Prison ministry help.

[ErricFiggy]

God willing, I will soon be participating in a prison ministry, speaking to kids in juvenile hall. I'm 18 years old. Are they any things I should keep in mind? Thank you

[fastenatingguy]

Google Russ Ford, he had a prison ministry in Alabama, starting out as an agnostic and becoming Catholic. He was in prison for many years and was just released earlier this year.
he wrote a book on his experience.

[triumphguy]

Originally Posted by ErricFiggy

God willing, I will soon be participating in a prison ministry, speaking to kids in juvenile hall. I'm 18 years old. Are they any things I should keep in mind? Thank you

They will no doubt train you.

Just remember though, you are not there to make friends (and friendships will probably be discouraged both by the prison and the group leader you go with).

Do not promise to make any phone calls or take any messages to or from the outside. Or any packages!

Make no promises about anything!

Do not give any personal information.

Do not get personally attached.

Do not talk about sex.

Do not try and look or act cool.

Do not brag about anything.

And when outside do not talk about what you see or experience on the inside.

"What you hear here, and what you see here, when you leave here you let it stay here."

Have fun

[R_C]

Originally Posted by ErricFiggy

Are they any things I should keep in mind? Thank you

I'd say, remember who you are going to visit: Matthew 25:36

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"their eyes were held, that they should not recognize him."

[Deo Gratias42]

Originally Posted by triumphguy

They will no doubt train you.

Just remember though, you are not there to make friends (and friendships will probably be discouraged both by the prison and the group leader you go with).

Do not promise to make any phone calls or take any messages to or from the outside. Or any packages!

Make no promises about anything!

Do not give any personal information.

Do not get personally attached.

Do not talk about sex.

Do not try and look or act cool.

Do not brag about anything.

And when outside do not talk about what you see or experience on the inside.

"What you hear here, and what you see here, when you leave here you let it stay here."

Have fun

I would also give a heads up of being prepared for bad attitudes. I know in Canada, there is a strong push to keep kids out of prison lest they become institutionalized and make friends with other criminals who will teach them how to become better criminals. If this is the vision of the correctional system where you are ministering, keep in mind that the kids who are in there, are there for a reason. Ooh, and also remember, they are very good at lying and manipulating people. This is why I get so frustrated with prison ministry who don't understand that the people who are in jail, are in there for a good reason. It takes a lot of work where I live to get someone into jail. The judges will do everything in their power to keep them outside, unless they commit so many violent crimes or it is blatantly obvious they are never going to make it to their court dates, and it cuts into the judges' ability to take vacation when he wants.