volunteer info

  :: volunteer info

We have multiple areas in our Ministry that requires volunteers.  We consider our volunteers, as Partners with our Ministry.  We need Partners in Transportation Ministry, Helps Center Ministry, Children and Youth Ministry, Prayer Partners and Pen Pals to the incarcerated people.

The first step in becoming a Partner with our Ministry is to pray and see if God puts it in your heart to Partner with us, whether it be Financially or volunteering your time.  Once you receive the leading of God, you can contact us and we will provide you with the details and requirement for each Ministry area.  We will have a short application for each Volunteering Partner to fill out, so we make sure we place the people with the right gifts in the right areas.

Thank you for helping us serve the many needs.

Fresh Start Fellowship Volunteer Application:

All information in this application will be kept confidential and only available to upper staff of FreshStart Fellowship.  The only time this information would be seen by someone other than upper staff of FreshStart Fellowship, would be if a Prison or Institution that you have contact with or contact with a inmate, request to see it.  FreshStart Fellowship will only allow this information to be seen by someone in an Authority position.  It will NEVER be made available to inmates.  Some of the questions may feel unnecessary, however we want to make sure we have the right people, with the right gifts, in the right ministry areas.  If there are any questions that you do not wish to answer, just leave the question blank.

Name:_______________________________Phone: (      )__________________

Address:__________________________________________________________

Birthdate:________________Hair Color:_____________Height:___________

Driver’s License Number:___________________________________________

Employed By:_____________________________________________________

Employer Address:________________________________________________

Type of Work/Job Title:____________________________________________

List Types of Ministry Experience:___________________________________

Vocational Training/Licenses:_______________________________________

Educational Level Completed:__________ Degrees:_____________________

Military Service:____________________ Discharge Type:________________

Character Reference:______________________ Phone: (     )______________

Marital Status:___________________ Spouse’s Name____________________

Names And Ages Of Children At Home:_______________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Are You A U.S. Citizen?:__________ If Not, Explain:____________________

Are You Physically Disabled?:__________ Explain:______________________

Do You Have Reliable Transportation?:_______________________________

What Church Do You Attend?:______________________________________

Have You Ever Been Arrested Or Convicted Of A Crime?________________

Explain:__________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Are You Currently Under Correctional Supervision?____________________

Do You Have Any Friends Or Relatives Currently In Prison?_____________

List Names, Prison, And Relationship:________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Briefly Describe Your Personal Salvation Experience:  _________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Why Do You Wish To Volunteer Your Time And Efforts To This Ministry,

And What Do You Wish To Do?:____________________________________

________________________________________________________________

  VOLUNTEERS PLEDGE OF SERVICE

  1.  I have read and agree with the beliefs of Fresh Start Fellowship. 

  2.  I will read and obey the rules and regulations of both FreshStart Fellowship and any prison or jail I am assigned to.

   3.  I will carry out my assignment in a Christian manor at all times.

 

  SIGNATURE:_________________________DATE:________________

Thank you for your application.  You will be notified by FreshStart Fellowship upon acceptance as a Volunteer.

Prison Ministry Do’s and Don’t’s:

The following is a list of DO’s and DON’T’s for people who volunteer in Jail or Prison Ministry.  It is not meant to be an inclusive list, but is just a guideline that we provide to our volunteers.

