Launch Or Grow Your Corrections Ministry
Information and Resources To Support Your Ministry
What's In A Name?
Whether you call it prison ministry, jail ministry or Corrections ministry it’s all about loving others as Christ instructed and modelled for us. We use the term “Corrections Ministry” because we think it covers all the bases.
What It Is – Corrections ministry consists of a variety activities or resources organized by churches or individuals to provide spiritual support, counseling, and assistance to:
- People who are incarcerated in correctional facilities
- Reentering society after incarceration
- Families of those who are incarcerated
The primary goal of a church prison ministry is to
Areas of Ministry Focus
Religious Services: Volunteers or clergy members visit prisons to conduct religious services such as worship sessions, Bible studies, and prayer meetings. These activities aim to foster a sense of spirituality and provide inmates with a connection to their faith.
Counseling and Mentoring: The ministry often involves one-on-one counseling and mentoring sessions. Volunteers may offer emotional and spiritual guidance to help inmates cope with their circumstances, address personal issues, and work towards rehabilitation.
Educational Programs: Church prison ministries may organize educational programs within correctional facilities. These programs can include Bible literacy classes, life skills training, and other educational opportunities to help inmates develop positive habits and skills.
Support for Families: In addition to ministering to inmates, church prison ministries often extend support to the families of those incarcerated. This may involve providing resources, organizing support groups, and offering assistance to families dealing with the challenges of having a loved one in prison.
Reentry Programs: Some church prison ministries focus on assisting inmates with their transition back into society upon release. This may include job placement assistance, housing support, and ongoing mentoring to help individuals reintegrate successfully.
Restorative Justice Initiatives: Some ministries emphasize restorative justice principles, promoting healing and reconciliation between offenders and the community. This can involve facilitating dialogue between inmates and victims to foster understanding and accountability.
Advocacy and Awareness: Church prison ministries may engage in advocacy efforts to raise awareness about issues related to incarceration, prison reform, and the rehabilitation of offenders. They may work towards influencing policies that promote justice and fairness within the criminal justice system.
- Ministry to Corrections Staff: One of the most often neglected aspects of corrections ministry is providing encouragement and support for the people who are tasked with the care and supervision of those behind bars. This work is often underpaid and underappreciated. Opportunities to supporting these men and women include prayer, card-writing, providing snacks and meals, recognition events
Everything You Need To Get Started
We want your church to have a great experience using LifeSupport curriculum so we provide complete training free of charge to help your team get started using these resources. Every trained facilitator receives complete access to all curriculum resources free of charge. You choose the team who will lead the curriculum and we’ll take care of the rest.
Simply complete the following form to request facilitator training.
What We Ask
- Complete a short participant feedback form following the training session.
- Church commits to conducting 1 or more Caring For Mental Health groups within 6 month of training.
- Church will complete a follow-up survey after conclusion of your first Caring For Mental Health group.