Christ life Prison & Jail Ministry

The Prison Ministry Department of Joint Heirs Church is a comprehensive outreach spanning various areas of need. Our ultimate goal is to reduce the recidivism rate of offenders and homelessness in our community; to aid in the restoration of their lives through the infusion of intellectual, emotional and spiritual influence that is directed to help them discard harmful patterns and unhealthy attitudes, avoid addictive and destructive relationships and behavior, stay out of prison, and become positive contributors to society; and to bring awareness to the local Church of our nation's fastest growing population and their role in reaching those impacted by incarceration (offender, releasee, family, and the community).

The Christ life Prison Jail and Homeless Ministry is a comprehensive outreach spanning various areas of need for those incarcerated, those who are homeless, and the families of those individuals currently incarceratedor homeless. -- Pastor Walter Horner

The ministry's primary focus is to equip individuals in the ministry and provide practical avenues to ex-offenders for re-entering society. In addition to on-site ministry, support groups conducted at The Joint Heirs Church afford men and women offenders a place to restructure their identity, an atmosphere of acceptance and an opportunity to share time with those who understand, care and provide role modeling. Family support groups are open to all individuals who have family members or strong relationships with someone incarcerated.

This is truly the day for the church to step beyond its boundaries and offer not only hope through the Gospel, but some practical assistance to a word disabled by dysfunction. Locked beneath the trappings of addiction, prostitution, crime, and homelessness, lie silent treasures waiting to be released. We must, as the Body of Christ, the sleeping giant, rise out of our comfortable setting and rescue these hidden deposits of greatness. Along with the mending power of the Gospel, we must point these lives in the direction of their destiny. As a result, they can return to their families as role models, to the church as a gift to the Body of Christ, and to the community as evidence of the love, power, and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

HOMELESSNESS

Causes of Homelessness
Homelessness, much like any other complex problem, doesn't have one particular cause. However there are a number of factors which, when piled on deep enough, often result in homelessness. Knowing these contributing factors and seeing how they interact may give a keen observer a better understanding of this social phenomenon.

Substance Abuse
Whether it's alcohol or some other drug, a large percentage of homeless people experience addiction. Many of them never receive help and stay under the influence of their addiction.

Mental Illness
Fully 25 percent of the homeless population, if not more, suffers from mental illness. In recent years, many government treatment facilities were closed and people who need constant care now end up on the street.

Tragedy
Many times when a loved one dies, the survivor simply gives up. The severe depression and unending sense of loss can be a contributing factor, since the person doesn't care enough about his life to get it back on track.

Poverty
Low wages, lack of government assistance or a poor economy and loss of a job can all fall into this category. If a person has no financial safety net, she may be only one illness, accident or streak of misfortune away from homelessness,
Other Factors

Lack of affordable housing, domestic violence, poor support network, natural disasters and even physical disabilities could all be reasons, or parts of the reason, a person becomes homeless.

 

We are committed to:

Finding the Widow and the Fatherless- To penetrate this silent community through the use of personal contacts, referrals, and advocacy agencies.
Ministering to the Widow and the Fatherless- We exist to be an active voice for widow and the fatherless and to raise awareness of their needs by being a resource for our members and other churches in the community in ". . .caring for widows and the fatherless."
Empowering the Widow and the Fatherless - Help them take their rightful place of honor in the Kingdom of God through hands on ministry opportunities, workshops, and community outreach programs.

If you are a widow or a fatherless child (orphan), we want you to know that God loves and cares deeply for you. Your life is not over. Rather, God desires to reveal Himself in new and dynamic ways through you if you will allow Him to lead and guide you in this new season of your life. His promise to you is this:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you And not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Jer. 29:11 NIV)

Who falls into the category of Widow or Orphan?

The Hebrew word for widow is amlanah. It means; a woman who is left without a provider for any reason; the state of loneliness, abandonment or helplessness. The New Testament Greek word is cheras and it refers to a woman that has lost her husband in any way, whether through death, desertion, divorce, war or imprisonment. Paul gives the church specific guidelines for widows in 1 Timothy 5. He states that widows should be cared for by their family members, so they are not a burden to the church. We, as believers, must make sure that the widows in our family are being cared for. We must provide for them, pray for them, protect them and share the gospel with them. Those widows without families are in the greatest need and we must seek them out and restore them to their rightful place beside us in the body of Christ!