By Pastor Ken “Max” Parks 03-18-2018
There is a concern among most pastors concerning visiting prisoners, but they are too busy and involved with their church businesses. Some of them claim that they simply don’t have the resources (financial), training, and the time to get involved. So they usually leave it to a member or two of their congregation to task themselves informally.
LifeWay Research had done a survey among 1,000 pastors. The research
found widespread support among pastors in favor for the idea of prison
ministry. Four out of five pastors (83%) have visited a correctional
facility. And almost all believe churches should help the families of
those incarcerated (97%) and provide care for those getting out of jail
(95%).
However, many pastors have little contact with those who have been incarcerated. Half of pastors say no one from their congregation has been jailed in the past three years. A third have seen one or two people from their church go to jail. One in six say three or more attendees have been jailed in that time (17%).
The research showed that about a third of the pastors say no former inmates attend their church (31%), one or two former inmates attend (36%), or three or more former inmates attend (33%).
However, many pastors have little contact with those who have been incarcerated. Half of pastors say no one from their congregation has been jailed in the past three years. A third have seen one or two people from their church go to jail. One in six say three or more attendees have been jailed in that time (17%).
About a third of pastors say no former inmates attend
their church (31%), one or two former inmates attend (36%), or three or
more former inmates attend (33%).
Overall, few pastors have contact with current or former inmates as a normal part of their ministry. So prison ministry is not a priority. When half the pastors haven’t had someone from their church sent to jail, then prison ministry isn’t on their ministry radar.
Incarceration rates in the United States remain at record levels. More than 2.2 million Americans are held in state and federal prisons or local jails, according to the Institute for Criminal Policy Research. That’s more than any other nation in the world.
Though about 13% of Americans are black, more than a third (36%) of inmates in state and federal prisons are African American, according to the Department of Justice. Those statistics have led to concerns about the high number of black inmates and charges of racial disparity. Half of pastors say the racial disparity among inmates is unjust. Four in 10 disagree (39%). One in 10 is not sure (11%).
It has been stated that pastors often don’t know how to start ministering to inmates. Other ministries, like distributing school supplies to kids or volunteering at a food pantry, are relatively easy to start. But ministering to inmates and their families is more difficult, requiring special training and often a long-term commitment from volunteers.
About two-thirds of pastors cite a lack of training (62%) or volunteers (65%) as barriers to their churches helping inmates and their families. Others say they don’t know where to start (40%), their church is involved in too many other ministries (39%), such as music ministry, sports ministries, children and women ministries and other biblical ministries, or they don’t see a need for it (21%). Money is an issue as well. Half of pastors say a lack of finances is a barrier to ministry (48%). A recent report from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability found donations to prison ministries declined 6 percent from 2011 to 2014.
When churches do have a prison ministry, it is often run on an informal basis.
+ 61% of pastors say individual church members minister to families of inmates.
+ 58% say church members help people leaving correctional facilities.
+ 45% say church members minister in correctional facilities.
It appears to be an uphill battle. Other organizations, such as Prison Fellowship, rely upon “holistic” methods, philosophies and psychology of men, and a liberal approach to prison ministry such as the teachings of Rick Warren (the same who supports Chrislam: the belief that Christians and Islamic supposedly have the same God) to instruct prisoners on the ways to adapt to regular life outside of prison.
My findings show that these are messy, long-term ministries. You really have to demonstrate biblical faithfulness to be involved with them. It’s a lot easier to pick an unbiblical ministry where there are quick rewards, but you would miss out on the opportunity to impact the prisoner’s life, their families and communities.
There is a concern among most pastors concerning visiting prisoners, but they are too busy and involved with their church businesses. Some of them claim that they simply don’t have the resources (financial), training, and the time to get involved. So they usually leave it to a member or two of their congregation to task themselves informally.
However, many pastors have little contact with those who have been incarcerated. Half of pastors say no one from their congregation has been jailed in the past three years. A third have seen one or two people from their church go to jail. One in six say three or more attendees have been jailed in that time (17%).
The research showed that about a third of the pastors say no former inmates attend their church (31%), one or two former inmates attend (36%), or three or more former inmates attend (33%).
However, many pastors have little contact with those who have been incarcerated. Half of pastors say no one from their congregation has been jailed in the past three years. A third have seen one or two people from their church go to jail. One in six say three or more attendees have been jailed in that time (17%).
About a third of pastors say no former inmates attend
their church (31%), one or two former inmates attend (36%), or three or
more former inmates attend (33%).Overall, few pastors have contact with current or former inmates as a normal part of their ministry. So prison ministry is not a priority. When half the pastors haven’t had someone from their church sent to jail, then prison ministry isn’t on their ministry radar.
Incarceration rates in the United States remain at record levels. More than 2.2 million Americans are held in state and federal prisons or local jails, according to the Institute for Criminal Policy Research. That’s more than any other nation in the world.
Though about 13% of Americans are black, more than a third (36%) of inmates in state and federal prisons are African American, according to the Department of Justice. Those statistics have led to concerns about the high number of black inmates and charges of racial disparity. Half of pastors say the racial disparity among inmates is unjust. Four in 10 disagree (39%). One in 10 is not sure (11%).
It has been stated that pastors often don’t know how to start ministering to inmates. Other ministries, like distributing school supplies to kids or volunteering at a food pantry, are relatively easy to start. But ministering to inmates and their families is more difficult, requiring special training and often a long-term commitment from volunteers.
About two-thirds of pastors cite a lack of training (62%) or volunteers (65%) as barriers to their churches helping inmates and their families. Others say they don’t know where to start (40%), their church is involved in too many other ministries (39%), such as music ministry, sports ministries, children and women ministries and other biblical ministries, or they don’t see a need for it (21%). Money is an issue as well. Half of pastors say a lack of finances is a barrier to ministry (48%). A recent report from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability found donations to prison ministries declined 6 percent from 2011 to 2014.
When churches do have a prison ministry, it is often run on an informal basis.
+ 61% of pastors say individual church members minister to families of inmates.
+ 58% say church members help people leaving correctional facilities.
+ 45% say church members minister in correctional facilities.
It appears to be an uphill battle. Other organizations, such as Prison Fellowship, rely upon “holistic” methods, philosophies and psychology of men, and a liberal approach to prison ministry such as the teachings of Rick Warren (the same who supports Chrislam: the belief that Christians and Islamic supposedly have the same God) to instruct prisoners on the ways to adapt to regular life outside of prison.
My findings show that these are messy, long-term ministries. You really have to demonstrate biblical faithfulness to be involved with them. It’s a lot easier to pick an unbiblical ministry where there are quick rewards, but you would miss out on the opportunity to impact the prisoner’s life, their families and communities.
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