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Testimonies from a couple of our volunteers.

“When God called me into prison ministry nine years ago, I never thought the Bible verse in Matthew 25:40 would mean so much to me: “The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Prison ministry has become a simple way I can serve the Lord while making a difference in the lives of so many inmates. We now have a Christian prayer and share group inside a prison and we watch God change their hearts as we bring the unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.” – Carol

“When people ask me why I do prison ministry, I tell them that it is a dark place, most don’t want to go, but Jesus’ light shines brighter there than in any ministry I have ever participated in. We are blessed to see such evidence of God changing lives—for real and forever. God needs us there too and it is amazing to serve Him there.“- Lori 

Volunteer

The Benefits a Charis Volunteer Brings to the Prisons

Charis volunteers ……

  • Are willing to develop on-going relationships with the inmates
  • Are not threatened by the prison experience
  • Provide high-quality content that challenges the inmate to make wise use of his/her time in prison
  • Offer relationships that are healthy, non-sexualized, and non-manipulative
  • Offer a consistent and continuing ministry of presence, year-in and year-out, building relationships. (Change happens through relationships, not through books or lectures.)
  • Are wise and mature, with proven track records
  • Are willing to go outside of Charis and help in other areas (dual usefulness)
  • Can model “pro-social” thinking and behavior and help inmates develop skills in this area (as opposed to anti-social)
  • Allow inmates a safe place to practice social skills with someone who is not an inmate
  • Function as a ‘filter’ offering positive feedback for how to make appropriate choices
  • Model how to follow the rules and surrender to authority
  • Are an inexpensive way for Corrections to multiply its ability to reach inmates
  • Provide an opportunity for offenders to become positive role models and peer leaders inside the prison (serving on inside teams, giving testimonies, leadership at reunions)
  • Engage in healthy mutual accountability groups
  • Help offenders with character and value transformation, tackling tough issues such as forgiveness
  • Are positive role models who interact in a positive way with appropriate boundaries
  • Offer a model for cultural change; a paradigm shift, i.e., a different family structure; committed, loving married couples walking together in faith
  • In women’s prisons, men who offer an arm to escort rather than an arm that hits; often the first positive male role model the women have ever seen
  • Affirm the offenders; accepting them for who they are with no judgment
  • Can reach the inmate in a unique way; those that often cannot be reached by staff
Volunteer