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PRISON AFTERCARE MINISTRY
WHAT IS PRISON AFTERCARE MINISTRY?
PARTICIPATING CHURCHES
PRISON AFTERCARE VIDEOS and GUIDEBOOKS
ORDER FORM for VIDEOS -
Now available in DVD
Article in the Rockville Gazette - January 3, 2007
For more information, contact James Finch at St. James'
Members of St. James have been involved in prison ministry since 1992. The Gideons conduct Sunday worship services on a rotating basis and distribute Testaments. Others work at the Clarksburg correctional facility, and some work at the Rockville detention center visiting inmates and distributing Bibles and Christian literature.
WHAT IS PRISON AFTERCARE MINISTRY?
It is a program conducted by sixteen local churches working together and in cooperation with the chaplain at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Its purpose is to assist inmates at the Correctional Facility to improve their opportunities to grow spiritually and to build more constructive lives following their release from prison.
There are approximately 1000 inmates (men and women) incarcerated every day at Montgomery County jails, most of whom are serving sentences of 18 months or less. People convicted of more serious crimes (such as murder, armed robbery, and rape) receive longer sentences, and, therefore, serve their sentences in State prisons at other locations in the State.
| St. James Episcopal Church 11815 Seven Locks Road Potomac, MD 20854 301-762-8040 |
Volunteers are required to complete a training course before they are assigned to work with inmates. St. James has recently professionally videotaped important parts of its aftercare ministry training course. Three videos have been prepared to assist churches to organize prison ministry programs and for the training of volunteers in carrying out such ministries. The videos were prepared by the St. James’ Episcopal Church, Potomac, Maryland with financial assistance from the Ruth Gregory Soper Memorial Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. These videos are now available for purchase from St. James' Episcopal Church. The specific subjects covered by each video and the length of each video are as follows:
Video 1 - And you Came to Visit Me: Prison Aftercare Ministry and the Church
This video explains the importance of prison aftercare ministry in helping prisoners build constructive lives rather than continuing criminal activity when released from prison. Using the experience of the Prison Aftercare Ministry at St. James’ Church, guidance is provided on how churches can organize their own prison aftercare ministry. The story is told by inmates, ex-convicts, aftercare ministers, and corrections officials.
Total running time: 37 minutes
A 45 page booklet supplements the video, providing more detailed information to assist churches who wish to explore organizing a prison aftercare ministry in their church.
Video 2 - Dealing With Substance Abuse
This video is designed for the training of volunteers for work with incarcerated men and women and particularly with men and women who will face problems with addiction upon release from prison.
Part 1 - Introduction to Addiction 27:35
Part 2 - Causes of Addiction 25:55
Part 3 - Denial 20:52
Part 4 - Relapse and Steps to Recovery 33:40
Total running time: 1 hour 49 minutes
Video 3 - On Becoming a Good Listener
This video was prepared to help in the training of volunteers for working with men and women who are incarcerated and those recently released from prison. The video was prepared to help train volunteers for work with men and women who are incarcerated and those recently released from prison. The video describes listening skills that can: 1) help created a relationship with the person being helped based on respect and trust; and 2) can encourage the person being helped to discuss his or her problems openly and honestly.
Part 1 - Why Listening is Valuable 35:59
Part 2 - The Role of Feelings in Listening 32:40
Part 3 - Reflective Listening 23:50
Total running time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Video 4 - Listening: A Pathway to Good Relationships
This video has been prepared to teach listening skills that are valuable for improving personal relationships. it comes with a 25-page booklet containing the lecture outline and a list of additional reading on listening.
The video is in three parts to facilitate discussion of each part in classroom situations, as follows:
Part 1 - Introduction to Good Listening
Part 2 - The Importance of Recognizing Feelings in Listening
Part 3 - Reflective Listening
Total running time: 1 hour 24 minutes
I heard the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for me? And I answered, "Here am I, Send Me!"
Isaiah 6:8