About
EE Prison Ministry
We provide spiritual guidance and discipleship training in state and federal prisons across the US and abroad. Our goal is to establish the EE ministry in every prison in the US and ultimately in every nation. To that end, we are currently training and recruiting a leadership team comprised of church leaders and volunteers from around the world. These leaders are from various vocations and church backgrounds and provide prison ministry seminars and training to churches local in their area. We currently have leaders in 48 States in America and are adding to our team daily.
In addition to providing prison ministry seminars and clinics to the local church, EE Prison Ministry has a very active role in modeling the implementation and on-going EE study in the prison system. We are currently ministering in over 500 prisons and forty one States in America and twenty two other nations.
We exist to train and assist the local church and other prison ministries in their implementation of EE in prison. If you would like for one of our leaders to give a seminar/training at your church or ministry, please contact our office.
It is my belief that every church should have a jail and/or prison ministry to accommodate families who are impacted through the experience of incarceration. In our society, 2.3 million Americans are incarcerated in jail or prison — one out of every 99.1 adults; whether per capita or in raw numbers, it’s more than any other nation. I believe that it is our duty as people of faith to get involved and provide the only solution to reducing this atrocity against humanity and God. That solution is regeneration through the saving power of Jesus Christ.
The national recidivism rate (ex-offenders return to prison within three years) is around 85%. Of those who were released and had completed our EE study course, the recidivism rate is 0.5%. While EEPM is not the only prison ministry that is assisting the penal system in their mission for rehabilitation, it is the only prison ministry whose tool is clearly impacting the hearts of the incarcerated such that through the regeneration process God is using EE to reveal to the world such astounding statistics. We read in Hebrews 13:3 “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” Clearly, the Lord has instructed us to minister to His incarcerated church. The EE study has proven to be extremely effective in equipping the local church and the incarcerated church for carrying out God’s great commission found in Matthew 28.
This is our invitation and opportunity for you to join us in responding to God’s instructions in Hebrews 13 and assist us in our vision to equip the incarcerated church for the work of His ministry and great commission.
Please review our entire website or go to our international website at www.eeinternational.org for other areas of ministry provided through EE International.
As you seek God for His will, I pray that you’ll share this information with your church or ministry and that someone will respond to God’s call for prison ministry. We exist to assist you in implementing EE in the jails and prisons in your area.
In His Service, Rev. Arthur Hallett, Isaiah 42:5-7
Complete Overview
BIBLICAL BASIS
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).
Remember those in prisons as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (Hebrews 13:3).
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20).
PURPOSE
To equip and train incarcerated believers to be trainers of other soul winners, to “make disciples” of new converts and prepare them for re-entry to the local church ( and in some cases for a lifetime of incarceration ) as trainers and teachers of the Evangelism Explosion (EE) ministry.
To provide a tool for the local church and other prison ministries that would enable them to equip and train the incarcerated believer in the EE ministry.
To encourage and provide spiritual guidance and direction to those inmates who have made a serious commitment to a life in Jesus Christ, with the assurance that this commitment will offer positive alternatives to involvement in crime and will produce a desire and preference to future relationships built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
For this is contained in the scriptures – Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone; And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed (II Peter 2:6).
SUPPORTERS
EE Prison Ministry is financially supported through individuals, church missions, local businesses and grants. The individual supporters are members of various denominations, church affiliations and backgrounds.
MINISTRY OBJECTIVE
To glorify God by equipping the local church and incarcerated believers worldwide to multiply through friendship, connecting, mentoring and healthy growth.
STATEMENT OF FAITH AND PRINCIPLES
1. The Bible is the inspired, the only infallible Authoritative Word of God.
2. There is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God and Man in one Person. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and vicariously atoned for sin through His shed blood and death. He was bodily resurrected from the dead, he ascended to the right hand of God the Father, and He will personally return in power and glory.
4. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man.
5. Eternal life is received by faith – that is, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
6. The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers and enables them to live a godly life.
7. Both the saved and the lost will be resurrected from the dead – they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
8. There is spiritual unity of all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
9. The local church is the primary God-established base of operation for evangelistic activity in the world.
10. Every true believer is commissioned of Christ to “preach the Gospel to every creature” and to “make disciples of all nations.”
