Issue 4, March 2008
In this edition:
Volunteers in Prisons – Forging the Partnership
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The joint efforts of Prison Fellowship, the Chaplaincy Service and PARS, has resulted in the formation of a Volunteer Advisory Group, which will meet three or four times a year to discuss volunteer issues with the Department of Corrections.
The inaugural meeting of the Volunteer Advisory Group was held I February, under the chairmanship of Phil McCarthy, General Manager, Rehabilitation. Representatives from the Prison Chaplaincy Service, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation and Prison Fellowship met with departmental representatives under the chairmanship of Phil McCarthy, General Manager, Rehabilitation.
The purpose of the Group is to forge a strategic partnership between the Department of Corrections (the Department) and key stakeholder organisations to support the vision of ‘a professionalised prison volunteering service, built on the principles of community participation, diversity, self-improvement and value-added services.’
The Group will be the primary conduit for meeting the Department’s commitment to consulting with volunteers and their organisations on policy and operational matters that impact on volunteering. While there is a long list of issues to address in the years to come, the department sees its priorities as:
There is a lot of work ahead as the group works through key policy and operational issues. The stakeholder organisations will be seeking feedback from volunteers around key issues of concern. |
Cursillo Goes into the Faith Unit
On Thursday 29th November to Sunday 2nd December this year, 17 Christians from the Cursillo movement had the opportunity to facilitate the very first Cursillo type course at Rimutaka Prison’s faith based unit called Te Ara Pono. The theme of the weekend was 1Cor 4:15 about being fathers rather than teachers and it was that father’s heart that we showed and they now see. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That is our prayer. The weekend was so powerful with many lives being changed forever.
The weekend had been in preparation for over 12 months with more recent intense team meetings leading up to the weekend. God is so gracious and faithful and walked us all through such a wonderful, powerful and meaningful event. His gifts were evident in the way the team ministered and we were humbled by the sincerity of the pilgrims.
We met with 12 inmates (pilgrims) from this unit over the four days. We lifted up the name of Jesus, sang His praise and generally had a wonderful time in the Lord. We made lifelong friendships, lives were changed forever and we left our hearts in that place. We are already seeing the fruit of the weekend in the way the 12 are taking what they learnt to others, they have a renewed passion for Jesus that is infectious and spreading throughout the unit. Our belief is for this to be prison wide.
I have been back since for a prayer meeting and they are hot for Jesus, and hungry for the gospel. Other inmates are joining the prayer groups and some have setup accountability groups of three and four to keep each other honest in their walk.
We are all so grateful to those that prayed for this ministry and were aware of prayer covering when we were in there. This is a harvest field, white and ready for the harvest and now the harvesters are a few more in number because of the weekend.
Thank you again for your prayer and I am sure the team will have an opportunity to talk in the next few months on this event and how it has changed all our lives. Pray that we have a Te Ara Pono 08 to build on what has started at Rimutaka.
Blessings – John Roche
Lay Director
Te Ara Pono 07
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Congratulations o tose who participated in the 2007 Angel Tree Program.
Angel Tree results are 14% up on gifts to children and 19% up on count of families delivered to in 2007 compared to 2006.
We delivered to 3,124 children compared to 2,752 in 2006. This was to 1,393 families compared to 1,167.
A very successful “family day for kids of prisoners” in the Papakura area was run by the Auckland Regional teams. They managed to keep the media away and nearly 80 kids from 30 families attended. |
Volunteer Training and Development – a Priority
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Prison Fellowships lonstanding commitment to promoting and increasing volunteer capability will be the subject of review over the next year. Between 2002 and 2005, Prison Fellowship ran volunteer training seminars nationwide, covering a range of topics aimed not only at ensuring volunteers could function safely, but also effectively. Topics such as understanding prisoners, listening skills, relational ministry, and effective visitation have always been part of the package. The Department’s volunteer training contract lasted for less than 12 months, and was not renewed. We now understand that future departmental funded training will be confined to local induction, and basic health and safety.
While this training will meet the department’s legal needs, it will not contribute significantly to building capability within the voluntary sector. Prison Fellowship currently train program facilitators and mentors, and will continue to do so. There is now however, a larger gap to fill, in the provision of volunteer seminars and workshops. We need to provide opportunities for volunteers to develop ‘best practise’, and for new volunteers to learn from those who are experienced. |
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Thursday, 15th May2008,Silverstream Retreat, Upper Hutt
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is, for brothers to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
The Prison Chaplaincy Service, Prison Fellowship New Zealand and Alpha in Prisons have combined to present a seminar on prison ministry for church leaders, chaplains, and church volunteers. It explores the changing roles of chaplains and prison volunteers, and our plan to unite in purpose to more effectively serve the Kingdom of God through prison ministry.
We also share some of the ‘leading edge’ approaches to prison ministry, examining effective practice in the areas of relational ministry, worship, bible studies, programs, and much more.
This will be the most significant Prison Volunteer’s Seminar in a decade. |
Download the Programme and Registration Form
A further request has been made to Rimutaka management to have the Faith Unit exempted from the longer lock-down hours. The entire core programme was being delivered outside the new hours prior to the change and the work gang activities in the community were ceased. We have noticed a major drop-off of mentor hours since the change and also some of the non-core programmes are difficult to programme through a lack of rooms and time available. There is a definite drop in the volunteer contact with the men.
Prison Fellowship has been pro-active in looking at ways to alleviate the situation. Twenty eight prisoners are undertaking the AFCM Bible College course of 2 hours per day, three days a week. This course is made available in the cells after lockdown. Study books are available and these are marked to gauge progress.
We are looking forward to the day when the restrictions are lifted, and the program can be delivered in its entirety.
Pollsmoor Prison
This situation is not ucommon. In many verseas prisons, the majority of prisoners are locked down for most of the day. Our friend Chaplain Jonathon Clayton, of Pollsmoor Prison, developed a unique response to this dilemma by organising a monthly “Prayer Walk”, in which approved volunteers walk through the locked down unit, praying for the prisoners, and engaging in worship through the aperture in the cell door.
Download Prayer Wlk Advertising Flyer
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