• Discussion Forum

  Describe your image of a criminal. What do you think has influenced your thinking? Has it changed over time?

  Kimberly Collier-Clardy replied 4 months ago 18 Members · 17 Replies

  • CM301-01

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  Alice Robinson

  Member

  10/08/2023 at 02:47

  This is tough for me to answer. For a long time I only had to look in the mirror.

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  David Hall

  Member

  09/19/2023 at 16:54

  As a believer in Jesus Christ and a Correctional Officer for over 20 years my definition of a criminal is an incarcerated individual. It is an honor to serve Jesus in a correctional setting.

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  Kurt Olson

  Member

  03/01/2023 at 23:01

  When my wife asked me to consider joining her doing a Bible study with detainees at Cook County Jail. My first thought was why in the world would I do that? I kind of felt God tugging on my heart, but I kept saying no. In my mind I thought they were all monsters and they deserve to be locked up. What was I gonna do though? Let my wife go alone, so I reluctantly said yes I will go. God has shown me the error of my way and I now see them as my brothers in Christ, I love these men and I try to show them Christ love. And now I’m about to start volunteering as a chaplain there at Cook County Jail. I really dislike I’m driving in the city of Chicago but now I find my heart and ministry calling me to go there twice a week it could only be God.

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  Chuck Shave

  Member

  02/19/2023 at 19:38

  Often I see people who are considered criminals as people just like almost everyone else. They simply made a wrong 14 second choice and were caught. I am sure that there are others who go well beyond this and can be considered evil as seen in the media.
  I respond to this as one who has had a number of opportunities to spend time in our local jail as part of a Christian team of men (through Kairos ministries) and met many who simply messed up and were caught so now spending time.
  Prior to that ministry I guess that my thoughts were mainly formed by media reports and depictions.

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  Reginald Mayes

  Member

  01/14/2023 at 20:35

  The image I had of a criminal was someone who had the look of crime. They were shifty looking, with a cold demeaner. IT was influenced by experiences in my neighborhood as a youth and TV. My image has changed as I have been involved in prison ministry and have grown spiritually. We are all created in the image of God thus have value. There but by the grace of God go I. As I have worked with the inmates I discovered that apart from the poor choices they have made they are just like me.

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• Discussion Forum

  Share your top 5 strengths and a way you can implement each of them in your ministry.

  Kimberly Collier-Clardy replied 4 months ago 14 Members · 14 Replies

  • CM301-01

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  David Hall

  Member

  09/19/2023 at 16:36

  I am a good listener, non-judgemental, patient, work well with diverse cultures, and have a heart for incarcerated people.

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  Chuck Shave

  Member

  02/19/2023 at 19:56

  1) Listening. As in Kairos the mantra is listen, listen, listen. This allows others to know that I am interested in them and what they are thinking
  2) Available. I find that I am willing to go and seek out opportunities where they may be found, but not in an evasive way, but one of care, concern with love
  3) Adaptable. As a hospital and school chaplain, every person may have a different situation to deal with. I simply need to allow those differences and be with the person in the moment.
  4) Persistent. If you once don’t succeed then try again. I like to finish jobs but not be pushy
  5) Accepting. In order to be able to listen I need to be able to accept what others are saying and try to understand their point of view. This offers the opportunity in time to share my point of view in a positive way and try to see why and how we differ.

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  Reginald Mayes

  Member

  01/14/2023 at 20:28

  1. I am a facilitator who seeks to have each team utilize their gifts in ministry.
  This allows each to grow in their area of giftedness and the ministry to accomplish the goal set before it.
  2. I am a teacher of the Word of God.
  I seek to center all that the ministry is engaged in to be Biblically based.
  3. I believe in the power of prayer.
  Each step we take as a ministry is bathed in prayer.
  4. I listen to input from each member.
  No one can lead a ministry effectively without input from the membership.
  5. I ma able to keep the leadership team focused on the tasks at hand.
  Without focus the ministry can drift.

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  Jerry Haygood

  Member

  10/17/2022 at 19:23

  1. Commited Christian wanting to do God’s will, to love my neighbor as myself.
  Approach the incarcerated with empathy and search for understanding.
  2. I am a planner, detail driven.
  Prov. 16…Man makes his plans, but God directs his steps.
  3. I expect opposition and even persecution for my beliefs.
  This sets up a platform for meaningful discussion with the incarcerated.
  4. I approach life prayerfully.
  Allows God to show his power and glory.
  5. I strive to understand priorities and focus on them.
  Allows me not to get distracted by less important tasks.

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  John Lane

  Member

  09/24/2022 at 22:50

  Listen
  Show compassion
  Observe body language
  Have positive input
  Prayer

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• Discussion Forum

  What is cognitive behavioral education?

  Martha McCaskill replied 11 months, 3 weeks ago 14 Members · 13 Replies

  • CM301-01

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  Reginald Mayes

  Member

  01/14/2023 at 20:19

  School-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs help students develop strategies to solve problems, regulate emotions, and establish helpful patterns of thought and behavior.

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  Jerry Haygood

  Member

  10/17/2022 at 19:31

  From the internet:
  What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
  CBT was created by Aaron Beck in the 1960s and has been studied for decades since its creation. It is a highly effective strategy to battle many mental health disorders. It may even be as effective or more effective than other types of therapy and medication, particularly for treating anxiety and depression.
  CBT can help people restructure how they think and feel about themselves and the world around them.
  The therapy technique focuses on a few points:

  1. Having problems with mental health is often centered around faulty and unhelpful ways of thinking.
  2. Negative thought behavior is learned and therefore can be unlearned.
  3. People with mental health problems can learn better coping strategies to deal with negative thoughts and feelings through CBT.
  4. Anxious and depressive thoughts and feelings can be restructured from a negative tone to a neutral one, allowing a person space to see the issue (or non-issue) through a new lens.

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  John Lane

  Member

  09/24/2022 at 22:45

  Help people with positive solutions in developing emotional and behavioral strategies.

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  Dennis Backes

  Member

  08/04/2022 at 21:07

  “Cognitive” refers to what one thinks. “Behavioral” relates to actions. “Education” speaks to inputting new thoughts. Part of the educating process is to hold one accountable, recognizing that there are consequences to our actions. Thoughts lead to actions; wrong actions result in sin. James 1:14-15.

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  David e Rivera

  Member

  07/20/2022 at 08:39

  Honestly I’m not very familiar with this but it involves helping and training an individual to better deal with issues he or she will confront in life and make better decisions or choices. This type of education when tied with a presentation of the gospel will potentially assist in reducing the recidivism rate that plagues our correctional systems

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