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                                                 Prison Activities

 Alpha

Object:  To be able to present hope to all interestedthe  basic gospel to all prisoners who are interested by using the Alpha course.  The vision of PFWA is to have a quality Alpha course being run at least two times a year in every prison in WA.

How it works: The course days / dates are suggested by the volunteers and approval is sought & obtained through the co-ordinating Chaplain from prison management.

Typically this would mean being in the prison for about an hour and a half while the video is presented, sometimes over a meal, and then lead a discussion.

Would normally expect groups of 10 or 12.

A certificate is presented to the prisoners at the end of each course.

Need: For a church, or a small group from a church, to take responsibility, under the PF Coordinator of Programs for running an Alpha program in a prison twice in a year.

 Breaking Out

Object:

The Breaking Out course is focussed on showing how one can break free from our various addictions by becoming Christ centred rather than self centred.

This is proving to be a very powerful program within the prison situation

The vision of PFWA is to have a quality Breaking Out course being run at least two times a year in every prison in WA.

How it works: The course days / dates are suggested by the volunteers and approval is sought & obtained through the co-ordinating Chaplain from prison management.

Typically this would mean being in the prison for about an hour and a half while the video is presented, sometimes over a meal, and then lead a discussion.

Would normally expect groups of 10 or 12 to attend.

A certificate is presented to the prisoners at the end of each course.

Need: For a church, or a small group from a church, to take responsibility, under the PF Coordinator of programs for running a Breaking Out program in a prison twice in a year.

Sycamore Tree

Objectives:

This program is based on the story of the crooked tax collector Zacchaeus meeting Jesus at a Sycamore tree. Jesus let Zacchaeus know he cared for him – this was something the crowd found hard to accept as many had been victims of Zacchaeus’s crime.  This program is about the need to recognise that crime has victims, that restitution is necessary, that forgiveness is paramount and once that has taken place, there is a place for celebration of a new direction in life.

How does it work?

Victims and offenders (of similar crimes – not their actual crime) meet for 2 hours per week over  eight weeks. The facilitators, using a tested discussion guide, guiode the participants / group through a series of topics leading to a time in which both victims and offenders can share and express how they feel and how they wish to move forward. Offenders are invited explore ways of making restitution for the harm caused by their offending behavior. Victims are given the opportunity to consider ways in which they can begin their healing and self restoration.

Needs:

Sycamore Tree requires people who have been a victim of crime and who are prepared to tell offenders their story - how their lives have been affected and the hurt they feel.

Sycamore Tree requires volunteers who are committed to their local church and are prepared to attend all sessions, participate in discussions and show respect to all and to take part in the act of restitution and be part of the celebration event.

 Inner Change Program

Basically this programs takes prisoners who genuinely are being changed by God’s power in their lives while in prison and links them with a Church and an individual mentor about 6 months before their release. The Church and the mentor take on the responsibility of finding  - accomodation, a job and a caring loving accepting church for when the prisoner is released.

In addition there is extensive discipleship and teaching during the last 6 to 12 months of the prisoners time in prison.

In the past we have been able to place a number of released prisoners into  full time employment in a manufacturing business .  This has proved some what difficult  with what we have seen as a negative reaction from the community.  However a number of these men have moved on to a big and better  life which we praise God for.