1. Be prepared at all times.  Ask God for guidance and have any materials that you may have, ready.  You will be talking to these people, for God.
2. If you are volunteering for an area that requires you to meet someone or serve on the Bus, be on time.  The inmates and family members will expect you to be on time.
3. Always pray with the inmates and/or family members.  Even if it is just on paper.
4. Dress appropriately and in a modest manner at all times.  Casual dress is great.  Do not over dress as you do not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or that you are over powering them.  Do not under dress as you want them to see and know you are Blessed by God.
5. Know and follow the rules of FreshStart Fellowship and the Institution you are visiting or writing to.  Copies of all rules can be obtained from Fresh Start Fellowship.
6. Develop the trust of the Inmates and their family members.  They will not open up to you and talk about what is on their heart, unless they feel they can trust you.
7. Be yourself.  Never try to be someone else.  Let the Gifts that God has given YOU, be present.
8. Be an understanding friend and a good listener.
9. Be honest at all times.  Never assume anything.  When in doubt, ask.
10. Be consistent, dependable and confident in whatever area you are ministering in.
11. Be cautious at all times.  Some inmates or family members may try to con you or manipulate you.  Never give them any money.  If they have a need, bring it to the attention of FreshStart Fellowship.
12. Be willing to learn.  God may also be using them to minister to you.
13. Speak in a clear and simple manner.  Do not use big words or theological terms.  If someone does not understand you, take the time to explain it to them.
14. Always speak about positive things and situations.  Never speak down or degrading to the inmates or family members.
15. Use wisdom when providing counseling to inmates or family members.  Ask God to give you wisdom and He will.  Take your time and think before you speak, especially with members of the opposite sex.  FreshStart Fellowship will always try to pair a female with female and male with male.  However there may be times if you are volunteering as a penpal, that you may be writing to the opposite sex.
16. If you plan on trying to distribute any Christian literature to the inmates or family members, make sure you have their permission first.
17. Try to remember the names of the inmates and their family members, both for conversation and prayer.
18. Encourage the inmates and their family members to read and study the Bible.  Also encourage them to enroll in correspondence courses.  Fresh Start Fellowship can help them with enrollment.
19. Talk to the inmates and family members about yourself, your family, hobbies, special interest and how you became interested in prison ministry.  Let them know you are a caring person.
20. Share with them your testimony about how you became a Christian and your relationship with Christ and how it has effected your life.
21. Ask them about their relationship with Christ, their beliefs and if they know the gospel story.  Be sure to pay close attention to their answers.  If they do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ or they do not know the gospel story, tell them the story and ask them if they would like to have a relationship with Jesus.  This could be one of the biggest opportunities that you will have to lead them in a salvation prayer.
22. Be careful how you use the word “Love”.  Make sure you specify that you are talking about the love of one Christian to another, or the Love of Christ and not a Romantic Love.
23. Remember that inmates are human first and prisoners second.  They have personal needs, frustrations and weaknesses just like yourself.  God loves them just as much as He loves you.  Also remember that their family members could be going through some really tough times and that they could be needing some guidance and strength to get through it.
24. If confidential information is shared with you, keep it confidential.  If you feel it is of great importance or life threatening, you should bring it to the attention of FreshStart Fellowship.
25. Use discretion and caution if you are in a position as a go-between for inmates and family members.
26. Do not give out your personal address or telephone number.  Always use the address for FreshStart Fellowship in your correspondences.  Inmates can make phone calls if they have your phone number.  Never give it out.
27. Do not do errands for inmates.
28. Do not make promises that you cannot or will not keep.
29. Do not become involved in an ego trip.  If you are volunteering to give your self a pat on the back or to get stories to share with others, then get out now.  You will only hurt the work of the ministry.  You need to have passion in your heart for these people.
30. Do not send money or gifts to inmates or family members.  All gifts and financial help will be provided by FreshStart Fellowship.
31. Do not criticize or embarrass anyone just because they are in prison.
32. Do not ask about an inmates crime or why they are in prison.  If they want you to know, they will tell you.  That is not our focus.
33. Do not try to be a prison expert or reformer.  We are only ambassadors for Jesus Christ.
34. Do not write any letters of recommendation for an inmate or their family members, unless you have personally known them for a reasonable period of time, and you can personally attest to the things you are saying.  All requests from inmates and family members should be brought to the attention of FreshStart Fellowship.
35. Do not say that you understand how a prisoner or their family members feel or what they are going through, unless you have been in prison yourself or you have been a family member of someone in prison.  If you have not been there, you really do not know what they are experiencing.
36. Do not act shocked or surprised by anything an inmate says or does.
37. Never argue with the inmates or their family members.
38. Do not call inmates boys or girls.  Call them by their names.
39. Do not give advice or try to tell an inmate how they should do something, unless they ask you for your advice before hand.
40. “DO NOT GET INVOLVED IN ANY LEGAL MATTERS!”
41. Do not be negative or discouraged about anything.  The inmate and family members do not need to hear about all of your problems, unless you use the experience as an example of how God has helped you deal with the problem and you can give Glory to God.
42. Do not talk about unnecessary controversial subjects.  If they get into something about another preacher or denomination and some problem related to them, get back on track by reminding them that God will hold that person accountable for his actions, but that He will also hold them responsible for theirs as well.
43. Do not criticize the institutions administration, the government or the authority that put them in prison.  You may feel that if you criticize these entities, that it will make you more popular with the inmate or their family member, but it will only harm your ministry.
44. Do not offer something to one inmate that you are not willing or able to give to every inmate in the facility.

May God Bless You for Your Service