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The Prison Ministry Sam was a part of was IFI. I will be writing a lot about IFI over the coming months. I am including this overview as background info fo te coming entries.
It's boring, but fairly accurate. (Our public press and statements ere always a point of contention.)
So wade in if you dare...
chris
Our Approach
After Chuck Colson's release from prison in 1975, he did not forget the pain and suffering he had seen while incarcerated. He began returning to prisons to share God's love. Then he began to wonder how he could multiply his efforts in prisons across the country.
With a group of committed Christians, Colson formed Prison Fellowship. Since then, Prison Fellowship has grown to include ministry throughout the United States and in many countries around the world.
We have a biblical and balanced approach to the total needs of inmates. We help the church and chaplains minister to inmates, ex-inmates, and their families. Each volunteer is a representative of his or her church.
About IFI
The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) is a revolutionary, Christ-centered, faith-based prison program supporting prison inmates through their spiritual and moral transformation. As an initiative of Prison Fellowship Ministries, IFI operates in prisons in cooperation with the state. The state continues to provide food, clothing, shelter and security to the inmates while IFI staff provides the intensive program. This mission of IFI is to create and maintain a prison environment that fosters respect for God's law and rights of others, and to encourage the spiritual and moral regeneration of prisoners. Therefore, they may develop responsible and productive relationships with their Creator, families and communities.
IFI is very different from many other rehabilitative programs. It utilizes a transformational model of change rather than a therapeutic model. IFI seeks a radical transformation that is only possible through God's power not through human relationships alone. IFI is an integral part of bringing a biblical sense of justice to correctional facilities in America. We are confident that the results will matter. States will realize a spectacular reduction in the rate ex-offenders are returned to prison and Prison Fellowship through equipping, exhorting and assisting the local church to minister to prisoners, victims and their families will realize souls won for the Kingdom of God.
IFI's unique plan of restoration and progressive programming begins 18 to 24 months before an inmate is released. Provisions have been made for long term inmates to participate in IFI where the security level of the prison is appropriate for long term offenders. The program continues for an additional 6 to 12 months of aftercare once the inmate has returned to the community. Inmates volunteer for the program and must meet several criteria before they are accepted.
Anchored in biblical teaching that stresses personal responsibility, the value of education and work, care of persons and property and the reality of a new life in Christ, IFI consists of four phases:
Phase One: focuses on the prisoner's internal transformational process and seeks to build spiritual and moral filters. A heavy emphasis on education, work and support helps create a new foundation for productive growth.
Phase Two: tests the inmate's value system in real-life settings and prepares him for life after prison. Inmates may spend much of the day in off-site prison work programs or involved in the Re-Entry portion of the IFI curriculum.
Phase Three: the IFI members are transferred to a Work Release or Halfway House facility to continue their transition process. Phase Four: allows the inmate to practice a transformed life-style upon release from custody in aftercare. Designed to assist the ex-offender in assimilating into his family, community and workplace by his continued associated with a Christian mentor, IFI staff, and church family.
IFI draws heavily upon the local church communities to provide a wide range of volunteers to assist both the inmate and his family during the course of IFI.
History of IFI
The program is based on the APAC program founded in 1973 in Brazil. APAC is a Portuguese acronym that stands for the Association for Protection and Assistance of the Condemned. Dr. Mario Ottoboni, a community leader, responded to what he believed was a call from God.
Dr. Ottoboni made a commitment to serve and minister to "the condemned" or imprisoned of his society through APAC. This program is rooted in Christian love expressed through committed caring volunteers and staff. APAC now operates in more than 80 prisons throughout Brazil and reports a recidivism rate of less than five percent.
The comparable U.S. program, The InnerChange Freedom Initiative, was started partly through the vision of another community leader, Christian businessperson Jack Eckerd. He commissioned and funded research about APAC in 1990 and 1991. In 1995, Prison Fellowship Ministries sponsored a study of prisons operated by APAC. Upon completion and review of this study, PFM's Board of Directors voted unanimously to develop the program in the United States.
