The Need
Incarceration provides an environment where many men and women come to understand their need for God, and many of those make decisions to follow Jesus Christ, but the opportunity to grow and be discipled by a more mature brother or sister is often scarce, especially for those in solitary confinement. Too often, such new believers wither spiritually under the harsh conditions of jail life, or else find themselves discharged with inadequate preparation and community connection to continue their walk with Christ on the outside. Recidivism and fruitlessness are so common as to be proverbial, with many onlookers rejecting the validity of those conversions because the inmates relapse so often. While there are Christians in Butte County churches who are (or could become) qualified to provide biblical discipleship, the Butte County Jail only allows the public to visit inmates on weekends, and the visiting rooms are packed and noisy. However, ordained and licensed ministers and certified counselors are considered part of the therapeutic team, and are allowed to visit inmates on the glass MWF until 9 pm for 45min a day.
The Purpose
The term "minister" is a confusing one that the jail uses, so we too are obligated to use it as well. It is often confused with the term "pastor" which implies something quite different. A minister can be anyone who "ministers." In our case, we train, certify, and monitor Certified Jail Ministers (CJMs) who provide weekly visits to screened and matched inmates willing to invest time and effort in biblical training. That training is designed to lead inmates to Christ and help them live for Him. This includes creation of a plan to be executed upon their release from custody, enabling them to continue their personal spiritual growth, to connect and serve God with a faithful congregation, to stay clean, sober, and out of jail, to find and hold a job, to manage their finances, and to form, heal, and maintain healthy personal relationships, to the glory of God.
The Process
The process is different depending on which aspect of ministry you are interested in. See below. But our primary mission is to disciple inmates on the glass. ARM has a certification process that sets standards, conducts background checks, and assesses a person’s motivation, ability, and competency to provide such life skills / discipleship ministry, and will train and certify CJMs to work with inmates screened by the Lead Chaplain. Upon completion of the discipleship certification process, ARM will provide documentation that will meet the Butte County Jail’s requirements for Certified Jail Ministers to disciple inmates during the week, and will pair the CJM with an inmate who has requested help.
What kind of people are you looking for? Who would make a good mentor to inmates?
The kind of person that would make a great mentor to inmates are those who have already shown their care and concern for others. People like retired teachers and former inmates can make great CJMs. Of course anyone who has experience in public service would likely have the skills and care that inmates would appreciate. Someone who has a love of scripture and a love of listening are essential qualities for ministers. Someone who has time to give to at least one hour per week to give is also essential. Don't think of this as a long term commitment. Think of this as an adventure that the Lord may continue or steer you a different way. Just keep moving and give the wheel to Jesus, and enjoy the ride.
Correspondence Ministry
And if you want to test the waters with very little effort needed in terms of time or exposure, you might consider corresponding with inmates all over the country through Crossroad Prison Ministries. This is where I started and absolutely enjoyed seeing inmates respond in print to my favorite Bible stories.
On the Glass or Phone Discipleship
Click here for an application to be a Certified Jail Minister and minister to inmates on the glass or on the phone. On the glass and phone volunteers will be required to read this book - Jail Ministry: Preparing Christians to Effectively Volunteer Paperback – May 9, 2022 by Karen Swanson and meet with me to go over our training objectives. Once you have completed the application and training objectives, the final step before receiving an ARM badge and certificate will be an interview before the ARM board.
Pod Visitation
Click here for an application to visit inmates face to face on Thursday nights in the pods. This activity and application process is overseen by jail authorities and not ARM, but ARM is here to assist. Jail authorities will confirm you have appropriate visitation credentials and training on the application. A PREA test (Prison Rape and Elimination Act - click here to download instructions) and application are required for a jail ID and pod visitation. Once the application and PREA certificate is complete and approved by jail authorities (send them directly to the specified jail authority on the instructions), a live scan background check can be scheduled. Once the live scan is complete and approved, a seat at the jail orientation is granted. It is the final required step before receiving an ID from the jail. Orientations are few and far between, so be patient, persistent and prayerful as you wait. Chaplain Ron or jail authorities can update you on the next orientation date. No one is guaranteed a jail ID, especially those with a prior record. Those on parole or probation or have been off parole or probation for less than a year will not be given a jail ID.
