Prison and Recovery Ministry

Grace Lutheran Church & School's Prison and Recovery Ministry includes a Men’s AfterCare Group, a Women’s AfterCare Group, a Stephen Minister Mentor Group, a Shopper Group, and a Detention Center Volunteer Group as follows:

Men’s AfterCare Group

MISSIONAL EMPHASIS:

Serve male returning citizens from correctional and recovery facilities.  Specifically, this program provides a new group of friends dedicated to sharing the love of Christ and a hope of a new beginning. Resources for needs are provided as available.  Local outreach is made to returning citizens from the Charles County Detention Center (CCDC) and the Jude House Recovery Facility (JHRF).  A weekly Bible Study is conducted for men at the Main Jude House facility. 

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Age Group:   Adult male—18 and over
Family Status:   Member of the Body of Christ
Geographic Considerations:   Open to members of a Christian Church in Charles and surrounding counties, Maryland
Special Interests:   Desire to work in a prison ministry, Desire to disciple others, Stephen Ministry
Growth:   Looking for new members

MEETINGS:

Frequency:   Weekly on Tuesday
Time:

  • AfterCare Ministry at GLCS:  7PM to 8:30PM
  • AfterCare Ministry as JHRF:  8PM to 9PM
  • AfterCare Group Staff Meeting—as scheduled by Ministry Director

Location:

  • GLCS—Room # 116a
  • JHRF—Room # as directed by JHRF Staff

GLCS Weekly Activities:

  • Gathering time:
  • Sign in
  • Name Tag
  • Identify needs
    • prayer requests
    • resources—toiletries, food, clothing, shoes other as available
  • Distribute resources previously requested
  • Bible study, Devotional, or Christian Video with group discussion
  • Praise and Worship—Testimonies and/or Praise and Worship music
  • Prayers
  • Dismissal

Related Activities:

  • Nursery—during meetings
  • Help returning and recovering citizens with needs such as:
    • Providing transportation to job interviews, social and services parole office
    • Assistance w/resumes
    • Clothing, shoes, and toiletries
    • Moving

JHRF Activities:

  • Sign in
  • Identify needs
  • Distribute resources previously requested
  • Bible study, Devotional, or Christian Video with group discussion
  • Prayers
  • Dismissal

TRAINING: 

POINT OF CONTACT:

Paul L. Lenker, Director, Prison & Recovery Ministry
Cell:  814-574-8810
E-mail:  dcministry@growingwithgrace.org  

Women’s AfterCare Group

MISSIONAL EMPHASIS:

Serve female returning citizens from correctional and recovery facilities.  Specifically, this program provides a new group of friends dedicated to sharing the love of Christ and a hope of a new beginning. Resources for needs are provided as available.  Local outreach is made to returning citizens from the Charles County Detention Center (CCDC) and the Jude House Recovery Facility (JHRF).  A weekly Bible Study is conducted for women at the Jude House women’s night facilities. 

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Age Group:   Adult female—18 and over
Family Status:   Member of the Body of Christ
Geographic Considerations:   Open to members of a Christian Church in Charles and surrounding counties, Maryland
Special Interests:   Desire to work in a prison ministry, Desire to disciple others, Stephen Ministry
Growth:   Looking for new members

MEETINGS:

Frequency:   Weekly on Tuesday
Time:

  • AfterCare Ministry at GLCS:  7PM to 8:30PM
  • AfterCare Ministry as JHRF:  7PM to 8PM
  • AfterCare Group Staff Meeting—as scheduled by Ministry Director

Location:

  • GLCS—Room # 110
  • JHRF—Room # as directed by JHRF Staff

GLCS Weekly Activities:

  • Gathering time:
  • Sign in
  • Name Tag
  • Identify needs
    • prayer requests
    • resources—toiletries, food, clothing, shoes other as available
  • Distribute resources previously requested
  • Bible study, Devotional, or Christian Video with group discussion
  • Praise and Worship—Testimonies and/or Praise and Worship music
  • Prayers
  • Dismissal

