we exist. We need to overcome the stigma. • Recidivism.
• Attitudes of indifference. Individuals are entitled to their own opinions and choices. This can be somewhat challenging at times. • Showing the returnees that they matter and are not inferior. • The most challenging is becoming an organic church with be- lievers who prefer traditional church instead. • Life Recovery Groups—our groups are a challenge because many who start out with good intentions do not stay with it long enough to effect the changes needed in their lives. • I’m honestly not sure what is needed to specifically help those with reentry. • We need more resources. • Engaging congregation members to have life-on-life, long-term relationships with people whose lives are different from theirs. This requires sacrificial love and a level of hospitality that we’re not quite at yet (but God’s growing us!). • The most challenging part of this ministry is when someone simply isn’t ready for change. It’s hard to help someone when they seem to be on their way to reoffending. Another hard part is trying to help a family when they think God has deserted them due to the fact that a loved one is about to be sentenced to a lot of time. • The resistance from both the local community and the faith- based community that do not accept and/or recognize the re- demptive nature of Jesus Christ. There is still a lot of stigma, NIMBY’s, and critical judgments facing the most vulnerable in our communities. • Continuing support with unprepared “Returning Souls” • Limited resources • The most challenging aspects of our congregation’s reentry min- istry is dealing with addiction relapse, that is, relapse of dys- functional behaviors, substance use disorder, and the like. How- ever, providing a recovery ministry that provides the structure and a safe space to welcome returning citizens back after relapse has been a strength. • Additional housing is a huge challenge. • Hard to connect with people leaving prison. • Most returning citizens do not have a sense of commitment/ accountability.
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