3 months passes so quickly

3 months have passed by since I last left anything here. In that time I have been raising up volunteers to go in with me, and visiting other prisoners also. To begin with I was just visiting one man who had written to our church asking for information. After 5 or 6 months, I managed to get somebody to join me, which allowed me to submit proposals to Michigan DOC (Department Of Corrections) to have our church formally recognized as an outreach ministry organization. Once we had church approval, my status was changed from "friend" to "outreach ministry volunteer". I have since raised up another 3 volunteers, with at least 3 more interested, we just need to prod people occasionally to keep them moving. Since having my status changed I have met another 5 men and spent time with each of them. This is a rewarding ministry, that most people can't understand unless they are involved in it. One of the men had not had a visitor in the 3 1/2 years of his imprisonment to date. Another had not had a visitor in 13 years, his family and friends all turned their backs and abandoned him when he was first arrested.

With this sort of rejection by family and friends, it is no wonder so many prisoners lose hope, and are unable to cope with release when they get parole. Some statistics show that approximately 70% of released prisoners will return to prison within 3 years of release. If Christian volunteers visit inmates and contribute in some small way to help them to change their lives, if even just 10% of the released prisoners manage to stay out of trouble and avoid re-arrest, then every minute spent in visiting imprisoned men is worth it.

Prejudice towards convicted criminals is understandable, I had enough of my own. I still wonder at times, how my life has changed since I first felt the call to prison ministry. I still find it one of the best days of the week, visiting, and making a difference in the life of a repentant prisoner wanting to be a Christian, seeing him determined to change his ways and be an honest citizen once again.

Some more facts

* Many prisoners suffer from severe clinical depression and paranoia. They often don’t know who they can trust, even among people who seem to be friends.
* Many prisoners reject their wives and girlfriends, breaking up a relationship at the time of, or soon after incarceration. They believe that it is easier for them to be "in control" and sever a relationship on their terms. They would rather hurt and reject a loved one than live with the fear that the loved one might leave them later or be unfaithful.
* Prisoners have limited work opportunities to earn money. Food, shelter and laundry are provided, but they have to buy their own toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap etc. Pay ranges from 90c to just over $3 per day.
* Contrary to popular belief, all available TV channels are not provided at taxpayers’ expense. The Inmate Benevolent Fund covers the cost, with money coming from profits from vending machines and the prison store.
* Top seven states with the highest number of prisoners as of 2003, in order: Texas (166,911), California (164,487), Florida (79,594), New York (65,198), Michigan (49,358), Georgia (47,208) and Ohio (44,778)

More "Did you know?"

* Many prisoners have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
* Many prisoners have been abandoned by friends and family, who often move away and leave no contact information or refuse to accept any contact with inmate family members.
* Many prisoners have children from one or more previous relationships.
* Contrary to popular belief, prisoners are often consumed with guilt over their crimes and the effects they have had on their families, more than with their own predicament.
* Prisoners will often show little emotion, and will hide fear and uncertainty behind a façade of tough man behavior and aggression. Weaknesses and vulnerabilities will be hidden at all costs due to the nature of the environment.

Did you know?

* Approximately 2.5 million people are in prisons across the US. Approximately 4.5 million are on parole or probation.
* 1600 prisoners a day are released, with as little as $20 – 200, a bus ticket home, and if they are lucky, a new set of clothes.
* On average, 96% of prisoners are male, 60% are in racial/ethnic minorities, mostly in 20s at the time of arrest, from single parent homes, from urban (downtown) areas, and have had a number of skirmishes with the law.
* Many prisoners have some high school education, but did not complete high school.
* Many prisoners have bad, or no employment records and problems with alcohol or drug abuse.