Missouri Department of Corrections chaplains met recently to plan priorities for the coming fiscal year. You might wonder exactly what a Chaplain does in the corrections environment. Kansas City Reentry Center Chaplain Matt Mason shares this description of prison chaplaincy in Holiness Today:
Prison chaplains are different things to different people. Chaplains are comforters, pastors, teachers, counselors, advisors, administrators and confidants. They are creative and understanding as they demonstrate God’s grace and love in ministering to people of differing faiths and cultures in very restrictive settings.
Chaplains advise correctional staff on religious issues, provide spiritual counseling to inmates, provide religious literature to inmates of all faiths, and provide offenders being released with resources that can help them in their transition. They also maintain spiritual programming files, submit monthly reports on all group activity and attendance, and supervise inmates assigned to assist the chaplain.
Chaplains listen to the angry, the frightened, the lonely, the poor, and all those who are hurting in one way or another. Chaplains are called to remember that no matter the crime, human dignity has not been forfeited and we should recognize and respect each person. We understand that even inmates are valued by God. A prison chaplain does more than just give away Bibles and pray for people. He or she challenges offenders to address the often ignored spiritual issues deep inside.
Your loved one can receive support or assistance, by contacting the chaplain at their facility.
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