Redemption (sin debt paid) and Rehabilitation

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

(Proverbs 3:5-6).

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body

(Hebrews 13:3).

Faith-based programs were designed to reduce prison recidivism and rehabilitate incarcerated individuals by using their spiritual belief system, education, mentoring, and counseling.[1] Based on this recommended solution, biblical principles, the writer's faith, and experience with ex-offenders, this is a fundamental start in changing the course of an eroded system that has neglected the ex-offender population far too long. Hope, faith, and counseling combined with practical, evidence-based solutions will enhance ex-offenders' success rates and reduce recidivism rates. A faith-based program of this caliber will provide the neglected population of ex-offenders a voice, often muted and marginalized.

The next chapter (website link will be provided in future blogs) of solving this problem will consist of researched material articulating how ex-offenders' rehabilitation would utilize integrated theology and psychology with spiritual formation to re-enter society successfully. Pastoral/spiritual counseling has proven to be very effective in providing hope and comfort during perilous times humans must endure throughout their life, such as the death of family members, addiction, and incarceration. Also, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) has shown to be effective in resolving similar problems with humans, but through a different method, which teaches people how to rethink and retrain their brains on how to cope with atrocities. The integration of both therapies (pastoral/spiritual counseling and CBT) will help ex-offender cope with society and how they view themselves.

In spiritual formation, ex-offenders will come to understand “God is not interested in your spiritual life He is interested in your life and He intends to redeem it.”[2] To achieve this endeavor, people must know how to pray and listen for God’s responses.[3] Listening to God first must mean having a relationship with God and accept the possibility of God speaking directly to His creation.[4] After God has been prompted through prayer, the next step requires listening, which gives way to being receptive and responsive to God’s word. Ortberg posits being open and receptive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit is pivotal for transformation.[5]

[1] Scott D. Camp, Jody Klein-Saffran, Okyun (Karl) Kwon, Dawn M. Daggett, and Victoria Joseph, “An Exploration Into Participation In A Faith-Based Prison Program,” Criminology Public Policy 5, no. 3 (2006): 540. [2] J. Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted: The Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Rev. ed.) Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002, 140. [3] ibid., 140. [4] ibid., 140. [5] ibid., 143.