Nehemiah Prison Team

As stated by Prison Fellowship, we believe that crime is primarily rooted in moral and spiritual brokenness. Therefore, the best solution to crime begins with changing people's hearts. The Nehemiah Prison Team partners with churches and other organizations in providing in-prison and aftercare opportunities to share Christ's love and transforming power with prisoners and ex-prisoners helping them to survive, and even thrive, in prison environment, strengthening their bonds with family members, and preparing them to re-enter society with new hope and direction.

Future Project
(Program is under development)

The Nehemiah School of Ministry ……Camp Y’Shua/Vision of Hope Inc.
(A church member-based mentoring ministry) I Cor. 1:26-29 & Gal. 3:23

Mission: To facilitate a boarding school that assists men and women that have been incarcerated to re-integrate into society and to continue to develop the mission of God within their heart for world evangelization. A school designed for men and women (18 & older) called into full time ministry.

“Men and women of Promise, Mentors of Hope”
When President Bush called on the nation to assist released prisoners as they make the difficult transition back into their communities, he highlighted a critical need in our country. The fact that he included the Prisoner Re-integration Initiative in the State of the Union address shows the importance that the president places on this issue.
For the Prisoner Re-integration Initiative to be successful, we need much more than government programs. As the president said recently, “Governments can hand out money. But governments cannot put love in a person’s heart, or a sense of purpose in a person’s life. The truth of the matter is that comes when a loving citizen puts their arm around a brother or sister in need and says, I love you, and God loves you, and together we can perform miracles.”
The is one of the roles the Church is called upon to take in our communities: to minister to the least of these. The Nehemiah School is assisting in this nationwide initiative by providing the housing and domestic needs with assistance of volunteer mentors within the church from many different denominations in the Southwest Oklahoma region.
The Nehemiah School believes that God is raising up many of the next generation of Church and community leaders from behind prison bars. Why? Because when many offenders go to prison, they hit rock bottom. They truly feel like “the least, the last, and the lost” (Matthew 25:40). They know they have sinned. They know they are unworthy of Christ’s love and forgiveness. They know His salvation is an incredible gift. And out of the deepest gratitude and humility, they surrender their lives to Him wholeheartedly. And that is when God begins to work mightily, building them into strong disciples of Christ and productive citizens. With encouragement, support, and practical assistance, many will return to society as beacons of light and hope.
But the Church’s help is essential for this vision to become reality. The Nehemiah School (a church-member-based mentoring ministry) for prisoners returning to community is unique because the heart of it’s message is the Person of Jesus Christ and His power to transform lives from the inside out! Out of a new life, in Christ flows. Christ-centered values, freedom from addiction, commitment to work, respect for authority, personal responsibility, and family reconciliation.
As the church comes alongside returning prisoners, we can help provide or link them with valuable practical resources to get back on their feet. But most importantly, the Church can manifest the love of Christ to these ex-prisoners and help them become ambassadors for Christ who are grounded in God’s Word, dependent on prayer, anchored in the local church, experiencing freedom from destructive habits, and living out the calling to be salt and light in their families and communities. How Can You Help? Glad you asked!

Practical ways you can help as a Church or as an individual member of a church….

Become a Mentor of Hope: The 1st and highest level of helping

The need for personal male and female mentors is the greatest need of released prisoners.
The moment offenders step off the bus, they face several critical decisions: Where will they live, where will they be able to find a meal, where should they look for a job, how will they get from one place to the next, and where can they earn enough money to pay for these necessities?

This is where the Nehemiah School and the Mentors of Hope comes in:
(1) Prior to entering the School a released inmate or one planning to be released will be interviewed to develop the understanding of the school and to evaluate the commitment level of the inmate to the school and what responsibilities will be required while in the school including studies and physical work responsibilities.
(2) A match will be made with an inmate and mentor /mentors of a local church fellowship within the region of SW Oklahoma prior to a released inmate entering the school.

Become a Mentor of Giving: The 2nd highest level of helping

Provide financial assistance to operate the Nehemiah School in paying the electrical, water and other facility management needs. Provide food and other daily essentials.

Make Checks payable to: Athletes of Good News Inc. PO Box 6272 Lawton, OK 73506

* One of the long term funding sources for the Nehemiah School is the development and operation of a 9 hole golf course at Camp Y’Shua. (Tar-bone Valley Golf Course)

Become a Mentor of Connecting: The 3rd highest level of helping

Provide direction and make personal contacts with community workforce, job training, education, and social services, and locate resources in the community to meet other needs of the ministry.

Become a Mentor of Transportation: The 4th highest level of helping
Assisting a student of the school to a work-site, to church, and other school approved destinations, is an excellent time frame for students to develop relationships with loving, moral adult men and women who will help them re-integrate into society successfully.