A newly formed association of correctional ministry professionals hopes to serve as a resource for collaboration, training and advocacy among those involved in prison ministry.

The Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM), a department of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, recently hosted the first meeting of the Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association (CMCA). The group’s mission is “to connect, encourage, equip and strengthen Christians as they fulfill the Great Commission in corrections.”

More than 40 representatives of 20-plus correctional ministries attended the inaugural meeting in May. The group of professionals and volunteers present included teachers, evangelists, chaplains, reentry providers, mentors, trainers, administrators, case managers, authors, editors, literature providers, missionaries, musicians, and prayer ministers.

Dr. Karen Swanson, Director of the IPM, says the idea for the CMCA came to her about 5 years ago. As she discovered others in the field of correctional ministry who shared the same vision and wanted to work together, the organization began to take shape.

“Before the formation of the CMCA, there was not a professional association for Christians, and particularly for evangelicals, in correctional ministry,” she says. “This organization fills that gap. We hope to raise the level of professionalism in Christian organizations, and bring chaplains, ministries and reentry providers together.”

Swanson says the CMCA will focus much of its energy on certification, training and support.

“Oftentimes, in correctional ministry, people have a relationship with Christ and passion for outreach, but they may not understand prison culture, security concerns, or issues related to potential manipulation by inmates,” Swanson says. “In addition to educating people on these issues, we hope to help them better understand the people and the culture they want to serve.”

The CMCA’s website is cmcainternational.com.

The vision of the Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM) is to be a center for correctional ministry that encourages and equips those serving in correctional ministries worldwide to evangelize and disciple those within the correctional community. IPM works through networks, collaborations and strategic partnerships to provide leadership and training to those engaged in correctional ministries for the advancement of the Gospel.

Among the resources available is a new book published by the Evangelism and Missions Information Service (EMIS) at Wheaton College’s Billy Graham Center serves as a resource for people assisting those who have been victimized by crime.

Helping Victims of Crime: Pathways Toward Healing is the sixth book in a series published by the Graham Center’s Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM).

The book, edited by Lisa Barnes Lampman and Jayne G. Crisp, includes information and resources for helping people who have experienced child abuse and neglect; incest and sexual abuse; teen dating violence; stalking; sexual assault; human trafficking; domestic violence; the murder of a child; homicide; drunk driving; burglary and theft; victimization of elders; fraud and identity theft; hate and bias crimes; line-of-duty death; and community tragedy.

“Most of us don’t have to go beyond family, friends, neighbors, and fellow church members to find people experiencing a crisis and crying out for help,” the editors write in the book’s introduction. “In many cases, we’re not sure how to help—or we feel we have little to offer. This is a practical reference guide to help family members, friends, neighbors, pastors, and counselors provide appropriate and needed assistance and support to victims of crime, their families, and close friends. It compiles the wisdom, insight, experience, and expertise of professional counselors, crime victim assistance advocates, and regular folks who have effectively walked through a crisis related to crime in their lives or in the lives of others.”

“Americans experienced 20 million crimes in 2009, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey,” says Dr. Karen Swanson, director of the Institute for Prison Ministries. “In prison ministry, we often focus on the offender, but we have to think about the victims as well. This is a great tool to be used in churches and ministries to address the needs of crime victims.”

Other books published by the Institute for Prison Ministries include Help! My Loved One Is in Jail. What Do I Do Now?; Sentenced: Now What?; Help! My Child’s Been Arrested: A Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Juvenile Justice System; Staying Well: Strategies for Corrections Staff; and Coming Home: A Guide for Those Receiving a Loved One Back from Prison or Jail. These books, in addition to Helping Victims of Crime, are available at bgcprisonministries.com.

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[Editor’s note: Some of the original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]