Caring for Ex-Offenders

"Ex-offender Friendly Churches" SATURDAY October 22, 2005. A Training Day to Help Churches Care in Practical Ways for Ex-Prisoners St Paul’s Anglican Church, Kanata, Ontario

Ottawa, October 2005 There are 500 inmates in the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. Too many of them have returned to jail over and over. Yet we now know how to reduce recidivism significantly. An ex-inmate needs the help of new friends, rather than old "friends." Churches have the potential to provide these new friendships and given training, the tools to do so. Unfortunately, too few churches have the will. This must change!

Allison & Carol Atkins, reception

Above: Bev Moorhead, inspiration Below: Ray Scanlan, Director of Prison Ministries, Alpha Canada

Dave Atkins, conference organizer and M/C Below: Rev Carl Wake, Coordinating Chaplain, Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre

A great lunch!

Marsha Fisher chats with Prison Chaplain Carl Wake

Above: Laurie-Ann Copple, Padre Mario Gaulin and others listen intently This was a day of impassioned speaking by Christians committed to the welfare of prisoners leaving jail. Gary Wand (right) talked of his experience at Harvest House with ex offenders, and movingly described how God has worked in his life, bringing him from a very low ebb. Constable Dave of Ottawa Police (not pictured) was an eye opener; it was really special to meet an undercover agent so different from the stereotypes of policemen most of us have. To hear a senior detective open his heart out to the cause of mending broken lives with love is to witness God at work among us, and his was just one testimony of many. Also speaking on this day, (not pictured) was Chaplain Randy from MAP - Mentorship, Aftercare and Presence. In Ottawa, MAP and Alpha work closely together, MAP taking over the good work begun inside OCDC on the several Alpha courses there. Perhaps disappointing was the slim representation from church leadership; the main group the conference was intended for. Read the objectives, detailed program and other details of the day on the pre-event Web site. Also see the Alpha Ottawa site prison section. Great credit should go to Dave Atkins, Alpha Advisor, for organizing the day.

Above: Jim Dods, New Connections Ministries Jim Dods brings a huge amount of experinence in aftercare of prisoners, and he strongly credited Constable Dave for his liaison and cooperation over several years. Below: Gary Wand, Harvest House