In a very real sense, congregational reentry ministry is the bridging of two worlds—the world of jail/prison and the world of the congregation. The barriers between these two worlds can be profound and marked by stigma, fear, mistrust, and ignorance on both sides. One persistent challenge is figur- ing out how to cross the barrier between the two worlds, and to do it effec- tively and consistently. Enter the Jail to Congregation Pipeline model. There’s probably nothing better than having personal go-betweens, barrier-crossers who can smooth the way between the two worlds. It’s both the most natu- ral and the most effective pathway for connections to be forged. This model entails having congregations that are both missional (“We came to meet you where you are.”) and attractional (“Come and join us on the outside. There’s something valuable for you here.”). Of course, this is easier said than done. It’s helpful to make the distinction here between jail and prison ministry and explain why we call this model the “ Jail to Congregation Pipeline.” By and large, jails are local facilities, and the jail population is primarily from the local area. There’s a geographical overlap. Prisons, on the other hand, are state facilities and are often filled with inmates who will be returning to a different area. With some exceptions, the jail population is releasing to your local area, and the prison population isn’t. On the face of it, this is a significant ministry commitment. So, why would you even consider it? The answer: because of its potential to build relation- ships, establish credibility, raise the attractiveness of your invitation, and facil- itate the incorporation of returning citizens into the life of your congregation. The Jail to Congregation Pipeline model is a great fit for a congregation that... • can be both missional and attractional. Not only will you want to do whatever reentry ministry you’re designed for, but you’ll need to figure out how to get involved in jail ministry as well. This is tough, but not impossible, for an ordinary congregation. It does take significant com- mitment, and that’s why many congregations end up doing jail/prison
[ 36 ]
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software