Prison stories:"It was my corner". Yeah! The pastor's sons were also drug dealers, but they went back to church and changed, one of them became a pastor. C usually didn't say much during the small group gatherings, in fact it sometimes seemed as if he wasn't really engaged in the discussion at all. But it turned out that I had misinterpreted his quietness for disinterest.
During the session "How and why should I tell others?" he opened up and it was obvious that God was at work in his life. He told us about the church he went to...
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| Recommended ReadingThinking about getting involved in Prison Ministry? If so, you are encouraged to read the books recommended here. If you only have time or money for one of them, then get "Prison Ministry - Understanding Prison Culture Inside and Out." by Lennie Spitale.
Those already involved in prison ministry, will find these books to be valuable resources for deepening and expanding their understanding of the joys, challenges and opportunities found in ministry to the incarcerated.
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Prison Ministry |  | |
Ever thought of getting involved in Prison Ministry? You'll get no better understanding of what's involved than reading "Prison Ministry: Understanding Prison Culture Inside and Out" by Lennie Spitale.
Lennie was the first person to mentor me in prison ministry. I first met him when he was Director of Vision New England Prison Ministries, at that meeting he gave me a copy of his book. It has since become a regular reference for me and one which I recommend at my training seminars to every Prison Alpha volunteer.
Endorsed by Chuck Colson: "This may well be the definitive book on prison ministry. Fascinating insights about the prison culture and how to reach it. Mandatory reading for everyone in corrections and for Christians who care about the commandments to visit prison."
For most Christians, prison culture is like visiting a foreign land, and the thought of ministering in prison to those incarcerated is an intimidating prospect.
This book will empower any pastor, educator, or lay leader in doing effective prison ministry by providing a thorough "inside-out" view of prison life.
Author Lennie Spitale offers a unique and qualifying vantage for writing about prison culture and prison ministry. As a young man, Spitale served a prison sentence for an armed robbery that was later reduced to assault and robbery.
Two years after his conversion to Christianity, he began conducting a weekly Bible study in a local jail.
(click here)
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Ministry to the Incarcerated |  | |
by Henry G. Covert.
HENRY G. COVERT is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ. He has served as Adjunct Professor at Pennsylvania State University.
In Ministry to the Incarcerated , Dr. Henry G. Covert uses his experience as both a police officer and a prison chaplain to examine the problems of the incarcerated - people who are often misunderstood and forgotten. Dr. Covert addresses specific areas of inmate stress, such as low self-esteem, guilt, and unrealistic expectations, and explains how these can be major obstacles to a prisoner's personal and spiritual development.
According to Dr. Covert, many inmates truly desire to change. The presence of the church can be their strongest form of encouragement and support. He gives examples of biblical themes that can promote healing and regeneration among prisoners, drawing specifically on the teachings of Jesus. He calls for staff education, environmental improvement, and a pastoral presence to enable our prisons to become sites of rehabilitation, rather than places of punishment.
What others are saying:
"In my seventeen years of prison ministry, I have never seen a book so sensitively written about prisons and prisoners."
1/1/1900 - By Rev. Nick Barbetta, Executive Director, Crossroads Prison Ministries
"Ministry to the Incarcerated should be on the desk of every prison chaplain . . . Enlightening, encouraging, relevant."
1/1/1900 - By Rev. Francis T. Menei, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
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Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned Sisters |  | |
by Wally Lamb
Amazon.com Review
Any book that can give voice to the voiceless should be celebrated. No one feels this more strongly than Wally Lamb, editor of Couldn't Keep It to Myself, a collection of stories by 11 women imprisoned in the York Correctional Institution in Connecticut. Teacher and novelist Lamb was invited to head a writing workshop at York Correctional Institution in 1999. His somewhat reluctant acceptance soon turned into steadfast advocacy once the women in his charge began to tell their stories. Lamb maintains that there are things we need to know about prison and prisoners: "There are misconceptions to be abandoned, biases to be dropped." However, as heartfelt as his appeal is, nothing speaks more convincingly in this book than the stories themselves.
