WHY PRISON MINISTRY AT CPC?

Jesus commends it: Jesus wants us to visit prisoners (Matthew 25:36). “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners…” (Hebrews 13:3).

A despised minority: There is no group in America more despised than prisoners. Although one out of every four men has a police record, one out of every eight men is a convicted felon, and seven million Americans are in the revolving door of probation, prison and parole, no one advocates for these people. They are objects of shame and prejudice. This provides the Church with a rare opportunity to express the love and grace of the God who forgives sinners, even sinners as bad as Moses, David and Paul, all of whom committed murder.

A rare opportunity: Many cry out to God when they go to jail. Thousands testify that the best thing that ever happened to them was going to prison, because only then did they truly seek God. In jail they met a Christian volunteer who explained the Good News of Jesus, and then afterwards helped them learn how to live as Christians.

A service to the community: The best way to reduce crime is to turn criminals into Christians. 90% of all prisoners will some day be released; most of them will leave prison worse. However, if they leave prison, no longer as thieves, drug dealers and wife beaters, but as Christians who are now taxpayers, family men, and strong supporters of their church, then everyone in the community benefits.

CPC helps support six different jail and prison ministries. Additionally, a number of CPC members regularly go to jails and prisons to personally minister Christ.

Follow Up Ministries
510-881-1178

The primary purpose of Follow Up Ministries is to work with local churches and Christian ministries in prison. They seek to “complement, not compete” with existing ministries. Staffed largely by volunteers known as “The God Squad”, it is a trans-denominational Christian mission. The God Squad has one-on-one relationships inside prisons, jails, and juvenile halls. Through their work, a great message of hope is delivered by prisoners all over California. Discipleship is the heart of the ministry. They seek to provide a spiritual basis, which is essential for successful transition into the community as a productive and growing Christian. Counseling before and during parole encourages people, and helps prepare them to meet life’s challenges as a Christian. Family and job counseling and housing assistance are also provided. www.sf.org/f/followup/

Good News Jail and Prison Ministry
925-646-4638

The mission of Good News Jail & Prison Ministry in the Contra Costa County Detention Facilities is to enable the incarcerated men and women to break the cycle of crime through faith and return them to the community productive citizens. Good News provides spiritually mature, equipped and motivated men and women to serve as Christian Chaplains. They meet the spiritual needs of both inmates and staff through a ministry that includes counseling, discipleship, and literature distribution. www.goodnewsjail.org

Juvenile Hall—Rev. Charles Tinsley, Chaplain
925-646-4819

Rev. Charles Tinsley has been providing pastoral care to young people in county juvenile detention facilities, on Home Supervision/Juvenile Electronic Monitor, in Group Homes, at home on probation and in “after care”. He also recruits, screens, trains and supervises community volunteers who provide Bible studies and worship services in the facilities.

Match Two Mentoring Outreach
559-582-2094

Since 1971, the purpose of Match Two has been to bring hope to incarcerated inmates, wards and patients who are cut off from the outside world. They offer the hope of change and an alternative to a life of crime, and pave the way to a redeemed life. Match Two believes that no person is beyond reconciliation. Positive one-to-one foundational friendships are an essential ingredient in facilitating personal change and wholeness.

Prison Fellowship
510-760-8275

Prison Fellowship serves the San Francisco Bay Area, which extends from Santa Rosa to the north to Salinas in the south and east to Tracy. Their purpose is to fellowship with Jesus, visit prisoners and welcome children. They exhort, assist and equip churches to minister to prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and their families. They provide in-prison seminars, weekly Bible studies, marriage seminars, a Pen Pal Program and a Network for Life program. www.prisonfellowship.org

Set Free Prison Ministries
909-787-9907

The Lord led Phil and Carole Wagner to found Set Free Prison Ministries in 1977 in Chicago when Phil served there as a Chaplain in the Cook County Jail. They have been used of the Lord to establish thirty other prison ministries across the US reaching prisoners in all 50 States. Sent out from their home congregation (Fairhaven Bible Chapel in Hayward, CA) due to their fervency to spread the Gospel, Phil and Carole have been used to reach, literally, hundreds of thousands of prisoners with the Lord's message and then start those same men and women studying God's Word in a systematic way. The ministry pays all the postage so none of the prisoners are left out because they lack the resources to buy stamps and envelopes.

In 1993 the Lord opened the door to the prisons of Russia, and then in 2002 the ministry was invited into Kazakhstan to start the work there. Due to the severe conditions that exist in those countries, humanitarian aid became a major part of the outreach that has opened the hearts of countless thousands of prisoners and many who serve as prison staff. http://spiritualfreedom-setfree.org/