prison ministry

How can we best empower people in prison to live their best lives, whether they are in for life or returning next week?

"One Day with God" Program
Prison Fellowship
Prison Ministry out of ResLife Church
The Conquerors Strength Team
Joy Sparks Designs

Krystal Kramer began her downward spiral with alcohol and drug abuse.  She now works hard helping others in a prison ministry.   Host Michelle Beyer talks with Krystal  about her story of how one prayer changed her life forever.  

5 Practical Tips for Prison Ministry

1. Connect with a corrections ministry in your diocese so you don’t reinvent the wheel or cause any missteps that could get you in trouble.
2. If you have a relative in prison, put money in their commissary account and call them or write to them.
3. Donate Bibles, Catechisms, and apologetics books to your local unit, including ones in Spanish.
4. Pray a Rosary this week for the incarcerated and for the correction officers.
5. Check out the Romans Bible study by Ascension Press.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

There are many reasons why pastors don’t hang out together: busyness, theological differences, fatigue, and even ego. But, as Randy and Adam discuss in this episode, praying with others in ministry doesn’t just help unify the church – it helps safeguard pastors against the Enemy’s lies.

Although Randy only (typically) attends his prayer group twice a month, it makes enough of a tangible change in his life that his wife encourages his participation. One of the main benefits of this time is being able to share the struggles, responsibilities, and experiences that only other pastors can empathize with. This is the key to dealing with what Randy calls the “satanic” tactic of isolation, making pastors believe they’re alone or that they can or should be self-sufficient in ministry.

Listen in to this episode to hear more about Randy’s fellowship with other pastors as well as an illustration from Adam on how prayer groups can be effective for all believers. 

About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:18] More on prison ministry
  • The call and obligation to prison ministry
  • Church planting as prevention
• [5:55] Why Randy makes time for prayer with other pastors
  • Encouraged by wife
  • Shared struggles and experiences
• [10:17] Why it’s important to Randy’s wife
• [10:44] Getting to know other pastors
• [12:19] Why it’s important for pastors to pray together
  • Some experiences are unique to pastors
  • Refreshed perspective towards ministry
  • Helps with burnout and depression
• [15:26] How this small time investment impacts Randy’s life
• [17:29] Randy’s advice to other pastors
  • Importance of community
  • “Lifeguard fellowship”
• [20:06] Differences in denominations don’t matter
• [22:20] Dealing with issues on a spiritual level
• [24:27] Adam’s closing thoughts about the importance of praying together

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Grace PCA website

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

The mission of this podcast is to highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s Church – both in Chattanooga and the Church at large.

Meet Reverend Randy Jackson, a Chattanooga-area (north Georgia, to be specific) pastor who is, according to Adam, a “unicorn” of sorts: Randy is an African American ordained in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). In this episode, Randy shares the theological issue that led him to join the PCA and talks about what it’s like to pastor a diverse congregation. 

After becoming a believer while in the military, Randy had to grapple with issues of race and racism in deciding if he wanted to continue in the Christian community. But it was the critical question of whether or not he could lose his salvation that steered him towards Reformed theology and the PCA.

Now, Randy is a Pastor at Grace PCA in Dalton, Georgia. Responding to the increasing population of Spanish-speakers, Grace chose to integrate Spanish into their services to allow Christians from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds to be a part of the same congregation. Listen in to this episode to hear more about Grace and how Randy has personally been impacted by his church.


About Adam Whitescarver

Adam is passionate about seeing God’s people possess vibrant prayer lives to help them make a difference in the sphere of influence God has given them. In ministry since 2001, Adam enjoys his family, teaching, singing, and reading a myriad of subjects. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in North GA with their four children.

Jump Through the Conversation:

• [1:01] Randy’s introduction and connection to Adam
• [2:03] Randy’s struggles as a new Christian
  •  Dealing with other Christians
  • Concern about the stability of salvation
• [6:03] God’s sovereignty and prison ministry
• [8:19] How the issue of God’s sovereignty led Randy to Reformed theology and the PCA
•  [9:27] How Grace PCA has become a multi-ethnic church
  • Incorporating Spanish-speaking people into their congregation
  • Diversity of pastoral staff
• [13:26] Cross-cultural ministry and the centrality of Christ
• [15:59] How Randy has been enriched by the culture of Grace PCA

Links and Resources:

• A Beautiful Church website
• Chattanooga House of Prayer website
• Give today
• Grace PCA website

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.

Stephanie Grissom is a powerful woman who loves God so deeply.  That love spills over into other people's lives in a really big way. 
You will learn a lot about shame, forgiveness, and service in this episode.

To get in touch with Stephanie:
Vineyard Family Services on Facebook

VFS on Instagram

stephiegrissom0@gmail.com 

Pelham Mall 2834-H Pelham Parkway Pelham  Physical Address - Backpack Buddies and Dad classes meet here

P.O. Box 2458 Alabaster, AL. 35007  Mailing Address for donations

The book Keep Your Love On by Danny Silk (and may other helpful books)

Vineyard Family Services - there are so many ways to serve through this agency.  Join their email list so you never miss an opportunity.

Richard and Phyllis Coss were once hardcore criminals. In 1975, President Johnson pardoned Richard, and now he and his wife minister the Gospel in prisons, jails, churches and schools.

After 34 years of serving the Lord behind bars, Gene receives his freedom in an epic trial that only the Lord could have orchestrated. 

Visit our website for more information on our ministry.

https://theunseenstory.org/