SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It is not always easy or even possible to answer questions adequately in a few words but maybe these will do for starters.
If you want to know more you have only to ask.
It is not always easy or even possible to answer questions adequately in a few words but maybe these will do for starters.
If you want to know more you have only to ask.
1. WHY PRISONS?
Difficult one this – without sounding a bit crazy to some folk! However, if God wants His best for everybody - as we believe He does - then at the very least everybody needs to hear His highly relevant life transforming good news. This includes prisoners, but also prison staff and the families and victims of those serving sentences. The work we do involves all of these in varying measure. 2. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO GO? This is normally on the basis of an invitation but sometimes results from following up a prisoner who has moved. In the UK this ranges from being invited by the prison chaplain to join or lead a chaplaincy group to assisting with the pastoral care of individual prisoners. Governors and heads of various departments also invite us to address staff and prisoners regarding support for practical projects in the Ethiopian prisons. In Ethiopia we became involved by invitation and work with Justice for All-Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (JFA-PFE) who have permission to go into all prisons – Federal and Regional – in a country about five times the size of the UK. 3. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET THERE? The detail of what we do within the various prisons is governed by many considerations – from rules imposed by the authorities to a response to prevailing circumstances. In the UK prisons, the work we do is sometimes with individuals but more often with groups of prisoners. Typically it includes evangelism, and leading Bible Studies as well as encouraging prisoners to be involved in projects for the benefit of people in prison in Ethiopia. We also offer prayer partners for prisoners requesting this. In Ethiopia we deliver practical aid – medical items, blankets, pipes and pumps for water supplies etc. We helped to establish the Twinkle of Hope Child Care Project for children in prison with their mothers and have also, in emergency, purchased water for a prison with 2,000 prisoners but no water supply on site. There are also many opportunities to share the life changing Christian gospel message with thousands of prisoners – men, women and children – as well as with staff. Bibles, Christian Study books etc are made available and Chaplains are sponsored and are able to lead worship provide pastoral care, teaching etc. |
4. WHO DOES WHAT?
In the UK we have a small group of Christian volunteers led by former Senior Prison Chaplain Bob Spratt. These volunteers include ex-prisoners as well as former prison staff and others who have been affected by the reality of prison. Some go into prison, most help in other ways - from praying to inserting prayer letters into envelopes, from encouraging to providing expert opinion on specific issues, from police to prisoners In Ethiopia led by Pastor Daniel G/Selassie and Ato Daniel Gezahegne, many Ethiopian volunteers including doctors, pastors, practical workers, teachers etc are hard at work. They are joined from time to time by small teams from the UK who visit prisons, explore some of the opportunities and challenges facing our partners JFA-PFE and also lead the Annual Chaplains Conference. 5. HOW IS THE WORK FUNDED? In the UK unsolicited donations from a number of friends just about cover costs. All volunteers are responsible for their own support and pay their own expenses – even if they decide to go to Ethiopia! In Ethiopia the work is growing so rapidly that we must continually and actively solicit funding needed to meet the challenges and opportunities. Individuals as well as grant making trusts have helped and all money raised is applied totally in Ethiopia. Full details of current needs and opportunities are available on request. 6. HOW CAN I HELP? This depends on all sorts of things but a good place to start is by getting our regular Prayer and Newsletter and praying for the work every day. Other possibilities might include going into prisons, encouraging, mentoring – you name it and there is probably a way it can contribute. Whatever you do find to do, it is important to prepare properly and to be security conscious and aware of the needs for confidentiality. As already mentioned - there is also a need for financial support for the work in Ethiopa. This is transfered to Ethiopia in full and is used very wisely and effectively. You might even consider going out to check this for yourself! |