with a smile.

For more information go to: www.nadadultministries.org.

and may God bless them.

 

[tall73]

We have a member working at the prison in town. I help him out at times as well.
We just recently had two professions of faith there. He basically uses Revelation Seminar materials with them. It is actually a great group to study with. They study twice a week for three hours at a shot. They have plenty of free time, and are unusually attentive from what I have seen, compared to the general population in the States.

It is hard to live a truly Christian witness in jail, so the ones who do need support.

Basically you need to do a couple of things.

1. determine whether you will do a full scale church service, or a less formal Bible study

2. Get materials, and any necessary volunteers

3. Contact the prison and see what they require. In our case, a course that you have to take to get a badge, etc.

The guy who does our studies is brutally honest. He is known by most members as too straight forward in presenting topics. But the prisoners appreciate it. They hear from all kinds of groups in there promoting their view. And they want someone to get right to the point.

Of course, every group claims to be the right one too, so be prepared to answer a lot of questions they have.

I hope you can get one started!

 

[TrustAndObey]

We have a member working at the prison in town. I help him out at times as well.
We just recently had two professions of faith there. He basically uses Revelation Seminar materials with them. It is actually a great group to study with. They study twice a week for three hours at a shot. They have plenty of free time, and are unusually attentive from what I have seen, compared to the general population in the States.

It is hard to live a truly Christian witness in jail, so the ones who do need support.

Basically you need to do a couple of things.

1. determine whether you will do a full scale church service, or a less formal Bible study

2. Get materials, and any necessary volunteers

3. Contact the prison and see what they require. In our case, a course that you have to take to get a badge, etc.

The guy who does our studies is brutally honest. He is known by most members as too straight forward in presenting topics. But the prisoners appreciate it. They hear from all kinds of groups in there promoting their view. And they want someone to get right to the point.

Of course, every group claims to be the right one too, so be prepared to answer a lot of questions they have.

I hope you can get one started!

Tall, thanks for this advice! You touched upon a lot of the questions I have in my head, which kind of leads to more questions. I need to start out by contacting the sheriff's department to see what is required of someone I guess.

From what I understand, in my state you must be certified, and even then you will not be allowed to have a "group". You get to talk to ONE person through a timed (usually 30 minutes) telephone/plexi-glass for a one-on-one conversation. And I think bringing in materials is absolutely forbidden.

I'll start by finding out! That would probably help out the most. Also I'm waiting on a response from the people in my OP. If they are willing to come here and help me get started, then I'm more than willing to listen, that's for sure!

God bless,
~Lainie