Category Archives: Prison Ministry

God of the vulnerable

Posted on October 8, 2014 by

“What a contrast. We see God, the most potent and self-sufficient Power imaginable, continually expressing profound concern for the least potent and self-sufficient — the orphan in distress.” Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Adoption, Anthropology, Apologetics, Atheism, Atheists, Belief, Call to ministry, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Comfort, Common Good, Common grace, Ethics, Evangelicals, Evil in the world, God, God's Heart, God's Love, God's power, God's Protection, God's Will, Grace, Holistic ministry, Love, Mercy, Missions, Orphans, Prison Ministry, Radical love, Religion-not the answer, Seeing God, Seeking God, Social work, Theodicy, Vision | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Common grace and common good

Posted on April 21, 2014 by

We are called to be agents of common grace who are committed to the welfare of the city of our exile. Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Call to ministry, Calling, Change, Common Good, Common grace, Culture, Culture of Honor, Evangelism, Government, Grace, Holistic ministry, Kingdom, Mission statement, Missions, Peace, Prison Ministry, Social work, Wisdom, Worldview | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A night in solitary confinement

Posted on February 23, 2014 by

“Colorado’s Head of Department of Corrections, Rick Raemish, changed his thinking about Solitary Confinement (Ad Seg) after spending 20 hours in a cell.” Continue reading →

Posted in Jail, Justice, Law, Prison, Prison Ministry, Social work | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Alternatives to prison needed

Posted on October 30, 2013 by

We’ve created a serious and often overlooked national crisis in overcrowded prisons. The average citizen is unaware of how bad it is and of the growing tax burden it creates. Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Citizenship, Crime, Crisis, Culture, Fathers, Government, Politics, Prison, Prison Ministry | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The heart of our problem

Posted on July 11, 2013 by

Political and cultural changes cannot adequately address our deepest needs. There is clearly an important place for these concerns, but a wider focus is needed if we hope to get to the heart of our problems. Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Change, Character, Christian Counselor, Christian life, Christian worldview, Counseling, God's power, Gospel-centered, Guidelines for living, Holistic ministry, Holy Spirit, Politics, Prison, Prison Ministry, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Restoration, Salvation, Sanctification, Social work, Spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Finding freedom in a prison

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

  “It’s not only others who threaten my freedom. I am a threat to my own freedom” (Peter J. Leithart). This bit of truth reminded me of some wise words I heard one day when I spoke to a group … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Bitterness, Broken Relationships, Christian life, Despair, Freedom, Prison, Prison Ministry | 1 Comment

Overcrowded prisons in America

Posted on January 16, 2013 by

  There is a growing unnoticed social crisis in our nation that must be understood and addressed. With more citizens (per capita) incarcerated than any other nation, overcrowded prisons in America have become a social crisis. The prisons and local … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church and State, Church Leadership, Courts, Crisis, Culture, Family life, Fathers, Government, Law, Local Church, Missions, Prison, Prison Ministry, Social work, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Looking for better solutions to overcrowded prisons

Posted on June 14, 2012 by

“County prison inmates released: About 100 out in bid to trim population.” As I often do, I wrote to a letter of response: As a community leader, I commend the Prison Board, warden and staff, and the Adult Probation & … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church and State, Fathers, Government, Prison, Prison Ministry | Leave a comment

The hurts and disappointments of life

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

I was speaking in the Lancaster County Prison last year to 115 prisoners and during a question/answer session, a prisoner told me about the horrible way his father treated him. In graphic terms, (after apologizing for what he was about … Continue reading →

Posted in Abuse, Anger, Attitude, Bitterness, Broken Relationships, Burnout, Change, Comfort, Counseling, Cynicism, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Divorce, Emotions, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Hope?, Joseph's story, Loss, Marital Separation, Pain, Prison, Prison Ministry, Revenge, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, Suffering, Trials | Leave a comment

A Christian understanding of transformation

Posted on December 6, 2011 by

  Evangelical Christians must not make the mistake of isolating spiritual matters from cultural and political realities. Content to live in a kind of Christian subculture, too many Christians fall short of their identity as light to the world and … Continue reading →

Posted in Call to ministry, Change, Character, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church, Church and State, Church membership, Culture, Emerging Leaders, Ethics, Gospel-centered, Government, Guidelines for living, Hamartiology, Holistic ministry, Human depravity, Human dignity, Humanism, Justice, Law, Leadership, Local Church, Manifesto, Mission statement, Morality, Parenting, Politics, Prison, Prison Ministry, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Restoration, Salvation, Separation of Church and State, Social work, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Wisdom, Worldview | Leave a comment