| It is estimated that there may be as many as two | | | | the children. The message of Christ is more than |
| million children in the United States who have a | | | | another community program. |
| parent in prisons. The influence and effect of | | | | Even hardened criminals can be touched and changed |
| incarceration of parents on their children cannot be | | | | by the power of the gospel. Returning the |
| minimized. The trauma of separation, the stigma of | | | | ex-offender to the home instead of prison is of |
| shame, and the economic implications on the | | | | extreme importance for these young people. |
| remaining family members can be confusing and | | | | Recidivism studies reveal that on-going participation in |
| devastating to the child. | | | | faith based community program s is a critical element |
| The Family is an institution designed by God. Today | | | | in reducing "re-offense." Discipleship training |
| our family structure is being weakened by immorality, | | | | implemented by mentors is an effective means of |
| divorce, violence, and materialism. We live in troubled | | | | restoring inmates into productive and responsible |
| times. God is in the family repair business. He wants | | | | parental roles. |
| to strengthen family ties and bind families together. | | | | Working as a volunteer in prison ministry will put you |
| As the church and as individual Christians we need to | | | | in a non supportive secular environment. Open doors |
| respond to the need and become more focused on | | | | of ministry in the prison are changing. As leaders of |
| ensuring that these children have a safe, permanent | | | | people we must ask, "What can I do to insure that |
| home, one that maintains and promotes their | | | | the doors remain open for our lay workers to |
| well-being. Churches and prison ministry organizations | | | | minister the Gospel?" Restorative justice, victims |
| are targeting families of inmates and ex-inmates with | | | | rights, restitution, alternatives to incarceration, and |
| programs to offset the immediate and long-term | | | | prison reform are all issues that need to be |
| effect of incarceration on family members. | | | | addressed with intellectual honesty and spiritual |
| There are practical steps we can take to bridge the | | | | concern. |
| gap between the inmate and their families. We can | | | | Christian volunteers visiting in the prison and in homes |
| visit inmates in prison as they experience loneliness, | | | | bring a message of hope to the inmates and their |
| guilt, and the hopelessness of their situation. We can | | | | families. We have the opportunity of evangelism and |
| respond to the needs of the offender or family by | | | | discipleship. We must not be distracted from |
| providing aid in particular matters and individual | | | | ministering the good news of healing to the broken |
| concerns. | | | | hearted, deliverance to the bound, release to the |
| We can provide resources and information to these | | | | oppressed and light to the blind. |
| families as well as establishing and maintaining | | | | For information on service opportunities in your local |
| relationships with the parents and their children. It is | | | | jail or prison contact the chaplain or inmate services |
| critical to establish and communicate an environment | | | | director for ministry opportunities. Then, get involved. |
| of trust in these relationships as well as to break the | | | | A parent, a child, or both may be counting on your |
| cycle of crime by changing the hearts and minds of | | | | response to that call. |
| the incarcerated and the family members, including | | | | |