Volunteer for prison ministry in CT in this network of individuals, churches and ministries the Lord is weaving together to act as one in prison ministry throughout Connecticut. Serve inside or outside the prisons. Which of the groups below and how they serve is of greatest interest to you?
Have us add your activity so you can connect with people doing similar ministry.
Serve youth to prevent their going to prison.
See the Youth Ministry page.
TheJesusClubs.com reach Gen Z by training a high school student in 90 minute Zoom sessions to start a Jesus Club to meet weekly in his or her high school. Trainees “share the death, resurrection, hope and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ” and pray for their school. Sign up for a Zoom training and download their app.
Shiloh Prison Ministry held their 13th annual Community Prison Awareness & Prevention Gathering at Mitchell College, Clarke Center Auditorium, New London, CT, on Saturday, 10/21/23.
Faith 2 Faith Ministries, Intl., f2fmi.org “is committed to reaching young people for Christ.”
Truth Alive! A new Connecticut-based ministry “To bring spiritual awakening through the power of the Holy Spirit
who transforms lives and unites the body of Christ.”
Youth Challenge of CT, Inc “operates residential programs and conducts outreach to help persons with life controlling problems, such as substance abuse, find drug free, productive, and meaningful lives.”
Take the love and forgiveness of Jesus into the men’s, women’s and youth correctional institutions.
As Jesus said, “…I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:36 NIV
Kairos Prison Ministry
“Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. is a lay-led, interdenominational Christian ministry in which men and women volunteers bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to prisoners and their families. The Kairos programs are open to inmates of all faiths. They take the participants on a journey that demonstrates the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Kairos Prison Ministry is Christian in nature, although no religious affiliation is necessary to be a participant. They involve a structured model that includes the weekend experience, followed by guests or participants gathering regularly for accountability, support and prayer.
Three Programs
The Kairos Ministry has three programs, which reach over 25,000 people annually: Kairos Inside, Kairos Outside, and Kairos Torch. The Ministry operates in prisons in 35 U.S. states, and 10 countries: Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Over 30,000 volunteers conduct nearly 500 programs in prisons and communities annually in the U.S. and worldwide. trains teams that establish and follow up a Christian community inside prisons by the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Prisoners who have had their lives transformed by Jesus Christ bear witness to others.”
Kairos Inside brings positive and negative leaders together, in both male and female prisons, for a 3 ½ day weekend designed to start building the Christian community inside the institution.
Kairos Outside supports the female relatives/friends of men and women who are or have been incarcerated, or women who were unable to attend Kairos Inside while in prison. They attend a special weekend retreat followed by a continuing ministry.
Kairos Torch volunteers mentor youth in prison, so they can begin to make better life choices. It offers an initial weekend, followed by a long-term mentoring process encouraging young men and women to move towards making better life.
Prison Fellowship “The mission of Prison Fellowship is to restore those affected by crime and incarceration. One of the primary ways it does this is through their Prison Fellowship Academy, an intensive in-prison program founded on Christian principles of character and relational development. Prison Fellowship staff directs The Academy facilitated by trained volunteers. The Academy has six core values of good citizenship – productivity, responsibility, integrity, community, affirmation, and restoration. Participants are prepared to be positive, productive members of their communities inside and outside or prison, resulting in benefits for those around them.” Dan Kingery, our Vice-President of Field Operations, puts it best when he says, “There is no re-entry without pre-entry. And, that’s where Prison Fellowship comes in.”
The Prison Fellowship Academy at York CI in Niantic was launched in June 2023 and has been meeting every Tuesday and Thursday evening with 8 women volunteers! The transformation in the women there has been incredible! Our program is a 50-week Faith-based program resulting in 200 hours of life-changing training and experiences! It is without doubt the best pre-entry program for re-entry! I am praying mightily along with many others for God to open up the doors for Prison Fellowship and other faith-based prison ministries across the state despite what the trend appears to be!” Yours in Christ, Bernie Norman
Alpha Prison and Community Ministry. Alpha provides an opportunity to discover and develop a relationship with Jesus. It has has been active it CT since 2007 with 11 Alpha courses that awarded certificates of completion to more than 4,000 individuals. There were 30 to 35 volunteers at one time. Covid shut down the ministry for almost 3 years until it resumed in November 2022. It began its sixth program September 2023 where 100 people received certificates. Two churches: Kingdom Life Christian Church in Milford (https://klcc.us/) and First Congregational Church in Cromwell (https://fcccromwell.org/ ) have been active.
