To witness effectively and powerfully to Christian testimonies of care and compassion, of justice and mercy, of healing and wholeness, it is necessary to foster awareness of the realities of the present system of retributive justice if there is to be any hope of transformation to a system of justice which is restorative. Forget Them Not provides a history of the prison system as a means of punishment contrasting it with the relatively recent but growing practice of restorative justice. Joanne Hemenway explores the concept of disconnection as radical evil, as a separation from God who is the source of our being, and shows how our present approach to punishment fosters this evil. The present system, with its motif of retributive justice, generates shame, rejection, and loneliness which stokes the fires of anger and rage. This breeds deep disconnection which only serves to fuel further cycles of violence. Hemenway presents three vignettes designed to help explore forgiveness in the context of both retributive and restorative justice. To promote healing and connection, Forget Them Not introduces compassionate witnessing in prison ministry as a way to develop awareness and empowerment.

Empowering any pastor, educator, or lay leader in doing effective prison ministry by providing a thorough inside-out view of prison life.

A traveler's guide for Christians to a foreign land where the fields are ripe for harvest.For most Christians, prison culture is like visiting a foreign land, and the thought of ministering behind bars with those incarcerated is an intimidating prospect. Prison Ministry w ill o ffer you t he empowerment you need as a volunteer, chaplain, pastor, or lay leader in doing effective prison ministry.Of the former edition, the late Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, wrote: "This may well be the definitive book on prison ministry. Fascinating insights about the prison culture and how to reach it. Mandatory reading for everyone incorrections and for Christians who care about the command to visit prison."Providing a thorough "inside-out" view of prison life, Lennie Spitale offers a unique and qualifying vantage for writing about prison culture and prison ministry. As a young man, Spitale was incarcerated several times. Two years after his conversion to Christianity, he began conducting a weekly Bible study in a local jail. This led to full-time prison ministry.Prison Ministry covers areas such as: the emotional challenges of the incarcerated, the environment of fear, the culture of deprivation, friendships, guidelines, dos and don'ts, and many other relevant and essential topics forequipping any individual or church for effective prison ministry.

In Theology, Empowerment, and Prison Ministry Meins G.S. Coetsier offers a new account of Karl Rahner’s theological anthropology and the prison pastorate with a contemporary expansion for meaning, seeking an antidote to the suffering of those incarcerated with a “theology of empowerment.”

Something clearly is wrong with the current justice system in which repeat incarceration is high, injustice is rampant, and 25 percent of African-American males can expect to spend time behind bars. Colson's biblical ideas for reform have the potential to turn the system around, keep innocent people out of prison, and give victims some relief.

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