11. Inexperienced witnesses are best enabled to share the Gospel by participation in discipleship groups that include on-the-job training in actual witnessing situations led by more experienced witnesses.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Prerequisite for ministering: Saved – Willing – Available – Team
This prison ministry will continually develop and provide opportunities for various ministries as the Lord so leads. However, our present ministry opportunities are divided into three groups:
1. EE Prison Advisory Board.
2. Services
3. Spiritual Development
Services Provided
1. Local Church and Other Prison Ministries (2 Timothy 2:2)
To aid the local church and other prison ministries, we have developed a prison ministry “Startup Kit” that contains all the necessary materials and instructions to start a new EE training ministry. This kit is FREE and can be mailed upon request.
Additionally, the local church can register for one of our Share Your Faith workshops.
2. Family Services (Matthew 5:9) (II Cor. 5:18)
These Program Volunteers (PV) minister to the inmate’s family; with intent of bringing reconciliation to broken family relationships that involve the inmate.
In addition, the PV’s interaction with the family focuses on building the family up spiritually with the hope of providing a strong “spiritual” home-base” to which the inmate can return. Contact with family is primarily via letter; however, when family is local some in-home visits might be necessary. PV is to minister to the needs of the family as God so leads; keeping them informed of the spiritual growth of the inmate as well as sharing the “spiritual food” (church sermons, seminar tapes and literature, etc.) given them.
3. Lobbying and Advocacy (II Cor. 5:20)
These Program Volunteers (PV) minister on behalf of the inmate; and shall conduct activities aimed at influencing prison officials on policies and programs that will help reconcile inmates to past, present and future community expectations and living environments. This PV will be a liaison between the inmate and the prison officials; with the intent of establishing and maintaining mutual understanding in areas of discipline and prison policies. Contact with prison officials will be provided at official gatherings set up by the State Legislature as well as by letter, memo and/or petition. This ministry acts as a support group to all of the other ministries in that the ministers of the inmate’s subgroup will be contacted for lobbying information.
4. Pen Pal/Prayer Partner (II Chronicles 7:14)
These PV’s will minister by letter and prayer ONLY. The primary focus in each letter will be to identify and discuss matters of prayer. Here the inmate will learn how to draw near to the Lord in prayer and supplication. The PV’s in this group will direct, build up, encourage, inspire and promote prayer in the inmate’s prison and life. Prayer letters will be exchanged man to man and woman to woman. Mixed gender correspondence is not permitted.
5. Prayer Letter (Philippians)
The prayer letter will be mailed to supporters on a quarterly basis and will provide current ministry news and information on special activities.
6. Educational Services (Proverbs 22:6) (Hosea 4:6)
This service offers the inmate instruction and development in various fields of basic educational study such as:
1. Reading and writing
2. Math
3. English
4. Basic computer skills
5. Moral standards and today’s world issues
As resources become available we will add new fields of study.
Spiritual Development
1. Titus 2:1 – Introduction to EE Prison Ministries (Titus 2:2; 6-8; 3:1-2)
Inmate
These Program Volunteers (PV) minister by presenting seminars that are geared toward introducing the inmate to EE Prison Ministry and the various services afforded.
PV’s are responsible for indoctrinating the inmates; educating them on standards and prerequisites for ministry participation. (Hebrews 10:25a; 12:1-3; 13:17)
These PV’s also present discipleship studies that provide spiritual guidance and direction for those participating inmates who are due for release within 90 days.
Some church placement will be provided when possible.
Local Church
Seminar – a one hour motivational presentation for the local church with a plan for pre & post release implementation of Prison EE.
- Topics covered are:
- The secret to power in prison ministry
- How to strengthen a existing prison ministry or implement Prison EE’s Fresh Start curriculum
- Teaching evangelism to non-readers plus other training tidbits
- Post-release assistance to the local church
2. Prison EE Study (Matthew 28:18-20) (2 Tim. 2:2)
“What it is” and “How it works” – Scroll down for a complete description.
