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InPrisonCBS
GETTING A CLASS STARTED
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InPrison Community Bible Study classes usually begin in one of two ways. Often, volunteers who are already teaching a weekly Bible study in a prison will want to become an InPrison CBS class when they learn of the program and see the material. Because these volunteers are already
trained and established in prison ministry in a particular facility, the transition only requires
training in CBS policies and procedures. When the leadership team understands the mission and philosophy of CBS and is willing to abide by it, and when they are in agreement with the CBS
Statement of Faith, an InPrison CBS class can be easily established. Training the new Servants
Team to lead such a class usually requires only one day.
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In other situations, a volunteer leadership team may want to start a new InPrison CBS class in a
facility in which they have not been ministering. This will require some additional preliminary
groundwork in order to establish the class.
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| Just as a Community Bible Study class in the free world must obtain permission from the pastor
to meet in a particular church, a proposed InPrison CBS class must be invited in as guests by the
authorities in the prison. Most states require training and certification for volunteers, including a
background check, in order to gain entry into a prison. In addition, the team and its CBS program must receive permission from authorities in order to establish a class in the institution. The prison chaplain, who knows the spiritual needs and the current ministries offered in the prison, must decide whether there is a need for a new ministry and if a class can be accommodated with a
place to meet and sufficient security personnel to oversee it. Usually, such a decision is reached by the chaplain and the warden together. Having a team ready to go and material explaining
CBS will assist the chaplain, who is usually receptive to interdenominational ministries, in
presenting your request to the warden.
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Any team seeking access to a new prison should scout out the territory and talk with other
volunteers and if possible, Christian offenders in the institution, in order to sense whether or not
there is a need for a CBS study. After gathering information, the team or its leader should make
an appointment with the chaplain to discuss the possibility of starting an InPrison CBS program.
The National Director of InPrison CBS can furnish you with a folder of information about CBS and
InPrison CBS that you can share with the chaplain and warden. He can also offer suggestions
and assistance in effective ways to present your requests to prison officials. Ask God to open the
doors of the prison to you. Do you remember how easily God broke down the walls of Jericho when He wanted His people to go in? Knocking down prison walls so that men or women in a prison can study the Word of God is no big problem for God! "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)
When permission has been granted by the chaplain, and a class has been approved by the National Director, the new team will be trained in CBS policies and procedures. Once training is completed, CBS course materials will be sent and the class can begin. Flyers and brochures can be made available to the inmates, explaining the class being offered and inviting them to join. Jesus said He is the Light of the World. There is no greater joy than being able to bring the Light of His Word into the darkness of prisons.
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| InPrison Classes |
Arkansas (3) |
California (5) |
Colorado (1) |
Indiana (1) |
Iowa (4) |
Kansas (2) |
Kentucky (1) |
Massachusetts (1) |
Missouri (1) |
Minnesota (2) |
New Jersey (1) |
New Mexico (1) |
North Carolina (1) |
South Carolina (1) |
South Dakota (1) |
Texas (6) |
Wisconsin (4) |
Mexico (1) |
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Mission |
"To make disciples of Jesus Christ in our communities through caring, in-depth Bible study, available to all." |
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