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.
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