Prison Ministries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

It looks like the question, "How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?" was answered above, at 13:00 - "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]

Dress nice and smile. Given them something to inspire good behavior to win early release.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP was trying to say that Jews are bad people but couldn't say the quiet part out loud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

It looks like the question, "How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?" was answered above, at 13:00 - "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."

Both 13:00 and 10:35 answered. I'll repeat 10:35, because the belligerent pp @ 16:32 didn't read it the first time.

"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."

This dovetails with 13:00's reference to MAGA: Christian charity is NOT just about helping your white neighbors or co-religionists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

It looks like the question, "How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?" was answered above, at 13:00 - "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."

Both 13:00 and 10:35 answered. I'll repeat 10:35, because the belligerent pp @ 16:32 didn't read it the first time.

"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."

This dovetails with 13:00's reference to MAGA: Christian charity is NOT just about helping your white neighbors or co-religionists.

Seems like you are not in a position to call pp "belligerent". The comment above still does not explain why Kindness is attributed to Christianity only.

Do you think that others - non-Christians - can be kind as well?

[Anonymous]

I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

[Anonymous]

I would sit down with the warden and ask for suggested boundaries and rules. You’ll make their job easier if you have strict boundaries and are aware of rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

I’m sure there is plenty of Muslim kindness, Jewish kindness, Buddhist kindness, and other religious kindness also being represented in the prison ministry there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

I’m sure there is plenty of Muslim kindness, Jewish kindness, Buddhist kindness, and other religious kindness also being represented in the prison ministry there

And non-religious kindness too.

[Anonymous]

The ministry and the institution will have guidelines and rules — typically you can’t give them anything not specifically approved, you can’t take annything out, and you should never provide contact information, etc.

Beyond that, as others have said, be yourself, be upbeat, try to deal with each person as an individual. Mother Teresa said to see in each of them the suffering Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

It looks like the question, "How is Christian Kindness different from kindness from another religion? or from no religion --- just plain old kindness?" was answered above, at 13:00 - "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."

Both 13:00 and 10:35 answered. I'll repeat 10:35, because the belligerent pp @ 16:32 didn't read it the first time.

"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."

This dovetails with 13:00's reference to MAGA: Christian charity is NOT just about helping your white neighbors or co-religionists.

Seems like you are not in a position to call pp "belligerent". The comment above still does not explain why Kindness is attributed to Christianity only.

Do you think that others - non-Christians - can be kind as well?

Of course. I believe that people of other religions, or none, can wind up in heaven. Surprised? But that's certainly not the topic of the thread. Why are you trying so hard to derail a thread about prison ministries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

You mean when the Byzantines were begging Europe to come save them from Muslim invasion? I mean, the Crusaders were certainly very flawed, but there's plenty of blame to go around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

You mean when the Byzantines were begging Europe to come save them from Muslim invasion? I mean, the Crusaders were certainly very flawed, but there's plenty of blame to go around.

Really?
A more than a thousand years old war on another continent is now relevant?
Have you not heard about the current war?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

You mean when the Byzantines were begging Europe to come save them from Muslim invasion? I mean, the Crusaders were certainly very flawed, but there's plenty of blame to go around.

Really?
A more than a thousand years old war on another continent is now relevant?
Have you not heard about the current war?

There is much to be learned from History.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what all the people slaughtered during the Crusades would have to say about "Christian kindness." Tee hee!

You mean when the Byzantines were begging Europe to come save them from Muslim invasion? I mean, the Crusaders were certainly very flawed, but there's plenty of blame to go around.

Really?
A more than a thousand years old war on another continent is now relevant?
Have you not heard about the current war?

Obvious pp's are obviously trying to deflect by bringing up "kindness in general" and the Crusades (they brought the Crusades up before that pp answered them).

Let's get back to helping OP with her question about prison ministries.