A Transformational Model
The InnerChange Freedom Initiative is different from other rehabilitative programs. We consider IFI a transformational model, not therapeutic, although IFI is like a therapeutic community in many ways. Both types of programs operate through small groups and seek to equip members for life after prison.
But the transformational model tries to help inmates' change by identifying sin as the root of their problems. It encourages inmates to turn from their sinful past, see the world through God's eyes, and surrender to God's will. This model promotes the transformation of the inmate from the inside out through the miraculous power of God's love.
The transformational model seeks to restore the inmate to God first, then builds on this new relationship to recast human relationships. Through support groups and classes, IFI connects inmates with a loving community of like-minded people to encourage and affirm them.
IFI seeks a radical transformation from the inside out that is only possible through the miraculous power of God's love. This type of transformation cannot happen through human relationships alone.
InnerChange Freedom Initiative White Paper by Dr. Henry Brandt
"Repentance is replete with radical implications for a fundamental change of mind. It not only turns us from the sinful past, but transforms our life plan, values, ethics, and actions as we begin to see the world through God's eyes rather than ours. That kind of transformation requires the ultimate surrender of self. Repentance is an inescapable consequence of re generation, an indispensable part of the conversion process that takes place under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. (Colson, Loving God 109).
A Christian Prison Community
InnerChange Freedom Initiative is a Biblically-based, Christ-centered prison model that originated in South America and has just started in the United States. The first such prison has opened in Texas through the cooperation between Prison Fellowship and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It holds great promise for prisons throughout America and the world. This paper outlines the philosophy and underlying principles of InnerChange Freedom Initiative.
IFI is a 24-hour a day prison for inmates near release that promotes transformation from the inside out through the miraculous power of God's love. We use the words "inner" and "change" because they so clearly evoke the transformational process of turning away from a sinful past and turning toward a life of following Christ. The word InnerChange Freedom Initiative also suggests a crossroads of a highway, a place where it is necessary to choose a new and better direction. The choice confronting prisoners in this program is to be born-again, to transform into a new and better person through the power of God.
The opening quote is taken from the writings of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; the quote identifies repentance as an indispensable part of the transformational process. Repentance, reconciliation, and renewal are embedded throughout the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program. InnerChange Freedom Initiative helps inmates identify their sin, seek forgiveness, and cultivate an on-going repentant attitude. The program is very different from many other rehabilitative programs that have come before.
On the surface, IFI may look like a type of therapeutic community. Both prison programs operate through small groups and seek to equip members for life after prison. But InnerChange Freedom Initiative is a transformational model; whereas, a therapeutic community is a humanistic or therapy-based model. The transformational model frames our experience through God's eyes as revealed through prayer, scripture, and Christian community. A therapeutic model is dependent on the interpretation of life through man's eyes and is based upon understandings of psychology. InnerChange Freedom Initiative uses psychological principles only if they are Biblical and fit with God's plan for human relationships. Furthermore, the transformational model seeks to "cure" prisoners by identifying sin as the root of their problems. Inmates learn how God can heal them permanently, if they turn from their sinful past, are willing to see the world through God's eyes, and surrender themselves to God's will.
Therapeutic communities, on the other hand, seek to equip prisoners for life after prison by learning to manage behavior. Support groups and classes connect prisoners with a loving community of like-minded people who can encourage them and give affirmation. In the therapeutic model, healing one's relationship with others is the primary focus. InnerChange Initiative is also a loving community, but it relies on and directs members to God as the source of that love and inner healing. The transformational model seeks to restore the prisoner to God first, then builds on this new relationship to recast human relationships.
We can summarize the distinctions between the therapeutic model and the transformational model by highlighting key differences in the following list:
Criminal behavior is a manifestation of an alienation between the self and God.