Serve wives and families impacted by incarceration.
Kairos Outside provides a safe place for women whose lives have been impacted by incarceration. It encourages and supports its Guests through the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
Kairos Outside Weekend
For women to support each other as they journey through the incarceration of a friend or relative.
This is a Retreat for women who have or have had relatives and/or friends in State or Federal prisons, jails or youth facilities, or have been incarcerated themselves.The program, accommodations and meals are from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, free-of-charge.
Guests hear talks by volunteers and are shown Christ’s love in small family groups. Music, prayer, and fun activities are interspersed with the talks.. The talks address the pain of enduring separation from the one inside and the judgment of others from their community.
The host, Kairos Prison Ministry, is a Christian program. No religious affiliation is necessary to be a Guest. Any 20-year-old or older female family member whose life has been impacted by the incarceration of a loved one, or a woman who was unable to attend Kairos Inside while in prison, is eligible to attend.
Kairos Outside is available in nearly 70 communities in the United States.
Apply to attend in Colebrook, CT, May 17-19, 2024. Inquire if you need transportation assistance.
Kairos Outside Weekend Guest Registration Form
More information. Kairos Outside of CT, PO Box 384, Farmington, CT 06034,
Suggestion. Partner with a radio station to be a blessing to the children of incarcerated parents. Every Christmas season, reunite children with their incarcerated parents, giving them a true Christmas experience. Follow the example of HOPE for Prisoners in Las Vegas with SOS Radio.
Connect re-entrants to churches and jobs after release
Second Chance Churches pair a mentor with a returning citizen in relational support to engage in church and community services. See this Urban Alliance list of Second Chance Churches they support and how to become one.
HomeBridge Second Chance Employment at The Pub in Bridgeport, CT trains formerly incarcerated individuals to become excellent employees.
Youth Challenge of CT, Inc. Re-Entry Services in Hartford, CT, for men 18 years old and older that continue to need a substance use free and safe environment to support their overall substance use and mental health needs. This program is a 6 bed program that men can utilize from 3-6 months.
Enable every church in CT to have a prison ministry and to become a Second Chance Church.
Please let church members know the opportunities on this page for outreach by their church.
See Second Chance Churches in CT. They “welcome returning citizens to be part of their church family. Each church has an identified mentor who will offer emotional and spiritual support, help you connect into church programs and offer referrals to programs in the community.”
Members of International Christian Center, 35 Redden Avenue. New London, send letters to residents of Brooklyn Correctional Institution through the prison chaplain and receive very positive letters in response.
Living Hope Church in Shelton ministers to men at Bridgeport Correctional Center.
Black Rock Church in Fairfield had a Mission Fair that identified new volunteers for Bridgeport Rescue Mission, HomeBridge, Kairos Prison MInistry, and a Youth Camp.
Develop rehabilitation as a priority in prisons in CT
Change Criminal Justice and Prison Culture describes a a movement to change the entire culture of criminal justice in Connecticut
Individuals and Churches are organizing to help support rehabilitation. The church, with a big “C”, can help connect with prisoners and their families in Connecticut. Prisoners can gain access to learning materials and services to enable their rehabilitation. Safety and Security are now the two overwhelming drivers of prison operations. Approximately 1/2 of prisoners in CT recidivate within 3 years after their release.
The criminal justice system in Norway is less costly. The CT Department of Correction wisely sent teams to study how prisons operate in Norway. 20% of prisoners in Norway recidivate within 3 years, a rate that’s 60% fewer than in Connecticut. Professionals who have visited Norway say we have to change the complete culture and climate of criminal justice and prison operations in Connecticut.
Some tools for rehabilitation are simple and cost very little. A book called holy moments by Matthew Kelly can be very effective in improving attitudes to reduce chaos. The cost delivered in bulk quantities of 64 is $1.50 per copy. A box can be sent to a prison chaplain for distribution to residents. This can be a first step in a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation to eliminate an annual cost that may be about 50,000 times as great to incarcerate one prisoner who recidivates.
Action you can take. Contact the chaplain of a prison near you and see if he would like to receive a box of the books to be able to hand out. Ask him if there is any other help you can provide.
View how to Change the culture of criminal justice and how prisons operate in Connecticut
Comments 2
I am interested in volunteering in any area of the Women’s, and young adults Prison ministry. I have past experience as a mentor for a young women at York Correctional Facility.
Author
Thank you Miosotys for your interest in volunteering for women’s and young adults prison ministry. I’ve informed two of the leaders of Kairos Inside for women.