JHRF Weekly Activities:

  • Sign in
  • Identify needs
  • Distribute resources previously requested
  • Bible study, Devotional, or Christian Video with group discussion
  • Prayers
  • Dismissal

Related Activities:

  • Nursery—during meetings at GLCS
  • Help returning and recovering citizens with needs such as:
    • Providing transportation to job interviews, social and services parole office
    • Assistance w/resumes
    • Clothing, shoes, and toiletries
    • Moving

TRAINING: 

POINT OF CONTACT:

JoLynn Uplinger, Assistant Director, Prison & Recovery Ministry
Cell:  801-546-0939

E-mail:  wdcministry@growingwithgrace.org  

Stephen Minister Mentor Group

MISSIONAL EMPHASIS:

Provide confidential one-on-one distinctively Christian care to offenders/clients/returning citizens at/from correctional and/or recovery facilities.

Mentors provide distinctively Christian care to offenders of the same gender incarcerated in the Charles County Detention Center (CCDC) in La Plata, MD, and clients at the Jude House Recovery Facility (JHRF) in Bel Alton, MD.  Mentors develop a relationship with their assigned mentee by getting to know their mentee, providing spiritual care, determining resource needs for when the mentee is released from their facility.  In the case of client mentees at the Jude House there may be immediate needs for clothing.  Spiritual care may include prayer, Bible Study and devotionals at the desire of the mentee.

A mentor begins weekly meetings with his/her mentee 3 to 6 months before the mentee is released from the CCDC.  When meetings with mentees begins in the JHRF, may be from the point in the recovery program the Lead Men’s or Women’s Counselor recommends a client for assignment. Or, it could begin the first week the client is in the Jude house.  (The latter starting situation happens when an offender in the CCDC has had a mentor assigned and he or she is court ordered to a recovery program at the Jude House before being released as a returning citizen.  Upon release from either the CCDC or JHRF, the returning citizen (mentee) continues meeting weekly with the Stephen Minister Mentor at a place by mutual agreement.  Care will include a continuation of Spiritual care and may include providing assistance with:

  • Social Services,
  • basic needs,
  • moving,
  • child care,
  • resumes, and
  • job hunting.

Assignment of a mentor to an offender may happen in one of three ways at the CCDC.  1.  Male mentees may be assigned from vetted offenders who are participating in the CCDC STARS (Successful Transitioning and Reentry Skills) program.  2.  Female offenders may be assigned from vetted offenders who are participating in the CCDC Diamonds (Diamonds are forever) program.  3.  Male and female offenders participating in the CCDC Reentry Fair.  STARS and Diamonds participants receive training in:

  • anger management,
  • parenting,
  • CPR,
  • first aid,
  • sanitation,
  • budgeting,
  • certification in Food Service Management,
  • resume writing,
  • Celebrate Recovery,
  • Stephen Minister Mentoring and
  • other subjects as available through volunteer instructors.

Reentry Fair participants have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with service providers from 20 agencies and charitable organizations.

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Age Group:   Adult male or female—18 and over
Family Status:   Member of the Body of Christ
Geographic Considerations:   Open to members of a Christian Church in Charles and surrounding counties, Maryland
Special Interests:   Desire to work in a prison ministry, Desire to disciple others, Desire to work as a Stephen Minister Care Giver

Growth:  Looking for new members

MEETINGS:

Weekly mentor one-on-one with mentee: 

  • At CCDC as cited in Missional Emphasis
  • At Main JHRF and Women’s Night Facilities as cited in Missional Emphasis
  • Mentor one-on-one with returning citizen as cited in Missional Emphasis
  • Monthly mentor Peer Supervisory:   As scheduled by GLCS Prison & Recovery Ministry Director

Location:  

  • CCDC:  Professional Visitation Room 1, 2, or 3 in secure area
  • JHRF or other Recovery Facility:  As directed by recovery facility staff
  • Returning citizen at location by mutual agreement
  • Peer Supervisory:  GLCS Room #116 or 116a

OTHER FACTORS: 

Mentors must complete the Stephen Minister course under a Stephen Minister licensed organization and be a Commissioned Stephen Minister.  (Commissioned Stephen Ministers from a Christian church or other organization must have the permission of their Pastor/CEO to participate in the Stephen Minister Mentor Program.)

