Restorative Justice Ministry
Has Crime Impacted Your Life?
Have you or someone you care about been impacted by crime? Have you been a victim, an offender, or a criminal justice professional? Perhaps you've been a relative of one. Christ Church volunteers in Restorative Justice Ministry carry the message of God’s love, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing to people in all these situations.
Without Christ, I’d be dead by now!
Maybe this sounds overly dramatic, but it’s a common theme expressed by inmates who have been brought to their knees by the world, and then brought to new life in Christ during their incarceration. With the help of volunteers, an inmate’s despair can be transformed into hope, rage into forgiveness, a wasted life into a life of Christian servanthood. This ministry is committed to building a Christian community inside the prison walls and assisting ex-offenders as they leave prison. The ultimate goal is that, regardless of their circumstances, all will experience mercy, compassion and God's unconditional love. Christ Church is an Aftercare Church for ex-offenders, and also supports ministry inside prisons, including Kairos (similar to a Walk to Emmaus), Disciple Bible Study, Mentoring Sessions, the Alpha Course and ministry to correctional officers.
See a Calendar of Activities
Christ Church Restorative Justice Ministry
Images from More God, Less Crime Conference (1.14.12) & RJM Sunday (1.15.12)
2011 Restorative Justice Ministry Report (pdf)
Ministry Options
In addition to more volunteers, we need prayers and financial support to purchase study materials, Bibles, food and other supplies.
Christ Church is involved in the RJM activities listed here:
After Care - Support ex-offenders in their efforts to follow Christ faithfully after they leave prison.
Cool Water Ministry - Deliver water and encouraging words to correctional officers at area prisons.
Disciple Bible Study - Facilitate a small group of inmates in this transformational study.
Emotional Healing Prayer - Through one-on-one prayer, witness the healing of a wounded soul as it encounters the Spirit of Christ. Weekly.
Kairos - A spiritual retreat weekend for inmates similar to Walk to Emmaus and Cursillo. Service options: bake cookies or assemble toiletry care packages in advance; during the weekend, serve on the inside prison team or the outside cooking and support team.
Mentoring - Weekly one-on-one Christian mentoring with an inmate or ex-offender.
Toastmasters - Coach weekly club meetings to improve inmates’ public speaking and leadership skills.
Workshop Leaders - Teach personal finance, job hunting, or other life skills to inmates.
Worship Services & Revival Events - Attend a Methodist-led worship service in prison and show the love of Christ to the inmates by your presence.
Contact Information
Alpha in Prison: Betty Waedemon
Kairos Program: Robert Crenshaw - 281.732.3884
Disciple Bible Study: Steve Schultheis
Women's Prison Ministry: T.J. Szafarz
All other questions: Betty Waedemon