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Care for ex-offenders
David Martin writes:
Caring for ex-offenders
The will be a meeting on Wednesday 19th September 2007 at 7.30pm at the King's Factory, Smithton, jointly sponsored by Prison Fellowship and Caring for Ex-offenders, to discuss how churches might help Ex-offenders. Caroline Crombie will speak on her experience in Aberdeen is running such a scheme.
 As a result of running Alpha courses in prisons many prisoners give their lives to Christ, when they are released it is all too easy for them to slip back into old bad company and habits. To try to break this cycle Holy Trinity Brompton (Alpha) has set up the Caring for Ex-offender Scheme as an independent operation.
Churches are encouraged to sign up to the Caring for Ex-offender scheme, and the meeting is to explain what is involved. In the scheme someone will meet the prisoner at the prison gate on release and help them make contact with a church in the scheme in their home area. For the scheme to work the Church - not just one or two individuals in it - have to sign up for the scheme.
Do you think your church would be interested? Come and hear more on the 19th.
Please be in touch if you have any questions or require further information.
David or Ruth Martin (Prison Fellowship Inverness) 01463 237949
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Footnote:
See article on work in Norwich with newly-released prisoners across the board
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David Martin, 11/09/2007 |
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| | Insider (Guest) | 13/09/2007, 20:32 | | One of the biggest problems facing the criminal justice system - including the prisons, courts, police and social services - is the level of re-offending.
It would be a tremendous if the Christian community could be seen to care for (and help re-habilitate) not only those who have found Christ, but ALSO those who have not.
| | | Scottish Bible Society (Guest) | 19/09/2007, 12:02 | | PRISON YEARS ARE BACKGROUND TO NEW RELEASE
Garry Brotherston is currently experiencing a new release when two years after leaving a prison cell he has put out an album of his own songs on CD.
Stuck in the Lampshade of Life features ten songs written, composed and performed by the 32-year old Glaswegian.
Fourteen years ago it would have seemed inconceivable that Brotherston would be performing concerts in prisons, schools, churches and concert halls. Then alcoholism and drug abuse led to him being caught up in a street fight and a charge of murder. Aged just 19 he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of another man. He spent eleven years inside before being released on parole.
"My life changed when I attended a Prison Fellowship meeting in 1994," says Garry Brotherston. "I was the only one out of 20 or so young offenders to stand up at a meeting and ask God's forgiveness for all the wrong and hurt that I'd been responsible for.
"I feel privileged that I have been given a second chance, and I am using it to try and educate teenagers in schools, young offenders institutes and the like that a life of drink and drug abuse is not the way to go.
"I wish every day I could make amends for what I have done. The life sentence isn't eleven years in prison, but waking up each day with the knowledge that I have taken a man's life and the pain I have caused his, and my own, family. For this I am truly sorry, and I hope and pray other kids don't make the same mistakes".
Brotherston's new way of life as a full-time singer/songwriter and performer is supported by both secular and religious bodies in Scotland.
Chief Constable Colin McKerracher of Grampian Police says, "We hear so much about the wrong that criminals do, but it is less usual to hear of those who come out of prison and dedicate themselves to preventing wrongdoing by others. Garry Brotherston is currently proving to be a great support in our fight to prevent crime. He has a powerful and moving story to tell and youngsters will listen to and learn from him."
Of his work through the Church, Elaine Duncan, chief executive of the Scottish Bible Society, says "We are delighted to support Garry in his work as he brings his powerful message of the possibility of redemption to audiences of young people throughout the country. The Bible has been a great source of inspiration for him and I know that Garry talks a lot about how it has helped him in his continuing journey through life. The songs he has written and his new recording of them are a great way of telling his story."
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