Prison Ministries

[Anonymous]

My church is beginning a prison ministries program at a prison nearby. My dad always was a volunteer with this organization when I was a kid, and I am looking for volunteer opportunities so am considering it. Has anyone participated and can fill me in on what it would be like? I am female, an extrovert, a longtime Christian, but not overly articulate about my faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My church is beginning a prison ministries program at a prison nearby. My dad always was a volunteer with this organization when I was a kid, and I am looking for volunteer opportunities so am considering it. Has anyone participated and can fill me in on what it would be like? I am female, an extrovert, a longtime Christian, but not overly articulate about my faith.

DOn't worry about being articulate. Prisoners are looking for a way to talk with outsiders and will even pretend to be seeking God in order to do so.

Just go there and let them interact with you - about anything - and they will be happy.

[Anonymous]

former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

[Anonymous]

I read your title as "Prison Mistresses". My bad.

[Anonymous]

Did your dad not tell you about his experience? Seems like he'd be able to give you the best advice/experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read your title as "Prison Mistresses". My bad.

I read it as “Prison Miniseries” and thought a show about prison could be interesting for a few episodes.

—-
OP, I’m sure they’ll prep you and you can try it to see if it’s something you enjoy. I’d worry that they’ll want to “save” the prisoners, but who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

You have it backwards.

The ancient Romans didn’t believe in kindness at all. They killed and enslaved millions of people and thought it was a great achievement. They raped women because women were second class citizens. They threw babies into trash dumps — literally — because it was perfectly acceptable to avoid having an extra mouth to feed. They had zero regard for the poor, the disabled, etc. I could go on and on. The earliest Christians had the exact opposite takes on everything. Everything that we take for granted today as solid “liberal”humanitarism finds its roots in Christianity. So, to be kind in the way that the term is used today, absolutely has Christian roots, whether you like it or not. It’s a historic fact.

And yet … why did the earliest Christians act this way? Did they just wake up one morning and decide “let’s be really really really nice to everyone?” No. They acted that way because they were inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus and wanted to emulate him. His life and teachings were the exact opposite of what everything common in those ancient societies — compassion, mercy, grace, reaching out to the lost, a profound respect for women and children, and a life of serving instead of being served.

That’s why people say “Christian kindness” — because it really was different at one point, even if we take it for granted today that this is what all kindness looks like.

To the extent that many Christians in the United States have lost sight of this — and they absolutely have — this says more about those “Christians” than it does about Christianity itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

You have it backwards.

The ancient Romans didn’t believe in kindness at all. They killed and enslaved millions of people and thought it was a great achievement. They raped women because women were second class citizens. They threw babies into trash dumps — literally — because it was perfectly acceptable to avoid having an extra mouth to feed. They had zero regard for the poor, the disabled, etc. I could go on and on. The earliest Christians had the exact opposite takes on everything. Everything that we take for granted today as solid “liberal”humanitarism finds its roots in Christianity. So, to be kind in the way that the term is used today, absolutely has Christian roots, whether you like it or not. It’s a historic fact.

And yet … why did the earliest Christians act this way? Did they just wake up one morning and decide “let’s be really really really nice to everyone?” No. They acted that way because they were inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus and wanted to emulate him. His life and teachings were the exact opposite of what everything common in those ancient societies — compassion, mercy, grace, reaching out to the lost, a profound respect for women and children, and a life of serving instead of being served.

That’s why people say “Christian kindness” — because it really was different at one point, even if we take it for granted today that this is what all kindness looks like.

To the extent that many Christians in the United States have lost sight of this — and they absolutely have — this says more about those “Christians” than it does about Christianity itself.

PP may write a lot of words, but they say the same thing as I do -- Kindness is kindness. The Romans may have been cruel, but still, the opposite is simple kindness, from anyone. You don't have to be a certain religion, or any religion, to be kind.

That certainly shows up today, when many so called Christians support the atheist, Donald Trump, who purports to champion their cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

In many religions kindness is limited towards your country man or tribe man, family member.
Kindness is wasted if the recipient is a random stranger, hence the large number of charities that are very specific as to who they help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

NP. Are you always this easily triggered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

In many religions kindness is limited towards your country man or tribe man, family member.
Kindness is wasted if the recipient is a random stranger, hence the large number of charities that are very specific as to who they help

🎯. Christian kindness is about helping people outside your tribe or religion, and that was revolutionary 2,000 years ago. Jesus taught it through The Good Samaritan story among other ways. Yes, nowadays this can also be called "simple human kindness." But given that MAGA attitudes toward immigrants is the complete opposite of Jesus' message, and given that OP is Christian, the words "Christian kindness" have specific meaning here.

[Anonymous]

People who are locked in a prison are just people. They know who is fake. They know if you’re a voyeur coming to see what it’s like. They know if you’re truly kind. They’re just people. And don’t forget that statistically at least 15% of them are innocent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

You have it backwards.

The ancient Romans didn’t believe in kindness at all. They killed and enslaved millions of people and thought it was a great achievement. They raped women because women were second class citizens. They threw babies into trash dumps — literally — because it was perfectly acceptable to avoid having an extra mouth to feed. They had zero regard for the poor, the disabled, etc. I could go on and on. The earliest Christians had the exact opposite takes on everything. Everything that we take for granted today as solid “liberal”humanitarism finds its roots in Christianity. So, to be kind in the way that the term is used today, absolutely has Christian roots, whether you like it or not. It’s a historic fact.

And yet … why did the earliest Christians act this way? Did they just wake up one morning and decide “let’s be really really really nice to everyone?” No. They acted that way because they were inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus and wanted to emulate him. His life and teachings were the exact opposite of what everything common in those ancient societies — compassion, mercy, grace, reaching out to the lost, a profound respect for women and children, and a life of serving instead of being served.

That’s why people say “Christian kindness” — because it really was different at one point, even if we take it for granted today that this is what all kindness looks like.

To the extent that many Christians in the United States have lost sight of this — and they absolutely have — this says more about those “Christians” than it does about Christianity itself.

This exactly.

We forget that most of the good, the achievement, the beauty in the history of humanity is a result of populations before us turning from human nature and following Jesus Christ. No other religion before or since has come close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:former prison volunteer and former public defender here.

Prisoners are generally really lonely and would welcome any conversation just to connect with another human being. Prisoners are also humans in a very stressful situation and can become needy.
If I could start from zero, I would talk to them about
family, schooling, work, interests (most prisoners are in for drug crimes and the stalking prisoner is a LifeTime movie myths). I Would Not try to help them materially, legally, or even in communicating with their families. That's not your role and you'll never be able to solve all their problems. All you can do is show them some Christian kindness. Good luck and keep in mind that prisoner ministry is not for everyone (but also try to remember that "I was in prison and you visited me").

How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?

NP. Are you always this easily triggered?

NP -- It's not a trigger. It's a question. Who will answer it?