Regional Criminal Justice Ministry Center of South Texas

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"Message of Hope"
1997 Brochure

The ULTIMATE GOAL for the inmate is movement
From the cell...to the cross...to the congregation...to the community

One in every five persons in the state of Texas has experienced trauma associated with the criminal justice system. They may have been offenders, criminal justice professionals, victims or family members.

Criminal Justice Ministry, in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, validates the good news of the gospel by actively meeting the needs of people associated with the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice Ministry is simply loving people in crisis. The ministry can reach as far or near as your church and community want to go. Each participant chooses the level of their involvement. Some choose not to go into prisons or court rooms, while others do. Both are effective and needed.

Whatever your gifts, let your heart be moved toward weary, confused and hurting people who need real hope. Become a Pathway of Hope and experience God working through you in Criminal Justice Ministries.

Hope for Offenders

Behind the bars of prison and detention centers in Texas are thousands of men, women and youth who live in despair and hopelessness. But through Criminal Justice Ministries, many experience a pathway for hope in Jesus Christ.

Most inmates are not ready for life outside prison bars. Criminal Justice Ministries seeks to prepare inmates through evangelistic events, discipleship training, and advanced Bible study. Active church membership is a key element to a successful transition back into their community.

Criminal Justice Ministries impacts the lives of Inmates in many ways by:

• Sharing Christ with a Inmate
• Conducting Evangelistic Crusades
• Providing loving care for the family of an inmate
• Pointing the way as a mentor (friend) in a one­to relationship
• Leading a Inmate to a deeper walk with Christ through discipleship courses like
  • "Experiencing God" or
  • "Master Life"
• Offering child care during family visitation
• Enhancing esteem through literacy missions
• Helping an ex­offender make a good transition back into their home community
• Volunteering as a chaplain in jails or prisons

After Care Programs help inmates learn how to function in a world that has changed during incarceration. These programs seek to help ex­offenders and their families.

Through support groups, personal mentors, and discipleship training, ex-offenders receive strong support to help them to begin a productive new life.

Criminal Justice Ministries also provide family and financial counseling, homemaking and child care skills training, English as a Second Language (ESL) and much more. Local churches become the pivotal unit that helps families and ex­offenders to successfully get back on their feet and into the community.

Hope for Families in Crisis

Once a relative has gone to prison or has just been released, families struggle to get their lives back on track. Criminal Justice Ministries provide support for families during their time of crises. Hope is renewed when support is given to the whole person physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Ministries to Families of Offenders requires empathy and love, it means:

• Supporting and encouraging families of inmates in the community
• Providing child care while a parent visits their spouse in prison
• Organizing transportation for families so they can visit loved ones in prison
• Reaching out to children at Christmas with gifts through programs like Angel Tree
  

Hope for Criminal Justice Professionals

The defensive stance needed and emotional stress encountered in law enforcement is destructive in family relationships unless defused. Hope is generated in an emotionally healthy climate that provides acceptance, appreciation, and understanding for the Criminal Justice Professional and his/her family.

Churches play an integral part in the well­being of law enforcement professionals and their families through ongoing support, recognition events, family counseling, and discipleship training.

Chaplancy has become one of the most effective means of ministry to Criminal Justice Professionals. Chaplains are clergy or lay­people who voluntarily provide pastoral care and friendship to personnel of police departments, sheriff's departments, correctional institutions, parole or probation offices.

The goal of the Criminal Justice Ministry is to provide emotional support and spiritual encouragement to our Law Enforcement personnel.

Hope for Victims of Crime

One of the most helpless feelings in the world is experienced by victims of crime. For many, this experience shatters one's self confidence, feeling of safety and trust in others...it can be devastating! Their needs must be taken very seriously by churches who are not afraid to put action to their words. Meeting these needs allows churches the opportunity to impact people's lives on a long­term basis.

Pastoral counseling may be supplemented by a Victim Support Group or by church members adopting and caring for an individual who has been victimized by crime.

Hope for Churches

Churches are essential to bridging the gap of recovery. They become pathways of hope and salvation within their community to Inmates and ex­offenders, Law Enforcement Personnel, victims, and family members.

Types of Ministries

HOSPITALITY HOUSES

Along with the ministries previously mentioned, some churches provide Hospitality Houses. These are facilities offering overnight lodging for families who visit inmates, usually on the weekends.

FAMILY VISITOR CENTERS

Family Visitor Centers are gracious welcome centers located at the entrance of prisons. These centers allow individuals and groups who are members of local churches opportunities for evangelism and redemptive ministry to families who are often devastated emotionally and financially. They offer exposure to a Christian environment.

VISITING ROOM HOSPITALITY MINISTRIES

Visiting rooms are located inside institutional settings and provide unique opportunities for Criminal Justice Ministry volunteers to offer caring ministry to families of Inmates. In this role, ministry personnel might provide organized child care, extend warm greetings on behalf of churches, and may refer families to local congregations in the community.

MINISTRY IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS

The Christian community has a opportunity to share God's love and grace to Inmates in:

• City and County Jails
• Detention Centers (Youth & Adult)
• Restitution Centers
• Federal and State Prisons

Steps to establish a Criminal Justice Ministry team:

1. Ask your congregation to pray about opportunities for ministry in the Criminal Justice System.
2. Assess Criminal Justice needs within your community.
3. Lead your congregation or denominational organization to establish a Criminal Justice Ministry team as a part of its on­going mission outreach.
4. Participate with any Criminal Justice Ministries already established in your community.
5. Encourage team members to find their role in Criminal Justice Ministries.
6. Frequently inform others about the progress of your team's work.
7. Through various Criminal Justice Ministries, churches and individuals have an enormous opportunity to minister to those who might otherwise be closed to the gospel.

Will you and your church accept Jesus' call to become pathways of hope by joining other Texas Christians in Criminal Justice Ministries? You'll join hundreds of other trained volunteers who are on a mission to reach all people with the good news of Jesus Christ.

REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE MINISTRY
CENTER OF SOUTH TEXAS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO PROVIDE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY TO
INMATES, THEIR FAMILIES,
EX-OFFENDERS,
VICTIMS OF CRIMES
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS, AND
THE FAMILIES OF EACH PERSON
WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR RACE, ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND.

This organization is staffed by unpaid volunteers and is funded by the public through donations. Applications for grants have been submitted to Foundations and Corporations doing business in Texas.

Donations and other sources of funding were received. The building was donated to the State of Texas when it is completed. It is to be used as a Family Center. It is staffed by Christian volunteers and is a place to demonstrate the love of Christ by ministering to families of inmates incarcerated in Garza East, Garza West, Trustee Camp, and McConnell Unit. Before this center was build, family members sometimes had to wait for hours, in their cars before they were permitted to visit loved ones who were incarcerated. Often the weather in South Texas is either very hot or very cold. This facility does provide a comfortable and hospitable place for people who are hurting and under stress.

Volunteers are needed to lead Bible studies and discipleship courses, assist with literacy training, write letters, serve as mentors or other volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers from Christian
denominations are welcome.
Training and resources are available.

Regional Criminal Justice Ministry Center of South Texas is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Texas. It has been granted 501 (c) (3) status by the l.R.S. Any donations made to this organization may be deducted from your federal income tax. RCJMCST puts your gifts to work to meet needs in the Criminal Justice System

Regional Criminal Justice Center of South Texas -  Texas non-profit - 501 (c) (3) status by the l.R.S.