Opportunities

Is our Lord calling you?

Becoming a mentor is serious commitment. it requires patience, love, genuine concern for the wounded in
heart and a special God given, Holy Spirit driven grace.

We encourage all potential candidates to spend ample time seeking the face of God before taking this step.
We don't exist to "convince" or "guilt" people into becoming a mentor in the prison ministry. To do so would
be a disservice to you, the inmate, and ultimately God for He might very well have another ministry in store
for you.

We exist to empower, train, equip, and enable those who have been specifically called to this type of ministry.
In case you aren't already aware, one cannot simply walk up to a state penitentiary and boldly proclaim "I'm
here to minister to the inmates." There are protocols, procedures, and hoops all volunteers must go through
before the ministry work may begin. Additionally, people must be affiliated with a CDOC registered ministry
program or organization. This is where Friends In Transition comes into play.

We walk you though all the procedures, help you jump through all the hoops, and act as your ministry
organizational oversight. In addition, We are actively involved in the mentor / inmate placement process. We
screen possible inmates, interview you as the mentor, and make a match based on specific characteristics.
We set up and attend the very first meeting between the mentor and the inmate to ensure that everything
"gels" as it should. By partnering with us, we are able to relieve a lot of the guesswork in the complex
Department of Corrections universe.

Once placement with an inmate has been established, mentors agree to visit their new-found friend at least
once a month for the duration of the inmate's sentence. This typically lasts between 14 - 18 months. The
mentor responsibilities include continued contact and structured FIT monitored meetings after the inmate is
released back into society. This "aftercare" provides much needed encouragement and accountability throu-
-ghout the extremely difficult transition from prison to freedom and all its added responsibilities.

Over the course of the relationship, mentors are given the priceless
opportunity to display the love of Christ through word and deed to
individuals who desperately need it. Frequently, these ex-offenders
have been rejected by society as a whole. Mentors, however, are
driven by the conviction that Christ hasn't given up on the inmate.
Volunteers offer inmates a positive, encouraging Christian role model
who has committed to visiting a minimum of once a month for one year
as the inmate serves out the rest of his or her sentence. The "after
care" begins upon the prisoner's release. This crucial period typically
last up to one year. This helps an inmate avoid feelings of hopeless-
ness and isolation through simple friendship. By placing mentors within
this critical time, 18 months before and up to one year after a prisoners release, a mentor's time and efforts
are leveraged; providing the greatest good for both parties involved. All these factors added together, plus
Jesus, effectively sever the chains of recidivism.

Don't have a prison ministry within your church? Consider starting your own prison ministry small group. We
offer full support including training, study materials, mentor placement, and ongoing instruction for your
group. We believe this small group model is the ideal vehicle for this ministry as it builds community within
your church, while providing support, encouragement, and collaboration between mentors.

In addition, we offer a once a month mentor support meetings for all ex-offenders, and mentors who wish to
attend.