Mentors must be on the Clergy list or be a cleared Detention Center Volunteer at the CCDC

TRAINING: 

Complete the Stephen Minister Mentor Training at GLCS—see the SM Mentor Training Requirements.pdf

POINT OF CONTACT:

Men:

Paul L. Lenker, Director, Prison & Recovery Ministry
Cell:  814-574-8810
E-mail:  dcministry@growingwithgrace.org

Women:

JoLynn Uplinger, Assistant Director, Prison & Recovery Ministry

            Cell:  801-546-0939

E-mail:  wdcministry@growingwithgrace.org

Shopper Group   

MISSIONAL EMPHASIS:

Support the AfterCare and Mentor Groups by coordinating the delivery of food from the FISH and SHARE food ministries to their returning citizens.  Also, support these groups by shopping for other physical necessities such as clothing, toiletries, footwear, work related tools and small household items. 

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Age Group:   Adult female—18 and over
Family Status:   Member of the Body of Christ
Geographic Considerations:   Open to members of a Christian Church in Charles and surrounding Counties, Maryland
Special Interests:   Desire to work in a prison ministry, Desire to disciple others, Stephen Ministry
Growth:   Looking for new members

MEETINGS:

Frequency:   As required, normally receive request for support by e-mail and/or telephone.

Location:  

  • Grace Lutheran Church & School, La Plata—for FISH and SHARE foods
  • Lutheran Mission Society’s Mobile Compassion Center—located at one of 3 churches according to a rotation schedule for free clothing, toiletries, footwear, and small household items
  • Health Partners, Inc., Waldorf—for free clothing, toiletries and footwear
  • Catherine Foundation, Waldorf—for free maternity clothing
  • Various thrift stores
  • Other retail establishments

POINT OF CONTACT:

TRAINING:  Complete the GLCS Shopper Training—see Shopper Training Requirements.pdf.

Paul L. Lenker
Cell:  814-574-8810
E-mail:  dcministry@growingwithgrace.org.

Detention Center Volunteer Group

MISSIONAL EMPHASIS:

Male or female volunteers may provide Worship Services, Bible Studies and/or One-On-One Discipleship sessions to offenders inside the CCDC.  Male volunteers minister to male offenders and female volunteers to female offenders.

DEMOGRAPHICS:

Age Group:   Adult male or female—18 and over
Family Status:   Member of GRACE Lutheran Church & School

Geographic Considerations:   Open to members of a Christian Church in Charles and surrounding Counties, Maryland
Special Interests:   Desire to work in a prison ministry, Desire to disciple others, Stephen Ministry
Growth:   Looking for new members

MEETINGS:

Frequency:   As scheduled by the Classification Officer at Charles County Detention Center (CCDC) La Plata, MD
Time:   As scheduled by the Classification Officer at CCDC La Plata, MD
Location:   CCDC La Plata, MD

OTHER FACTORS:

Volunteers must meet qualifications specified by the CCDC.
Qualification procedures:  Submit a letter of application to the Classification Officer at the CCDC; Letter must be submitted via and endorsed by Pastor Charles Long, GLC&S; successfully complete a background investigation conducted by CCDC staff; and complete any additional training required by detention center personnel.

TRAINING: 

Have completed the Detention Center Training Training at GLCS-see the Detention Center Volunteer Training Requirements.pdf.

POINT OF CONTACT:

Paul L. Lenker
Cell:  814-574-8810
E-mail:  dcministry@growingwithgrace.org

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