CHAPLAINCY SERVICES MINISTRY

The mission of the Chaplaincy ministry is to provide qualified chaplains that will organize, plan, coordinate and oversee community church groups and/or individuals in rendering a full range of religious programs, services and activities at juvenile programs throughout the State of Florida and thereof.

Ministry Goals:

• To meet the spiritual needs of youth detained in juvenile detention centers, residential commitment programs, boot camps and juvenile justice programs; To provide bibles, spiritual materials and literature for personal use;
• To provide follow-up services for youth released from juvenile detention centers and residential commitment programs;
• To offer a variety of spiritual programs through partnership with churches, faith based organizations, and prison/juvenile outreach ministries;
• To direct and guide youth to local churches that are interested in providing spiritual growth; and
• To provide lay counseling and crisis intervention counseling to youth and families seeking spiritual advice of the chaplain  

Our focus is to provide faith-based and counseling services to youth detained in juvenile detention centers, residential commitment programs, boot camps and youthful offender programs. Detained youths are provided with old and New Testament bibles, instructional booklets, discipleship course materials, gospel tracts, and spiritual videos. The youth has the opportunity to participate in weekly religious services on a voluntary basis. Components of the Juvenile Detention Center Ministry are as follows:

Sunday Church Services:

Involves congregational singing, special music, prayer, biblical sermons, testimonial services and invitations to discipleship.

Monday, Tuesday & Thursday Community Church Nights:

Involves local churches or religious organizations rendering spiritual services with inspirational or motivational messages. Also, consist of structured bible lessons from evangelistic and discipleship booklets. Topics discussed are prayer, church membership, sharing your faith, salvation, and public profession. Saturday Special Services and Youth Rallies: Involves local churches providing special evangelistic services with detained youth. Youth rallies are also held to encourage youth to take a stand and set attainable goals once they are released. The youth are provided with special music, refreshments, individual counseling and spiritual pamphlets and handouts.

Follow Up and After Care Services:

Involves community church groups working with detained youth and parents following the youths reentry into the community. The purpose is to assist the youth in engaging in spiritual, wholesome and constructive activities as well as positive peer groups.