Transformed persons seek to appropriate God's ways as revealed through Biblical truth.
Transformation enables prisoners to see the world and others as God sees them.
Acceptance of God and Biblical principles results in cure through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Transformation emphasizes the change in behavior as a result of encountering Jesus Christ.
Insight into one's problems is gained from reading, understanding, and applying Biblical principles.
All problems in life arise from a condition of sin.
Focuses on honesty with self and God first; honesty with others will follow. Focuses on the power of the Creator.
It holds up Christ as the source of that power and the work of the Holy Spirit as the way to true change.
The quality of our relationships to each other is conditioned by the quality of our relationship to Jesus Christ and his love as reflected in others.
Transformation happens through an instantaneous miracle; it then builds the prisoner up with familiarity of the Bible.
Therapy seeks to manage symptoms according to human understanding.
Criminal behavior is a result of an alienation of self from society.
Therapy seeks to help prisoners see how the world can meet their needs.
Relief of symptoms is dependent on the power of human love and commitment through support groups and community.
Therapy emphasizes the management of behavior as it impacts on others.
Insight into one's problems is gained through group and individual interaction.
Problems in life arise may arise from past inability to have one's needs met.
Focuses on honesty with self and others.
Focuses on the power of Creation.
Therapy may or may not point to some higher power.
Mental health and healthy relationships are dependent on the expression and affirmation of our needs.
Therapy seeks gradual change of self as a person interacts with one’s environment.
In summary, transformational and therapeutic models have some similar methodologies, but they have very different goals, and are rooted in entirely different philosophies. The therapeutic model seeks first to reconcile the relationship of a prisoner to other human beings. The spiritual dimension is a secondary benefit. The transformational model, in contrast, seeks to change people's values and beliefs through changing their relationship with God. We can elaborate on this philosophy by identifying key concepts in Chuck Colson's writings. These concepts are integral parts of the transformation process. They do not always follow the same sequential order, but are vital to the process of becoming born-again or transformed.
First, inmates learn to turn from a sinful past, recognizing that "sin is not simply the wrong we do our neighbor when we cheat him, or the wrong we do ourselves when we abuse our bodies. Sin, all sin, is a root rebellion and offense against God (Colson 166). Admitting our sinfulness and asking God's forgiveness is the first step. "We have the capacity to change anything about our lives... but we cannot change our own sinful nature" (144). When we repent and turn away from sin, we turn toward God. Repentance prepares us for the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit.
Second, through the InnerChange Freedom Initiative Program, inmates begin to see the world through God's eyes. Focus on the Bible is essential in this step. Colson learned this process while he was in prison. "For it was the Bible that caused me to hunger for righteousness and seek holiness; and it was the Bible that continues to challenge my life today. That is radical stuff It is irresistibly convicting. It is the power of God 's Word and it is, all by itself life-changing" (39).
And finally, this process of learning to see the world through God's eyes leads inmates to surrender themselves to God's will. "Christianity must evoke from the believer the same response it drew from the first disciples: a passionate desire to obey God-a willingly entered-into discipline. That is the beginning of true discipleship. That is the beginning of loving God" (38). For true discipleship, repentance and reconciliation are an ongoing state of mind and do not simply exist in one moment in time. InnerChange Freedom Initiative emphasizes this realization, and fosters humility and a teachable attitude, that in turn creates opportunities for prisoners to break free from old habits. They learn new life skills, rooted in Biblical principles that turn their lives around. "Repentance is an inescapable consequence of regeneration, an indispensable part of the conversion process that takes place under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. But repentance is also a continuing state of mind. We are warned, for example, to repent before partaking of communion. Also, believers 'prove their repentance by their deeds.' Without a continuing repentant attitude-a persistent desire to turn from our own nature and seek God's nature- Christian growth is impossible. Loving God is impossible" (Colson 109).
