Transforming Jail Ministries: History, Mission and Visi
on
Since the late 1970s, Hamilton County, Ohio jail and treatment facilities have been served by volunteer chaplains. In 2007, a group of chaplains--led by Reverend Jack Marsh--gathered in prayer to discern how they could add to the success of jail ministry, both locally and other places. Part of their discernment centered on how to create an enhanced model for jail ministry that was effective, measurable and replicable. After months of meetings, myriad pads of easel paper and a mountain of prayer, Transforming Jail Ministries was born.
We have one overriding mission at Transforming Jail Ministries:
Engage those in jail with a servant heart and a hopeful message.
There are many ways to define that. Many ways to measure that. Many ways to deliver on that.
At TJM, we create a framework that defines and measures and delivers our mission one man or woman at a time. When people's lives are touched, so too is the community in which they live. In doing what we do at TJM, we rely on the wisdom of the great servants who have co
me before us.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Today, over 2 million people in the United States are incarcerated in either jail or prison. That is one out of every 100 persons. Whether or not the right amount of people are incarcerated, for the right reasons, for the right length of time is debatable. Whether or not we should try to be part of what changes those statistics is not.
"We cannot do great things on this Earth. Only small things with great love." - Mother Teresa
We know that God's timing is perfect. He meets us where we are and provides us with everything we need, exactly when we need it. At TJM, we try to follow God's lead by being present, planting seeds and fully expecting that it's the small things, delivered with great love that will make the difference.
"Love one another as I have loved you." - Jesus
It's not always popular when we show compassion and understanding to those who have hurt others, broken the community's trust, thumbed their nose at the rules and mores the larger society has set forth.
Good thing we're not interested in being popular.
Jesus' message was clear: We're all sinners. God loves us anyway.
The values that support our vision and mission are:
-
A commitment to excellence
- A commitment to respectful relationips at all levels
- A commitment to helpful interfaith ministry
- A commitment to telling the truth--to ourselves and others
- Integrity, Consistency, Dependability