THE JAIL TO CONGREGATION PIPELINE MODEL
“We’ve already connected on the inside. Come and join us on the outside.”
The Challenge
The Good News
The Way Forward
If you’re feeling the call to dive into the deep end instead of just testing the waters, then begin by being strategic. Map out how you can be missional by reaching out to your local jail and attractional
Despite these barriers, life-changing personal connections are being made every day by men and women doing jail ministry. Building trusted relationships and a continuity of care that begins in jail and continues in the congregation can create a virtuous cycle and an effective pipeline from jail cell to congregational ministry.
The barriers between the world of your local jail and the world inside your congregation can be marked by stigma, fear, mistrust, and ignorance on both sides. Even if you can create a great reentry ministry, it can often remain a hidden gem and go underutilized.
by having a reentry landing pad in your congregation.
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.
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