Please read this first

This is one of my favorite photos of Fr Duane, at work with the homeless. If he is working, why is he smiling so much?

Dear Volunteers:

These guidelines are so very important for you to remember and respect. As an illustration of how great the consequences can be for failing to follow or ignoring these guidelines, I would like to share with you a story that was told by Fr. Duane Pederson on Ancient Faith Radio. Fr. Duane wrote the "Prison Ministry Training Guide" that was responsible for my entry into prison work, many years ago. He was also the person who had the foresight and vision and drive that provided the impetus for beginning the work of the O.C.P.M I apologize to Fr. Duane for the brevity and license that I have taken with this story.

He tells the story of a man who was new to prison work, who in the course of ministering to prisoners had a conversation with one of the prisoners. It was a wonderful and relaxed conversation and the volunteer felt he was really doing the Lord's work. His heart was filled with the desire to help this man spiritually. Towards the end of this conversation, the prisoner, who had been in prison for quite some time, asked the man for a very simple favor. With great sincerity he asked the man to please call his wife when he got back to his home. "Just tell her that everything is OK, that's all, just that everything is OK" would you please do that for me, I know how she worries about me here in this place. I just want to relieve her mind. I love her so much! please help me.

After the man returned to his home, he called the prisoner's wife and with great concern for her as a person, he told her "everything is OK, don't worry about your husband, everything is ok. After he hung up the phone, he felt that he had done a good thing and that he had relieved the poor woman's mind about her husband. After the call, he never gave it another thought.

A short time later, there was a prison break, and this same prisoner, in a daring and well planned escape plan, either escaped or attempted to escape from prison.

You see, the "code word" that informed his co-conspirators that it was all set to make the break was; "Everything is OK"

Please, always follow the guidelines.

INXC,
Seraphim

Prison Ministry Guidlines

PRISON MINISTRY GUIDELINES (From the O.C.P.M. Website)

1. Be yourself.
2. Be an understanding friend and a good listener.
3. Be honest.
4. Be consistent and dependable.
5. Be willing to learn.
6. Be prepared for the reality. Have a plan and follow it.
7. Always be respectful of and work with the chaplain and the correctional facility administration and staff.
8. Dress appropriately.
9. Know and follow the rules of the institution.
10. When in doubt, ask.
11. Develop the trust and confidence of the staff and administration as well as the inmates.
12. Honor your commitments.
13. Respect confidentiality.
14. Be punctual. Both the inmates and the correctional facility will expect you to be on time, arriving and leaving.
15. Be cautious. Some inmates will try to con you or manipulate you.
16. Make sure that you have permission to distribute Bibles and Christian literature before doing so.
17. Encourage the inmates to study the Bible and to enroll in correspondence courses.
18. Always invite the inmates to pray with you.
19. Talk to the inmates about general topics as well.
20. Do not become involved in an ego trip.
21. Do not make promises that you cannot or will not keep.
22. Do not do errands for inmates or act as a go-between. Do not send money or anything else to inmates.
23. Do not bring anything to an inmate or out from an inmate without checking with the authorities first.
24. Do not ask about an inmate’s crime.
25. Do not get involved in the inmate’s legal problems.
26. Do not give out your personal address or telephone number. Use the church address or a P.O. Box.

IF YOUR QUESTION IS NOT ANSWERED IN THIS LIST THEN ASK ST. SERAPHIM'S FIRST BEFORE YOU ACT!