> Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries 

Christ UMC prison ministry featured on local news (web story from WZTV)

from FOX Nashville WZTV



A Williamson County church

has become the pipeline for prison inmates re-entering society.

It started as a calling ten years ago and has bloomed into a full-blown mission, with a higher success rate than the national trend.

To learn how you can donate or be part of it, CLICK HERE (you will be redirected to Christ UMC's website). Click on the image below to watch the video:

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]

United Methodists to take Disciple Bible Study to prisoners in six states (from TNUMConnects 3/29/11)

> This is a follow-up to story: United Methodists to take Disciple Bible Study to 14 Tennessee prisons (from TNUMConnects 2/22/11)

JAMESTOWN, N.C. –– Mark C. Hicks, executive director of Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries, and Gilbert C. Hanke, top staff executive of the General Commission on UM Men, announce plans to recruit and train persons to teach Disciple Bible Study in prisons in six states.
 
Hicks founded the ministry in 1999 to mobilize local church volunteers to teach Disciple Bible study in North Carolina prisons.
 
A graduate of the Duke Divinity School, Hicks said he was surprised at how many people are willing to participate in the prison ministry. “They were simply waiting for someone to show them how.” Seventy people showed up for the first training event in the state. Hundreds of volunteers are now involved in the North Carolina ministry.
 
With support from the General Commission on United Methodist Men, the ministry is now being introduced to churches in Virginia, Kansas and Tennessee. Training experiences are also being planned in the Baltimore-Washington area and Louisiana for later this year.
 
Coming events
April 6 –– Disciple training for North Carolina prison chaplains
April 11 –– Disciple training for Virginia prison chaplains
June 13 –– Signing a statement of relationship at the Holston Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska, N.C.
June 16 –– Signing a statement of relationship at the Virginia Annual Conference in Roanoke
August 27-28 –– Training Tennessee church leaders in Disciple and prison ministry at Christ UMC in Franklin
September 10-11 –– Training Kansas church leaders in Disciple and prison ministries at a church in Wichita
September 17-18 –– Training Virginia Conference church leaders in Disciple and prison ministries at the conference center in Glen Allen
 
In each state, representatives from the conference(s) will incorporate as non-profit 501(c)3 organizations in order to raise funds and relate to the state organizations that regulate the prisons.
 
All state organizations will be affiliated with the national organization led by Hicks. Other members of the board are: Bishop Richard B. Wilke, principal author of the Disciple Bible Study series; Bishop Kenneth Carder, professor of the practice of ministry at Duke Divinity School; Ernie Pearson, partner with Nexsen/Pruet Law Firm of Raleigh, N.C.; and Hanke.
 

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
Click the button to subscribe now!


 

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]

United Methodists to take Disciple Bible Study to 14 Tennessee prisons (from TNUMConnects 2/22/11)

FRANKLIN, Tenn. –– Representatives from three annual conferences agreed to recruit and train persons to take Disciple Bible Study to 14 Tennessee State Prisons housing 20,000 inmates.

The action was taken by representatives from the Tennessee, Memphis and Holston Annual Conferences, meeting February 15 at Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin.

The effort to introduce the 34-week study into Tennessee prisons is coordinated by Mark Hicks, executive director of Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries of North Carolina, and Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the Nashville-based General Commission on United Methodist Men.

Hicks, who has been leading the Disciple program in correctional settings since 1999, says the studies are transformational for both volunteers and inmates. “I was always excited by the possibility of transformation among the inmates,” said Hicks. “But I’m equally excited by the transformation occurring in our volunteers and, as a result, our churches.”

“I was involved in a prison ministry weekend at a maximum security prison in Texas,” said Hanke. “That experience changed my whole perspective and perception of prisons and the need for our engagement in this vital ministry.”

Transitional training
“There is a great need for transitional training,” said Jerry Welborn, chaplain and volunteer coordinator for Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. He celebrated the prison ministry of Christ United Methodist Church, which conducts services and studies in Riverbend.

Jerry Nail, one of the leaders of the prison ministry at the Franklin church, showed a video that described the beginnings of the prison ministry seven years ago. The church conducts Sunday services, a Disciple Bible Study, a pen-pal ministry, and a re-entry program.

In the video, Marcus Hamilton, 35, an inmate locked up at age 17 and recently released, said there are many things a ex-inmate needs that others don’t think about such as clothing, a driver’s license, health insurance and a job. Christ Church provides former inmates with clothing, $1,000, a connection with an employment agency and friendship. A dozen ex-inmates now worship at the church.

State approval
Ron Turner, director of religious services for all state prisons, said the state requires a review of the proposed curriculum, but he thought the study produced by the United Methodist Publishing House would be quickly approved. He took a copy of Disciple I and the accompanying video with him following the meeting. He thought the study could help reduce recidivism. “We can’t keep locking people up,” said Turner. “We must teach them how to live when they get out.” He noted that the national recidivism rate is 70 percent, but it is 50 percent in Tennessee.

Turner also explained that while the state guarantees the right of prisoners to receive spiritual care, wardens serve at the chief executive officers and all volunteers and services must be approved by them

State organizations
The General Commission on United Methodist Men and Disciple Bible Outreach are launching the effort in six states: North Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, Tennessee, Baltimore-Washington, and Georgia. In each state, Hicks recommends the creation of separate state organizations to recruit and train volunteers and to raise funds. Those state organizations will be trained and supported by a national steering committee.

The group discussed the possibility of ministering to training centers for youth and decided they would focus early efforts on state prisons before beginning ministries with youth.

Training dates
Hicks will lead a training experience for persons interested in leading a Disciple Bible Outreach on September 30 - October 1, 2011. The Friday evening session will train persons who have never lead a Disciple Bible Study, and the Saturday session will train all persons to lead the study in prisons.

For additional information, contact Hicks MCHIcks@northstate.net, www.disciplebibleoutreach.org.

This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
Click the button to subscribe now!


 

[Back to Top]   [Print]   [Direct Link]   [Share This]