3. Discipleship Studies (2 Timothy 2:15) (Psalm 119:11) (Ephesians 6:10-12)
- Plant a Seed Series
- Partners in Discipleship
- Partners in Nurture
These PV’s minister by providing assistance with Bible study literature that is geared toward developing the inmate’s relationship with Christ; with an emphasis on increasing the inmate’s knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.
This ministry involves active participation in a correspondence Bible study, one on one with an inmate. The ministering PV will be expected to disciple the inmate through a series of Bible study lessons. The inmate will submit each completed booklet to the ministering PV. The ministering PV will critique each lesson and respond to any of the inmate’s questions and concerns.
4. Pulpit Ministry (Ephesians 4:1-3)
This ministry takes place on the prison compound inside of the Chapel. These PV’s will be responsible for leading the worship service. Each PV will minister in at least one of the following ways.
- Music/Drama (Psalm 150)
- Testimony (Rev. 12:11)
- Preaching of the Word (Romans 10:14c;
- One on One Sharing (Proverbs 15:22) (Gal. 6:2) (Philemon 6)
- Appearance (Matthew 5:16)
5. Concerts/special activities (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Inmate
This ministry takes place on the prison compound outside of the Chapel. This is a special concert service which is geared toward reaching those in prison who are un-churched and refuse to come into the Chapel. The same services as in the pulpit ministry are provided here.
Local Church
The EE Prison Ministry Director will offer music ministry to the local church. This ministry is geared toward presenting Christian music and giving the church testimony of the progress of the current ministry in the prison system. Director periodically will be joined by various volunteers.
This program is targeted for the inmate with 6-12 months remaining on their sentence. The class will include cultural upbringing, comparability, and commonality and how to relate to society. There will be role modeling and demonstration of good personal interrelationships which will be accomplished through a trained volunteer who will serve as mentor for the inmates. As mentor, the volunteer will give the inmate a role model with which to identify and provide spiritual guidance in areas where the inmate lacks understanding. As facilitator, the volunteer will provide instruction and guidance in utilizing the tools available to equip the inmate with the skills that will help them cope with life upon their release from prison.
Prison EE combines two curriculums that offers three 7-week and one 13 week college accredited study courses encompassing research and discovery of facts contained in the Bible. These courses equip the student with skills for mentoring others in how to communicate the fundamental truths of the Bible and how they relate to everyday life experiences. The curriculum contains components that prepare the student for re-entry into society and provide a comprehensive application of life skills and relationship building.
Evangelism Explosion was founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy in 1962. It was originally created to equip laymen to be effective ministers in the outreach of the local church. This same curriculum continues to be utilized in local churches and ministries in every nation of the world.
At the completion of the course, the students will be able to further their skills through continued application of the principles learned from the study in their everyday life during their incarceration. Upon their release, they will be able to effectively participate and/or teach the EE curriculum in the outreach ministry of the local church and other religious institutions.
Prison EE offers three levels of basic study and various advanced levels, and, qualifies the participants for up to 6 college credit hours at most accredited colleges.
FACILITATOR Local volunteer or chaplain’s inmate assistant; setup and coordinate training using video lectures, audio and visual aids. Class time is 1-1/5 to 2 hours.
STUDY TEAMS two students working together.
HOMEWORK Each week there are assignments in reading, memory work, and role playing solutions to various life situations encountered in prison and society.
REPORT TIME weekly progress reporting.
PRAYER & DEVOTION weekly study assignments
FINAL CHECKUP At the completion of each course study, the student will be administered a checkup. When the completed checkup meets EEPM graduation criteria, the student will receive a course completion certificate. Upon request, a college credit certificate will be sent to the desired college institution for approval of up to 6 credit hours.
STUDENT MATERIALS
ALL MATERIALS WILL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE, TO THE INMATE.
THE CHAPLAIN’S ONLY RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO PROVIDE A ROOM TO MEET IN,
THE TIME TO MEET AND THE STUDENTS.
THE EEPM MATERIALS HAVE BEEN ADAPTED TO MEET PRISON SECURITY REQUIREMENTS