The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God’s Prison Ministry Group, has created a course to give inmates guidance while they are at prison.
The course was designed with and approved by the Department of Correctional Services.
Spokesperson for the church, Nicola Balderson, said that the inmates committed themselves to doing restorative and self-improvement work and to learning from their previous mistakes and poor decision making which resulted in their incarceration.
“The approach is designed to help ensure that when offenders are released, they are accepted back into communities where forgiveness and accountability has contributed to healing, and they can begin to make a meaningful contribution to society,” she said.
Participants receive a course workbook based on the book “Nothing to Lose” which is the first in a trilogy documenting the church founder Edir Macedo’s experiences.
Balderson said 3 500 copies of the book have been sponsored by donations from church members.
“The course content is designed to enable inmates to make informed decisions, understand the impact on themselves and others, assume responsibility for their actions and subsequent consequences and apply the skills-set they have acquired in their daily decision-making practices.
“ Each of the four modules has clearly defined outcomes and focuses on a specific subject, helping inmates overcome uncertainty, identify who or what has influenced their destructive behaviour, understand their emotions, avoid the blame game and make good choices in future,” she said.
Balderson said that they have a support group for families who have someone in jail.
“The Prison Ministry Group holds regular support group meetings offering counselling and support to families of offenders.
“We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, which is the philosophy sustaining the prison ministry.
“While the offender is serving their sentence, it is not always possible for family members to work through issues together.
“We help offenders to transform their lives and supporting families through their journey of forgiveness and acceptance,” she said.
