Prison ministry is still active and vibrant, and has been throughout the down times and up times.  I still appreciate the paperback book donations, particularly Stephen King, Lee Child and other highly popular authors.  I spend about two days a week answering requests from the residents; sending books to the men and women, from the library through inter-office.

Still our most exciting function at the jail is our reentry program.  Our Chaplain Jonathan is responding to requests from men and women in residence with us, who want to participate after their release.  He contacts them about their specific needs; training, employment, housing, transportation, spiritual help, rehab, family needs and so forth.  Those who respond are provided with a caseworker and all the contacts they have at their disposal, to make a solution possible so we minimize the chances of their return to the county jail in the future.

At our spring breakfast, former residents get up and tell us about the many successes of the program in their lives.  Praise God!  It is for this program we are requesting funds this month.

Please continue to pray for the reinstatement of Kairos Prison Ministry at Central Prison.  I've spent 23 years serving in this program and it had a remarkable impact on the men there, until COVID.

Again, prayers please for those who are incarcerated (read Matthew 25): 'When I was in jail you visited me'.

Dan Nelson

(Prison Ministry; dannelson7@triad.rr.com)

UNITE is the umbrella under which all our support for local prison ministries falls. All donations go   directly towards discipling and helping men and women incarcerated in Guilford County jails.

Tabitha's House is part of Tabitha Ministry in Summerfield. They provide transitional housing for   women transitioning back into society after prison, addiction, homelessness, abusive situations, prostitution, sex trafficking, or a history of other abuse or trauma. Tabitha Ministry also operates Tabitha's Closet, a thrift store that supports this outreach. 

Kairos Inside is a statewide, inter-faith, 72 hour prison ministry that has served at Central Prison (for men), and at NCCIW (for women) in Raleigh since 1994. A 30-person mission team is selected, receive training, and minister to a maximum of 42 residents. Through discussions, sharing and worship, team members grow closer to each other, and to the Christ they will model for the residents through listening, instruction, and caring. The program starts on Wednesday when the mission team meets the residents for a time of sharing who they are, why they volunteered to come and what they expect. Table families of nine are formed, with 6 residents, two laymen and a clergy in each. Team members give testimonial talks, followed by table discussions and posters. Music, prayer, and worship are mixed with fellowship and great food. Through the sharing of God's love, barriers are gradually broken down, and by closing on Saturday, the residents share as they are led, and the fruit borne by the power and work of the Holy Spirit is profoundly evident. There are many ways we can support this ministry: Serve on a Kairos team. Strips of paper are signed, agreeing to pray during the event; these are made into a paper prayer chain that stretches around the gym several times. Each Kairos team member is also required to provide 100 dozen home-baked cookies. Finally, placemats drawn by children are used with every meal, and encouraging posters can be done for the gym walls.

Torch is a Kairos ministry directed toward incarcerated youth (under 18); including a 3-day weekend, followed by at least 6 months of mentoring. Torch was initiated in NC in 2008.

Kairos Outside, a 72-hour ministry for affirmation and encouragement of the mothers, spouses and daughters of incarcerated men, is also well established in NC.

Volunteers are needed to provide material support and/or to serve on teams for each of the above Kairos ministries. Ministry coordinator for all prison ministries is Dan Nelson.

Click here for a video about Kairos.