Incarceration provides an environment where many men and women come to understand their need for God, and many of those make decisions to follow Jesus Christ, but the opportunity to grow and be discipled by a more mature brother or sister is often scarce, especially for those in solitary confinement. Too often, such new believers wither spiritually under the harsh conditions of jail life, or else find themselves discharged with inadequate preparation and community connection to continue their walk with Christ on the outside. Recidivism and fruitlessness are so common as to be proverbial, with many onlookers rejecting the validity of those conversions because the inmates relapse so often. While there are Christians in Butte County churches who are (or could become) qualified to provide biblical discipleship, the Butte County Jail only allows the public to visit inmates on weekends, and the visiting rooms are packed and noisy. However, ordained and licensed ministers and certified counselors are considered part of the therapeutic team, and are allowed to visit inmates on the glass MWF until 9 pm for 45min a day.
The Purpose
The term "minister" is a confusing one that the jail uses, so we too are obligated to use it as well. It is often confused with the term "pastor" which implies something quite different. A minister can be anyone who "ministers." In our case, we train, certify, and monitor Certified Jail Ministers (CJMs) who provide weekly visits to screened and matched inmates willing to invest time and effort in biblical training. That training is designed to lead inmates to Christ and help them live for Him. This includes creation of a plan to be executed upon their release from custody, enabling them to continue their personal spiritual growth, to connect and serve God with a faithful congregation, to stay clean, sober, and out of jail, to find and hold a job, to manage their finances, and to form, heal, and maintain healthy personal relationships, to the glory of God.
The Process
The process is different depending on which aspect of ministry you are interested in. See below. But our primary mission is to disciple inmates on the glass. ARM has a certification process that sets standards, conducts background checks, and assesses a person’s motivation, ability, and competency to provide such life skills / discipleship ministry, and will train and certify CJMs to work with inmates screened by the Lead Chaplain. Upon completion of the discipleship certification process, ARM will provide documentation that will meet the Butte County Jail’s requirements for Certified Jail Ministers to disciple inmates during the week, and will pair the CJM with an inmate who has requested help.
What kind of people are you looking for? Who would make a good mentor to inmates?
The kind of person that would make a great mentor to inmates are those who have already shown their care and concern for others. People like retired teachers and former inmates can make great CJMs. Of course anyone who has experience in public service would likely have the skills and care that inmates would appreciate. Someone who has a love of scripture and a love of listening are essential qualities for ministers. Someone who has time to give to at least one hour per week to give is also essential. Don't think of this as a long term commitment. Think of this as an adventure that the Lord may continue or steer you a different way. Just keep moving and give the wheel to Jesus, and enjoy the ride.
Correspondence Ministry
And if you want to test the waters with very little effort needed in terms of time or exposure, you might consider corresponding with inmates all over the country through Crossroad Prison Ministries. This is where I started and absolutely enjoyed seeing inmates respond in print to my favorite Bible stories.
On the Glass or Phone Discipleship
Click here for an application to be a Certified Jail Minister and minister to inmates on the glass or on the phone. On the glass and phone volunteers will be required to read this book - Jail Ministry: Preparing Christians to Effectively Volunteer Paperback – May 9, 2022 by Karen Swanson and meet with me to go over our training objectives. Once you have completed the application and training objectives, the final step before receiving an ARM badge and certificate will be an interview before the ARM board.
Pod Visitation
Click here for an application to visit inmates face to face on Thursday nights in the pods. This activity and application process is overseen by jail authorities and not ARM, but ARM is here to assist. Jail authorities will confirm you have appropriate visitation credentials and training on the application. A PREA test (Prison Rape and Elimination Act - click here to download instructions) and application are required for a jail ID and pod visitation. Once the application and PREA certificate is complete and approved by jail authorities (send them directly to the specified jail authority on the instructions), a live scan background check can be scheduled. Once the live scan is complete and approved, a seat at the jail orientation is granted. It is the final required step before receiving an ID from the jail. Orientations are few and far between, so be patient, persistent and prayerful as you wait. Chaplain Ron or jail authorities can update you on the next orientation date. No one is guaranteed a jail ID, especially those with a prior record. Those on parole or probation or have been off parole or probation for less than a year will not be given a jail ID.
Here are just some of our Certified Jail Ministers who are discipling inmates on the glass. Click on their picture to read their bio. Some are still incomplete.
Questions from Minister Candidates
- What if I don't know what to say? That can be a good thing because listening is the most important thing we do. Proverbs 18:2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. And that's where our curriculum helps you as well. Here's a sample. But our training and practice sessions will help you get into the swing of it.
