Prison Pastor

What does it mean to be a Prison Pastor?

• The Prison Pastor understands that the crime may be a symptom of unmet emotional needs and a troubled past.  Knowing this, the pastor can confidently approach the distorted individual in order to embark on a ministry of restoration and hope.

• Prison Pastors call followers of Christ into spiritual maturity: "Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." (Ephesians 4:15)  Prison Pastors should encourage perpetrators to speak the truth not only about their crime but also about their history of victimization as a necessary prerequisite to healing.  Speaking the truth contrasts sharply with demonic denial and harmful minimization. 

• A crucial role of a prison pastor is to be a good listener: I have discovered that I often help the most by being available to listen to men tell their own story, to express their grief/loss in a safe place.

• Prison pastors not only speak of God's steadfast love but also intentionally live into that reality through active listening and a steadfast ministry of presence.    
  
  
• Prison pastors call for life transformation.  Although the offender needs to experience God's love, he cannot remain the same.  Renewed individuals harvest the Fruit of the Spirit, including self-control.  (Gal. 5:22-23)   Self-control means possessing the ability to control one's behavior by not acting out inappropriate impulses when they occur. Responsible citizens preparing for reintegration into society must be able to self-regulate their behavior since supervision will not encompass every hour of every day. 

• Through their redemptive work to damaged inmates, prison pastors offer the hope of God to renew lives so that transformed individuals may return to society in peace.