Jail Ministry, volunteers working to expand services

Organization seeks to focus on aftercare for newly-released inmates

Started in 1985, the Lake County Jail Ministry — “ministry on both sides of the bars” — is a locally funded, not-for-profit organization with a stated mission of bringing “the lifechanging Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all at the Lake County Jail.”

The group’s work is achieved through a cooperative effort of support from individuals, area churches, community service agencies, businesses and grants.

Chaplain Director of Aftercare Gary Brooks, recently named to the group’s board of directors, said the ministry is beginning a new thrust to help released inmates re-acclimate to society.

“We want to help former inmates beyond the walls of the jail,” Brooks said. “I want to work to expand our services into aftercare. When someone is sent away for punishment, the spirit of that societal process is, by nature, communal, and it should remain so when the individual is released. He or she should be welcomed back, and, yes, perhaps with caveats in some cases, after all, there are cold realities out there, but they should be welcomed back. That effort should be united.

“The first decision can easily become a wrong one, and we serve to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ and His glory,” he continued. “He is the reason we do this. We want to continue to develop relationships inside the jail, that’s what we do, so when the time comes for an inmate’s release, their development or personal rehabilitation is underway.”

Pastor Tom Chapman agrees with Brooks and believes the building and strengthening of spiritual empowerment can prevent recidivism.

“They’ve paid their debt,” Chapman said,” and it’s time to move forward collectively, in faith and forgiveness, to profitable living, to be reconciled to Christ and to let Him show them the way. We work more to get away from the status quo of Bible study to a focus that’s relational, not only through Christ but also to their families and their communities.”

In addition, the ministry provides channels of support through visitation by Chaplain Kenneth Hall and a trained volunteer team, Gideons International quarterly visits, Sunday services, Bible distribution, books and fundraising, to name a few.

The organization is also assisted by 20-plus volunteers.

The ministry also partners with the Lake County Reentry Coalition, which began in 2013, offering a monthly, peer-centered support group addressing barriers and providing assistance with general topics that affects persons who have returned from jail or prison, including employment, housing, transportation, family reunification and collateral sanctions.

“They (the coalition) have terrific resources, ventures and concepts that are key for us to expand the internal ministry, Citizen Circle namely, community groups that meet with individuals who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system,” Brooks said.

“Lake County Reentry Coalition also has the cooperation of the Lake County Jail. Sheriff (Dan) Dunlap and Captain (Cynthia) Brooks have been and continue to be real champions for us and what we’ve been able to do as we reach out to churches of all denominations to see the hands and feet of Christ at work. We’re happy to come to a church to explain ministry and preach a sermon.”

For more information, visit www.facebook. com/Lake-County-JailMinistry. Lake County Reentry Coalition is located at Lifeline Inc., 54 S. State St., Suite 309, in Painesville. Call 440-3542148 for more information.