- What if I don't know the Bible very well? This is another good sign you may be a good minister as no one knows the Bible well enough. If you read your Bible daily and have been doing so for many years, you may be a good mentor. No one expects you to have all the answers from the Bible, but we do expect you to have basic "gospel" verses either memorized or can find them quickly. Like the Romans Road 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10.
- Is it safe? We have never had a minister stalked or hurt by a client, but like anything, there is an element of risk. But the rewards are eternal.
- What is the best time to schedule inmate visits? Mondays and Fridays after 3 and before 6. Schedule early and get first dibs.
- What do I do if the inmate refuses to meet with me? Talk to your chaplain who can try to contact the individual to determine what happened and if they are still interested in a minister visit.
- What do I do if the inmate doesn’t do anything I ask him to do like read scriptures or do a Bible study? That is unfortunate when this happens as I (the Lead Chaplain) always ask them if they are willing to do a Bible study when I do the initial interview, but pray and follow the Spirit. I will sometimes let them know I will wait to hear back from them (via the in house request form) how they are seeking God. Matthew 10:14 "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet"
- Can I bring in my cell phone and leave it in my pocket? No. I have been asked to empty my pockets, and knowing we are not to bring in cell phones would look bad on us if they would have found one on us.
- Do you have a curriculum we have to use on the glass? Depending on the results of our spiritual assessment, we typically expect you to use books from our Gospel Echoes series that is designed for inmates. Here's a sample. What is terrific about these books is that inmates don't have to be able to write well to do them. AND they have the answers to the multiple choice questions in the back for them to be able to check their learning. Memorization of key verses of assurance is encouraged.
- Should I tell clean dad jokes? Always! Laughter is good medicine. Don’t get carried away. Here are some of mine.
- Is it bad that we sometimes run out of time before we read or talk about spiritual things? Yes. Don’t make it a habit. Everyone at the jail, as well as the ARM board, expects us to bring the Word and pray. Don't let the devil in.
- Should I pray? When? Should the inmate pray? Yes. Prayer immediately puts us in the presence of God and humbles us. Inmates expect you to pray and so do I and our supporters. Encourage the inmate to pray too, but remember this can be a very scary thing for them.
- When should I split the hour between two inmates on the glass? When what you want to accomplish can be done in 30 minutes or less. I will do this when I know there are a lot of visit requests going unfulfilled. You MUST keep track of time or you will be excused prior to seeing your second inmate.
- Should I ever give an inmate my contact information? No. Use our PO Box if you want to be able to stay in touch. You can use a disposable phone number such as Google Voice. ARM, c/o your name, PO Box 5651 Oroville, CA 95966
- Should I help an inmate when they get out? Rides, money, food, cell phone, housing? There are a lot of free resources for inmates along these lines. Connecting them to these resources is one of our goals. Here's our "Program Sheet" that can help, but there are many other food and housing resources not listed here. Providing these resources is not what we do. Former inmates often know where to get these resources and are just wanting to develop one more resource in you. It is best for you to stay a jail minister only as one could get involved quickly into the life of a struggling addict risking your family’s safety and your ability to continue ministering to inmates. However, one has to listen to the Holy Spirit while taking these warnings into consideration.
- Should I communicate with an inmate's family member or friend? Generally speaking, we should not approach family members or friends of inmates as it can complicate the relationship quickly and cause inmates to question your vulnerability. Little good can come of it long term and should you pass on information that could incriminate you, you will be banned from ministering and possibly find yourself on the stand. However, if the family member or friend reaches out to you for assistance with things like communication with their loved one, you can refer them to your chaplain or the jail clerk or website.
- Should I give money to the account of the inmate? NEVER. You are already helping. Don't risk the privilege you have as well as the ministry.
- What advice should I give the inmate if they don't plan to be there long? We have a Reentry Checklist that is helpful to them and those they will be working with when they get out. Here's a "program sheet" that has resources for the incarcerated of Butte County and their families.
- What should I do when I can’t be there at my appointed time? Consistency is something many of these broken people have never experienced, so your consistency shows them that you are different and perhaps more caring and responsible than the folks they have experienced in the past. BUT, there will be times that you simply can't make it. First, you should contact the scheduler to release the slot to someone else. A very thoughtful thing to do would be to email the inmate from https://securemail.accesscorrections.com/. It's 55 cents per email. Or you can contact your chaplain who should be able to email them on your behalf. If you find you cannot come to the jail at least once a week, you should notify your chaplain.
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Contact us at:
cell 53zero-636-zero734 Chaplain Ron PO Box 5651 Oroville, CA 95966 |