A Biblical Vision of Aftercare By Pastor/Chaplain Leonard Roy Harris   A Biblical Perception: The Purpose of God God created every human being to be loved by Him and to bring praise to his name in unique ways. · Ephesians 1: 11 "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory." Jesus Christ has to be in us before we can abide in Him. The Key is for every human being to receive Jesus so that they can abide in Him that he might bear fruit for God in and through them. This is the fruit of bringing praise to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." How will you do before the Lord when you have to give an account for your stewardship as Christ’s ambassador in your world? Are you fulfilling the ministry God gave you so that he can make his appeal through you as you implore men in the place of Christ to be reconciled to God?   Becoming the righteousness of God in Christ is that fruit which brings praise to his name. God has reconciled us to himself and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. The world he has called us to is the world of the prisoner, the ex-offender, the post-prisoner that we might partner with him in his work of reconciling that world to himself in Christ not counting their sins and crimes against them. He has committed the message of reconciliation to us and sent us as his ambassadors to the world of the offender, the prisoner, releasee that he might make his appeal to them through us. We implore the prisoner, the offender, the releasee "Be reconciled to God." · A Biblical Preparation: Kindness, sorrow and consequences God uses affliction and sorrow and consequences as a way of winning the lost to himself. He also uses his kindness. He uses these things to bring the lost to repentance and acceptance of Jesus. We find ourselves involved with ex-offenders as they are experiencing these things from God. We can discern God's dealings with our clients and practice C.P.R. That is: CULTIVATE a loving caring relationship with our clients as we identify and seek to meet their needs as a way of showing the love of Christ. PLANT the seed of the gospel as we share Jesus as the one who is the way, the truth and the life. REAP the harvest of a soul for Jesus as we win them to Christ Jesus. Romans 2:4 "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" 2 Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." Psalms 119:67,71 67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." A Biblical Purpose - Practical Holiness for the Glory of God Our purpose is that our clients would bring praise to God by bearing the image of Christ in their character and relationships and lifestyle. Colossians 1:27-28 27 "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." God wants to make it known among the ex-offenders the glorious riches of the mystery of Christ in them the hope of glory. That is the hope of bringing gl6ry to God as they mature into the image of Christ in their character, relationships and lifestyle. We labor and struggle in his power to do this. · A Biblical Process - Loving Discipleship It is through the everyday great commission done according to the everyday great commandment that God is able to fulfill His purpose in correctional ministry at all stages. Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all ' nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything 1 have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Romans 6:17-18 "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Colossians 2:6-7 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." · A Biblical Product - A Fruit Bearer What do we hope to see in our client? The one we are discipling and mentorlng? We want to see them bearing the fruit of the Spirit in their life which is holiness and the fruit of souls for Christ within their circle of friends, relatives, associates and neighbors which is evangelism. Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." John 15:8 "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Bearing the fruit of the Spirit)" John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. (Going and bearing the fruit of souls for Christ)"     * Biblical Patterns of Aftercare - The Local Church Family Aftercare only works as the local church realizes its biblical purpose re the everyday great commission and everyday great commandment and partners with correctional ministers and brings the "fruit" of correctional ministry into fellowship with the family of God at the local church. Pair post prisoners with local church mentor/disciplers. Place post prisoners in local church, small group fellowships. Refer post prisoners to local church based resources re: Housing Jobs Marriage counsel and support groups Parenting counsel and support groups (Fathering in particular) Family counsel and support groups Christian Recovery counsel and support groups Financial Counsel and support groups Abuse and inner healing counsel and support groups Legal assistance In many cases local churches my need to be trained in how to partner with correctional ministry. · In many cases local churches may need to be trained in everyday great commission and great commandment priorities. · In many cases local churches may need to be trained in the development of ministry teams.   One attempt to "make every effort" to join the Lord in His aftercare ministry. LifeBoat FellowShip "C' and "T' "Connection and Transition"   Harvest Prayer Breakfasts at Local Churches to share the vision of the church in prison, coming out of prison and God's desire to provide aftercare for them through the local church.   Monthly Fellowships at Local Churches of ex-offenders and ex-drug abusers Lifeline Services, to provide opportunity for ex-offenders and ex-drug abusers to share their testimony and/or ministry gin the local chttrch and minister to those in the local church who have gang and/or criminal/drug behavior issues or have a friend, relative neighbor or associate with these type of issues.   4, Networking and resourcing and fund-raising with prison/correctional ministries and local churches and other organizations.   5, Local Church team members building mentor/discipleship relationships with their Christian brothers and sisters on probation, in "Half-way" houses or home confinement or drug treatment prior to their release to insure their smooth transition to the local church and back into "free"society.   6. Mentor/discipler training 7. Healthy Church Training   in aftercare ministry.