The Church Behind Prison Walls

Being Church Behind Prison Walls: Survival Theology, Prisoners, and Policymakers By: Karl Robinson Being Church Behind Prison Walls: Survival Theology, Prisoners, and Policymakers is a survivalist practical ministry manifesto for incarcerated Black men, their families, and religious social policymakers. The book probes the question of what love looks like in a disgusting prison setting and demonstrates how religious and social policymakers can improve rehabilitation initiatives. Readers will be inspired to think about prison reform in fresh ways using the Centered Prayer model, religious imagination and self-help initiatives rooted in historical memory.

The Church Behind Prison Walls is motivational, inspirational, divinely instructional and empowering. It is designed to inspire and instruct Pastors, as well as, lay persons how to care and mentor the socially, psychologically and spiritually ills of our society. Students, universities, prison institutions and churches will be able to enable and facilitate individuals in goal setting in life's journey. It is especially designed to motivate and assist mentors and men tees set goals and carry out future plans for their destination in life. It is a deterrent to crime, I believe. I have been called, anointed and divinely appointed for this task that I share. The book's main goal and purpose is seeking to stop recidivism, drug abuse and chemically dependant individuals toward an alternate life style.

Building Church Behind the Walls is written as a guidebook to developing churches inside prisons. This book lines out the steps to effectively lay foundations for a true church within the walls of a prison and leads the reader in a step-by-step process of partnering with Jesus in establishing kingdom centers behind the walls. Few individuals stop to consider the impact that prisoners could have on this world. These are men and women of passion and knowledge in the Word of God. Many have spent a long time growing in their faith, giving themselves to study of the Word, and service in the kingdom of God. In this book, you will learn the importance of developing a church behind the walls. You will learn how to lay proper foundations, step over obstacles that are unique to prisons, and ultimately, how to mine out the kingdom recourses in the recently released individuals that may come to your church. Because the foundational elements of a church are the same, whether in or out of prison, this book will serve as a great informative guide for any minister. Written in a simple conversational tone, Building Church Behind the Walls is an easy read that is packed with powerful information. As you read it, you will find creative ways to become intentional in the development of any ministry and ways to bring your leaders into greater acceleration in their calling.

Show the incarcerated how to find forgiveness in unforgiving surroundings As the prison population in the United States increases by more than 1,000 inmates each week, prison ministry programs must have a working blueprint for dealing with the shame, humiliation, hate, and loneliness of incarceration at both the adult correctional and juvenile detention/probation levels. Prison Ministry: Hope Behind the Wall demonstrates how a ministry can adapt Latin American Liberation theology to address oppression and bring prisoners into the community of Christ. Author Dennis Pierce, former chaplain at the Joliet Correctional Center in Illinois (where the Fox Network's 2005 Prison Break series is filmed), presents a functioning approach to forgiveness and reconciliation, combining pastoral counseling, Christian education, Bible studies, and worship to help inmates develop self-esteem and an overall feeling of self-worth through compassion and empathy. Prison Ministry: Hope Behind the Wall provides an alternative resource on our prison system for chaplains, pastors, priests, and students working in theology, ethics, or counseling. Instead of the usual descriptive narratives of inmates’ lives or discussions of statistical approaches, this unique book combines a theological model with a viable programmatic approach to confront the oppression of incarceration and reverse its effects. The book looks at the vital issues facing juveniles in the criminal justice system (the transition from county jail to a correctional facility, victimization, rejection, under-stimulation, homosexual rape) and examines the creation of non-threatening niches to address coping structures needed to move toward forgiveness and reconciliation. Prison Ministry: Hope Behind the Wall examines: meeting the incarcerated defining prison’s emotional ethos dealing with human breakdowns oppression in maximum-security prison components of empowerment needed for prison ministry Prison Ministry: Hope Behind the Wall also includes case studies of four inmates, an extensive bibliography, a glossary of prison terms, sample Bible studies, and sermon topics. The book is invaluable for anyone dealing with incarcerated youth and young adults in civilian or military correctional or juvenile detention facilities.

Building Church Behind the Walls is written as a guidebook to developing churches inside prisons. This book lines out the steps to effectively lay foundations for a true church within the walls of a prison and leads the reader in a step-by-step process of partnering with Jesus in establishing kingdom centers behind the walls. Few individuals stop to consider the impact that prisoners could have on this world. These are men and women of passion and knowledge in the Word of God. Many have spent a long time growing in their faith, giving themselves to study of the Word, and service in the kingdom of God. In this book, you will learn the importance of developing a church behind the walls. You will learn how to lay proper foundations, step over obstacles that are unique to prisons, and ultimately, how to mine out the kingdom recourses in the recently released individuals that may come to your church. Because the foundational elements of a church are the same, whether in or out of prison, this book will serve as a great informative guide for any minister. Written in a simple conversational tone, Building Church Behind the Walls is an easy read that is packed with powerful information. As you read it, you will find creative ways to become intentional in the development of any ministry and ways to bring your leaders into greater acceleration in their calling.

My name is Bobby Jimmerson. My book is about my life and life on drugs. I was in love with rock cocaine that I use five hundred or more a day. I want the readers to know what the life on drugs will do to you. I need the world to know that drugs will only make you do things you would not have done. If it was not for the drugs I took from my wife and kids lied to get money to get more dope I even took from my own mother. I went to prison for two years, came home, went back to the drug--my lover rock cocaine--then in back up in prison for five years. So you see, my mind was not made up to be done with the cocaine, so I ended back up in prison with twenty-five years to life under the three-strike law for taking from people's homes. As you read the book, you will see where I once was, then you will see the changes get done in my life. The only thing I want to do now is to help others stay off drugs and out of gangs. This way, they will stay out of prison or out of the grave. If God changed my heart, he can do the same for you. I need my life to be a light now and the world to see there can be changed. We can't do it on our own. Try Jesus. He won't let you down. That's what the book is all about--the change that God has done in my life. God bless you, and I pray that you enjoy what you read. It's about change.

Behind Prison Walls: Inmate Number 27773-016 is my expression and experience in prison. During my wilderness experience, I had to rely on God like never before. It was my breaking point; God was then able to speak to me where I wasn't able to run. I tried boxing with God, but I soon realized my arms where to short to box with God, so I begin to let go and let God.

Empowering any pastor, educator, or lay leader in doing effective prison ministry by providing a thorough inside-out view of prison life.

Opposites Attract…and can thrive in a marriage built on God.