IFI Core Values
Biblical principles are integrated into the entire course curriculum of InnerChange Freedom Initiative, rather than compartmentalized in specific classes. In other words, the application of Biblical principles is not an agenda item. It is the agenda. InnerChange Freedom Initiative is a Christian community, where all members, staff, and volunteers seek to be Christ-like in their honesty, humility, and unconditional love for each other. Prisoners are taught Biblical principles in the context of teachable moments. Throughout each day they are provided time for reflection and meditation in order InnerChange Freedom Initiative Program to integrate those principles in their lives. The InnerChange Freedom Initiative community serves as the crucible for learning and testing Biblical principles. To facilitate this, Biblical principles and core values are prominently displayed throughout the facility and promoted through memorization. Though there are many important Biblical values to learn, InnerChange Freedom Initiative highlights several that are normally deficient in an offender's life. Those values are italicized and described below.
Integrity is developed on a daily basis, one step at a time. Members are taught to reflect on the consistency of their actions, words, and beliefs and they match how they relate to the Bible. The integrity of members is central to the success of this prison community. "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Col. 3:9-10).
Community-building is another Biblical value the program focuses on. It is rooted in Jesus' example of unconditional love for his friends and enemies as evidenced in his actions. Members are coached on how to build a loving community within the program, so that they can create similar relationships within the church when they leave prison. The Bible is permeated with references to the importance of unconditional love and community. "Love your neighbor as yourself' (Lev. 19:18). "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28, see also 1 Corinthians 13:1-13). "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal. 5:6).
Affirmation is a value in both transformation and therapeutic models. However, affirmation within a transformational model is defined as God's affirmation of us rather than man's affirmation. Prisoners learn that it is important to affirm and encourage each other consistent with God's principles. Some inmates have never received affirmation and do not know what it means to be valued. Others have been affirmed for the wrong attitudes or behaviors. In IFI, prisoners learn that Biblically-based affirmation is different from humanistic affirmation. In other words, when affirming another, one must first look to what God has to say about that particular behavior rather than our own need to build someone up. "Brothers, If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently... Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Gal. 6:1-3).
Responsibility and Restoration are critical values of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program. In InnerChange Freedom Initiative there is heavy emphasis on taking responsibility for our choices, both past and present. As Chuck Colson has pointed out, the two thieves crucified with Jesus "are representative of all mankind. We either recognize our sinful selves, our sentence of death, and our deserving of that sentence, which leads us to repent and Believe or we curse God and die" (143). In InnerChange Freedom Initiative, members are taught to be accountable for their actions and take responsibility for initiating acts of healing and reconciliation with those they have alienated and hurt. In this way they are restored to their Creator, families, and communities.
Productivity is an important value anchored in Biblical principles, and one that most inmates lack. In InnerChange Freedom Initiative, Productivity is defined as the effective use of one's time in line with God's principles. In this context, prisoners are taught to be good stewards of their time, investing in priorities that are in line with God's will. InnerChange Freedom Initiative trains prisoners to engage in productive work, so that they may become productive contributing members of their community after their release. The Bible instructs us not to bury our talents (Matthew 25:14-30), or hide our lights under a bushel (Matthew 5:15). Productivity is a central component to succeeding in the outside world.
Conclusion
IFI seeks a radical transformation that is only possible through the power of God who created us in his image and for a purpose. Jesus came to "heal the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty for the captives, open the eyes of the blind, and set at liberty the oppressed" (Isaiah 42). Only through the power of God can anyone truly change his or her life. Therapeutic models can help us manage sin and contain symptoms, but only through transformation can we be truly saved. We pray that for all those involved in InnerChange Freedom Initiative, sin will be replaced with the fruits of Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
"A bruised reed he shall not break. A smoldering wick he shall not snuff out. In faithfulness, he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth" (Isaiah 42). The IFI program is an integral part of bringing a Biblical sense of justice to correctional facilities in America. We hope IFI will be the start of an outer change in the way justice, punishment, and rehabilitation are conceived in America.
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