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. 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.
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