Mission USA -- Info for prison ministry staff and volunteers

We began the BRIDGE program by finding and training a number of local pastors that were excited about having former inmates in their church. We then contacted area chaplains and prison ministry volunteers to tell them, “your aftercare ministry dreams have come true”, and that they can send us as many guys as they wish.

Finally we recruited a professional House Band to volunteer and provide original music for our weekly programs, and we added host teams that provide welcome gifts, refreshments, and greeters. All in all it’s been a roaring success, we regularly have crowds of 70-100 people, we've continued to add new pastors to our lineup, and we’ve seen ex-cons invited to join as many as 4 or 5 churches and attending those churches after meeting these pastors in our services.

Yet we have one problem only you can help us solve: SEND US MORE!

I'm going to say this again, because I know as a former chaplain myself this is an amazing thing to wrap our minds around, but these pastors have seen what you and I have seen in these guys, they've seen the seeds that you've sown, and they've seen the willingness for these guys to serve God...and they want more.

I know we’re all used to dreaming of the day when the church would see the potential in these men, a day when any church would take even a few of our guys, but we don’t have to dream anymore, all that and more is here. All you have to do is what you already do best: disciple these guys the best you possibly can, and send as many as possible to THE BRIDGE.

To help you in these efforts, we reprinted our Bible bookmarks for you to hand out. We often get 2 or 3 letters a week, and a phone call or two per week, just from our bookmarks. I know from experience that inmates often worry us with questions about what life will be like on the outside. Now you can tell them they have a place where they can go, where they will be valued for the hard work of discipleship that they are putting into action. A place where they can find a church in the part of town they want, of the denomination they want, and a pastor that brings the Word in a way they want. Job and housing information are available as well. You can hand them a bookmark, dispel their fears, and move on to discipleship.

In addition I am making myself available to each and every one of you, to personally visit your facility, and invite your inmates to our services. Contact us at 708-771-8007 to let us know how many bookmarks you need (they’re free to you, of course) and let us know when you’d like us to visit your facility, and we’ll make it happen.

One last thing: we are happy to follow up on any of your inmates that call or write us looking for aftercare, but recently we’ve been urging chaplains to take all this to another level. Simply recruit a volunteer that is looking to do some sort of aftercare ministry (or ask around among your existing volunteers). Create a list of inmates that you think would get the most out of THE BRIDGE (and that could help secure a good reputation for your ministry with local pastors). Then simply have that volunteer pick up that inmate and bring him or her to a BRIDGE meeting…and just like that, YOU are doing aftercare!

Of course, most institutions have restrictions about volunteers working with the same inmate on the inside and the outside, so you may have to recruit “aftercare only” volunteers, or something similarly creative. But if you encourage inmates to seek a place in the Christian community, you meet them on the outside, you take them to THE BRIDGE, you introduce an ex-inmate to 3 or 4 pastors at THE BRIDGE, and you mentor that former inmate as they find a new church, YOU are executing a complete aftercare solution! THE BRIDGE is simply a tool for getting it all done.

Have you been waiting for the day when you can tell your supporters and others praying for you, that you are in fact doing aftercare? Now you can. Mission:USA is pleased to provide you with our BRIDGE service simply as a venue for all this to take place.