Those collected here are disturbing and horrific. They reveal, often in graphic detail, the worst kind of abuse: incest, drug addiction, spousal violence, parental neglect, or incompetence. They're also testimony to what social workers and health care professionals have confirmed for years--that those who populate our prisons are often victims first themselves. Thus, the telling of these stories serves as a form of therapy. They are also sad accounts of the brutalities many suffer, yet few discuss: "One day I figured out a dying little girl lived inside of me, so I threw her a lifeline in the form of paper and pen."
Considering the degradation the contributors have experienced both in and outside prison, the courage, candor, and honesty with which they speak truly make these stories, as difficult as they are to read.
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Inside The Fence: A Handbook for Those in Prison Ministry |  | |
This book, subtitled, "A Handbook for Those in Prison Ministry", is an excellent resource for those already involved in prison ministry and for those considering a call to ministering in prison as a volunteer.
The author writes from the perspective of a Chaplain who has served for over 18 years in a prison chaplaincy. His purpose is to give the reader an introduction to working in prison, his intention is for the book to be a starter for further study and discussion into what a Chaplain's role is in the corrections system.
Chaplain Schilder gives the reader a look inside the prison fence, suggesting ways in which Chaplains, Administrators, and lay ministers can prepare themselves for this unique and specialized ministry. He is a well qualified guide all who go "Inside the Fence".
Chaplain Schilder recognizes that there is a church community inside every prison. He an advocates for ministry to the whole prison regardless of denomination or faith.
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All alone in the world: Children of the incarcerated |  | |
All Alone in the World
By Nell Bernstein
The New Press
This is a heart rending but informative and interesting book that looks at incarceration from the perspective of the child; son or daughter of the incarcerated. It makes the case that our treatment of the incarcerated too often ignores the family and leads to the effective incarceration of the child, and often leads inevitably to generational incarceration.
The chapter headings alone indicate the completeness with which the subject is investigated and include, Arrest, Sentencing, Visiting, Grandparents, Foster Care, Reentry, Legacy; and the book examines how each of these affect the child of the incarcerated.
The book is well worth reading, particularly for those who have any involvement with our legal system, either through the courts, prisons or social and adoption services. The book is set primarily within the Californian system with its 'three strikes and you are out', but has application and lessons for all systems within the USA.
Reviewer: Gordon Lawrence - Free Inside Volunteer and Board member.
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Resources for AlphaFree Inside and Alpha Behind Bars offers Alpha 1 "Questions of Life"; Alpha 2 "A Life Worth Living" and Alpha 3 "A Challenging Lifestyle" in prisons in New England.
Alpha 1 "Questions of Life" gives participants an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in 15 sessions.
Alpha 2 "A Life Worth Living" is a 9-week follow up series based on a study of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Alpha 3 "A Challenging Lifestyle" is based on Jesus' teaching on the Sermon n the Mount, Matthew chapters 5 - 7.
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Questions of Life"Questions of Life" contains all fifteen of the Alpha course talks, Nicky Gumbel honestly and sensibly tackles some of the key questions faced by "seekers" who are giving consideration to the claims of Christianity.
Each Chapter contains the text of each course.
Foundational reading for anyone involved in an Alpha course. Individual chapters of Alpha "Questions of Life" are also available in booklet form to hand out to guests.
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A Life worth LivingBased on Paul''s letter to the Philippians, A Life Worth Living is a nine-week Bible study examining the changed life of a Christian. Chapters include: New Heart; New Purpose; New Attitude; New Responsibilities; New Friendships; New Confidence; New Ambitions; New Resources; and New Generosity. Great as a follow up study to an Alpha course.
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A Challenging LifestyleNineteen Bible studies that examine Jesus'' Sermon on the Mount and the radical alternative it presents to the modern lifestyle. An excellent follow-up study to the Alpha course.
click here |
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Buy these books from the following sources
amazon.com |
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