Prison

About 85 people gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Exodus House, a ministry of the Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church, on Oct. 21 in Oklahoma City. From left are Lesa Rhoads, Exodus House assistant director; Lew McGinnis, a member of the Exodus House board; Keith Dobbs, executive director of Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries; Robin Wertz, resident director of Exodus House; Anne Robertson, intern for CJAMM; and Kristin Ferrell-Wilkes, New Day Camp office assistant. Photo by Boyce Bowdon, UM News.

Exodus House celebrates 25 years of changing lives

The Oklahoma Conference ministry for prisoners reentering society started receiving residents in 1998, but it began two years earlier in the minds of two United Methodist pastors who wanted to do something about recidivism.

Faith Sharing

Chaplain Jefat Zhou baptizes one of 350 inmates christened at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe, on July 28. The baptisms were part of a United Methodist prison ministry led by of the Harare East District’s Church and Society Committee. Photo by Prudence Choto, Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

Prison evangelism transforms inmates

The United Methodist Church’s prison ministry in Zimbabwe leads to 350 inmates being baptized at maximum-security prison.

Social Concerns

Leaders gather in prayer during morning worship at the National Summit on Mass Incarceration in Charlotte, N.C. Helping lead the prayer is the Rev. Kevin Kosh Jr. (center, wearing cap) from the young adult network of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Photo by Joey Butler, UM News.

Summit urges churches to speak out against mass incarceration

Attendees of the National Summit on Mass Incarceration were urged to work with their churches toward criminal justice reform.

Mission and Ministry

Ndume Olatushani describes his installation artwork featuring human figures in prison-style jumpsuits and hoodies at his home in Nashville, Tenn., in 2017. The work was part of a Stations of the Cross exhibition held in Washington, D.C. Olatushani was freed after serving 27 years in prison, 20 of them on death row. A series of webinars April 26-30 will offer advice to church members on how to support former prison inmates and help them find gainful employment. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

How churches can help former inmates adapt

A free series of evening webinars April 26-30 will offer advice to church members on how to support people returning from prison and help them find gainful employment.

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