Challenges of the Peer-Led Ministry model Reputation. There’s a potential downside to being known as “the reentry church.” The community might stereotype you and reduce your congrega- tional reputation to a niche, one-note, specialty ministry. Churn. Returning citizens come and go. Even if they love what’s happening in your ministry, circumstances might make it impractical for them to remain. And what happens if/when your peer ministry leader leaves your congrega- tion? Ongoing leadership development is essential. “Fit” vs. “freedom.” You’ll need to monitor and navigate the relationship be- tween the peer-led ministry and the rest of the congregation. What are the “congregational constants” that everyone needs to abide by, and what are the “ministry distinctives” that give peer leaders freedom to innovate to meet needs and be relevant and effective? Financial sustainability. Most returning citizens are financially insecure. The larger the footprint of the reentry ministry relative to the overall size of the congregation, the greater the financial challenge to sustainability. Advice from the front lines One of our survey respondents, a peer leader who pastors a congregation, wrote this: We are from corrections, formerly incarcerated persons for the most part. We know the culture, the streets, the law, the needs, the losses, the stigma, and the lack of services. We know the aloneness. We know how to “keep justice and do righteousness” as a congregation. We know the PTS effects of incarceration and what to do to rescue our brothers and sisters and heal them so no one stays hurt. We are a sold-out “All to Jesus” church formed by a fellowship of Christian advocates completely dedicated to (because we are from) these populations. And those coming out feel His presence. They are home with the “Us That We Are, and free indeed.” If you’re interested in more background information on the role of peer ministry, check out: Johnson, Byron R., Michael Hallett, Sung Joon Jang. The Restorative Prison: Essays on Inmate Peer Ministry and Prosocial Connections. New York: Rout- ledge, 2022.
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