First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn Social Action Committee
Criminal Justice Activities in concert with The Church of Gethsemane
A Presbyterian Church in Park Slope, Brooklyn, founded in 1986, which was created by and for formerly incarcerated men and women, their families, neighborhood people and people who are called into ministry with the poor. Reverend Diane Lacey is the pastor.
Overview of Project Connect – A successful, 25 year-old program of The Church of Gethsemane that connects men and women who are incarcerated to the Church of Gethsemane while they are still inside the prison system. Project Connect uses a four-pronged approach to join in ministry with people who are incarcerated and then helps in the transition back into the home and the community upon release. Minister Chibueze Okorie is the Project Connect Director.
· First, it engages in ministry with and for incarcerated men and women through letters, visits, care packages, contacts with family members, an annual Christmas party for their children and letters of assurance to parole boards
· Second, it provides participation in a faith community outside prison walls through church membership at The Church of Gethsemane (PCUSA) through a 7 Part Correspondence Membership Course. This offers them the experience of an extended family.
· Third, Project Connect provides direct services upon release helping people with basic needs such as clothing, food, Metro-cards and emergency funds.
· Fourth, upon release, Project Connect provides a re-entry program that includes referrals to social service agencies for specific needs, such as job training & employment, housing, health services, spiritual counsel, and a re-entry peer support group that meets twice a month. Participants can become members of the Church, as soon as they start attending church services.
Overview of First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn involvement with Gethsemane
Through the involvement of many members of our church, the members of Gethsemane demonstrated to those of us who are more comfortable and whose crisis and challenges typically haven't been on a scale that Gethsemane members have faced, how God transforms lives. It is revealing to see the life transformations of many of their members, who may have been incarcerated for 10-40 years, paying their debt to society, connecting to God as their Savior and then being so thankful for what they have, even as they struggle against all of the impediments that our society has created for them. Their individual testimonies about the value of their involvement with a supportive faith community that helps keep them strong on a day to day basis is a good lesson for all of us.
During the past year, over 20 members of our church have attended services, prepared lunches, joined Gethsemane staff on prison visits, helped administratively or donated clothes and food for Gethsemane and an additional 25 members have contributed to the group letters. We are hopeful that we will double the number of our members who directly participate with supporting Gethsemane in 2016. Participants from First Presbyterian of Brooklyn have benefitted significantly as a result of the warm welcome that we have received and the lessons learned from our fellowship with their members.
The involvement and love by members of our church and other faith communities in the New York area helps them to be more confident as they assimilate. The lessons we learn from Gethsemane help us to better understand the terrible discrimination that formally incarcerated men and women face today and encourage us to do something about it.
Our financial support of mission projects is good but when we can also get directly involved with our hearts and hands, lives are changed. Our involvement enables us to fulfill Jesus's instructions to us to visit the prisoners, feed the hungry and help the poor.
Service Opportunities for FPC members with Gethsemane
· Preparing and Serving Lunch after Sunday worship service ( typically 40 people)
· Making Prison Visits with Gethsemane staff to Project Connect members
· Donating clothes, food and other items
· Metrocards for job and job interviews
· Contributing words of encouragement in monthly group letters
· Administrative support for special projects
· Employment assistance for formerly incarcerated men & women
· Mental Health consultation ( if qualified)
· Housing assistance
· Project Connect Peer group participation & individual support
· Legal assistance, computer training, conduct seminars
· Volunteer Sunday afternoons as mentors- helping people with resumes, budgeting, organizing appointments and listening to needs & issues and praying with them.
Want to get involved?
For more information or if you would like to get involved, contact either
Jane Ehlke jane.ehlke@gmail.com 781-572-6201 or
Dave Ehlke dave.ehlke@gmail.com 617-512-5780
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