AFTERCARE "The Church in Prison, The Church Coming Out of Prison and the Local Church." A Personal Perspective By Pastor/Chaplain Leonard Roy Harris The statistics point to a crisis but also to an opportunity for the local church and the presence of the hand of God.  The Church in Prison A "Coping" Community under the pressure of incarceration at its best fostering: 1. Fellowship 2. Praise and Worship 3. Prayer and Bible Study  4. Discipleship 5. Holiness through integrity and character  6. Maturity through responsible living and submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 7. Proclamation of the gospel and ministry training The Church Coming Out of Prison: A Transitional Believer taken away from the Church in Prison, on their own under the pressure of "Half-Way" House and/or drug treatment, home confinement, probation or supervised release attempting to practice their Christian lifestyle in the face of a sinful society that includes old habits, old haunts, old sins, old relationships, old "triggers”and old choices leading to criminal and addictive and sinful, irresponsible behavior. The Local Church: By its biblical design and nature is a Transitional Community of those passing from death to life, from sight to faith, from unrighteousness to holiness, from immaturity to maturity, from rebellion to obedience, from faith to love, from hopelessness to hope, sadness to joy, conflict to peace, hatred and rejection and loneliness to love etc. Is God's sovereign instrument of"Aftercare" for all ex-practicing sinners including ex-offenders and ex-drug abusers. Biblical Aftercare by definition is the churches normal ministry of making disciples in fulfillment of the Great Commission. The local church needs to recover its biblical purpose and resolve its identity crisis. Ultimately Aftercare is Jesus' shepherding ministry which we can qualify to join him in. See article entitled "Aftercare Ministry as Jesus' Shepherding Ministry." Biblical Aftercare after salvation is the ongoing work of God which he seeks to do in and through his local church. God is also the one who reaches and builds men and women in the prison and correctional system. We need to discern where his "hand" is and join him in "his" ministry to ex-offenders and ex-drug abusers indeed all ex-practicing sinners. See handout "Visions of Aftercare"