• I would suggest a group approach including training to ensure everyone is equipped to deal with the trauma of incarceration. In addition, it guards against the person being abandoned if the mentor leaves. Finally, there should, in my opinion, be a time- line where the returning citizen “graduates” from the reentry group. Not that they can’t still be in fellowship, but there is a need to avoid long-term dependence. With maximum resources, what would your dream reentry min- istry look like? • It would look exactly the same but with an appropriate number of staff and a much larger building. • Lots of housing right next to our church • We would have another program like we had before the leader of our rehab ministry relapsed. • I would love to see our success exceed 90% so that everyone would get the most out of their lives and never have to return to jail unless to carry the message of God’s love and Grace to those inside. • More people in a larger setting that would have a place for the children to play. • It would look like the reentry ministry that Paul described in the Book of Philemon. • If we had more volunteers, we would be able to offer more re- entry classes. • In an ideal world, our congregation would engage in this work. I would love to see a community of volunteers, professionals, people who have walked this path all working together to help reentry folks discern and understand their baptismal identity as a beloved child of God, rather than as prisoner. A continuum of care could be present to give them the support they need to thrive in their now-earned freedom. • Many circles of restoration going on throughout the area, cop- ied by other jails around the country, greatly reducing recidi- vism rates, engaging the amazing generosity of this community, stimulating folks to realize this is a big problem that needs at- tention—rehabilitation, transformation, 2nd chances. To know personally the reality that incarcerated people are like all of us, needing a hand and someone to listen and care. Recognizing that a different mindset can make all the difference in a life. • Any person reentering with any connection to our church—via in-reach, family, or referral—would have a small group of people
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