by Gov. Brownback, is designed
to help offenders successfully
return to communities.
| Freedom Ministries |
| Box 234, Iola KS 66749 tombevard@yahoo.com (620) 365-3233 |
Mentoring4Success
A first of its kind in America the program seeks to prepare about 4500 inmates released eacy year in our state. To meet the needs of this great challenge, the Kansas department of Corrections has named Freedom Ministries and the energetic laborers as a designated "lead organization in the challenge ahead.
Also in other wonderful news. The Billy Graham ministries and affiliated seasoned trainer Karen Swanson of the Institute for Prison Ministry brings its noted program of mentoring to assist in training volunteers in the challenge for our state and its futue. This looks to take place in March of this year (see article on left).
This exciting and respected resource will bring a true complement ot the state of Kansas program with religious content. Changed lives of outgoing inmates and reduction in the rate of recidivism for our prisons will reward our effects and the state.
Together, churches, pastors, ministry groups, dedicated individuals, the office of Governor Sam brown banck and Secretary of Corrections Ray Roberts come together to join forces in the cutting edge outreach in Kansas.
Swanson to Train Mentors for Kansas Inmates
Dr. Karen Swanson, Director of the Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM), a ministry of the Billy Graham Center(Wheaton College), will train mentors March 10-14 to inmates preparing for release in Kansas. The author of several books on ministry to offenders and their families, Swanson is a founder of the Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association,
In connection with Freedom Ministries of Kansas, Swanson will start in Topeka and travel throughout the state. Her training sessions will help mentors understand criminal thinking errors, develop interviewing skills, and work effectively with ex-offenders from backgrounds of poverty
Providing mentor training is a great privilege as we partner with the faith-based community and the Kansas Department of Corrections in this opportunity to increase public safety,” Swanson says. “Research says prisoners reentering society are successful if they have a social support network. Mentors can provide that.”