How churches can improve a prisoner’s re-entry

Recently we held another Onesimus Workshop for Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area churches. We had 35 leaders attend from about a dozen churches and ministries. This one-day workshop helped train these churches to equip prisoners for re-entry, welcome former prisoners back into the life of the church, and empower them for ministry. We are seeing these men and women become realtors, counselors, pastors, church planters, writers, nonprofit directors, etc.

Here is a comment from a participant:
Pastor John commented, “This was a fabulous workshop centered on those returning from incarceration and how our churches can have more of an impact in their re-enculturation to society. I was able to see life through the lens of others and learn key takeaways from other ministries and experiences.”

Participants expressed their desire to host additional workshops at churches and ministries and to take steps to help facilitate our church-based seminary to equip prisoners for service on the
inside.

As you pray for us, pray for more churches to be equipped through the workshop. Possibly even yours!

Blessings in Christ,

Rich and Karin Esselstrom